The sweet aroma of cinnamon and pumpkin filled Sybil’s house. Fall had never been her favorite season—she preferred spring and summer. This year proved different. So much in her life had changed, and she wasn’t the same person she’d been in the spring.

Fall invoked sentiments of coziness. Staying home and drinking cider while watching old movies. Walks through the woods with leaves crunching under her feet. Autumn invited personal connections with those she cared about, created ideal settings in which to spend quality time with friends and family.

Perhaps that’s why she’d never cared for autumn—she’d never had anyone she’d been close enough with to desire that time together. Even the friends she’d cared most about, she’d kept at an arm’s distance. Letting people know the real her required exposing herself, and Mom had taught her the dangers of that.

Rysa and Jared were slowly changing her fear of friendships. She saw qualities in them that debunked her old beliefs that everyone’s self-serving. There were people out there who acted out of the kindness of their hearts without expecting anything in return.

She curled on her recliner and sipped her caramel apple cider. A vine of tiny pumpkins lined her TV stand. Their presence officially made this the most decorating she’d ever done for any holiday, and that wasn’t including the harvest placemats she’d bought for her table.

Since she became pregnant and stopped going out to the bars and happy hours, she discovered she liked being home. Staying alone with her thoughts wasn’t the nightmare it had once been, and Rysa and Jared ensured she never stayed alone for long. She’d come to enjoy, and even look forward to, their company.

If anyone had told her six months ago that she’d become a homebody, she would have laughed in their face. And it wasn’t as if she never left. She went to work every Monday through Friday. One or two nights a week she’d go out to eat with Rysa, but her activities were no doubt more subdued.

The old group of friends would call her boring. Actually, they had called her that. At least Liz had. Don’t let her get under your skin. She barely spoke with Liz anymore, and the last time she had, Liz made it clear their lifestyles no longer meshed for friendship. Whatever that meant. Couldn’t people be friends through different stages of life?

Her loss. Sybil’s focus remained on her baby girl and bringing her safely into this world. She’d contacted an adoption agency but hadn’t brought herself to read through the information. When they called and asked if she’d received it, she’d answered yes and then started ignoring their phone calls.

Her conviction hadn’t changed, but it had started to waver. She’d given Jared her word that she’d consider letting him raise the baby. If he believed himself capable of raising their daughter with no experience, then couldn’t she as well? But he’d had a different upbringing. He understood what a family was supposed to be.

She wanted her baby girl. She wanted to be there for her first smile and belly laugh. Hold her hand as she learned to take her first steps. She wanted to comfort her when she came home from school in tears because a mean kid picked on her, and tell her she was beautiful when she convinced herself she was the ugliest girl in school. She wanted to be the mom her own mother had never been.

But was that selfishness speaking or a true calling to be a mom? Only time would tell.

The doorbell rang, and it startled her. Apple cider spilled onto the armrest and onto her pants. She didn’t see anything to wipe it up with quickly, so she pulled her sleeve down over her hand and blotted the liquid. Fortunately, she wore a black shirt and whoever was at the door wouldn’t know she’d used her shirt as a napkin.

The bell chimed again.

“Coming.” She rushed to the small foyer then peeked through the peephole. An automatic smile formed when she saw Jared, and she hid her wet sleeve behind her arm opening the door, on the off chance he would have noticed. “Hi.”

“Hi.” He stood with his hands in his pocket and not a trace of his normal confidence.

She looked beyond him and didn’t see his truck. “Where’s your truck?”

“I walked over.”

“What’s up?” She leaned against the doorframe.

“Are you free tonight?” He cleared his throat. “And if so, can I take you to dinner?”

Why was he acting so weird? They’d been out to eat a few times together—it wasn’t a big deal. “I’m free. Where were you thinking?”

“Some place nice. Like we’d go for a date.”

Her mouth formed an O. “Would this be a date?”

He nodded and offered a half-smile. “I thought if I asked in person, you’d be more willing to accept.”

She let out a low breath and crossed her arms. “I don’t know…”

“No pressure. Just a nice evening out.”

All the reasons she shouldn’t go surfaced to the forefront of her mind, but she couldn’t deny the part of her that wanted to say yes. “What time?”

“When’s good for you?”

“Is six too early? Lately, I’m in bed by the time I used to leave for a night out.”

“Six is perfect.” His sincere smile melted her doubts. “Bring a light sweater.”

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise. I’ll pick you up in four hours.” He winked—which made her stomach flip—then walked away before she could answer.

A wave of giddiness burst in her, competing with her nerves. A date? She hadn’t gone on one in months. Her spirits fell. What was she going to wear? Regular clothes didn’t fit her anymore, and none of her maternity outfits were suitable for a date. They went straight from at-home casual to business attire with nothing in between.

Time to call in the reserves.

She ran—briskly walked— to the living room and grabbed her phone. Thumbing through her recent calls, she found Rysa, and selected her number.

“I need help,” she blurted out as soon as the line connected.

“Is the baby okay?” Concern weighed down Rysa’s tone.

“Oh goodness, yes. I’m sorry.” She took a second to catch her breath. “I do need help though, but not with the baby. Not directly, at least.”

“What’s going on?”

“Jared asked me on a date. A real date.” Her tone came out more frantic than the situation warranted, and her dramatics snapped her out of her nervousness, causing her to laugh. “I don’t have anything to wear.”

Rysa laughed. “You have a closet that’s bigger and more packed than anyone I know. How is it possible you don’t have anything to wear?”

She blew out a hard breath that moved a hair from her face. “They don’t fit me with this growing baby.”

“I’ve got you covered. Are you at home and what time is he picking you up?”

“Yes, I’m home and six.” She glanced at the clock. Time ticked away.

“Where is he taking you?”

“It’s a surprise, but he said to bring a light sweater.”

Rysa’s smile came through in her voice. “I have the perfect solution. Hold tight, and I’ll be there soon.”

“Thank you.”

While waiting for Rysa, she stewed over the night ahead. If she’d had any self-control, she would have said no, but she liked how she felt when Jared came around. He listened to her and made eye contact. He treated her with respect and never made her feel less of a person. She’d even opened up to him about her past and the dysfunctional childhood she’d had.

Then there’d been the way he looked at her today. He’d wanted her to say yes because he wanted to spend time with her. Not for reasons other men had. They’d made that mistake already and had a baby on the way to show for it, but after all that, he still wanted to be around her. It was a healing balm to a girl’s fractured ego.

A smile crept to her mouth. She needed to stop focusing on the negatives and the what-ifs and learn to enjoy the gifts that came her way. She wouldn’t follow in her mother’s steps. In the small glimpses she’d had of a different lifestyle, she knew she couldn’t go back.

Rysa showed up fifteen minutes after five o’clock. She had a garment bag draped over her arm as she rushed through the door. “Sorry, I’m late. It took forever to check out.”

Sybil eyed the bag. “Please tell me you didn’t spend money on an outfit for me.”

“I most certainly did.” Rysa flashed an unashamed smile and walked to the kitchen. “Wait until you see it.”

“What did you get?”

“You’ll see.” Rysa couldn’t stop grinning.

“What?”

Rysa expelled a breath. “I have a confession. After you called me, I called Jared to find out his plans. I wanted to make sure what I had in mind wasn’t too casual.”

“You called him?” Her mouth gaped. “He’s going to think I’m ridiculous and can’t dress myself.”

“Nothing of the sort. I played it off that you can’t have shellfish because of the pregnancy and I didn’t want the date ruined because he took you somewhere where you couldn’t have anything.”

She rubbed her temples. “But I can have shellfish as long as it’s cooked.”

“He doesn’t know that.” Rysa laughed and clapped Sybil’s shoulder. “You’re going to enjoy tonight, and he didn’t think anything of me calling. Trust me.”

“All right.” She tamped down her irritation. Rysa had only been trying to help, and Sybil appreciated her efforts, even if they embarrassed her.

Rysa held up her hands, then moved them as she spoke. “You need an outfit that will grow with you and is also versatile.” She grabbed the bag and lifted it over a hanger. “Thus, I introduce you to your new best friend—the maxi dress.”

“That’s genius. Why didn’t I think of that?” She took the dress from Rysa and held it to her body. “The solid black will help disguise my belly.”

“Girl, don’t even think about hiding that bump. Enjoy being pregnant and having that belly.” Rysa reached over and tugged at the fabric. “It’s not a maternity dress, but it’s very forgiving, and you’ll probably be able to wear it all the way until birth and after.”

“I love it. Thank you.” Clinging to the dress, she fought not to cry. Hormones were getting on her nerves. “You’re the best.”

“There’s more.” Rysa pulled a denim jacket from a bag that had been hiding behind the other. “instead of a sweater, wear this over it. I know you already have a regular one, but this is a maternity one and it’s super soft. The associate said it’s very stretchy and comfortable but doesn’t lose its shape.”

Sybil took it and slipped her arms through the sleeves. “Oh my goodness. This is so comfortable. It feels like I’m wearing a sweatshirt.”

“Glad you like it.” Rysa made a fleeing motion with her hands. “Go try it on.”

Padding to her room, Sybil said a prayer of thanks for Rysa. She didn’t know who she was praying to, but it only seemed right to acknowledge her gratitude. She changed into the new outfit, amazed at the result. Cute and flirty, yet completely modest—a new concept for her on a date.

“I could sleep in this outfit,” she told her reflection. “It’s that comfortable.”

Before she walked the runway for Rysa, she found a pair of sandals in her closet that complemented the dress. Fortunately, despite it being mid-October, she hadn’t had to give up her open-toed shoes yet. Once she did, she’d have to go shopping for some pregnancy-friendly footwear.

Rysa came down the hallway and knocked on the open bedroom door. “Can I see?”

“Sure. Come in.”

“Love it.” Rysa winked. “Jared will, too.”

“What about my hair?”

“Pull it into a loose ponytail. It’s supposed to get breezy tonight.”

Sybil arched a brow. “Am I going to be outside?”

“You’ll find out.” Another grin spread Rysa’s lips.

“You’re enjoying having this secret, aren’t you?” She put a hand on her hip and shook her hand as a mother would to a child.

“No, but I do enjoy seeing you happy. I’m excited for you.”