The Baby And The Bachelor. Kristine Rolofson

was strictly platonic, though I think he might have kissed me good-night.” Kate frowned. “I didn’t know you liked him or I wouldn’t have gone out with him at all,” she said. “Rules are rules.”

      “It didn’t matter.” She took another cautious sip of the drink. “He never gave me a second look.”

      “Because you probably never said one word to him. Even now you could pick up the phone and ask him out to dinner.”

      “You could do that. I can’t imagine it.” Stuart Thorpe was out of her league. Period.

      “I don’t know why we’re so different.”

      “We drove Mom crazy.” Kate was the demanding one, Kim the quiet one. Kate talked first, but Kim learned to read at age five. Kate talked to strangers while Kim hung back, waiting for her twin to assure her that everything was fine.

      “I think we still do.” Kate wiggled her painted toenails and stretched her legs. “Are you sure you won’t go out with me tonight? There are going to be lots of wonderful men there. Friday night is always good and it will keep your mind off Jeff and that whole mess.”

      “No, thanks. I’m not brooding or feeling sorry for myself, Kate. Honest.”

      “Will you call the doctor?”

      And say what?

      “No. And not in a million years, no matter how much advice you give me.”

      “Ah, I see. He’s the one who got away,” Kate said, taking another sip of her drink.

      “No.” Kim tucked her feet underneath her and remembered her senior year at Rhode Island School of Design, the well-known art school. “He’s the one who never came near me at all.”