tried to reach you at work, too,” he said next.
“You did?” She was astonished he’d gone to such lengths to search for her.
But before she could question him further, their food arrived. Colette had ordered soup and Steve a hamburger and fries.
“I wanted to see how things were going,” he said, squeezing a liberal amount of ketchup on the side of his plate. “It’s been a year now, right?”
She didn’t answer the question. “I’m doing okay,” she assured him a second time.
He raised his head. “You look great,” he said with an appreciative grin.
His scrutiny unsettled her and in an effort to hide her uneasiness, she picked up her spoon. The beef soup was homemade and full of vegetables and pieces of seasoned meat. It was so hot, steam rose from the bowl.
His expression sobered. “I didn’t know if you’d heard about me and Jeanine,” he said, grabbing the burger with both hands.
Colette hoped he wasn’t about to tell her they’d split up. Colette had always liked Steve’s wife and saw them as a good match, with Steve’s practical nature balanced by Jeanine’s whimsy and sense of humor.
“Jeanine filed for divorce,” he said abruptly. “She moved to Yakima before Christmas.”
Saddened at the news, Colette set her spoon aside. “Oh, Steve, I’m so sorry.” The couple had two little girls who were going to grow up without their dad.
His eyes revealed a depth of sadness as he finished chewing. “We both tried, but it didn’t work out.”
“How are the girls holding up?”
“They seem to be doing well—very well, considering,” he said. After a brief hesitation he shrugged. “They’re soyoung and with the crazy hours I work, I was hardly ever around anyway.”
When he’d been with Derek, they’d worked swing shift, but she supposed a detective had to be available around the clock. Still, family should always come first. In her view, anyway. “Is there anything I can do?” she asked, thinking she might be able to help but with no idea how.
That sad look returned and he lowered his gaze. “I’m afraid it’s too late for that.”
“Too late?”
“The divorce is final this week. And like I said, Jeanine moved to Yakima—to be closer to her parents.”
“But the girls?”
“I hated to see them leave Seattle but in the end it’s probably for the best. Our parenting plan spells out my visitation rights and I have them for two weeks every summer, spring break and a week at Christmas. Jeanine’s family really loves the girls, and all in all, it’s a workable solution. Although I miss my family….”
Reaching across the booth, Colette touched his forearm. “I’m so sorry,” she said again.
Steve nodded. “So am I. Being a cop’s wife isn’t easy. You know that. I always admired the open, honest relationship you had with Derek. That’s one reason I was hoping to talk to you.”
Not sure what to say, Colette glanced down. “Thank you,” she murmured.
“You were a good wife.”
Her throat thickened with grief—and guilt, because it was Christian who dominated her thoughts these days, not Derek.
“Colette?”
“Sorry,” she said, plucking a napkin from the canister on the table.
“May I ask you a question?”
“Of course.” She lifted her head in surprise.
“I know this must come out of the blue, but would it be all right if I phoned you sometime?” Steve said quickly.
“I…” Colette felt flustered and uncertain. “Sure, I…guess.” This wasn’t what she’d expected him to ask. It’d been years since she’d dated. That was obviously true for Steve, as well; he looked as uncomfortable as she did. If they were to start seeing each other, she’d have to tell him about the pregnancy. And yet, it seemed wrong for Steve to know and not Christian.
Suddenly he smiled and she saw him as the attractive man he was—not just Derek’s friend and one of a social foursome. His features were classic with a square jaw that suggested he
“You did?” She was astonished he’d gone to such lengths to search for her.
But before she could question him further, their food arrived. Colette had ordered soup and Steve a hamburger and fries.
“I wanted to see how things were going,” he said, squeezing a liberal amount of ketchup on the side of his plate. “It’s been a year now, right?”
She didn’t answer the question. “I’m doing okay,” she assured him a second time.
He raised his head. “You look great,” he said with an appreciative grin.
His scrutiny unsettled her and in an effort to hide her uneasiness, she picked up her spoon. The beef soup was homemade and full of vegetables and pieces of seasoned meat. It was so hot, steam rose from the bowl.
His expression sobered. “I didn’t know if you’d heard about me and Jeanine,” he said, grabbing the burger with both hands.
Colette hoped he wasn’t about to tell her they’d split up. Colette had always liked Steve’s wife and saw them as a good match, with Steve’s practical nature balanced by Jeanine’s whimsy and sense of humor.
“Jeanine filed for divorce,” he said abruptly. “She moved to Yakima before Christmas.”
Saddened at the news, Colette set her spoon aside. “Oh, Steve, I’m so sorry.” The couple had two little girls who were going to grow up without their dad.
His eyes revealed a depth of sadness as he finished chewing. “We both tried, but it didn’t work out.”
“How are the girls holding up?”
“They seem to be doing well—very well, considering,” he said. After a brief hesitation he shrugged. “They’re soyoung and with the crazy hours I work, I was hardly ever around anyway.”
When he’d been with Derek, they’d worked swing shift, but she supposed a detective had to be available around the clock. Still, family should always come first. In her view, anyway. “Is there anything I can do?” she asked, thinking she might be able to help but with no idea how.
That sad look returned and he lowered his gaze. “I’m afraid it’s too late for that.”
“Too late?”
“The divorce is final this week. And like I said, Jeanine moved to Yakima—to be closer to her parents.”
“But the girls?”
“I hated to see them leave Seattle but in the end it’s probably for the best. Our parenting plan spells out my visitation rights and I have them for two weeks every summer, spring break and a week at Christmas. Jeanine’s family really loves the girls, and all in all, it’s a workable solution. Although I miss my family….”
Reaching across the booth, Colette touched his forearm. “I’m so sorry,” she said again.
Steve nodded. “So am I. Being a cop’s wife isn’t easy. You know that. I always admired the open, honest relationship you had with Derek. That’s one reason I was hoping to talk to you.”
Not sure what to say, Colette glanced down. “Thank you,” she murmured.
“You were a good wife.”
Her throat thickened with grief—and guilt, because it was Christian who dominated her thoughts these days, not Derek.
“Colette?”
“Sorry,” she said, plucking a napkin from the canister on the table.
“May I ask you a question?”
“Of course.” She lifted her head in surprise.
“I know this must come out of the blue, but would it be all right if I phoned you sometime?” Steve said quickly.
“I…” Colette felt flustered and uncertain. “Sure, I…guess.” This wasn’t what she’d expected him to ask. It’d been years since she’d dated. That was obviously true for Steve, as well; he looked as uncomfortable as she did. If they were to start seeing each other, she’d have to tell him about the pregnancy. And yet, it seemed wrong for Steve to know and not Christian.
Suddenly he smiled and she saw him as the attractive man he was—not just Derek’s friend and one of a social foursome. His features were classic with a square jaw that suggested he
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