sound so surprised.”
“You haven’t exactly been dating much in the last year.”
Lisa was being generous. She didn’t think she had been out at all in the last year. “Don’t get your hopes up. His interest is work related.” She had noticed his frequent glances at his pager yesterday, waiting for the news that Bobby Tersh had been picked up. She had let it go because it was kind of nice to have him care enough to waste a Saturday covering her back. She would be inviting more attention than she wanted if she mentioned that to Lisa. “I think he’ll make a good friend.”
The doorbell rang and Lisa rose to answer it. “Don’t let him slip out of your life, Kate. You need someone who can make you smile like that.”
The O’Malleys spilled in through the door, laughing.
Setting her glass on the end table, Kate got to her feet. The energy that came into the room with their arrival was refreshing.
“Kate!”
She laughed as she was lifted off her feet in a hug. “Hi, Jack.”
“It’s good to see you’re still in one piece.”
“Rumors of my death were greatly exaggerated.”
“Stephen ordered me not to come serenade you to sleep at the hospital.”
“The way you sing, I’m grateful. Thanks for the e-mail gift. Manning is jealous. Where did you find the explosive screen saver?” She had laughed when she installed it. If she grabbed the mouse and cut the wires in time, the bomb would not go off.
“I was going to send you one of those electronic greeting cards, but when I saw the screen saver I knew you would appreciate it more.”
“Absolutely.”
Over Jack’s shoulder, Kate saw Jennifer get swallowed up in a hug from Lisa. Jennifer was petite to begin with and appeared to have lost even more weight, but her smile was radiant, her color good. Kate lowered her voice. “Any idea what her news is?”
Jack lowered his head toward hers; the laughter in his voice disappeared as the serious side he so rarely showed came to the forefront. “We couldn’t drag a thing out of her. It must be something pretty big.”
Kate suppressed the desire to flinch. It was bad news; she just knew it. “Thanks for the warning.” She took a deep breath. Whatever was coming couldn’t be avoided. But it would help to stay busy. “Would you mind starting the grill? Marinated steaks are in the refrigerator.”
“Consider it done. I’m starved.”
“Of course you are. You’re always hungry. I want mine pink, not dry.”
“I notice, despite all the aspersions to my cooking, that you are still asking me to man the grill.”
“Jack, you know Stephen will be out there to give you advice as soon as he sees the match in your hand.”
“Just because we don’t let you play around with the fire—”
She swatted his arm. “Go on.” Jack laughed and moved toward the patio. “Stephen, Jack is going for the matches.”
Stephen strode across the room, angling after Jack. “I’m on him. There is no way I am letting him burn my steak.”
Grinning at the fact the two of them were so predictable, Kate turned to look for Rachel.
Her sister was hanging back half a step, observing it all with a smile. Kate headed toward her because her hugs were always the best. “Rachel. How was Florida?” The tan was there, but subtle.
“I went swimming with a porpoise.” The quiet pleasure in her voice reflected the memory. She always had the positive to tell, even in a tragedy. She hadn’t been in Florida for a vacation.
“Who’d you take?”
“Diane Faber, age ten. She was a much better swimmer.”
“Did she lose one or both parents?” The tornado through Florida’s Dade County three weeks ago had taken fourteen lives. As a trauma psychologist, Rachel got called in for the tough cases.
“Her father. He had promised her the trip for her birthday.”
Rebuilding positive memories, helping the child know life went on. It was Rachel’s special gift to children. “Rough.”
“Yes. But she’ll make it. How are
“You haven’t exactly been dating much in the last year.”
Lisa was being generous. She didn’t think she had been out at all in the last year. “Don’t get your hopes up. His interest is work related.” She had noticed his frequent glances at his pager yesterday, waiting for the news that Bobby Tersh had been picked up. She had let it go because it was kind of nice to have him care enough to waste a Saturday covering her back. She would be inviting more attention than she wanted if she mentioned that to Lisa. “I think he’ll make a good friend.”
The doorbell rang and Lisa rose to answer it. “Don’t let him slip out of your life, Kate. You need someone who can make you smile like that.”
The O’Malleys spilled in through the door, laughing.
Setting her glass on the end table, Kate got to her feet. The energy that came into the room with their arrival was refreshing.
“Kate!”
She laughed as she was lifted off her feet in a hug. “Hi, Jack.”
“It’s good to see you’re still in one piece.”
“Rumors of my death were greatly exaggerated.”
“Stephen ordered me not to come serenade you to sleep at the hospital.”
“The way you sing, I’m grateful. Thanks for the e-mail gift. Manning is jealous. Where did you find the explosive screen saver?” She had laughed when she installed it. If she grabbed the mouse and cut the wires in time, the bomb would not go off.
“I was going to send you one of those electronic greeting cards, but when I saw the screen saver I knew you would appreciate it more.”
“Absolutely.”
Over Jack’s shoulder, Kate saw Jennifer get swallowed up in a hug from Lisa. Jennifer was petite to begin with and appeared to have lost even more weight, but her smile was radiant, her color good. Kate lowered her voice. “Any idea what her news is?”
Jack lowered his head toward hers; the laughter in his voice disappeared as the serious side he so rarely showed came to the forefront. “We couldn’t drag a thing out of her. It must be something pretty big.”
Kate suppressed the desire to flinch. It was bad news; she just knew it. “Thanks for the warning.” She took a deep breath. Whatever was coming couldn’t be avoided. But it would help to stay busy. “Would you mind starting the grill? Marinated steaks are in the refrigerator.”
“Consider it done. I’m starved.”
“Of course you are. You’re always hungry. I want mine pink, not dry.”
“I notice, despite all the aspersions to my cooking, that you are still asking me to man the grill.”
“Jack, you know Stephen will be out there to give you advice as soon as he sees the match in your hand.”
“Just because we don’t let you play around with the fire—”
She swatted his arm. “Go on.” Jack laughed and moved toward the patio. “Stephen, Jack is going for the matches.”
Stephen strode across the room, angling after Jack. “I’m on him. There is no way I am letting him burn my steak.”
Grinning at the fact the two of them were so predictable, Kate turned to look for Rachel.
Her sister was hanging back half a step, observing it all with a smile. Kate headed toward her because her hugs were always the best. “Rachel. How was Florida?” The tan was there, but subtle.
“I went swimming with a porpoise.” The quiet pleasure in her voice reflected the memory. She always had the positive to tell, even in a tragedy. She hadn’t been in Florida for a vacation.
“Who’d you take?”
“Diane Faber, age ten. She was a much better swimmer.”
“Did she lose one or both parents?” The tornado through Florida’s Dade County three weeks ago had taken fourteen lives. As a trauma psychologist, Rachel got called in for the tough cases.
“Her father. He had promised her the trip for her birthday.”
Rebuilding positive memories, helping the child know life went on. It was Rachel’s special gift to children. “Rough.”
“Yes. But she’ll make it. How are
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