Chapter One

Ana is enjoying a rare, leisurely midweek brunch with Kate in an outdoor café on the waterfront in Seattle—effectively alone but for their security staff—and comments, "We should do this more often."

Kate smiles and says, "I'd love to. But you know better than most how hard it is to get a couple of uninterrupted hours when you're a working mom."

Ana smiles and nods her agreement, saying, "I wish someone had told me that they take almost as much of our time in their teenage years as when they were in diapers."

Kate laughs and says, "Yeah. But at least Ava and Mitchell sleep better now than they ever did as babies."

They eat in silence for a while, and then Ana asks, "Is it a little tragic that I still miss him when he's away?" Their husbands are on their annual pilgrimage to the Cascades; getting in touch with nature and rekindling a bond the two men forged as children that has endured all these years.

Kate rolls her eyes and says, "Yes; absolutely pathetic."

It seems in jest, but Ana nervously asks, "So, how are things going?"

Kate shrugs and says, "So, so. I think a break for a week was a good idea, so we can work out what we want…though I'm still not sure. At least he's promised to get therapy this time. Apparently, Christian talked him into it."

"This time?" The rather public revelation, by Elliot's mistress, that she's pregnant with his child had created a storm all the way from Ana and Christian's living room to internationally syndicated news companies. "There was someone else?"

Kate suddenly looks incredibly weary when she quietly reveals, "Two others, that I know of. But that was a while ago." Ana is stunned into silence for several seconds. At which point Kate says, "Please don't look at me like that. He's a good husband. He's just always needed more than I can give him."

Glancing around, to make sure no strangers are within hearing distance, Ana nevertheless lowers her voice to say, "Elliot has had three affairs…that you know of, and you call him a good husband? Aren't you fucking furious?"

Kate looks very uncomfortable and says, "Of course I fucking am. Every time, I threaten to leave him and take the kids with me. But you don't know what…he's still Elliot, the same charming guy I fell in love with. He always ends the affair when I find out and is genuinely, heartbreakingly sorry. This time he was literally on his knees, weeping and begging my forgiveness. He swears that they mean nothing to him, and he's only ever wanted to be married to me. But he can't seem to help himself."

Again silent for a while, Ana finally manages, "Fuck."

"Yeah. Funny how things turn out, isn't it? I was so worried about Christian when I found out about his…romantic history. But he turned out to be the stable family man."

"I was worried, too. He always said that I'm everything he needs, but I couldn't believe, for a long time…anyway; what are you going to do?"

Kate shrugs and says, "Hope the therapy works, I guess. He says it's couples therapy, so I'll be going with him. You and Christian did that for a while?"

"Sort of, for different reasons; his fears, our apparent incompatibility, my fears, and times of great stress in our lives. Christian is a big fan of therapy. It's helped him a lot, which I guess means it's also helped me. Maybe it'll work for you and Elliot, too."

"Maybe." Suddenly shrugging off her melancholy with a visible effort, Kate says, "Can we talk about something else for a while? This is all I've been thinking about since I found out, and I'll go mad if I don't take a break from it."

It's the reason Ana suggested this get-together, so she gifts her friend a genuine smile and says, "Of course. Do you have time for some retail therapy? Mario's offers private fitting with champagne and snacks, and I happen to know that they just got some new arrivals. What do you say?"

"I say we don't need the snacks, but shopping and champagne sounds perfect."

All Ana has to do is glance at Sawyer for the ever vigilant security officer to say, "Yes, ma'am; Mario's. I'll set it up."

Kate looks to her bodyguard, Sven, and asks, "Now, why can't you do that?"

He clearly knows she's joking, because the blond giant grins and says, "Perhaps, ma'am, because you've never asked."

Kate giggles and says to Ana, "So hard to get good staff nowadays, isn't it?"

Ana knows that Sven was recommended by Taylor when Elliot became concerned enough about his family's safety to hire protection officers. So she's certain that he's good at his job. Still, it's nice to hear Kate laugh, so she joins in, saying, "Oh, it is. And, do you know, Luke still won't carry my bags for me?"

Kate finally appears relaxed as she jokes, "Shocking; just shocking."

They're at ease, laughing and joking while they eat, when Sawyer interrupts, "Ten minutes, ma'am."

Kate again rolls her eyes and says, "And they're always telling us what to do and when to do it."

Ana wipes her mouth on a napkin and says, "Exactly. But, Kate; new shoes."

Kate practically springs to her feet, saying, "Good point. Quick visit to the ladies' and I'll be right with you."

It had taken over a decade before Kate was okay with Ana paying for meals, and she still can't watch. So Ana takes care of the check while she waits. A distinctly scruffy individual has taken her seat and is scarfing down the leftovers. Her waiter notices Ana's gaze and says, "If it bothers you, ma'am, I can ask him to leave? They're supposed to wait until patrons are out of sight."

Moved by the man's plight, Ana says, "No, it's okay. Uh, may I buy him a meal? I didn't leave him much."

Clearly surprised, the waiter says, "Of course, if that's what you want. I'd have to make it to go? Not all of our customers are as understanding."

Handing over her card again, Ana says, "That's fine. Make it a large helping, okay? That'll keep him going for a while. He looks so thin."

Quickly processing the purchase, he's smiling as he says, "Thank you, ma'am. I'm sure he'll appreciate it."

Kate takes long enough in the bathroom that Ana is still waiting when the stranger gratefully accepts his free meal from the waiter. When both men glance in her direction, she blushes, realizing that the source of the food has been revealed. Acutely uncomfortable to be found out—seriously, where the hell is Kate?—Ana nevertheless holds her ground as the indigent approaches. Sawyer, of course, gets twitchy, but she motions for him to stand down. Now that he's up close, she can see that the poor man is unshaven, unwashed and sporting a prominent black eye. Barely meeting her gaze, his haunted brown eyes flickering everywhere, he mumbles, "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Do you have a place to stay?" Realizing it sounds like an offer, Ana stammers, "Oh, uh, not my place…I mean, do you know about the shelters here in the city?"

Ana could swear the guy is trying not to smile when he grunts, "Yeah." And then everything seems to happen in slow motion; the bag of food drops to the floor as he grabs her in a tight embrace and sweeps her low, almost to the floor, where he thoroughly kisses her as she struggles; preparing to knee him in the groin.