Chapter 22

First, my sincere apologies for falling away. After the death of my father, my life sort of went into a tailspin. It has taken me all of this time to finally get my feet back under me. I won't say I am fully healed but I am definitely closer. I can't promise daily updates but I hope to update a couple of times a week as I get back into the groove of writing. I hope you can all forgive me and have some patience as I find my way back to being me.

We pick up with their dinner. After this, I will return to episodes and weaving my story into that one. Enjoy!

Nodding at her, he moved to the table. Turning his head surreptitiously, he watched her walk toward the kitchen. His eyes drawn again to her bare feet. "Laura, why did you invite me to dinner?"

She turned back to him, smiling brightly. "You said you missed our dinners. I thought it was time maybe we started them again." She looked down shyly, "If that's alright with you."

He couldn't find words to reply. All he could do was nod.

Dinner was stilted at first but gradually, they fell into an easy banter. As they lingered over the remnants, Laura sat back in her chair, eyeing him over her wine glass. At her speculative glance, he laughed, "What?"

She shook her head, "It's nothing."

Raising an eyebrow, he fixed her with his best policeman's gaze. "It didn't look like nothing."

Frozen under his stare, she inhaled sharply, holding the breath. Finally, she exhaled steadily, "Why didn't you ever reschedule?"

They stared at one another, neither wanting to be the first to break the gaze. Robbie was the first to look away, struggling to catch his breath, struggling to find an answer. Seconds ticked by, made even longer because of the desperate silence between them.

"Robbie, are you OK?"

It was the gentleness in her voice which pulled him back. Finally able to draw a breath; he calmly met her eyes. "I got scared."

"Of me?"

"Of losing you."

"Where did you think I would go?"

"You almost died, Laura."

It was her turn to look away. Shocked at his words, having never given thought to how those twins actions would have impacted him. Swallowing, she forced herself to look back at him, "We never really talked about it."

He shrugged, "I didn't want to push. You seemed to put it behind you."

"And then your friend died. That can't have helped. A burgeoning relationship…"

He shook his head, "No, not a relationship."

"But you said…"

Looking down, he remembered what he'd said to her, "I don't know why I said it. She kissed me and even while it was happening, I knew it wasn't right." Raising his eyes to meet hers, "I suppose I said it because to have admitted I felt nothing with her broken body less than 20 feet away would have made you think less of me."

"Me?" He nodded. "Robbie, there's nothing you could do to make me think less of you." Seeing his confused look, she laughed. "I said that badly. I simply mean... There's nothing you could do to change what I think or feel about you."

"I've missed this..." Pausing, he took a deep breath and met her gentle gaze. "I've missed you."

"I've been right here, waiting."

"Laura, do you think we could start our Sunday dinners again?"

Her smile was soft but still breathtaking. "I thought you'd never ask."