Chapter 30

He watched Laura from across the table, knew from her expression the call she was on was bad news. She smiled at him, grimacing lightly as she reached into her bag to grab a pen and paper.

He felt his own phone buzzing in his pocket. Pulling it out, he expected it to be James giving him the same news Laura was apparently getting. Instead it was a number he didn't recognize. "Hello."

"Robbie, Robbie Lewis?"

"Yes."

"It's Louise Cornish. Jack's wife."

"Oh, yeah. How are you?"

She paused for a moment, "I was wondering if you could drop by the house. I have something to talk with you about."

"Sure, will Jack be there?"

"No, he's not here right now."

Robbie looked at his watch, "Give me about an hour."

"Thanks, Robbie."

He ended the call, placed his phone on the table. Laura was still on the phone. He fell back into watching her. Her face was a mask of concentration but no less beautiful for it. He smiled to himself, these thoughts seemed to come to him more frequently of late.

She'd always been beautiful but now it took his breath away with increasing frequency. Lost in his thoughts, he didn't hear her end the call.

"Earth to Robbie."

He shook his head, "What?"

"Where did you go?"

"Sorry, didn't sleep well. Guess I zoned out for a few minutes. Were you telling me something?"

She frowned, "I was saying I have to go. I'm really sorry."

"Make it up to me tonight? Drinks, dinner?"

Her frown became a grimace, "Sorry, I have plans. Raincheck?"

"Of course, I guess it's not my day."

Standing, she reached across the table and rubbed his arm. "Look at it this way, you can have an early night, catch up on some sleep."

"I'd rather be sleep-deprived and have time with you."

A shadow of something flitted across Laura's face. "That's sweet. I could do something tomorrow."

He nodded, "Sounds good."

There was only one car in the drive when he arrived. He'd hoped Jack would be home. It would be nice to see him.

Locking up his car, he made his way to the door, loosening his tie slightly on the walk. He rang the bell, waited.

The door open, Louise smiled up at him. "Robbie, come in."

He'd left her house in a daze, driven to where he often met Laura, parked then gone for a walk. Eventually, he'd called Jack, not sure if he wanted him to answer or not. What could he say to him? He'd not really been able to say anything to Louise beyond he would try to talk to Jack.

Tucking his phone back into his pocket, he started walking. People passed him, bright, happy. They all had somewhere to be. He wished he had somewhere to be, someone to be with. Laura crossed his mind, he thought about calling her then remembered she had plans. A takeaway it would have to be.

Laura sat at the bench, nursing a drink. This was a mistake. She wasn't sure why she'd told David yes. There was something brewing with Robbie. If it was any other man, she would think they were dating. But with Robbie, she kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Waiting for the two steps forward two steps back dance they'd been doing.

She smiled to herself, dating Robbie, a completely appealing idea. Glancing down the length of the path, she was surprised to see Robbie. For a moment, she considered calling out to him. Then she saw David. A pang of guilt stabbed through her. It stifled the desire to call out to him. But it also made her regret saying yes to David even more.

Robbie made it home, no phone ringing as he came through the door. He was slightly disappointed to find Val not there. Since she'd advised him to start a new chapter she was there less and less. He supposed it was prepping him for when she was gone.

He dropped his things on the table then went to change. When he returned to the kitchen, she was sitting at the table. "All you have to do is call me."

Moving easily around the kitchen, he gathered what he needed to eat. "I guess I'm afraid of the day you won't come when called."

She paused, "I figured you would be with Laura tonight."

"She had plans." He started eating, "I did talk with an old friend tonight." At her raised eyebrow, he continued, "Louise Cornish."

"Jack Cornish's wife. Why did you talk with her?"

"She called me, asked me to drop by. Apparently, Jack's left. She suspects he's having an affair." Val's silence shocked him. "You don't seem surprised by that."

"I guess I'm not really. I never really liked Jack nor Louise for that matter."

"We were great friends with them Val."

She shook her head, "No, Robbie. You were great friends with Jack, although I never understood it. Louise and I were forced together and endured for you two. I never much liked her and I am certain the feeling was mutual."

"Val, they were great friends to us."

"Really, where were they after I died? Did they show up? Check how you were doing?"

He pushed his plate away, "No, but a lot of people didn't. People don't know what to do, how to handle the grief."

"Real friends do. Laura did. Laura even stayed in touch even when you went away."

Picking up his plate, he stood, walked away from her "That's different."

"How's it different, Robbie?"

"She's a woman. You all know how to deal with emotion."

"No, Robbie, she was a genuine friend. They aren't. Stay away from her, Robbie. Stay away from Jack, too."

"I can't, Val. I at least have to make an effort. Maybe I can make a difference."

"Why don't you make a difference with Laura?"

He turned to her, "What?"

"Ask her on a real date? You know, one where you get dressed up, go somewhere nice. Two grown-ups on a real, live date."

"We go out together all the time."

"As friends. It's time to call it a date. You know you want it and you know she does."

He paused, his thoughts from earlier in the evening returning. She was the only person he'd thought of when he'd thought of someone to be with. Moving forward with her would mean leaving Val, the life he had with her, behind.

"I know you're scared, Robbie. But you also know it's the right thing to do." Smiling sadly, he nodded to her. "I'll give you some space."

"Val, I love you."

She smiled brilliantly, "I know, love. Doesn't mean there isn't room for someone else."