Robbie sat on the bench replaying the conversation with Louise Cornish. He remembered when he felt the same way, certain he would never love again. Briefly he wondered if Val hadn't been his secret companion if he would still feel the same.

Perhaps her circumstances were different. Val hadn't left him by choice. So, for him, it was a matter of moving past the grief. He imagined it was different when the spouse chose to walk away, chose to betray the trust so intrinsic to marriage. How did you put those fragile pieces back together?

It had been hard enough for him with Val to guide him without the added betrayal. Yet, here he was, ready to take the leap again. Ready to love another woman again. He smiled at the thought. Val might have been the steady hand guiding him behind the scenes but Laura had been there all along. Patient, caring, well maybe not always so patient. But, always there.

He pulled his mobile from his pocket and pressed the button for her. Before she could utter a word, "Could you meet me at our bench?"

"Sure Robbie, fifteen minutes OK?"

"See you then."

It wasn't until a few minutes after he disconnected that he realized she might be concerned about his abrupt call. He laughed to himself, imagining her anger when she found him unharmed sitting on a bench. Would relief win the day or could he expect a thorough dressing down for the needless alarm? He found he didn't care which it was as long as she was by his side.

"Well at least you are all in one piece."

Lost in his thoughts of her, her voice startled him. He turned, looking up at her, surrounded by the sunlight. "If it helps, I was just wondering if I would have to face your wrath for the unexplained urgent call or if finding me whole would save me?"

She glared at him, still not joining him on the bench. "If I'm honest, I haven't decided yet."

Without a thought, he took her hand and brought it to his lips gently. "Would it help to know I just wanted to see you and in my excitement all sense of decorum went out the window?"

Dropping onto the bench beside him, she softly stroked his face, "It gets you off with a warning, Inspector."

"Thank you for coming."

She smiled, "Dead bodies can wait. Are you sure you are OK?"

He nodded against her hand, "I am now." At her concerned looked, he kissed the palm of her hand. "Chatting with Louise Cornish. Her sense of loss made me think of mine. Then I realized, I don't feel that way anymore. And it's down to you."

"Me?"

"You. Your patience with me and my fumbling. A lesser woman wouldn't have waited around for the likes of me."

Laura paused, equal parts pleased and scared. Taking a deep breath, she chose not to let her fear show, "Well…when you put it that way."

"I'm serious, Laura. I know I haven't made it easy for you. I've hurt you not deliberately but still."

Hearing all he wasn't saying, Laura sighed. Feeling nothing else needed to be said, she tucked into him. He tightened his arm around her pulling her closer. An accepting silence filled the space between them in a way words never could.

Robbie was certain he could stay in this moment forever. But he had a promise to keep to the lovely woman in his arms. "If I want to take you out for that celebratory drink I will actually have to solve this case."

She laughed, "I thought you already had."

"Technically, but I don't understand it."

"Want to walk and talk? Perhaps I can help you understand."

He stood, offering her his hand. They walked hand in hand as he told her about the search at the mortuary and then his conversation with Louise Cornish. They stopped at the top of a bridge and looked out at the water.

"Jack Cornish didn't just fall into drugs, through poverty or chaos in life. He walked into it with his eyes wide open. Knowing people are going to die, lives are going to be ruined. And he just didn't care."

"Well, you'll put a stop to that."

He shrugged, "Well we closed the factory. We've still got to nail Faulkner and his mates. "

She smiled at him, "You will."

Robbie nodded to the far shore of the river. "And when I do, do you fancy a ride one night after work."

She looked at him unbelieving. "A ride?"

"What…" He looked at her for a second not understanding. A deep frisson of desire running through him. "Oh, I mean a bike ride. There's a bike hire shop…"

Laura laughed at his discomfort. "Robbie, you on a bike."

They both started laughing and he pulled her into his arms. He looked down at her lovingly. "So is that a yes or no on a ride?"

"That's a yes."