The New York air had a snap to it, as Robert Goren walked through the park. He had just gotten off work, and so was still in his well-pressed police blues.

A petit brunette in a flower skirt and blue cardigan sweater walked a few feet beside him. She was carrying an open knapsack with several books in it. "You really don't have to walk me home, Bobby." She said in her soft British voice. She wondered sometimes if when she had come here from England, she thought she would meet a man like Robert Goren. He was a perfectly sweet gentleman, she was just a little confused sometimes around him; he had this strange presence.

"It's not a problem, Victoria." He gave her an awkward smile. "Also, it's a dangerous city; I want you to be able to get home safely."
She titled her oval face up at him slightly, a frown playing at the edge of his mouth. She didn't have the heart to tell him that she was perfectly safe walking the short distance from the library to her apartment. Victoria enjoyed the solitude of walking alone in the park, and maybe occasionally flirting with guys she saw.

She knew Bobby was just trying to be a good friend, and he didn't realize that when she walked with him it was strange. She always had the feeling that a small framed woman might have if she had decided she needed to buy a mastiff for a dog. Bobby, to her, always seemed a bit awkward of his tall frame, no matter what he wore. "You really don't have to." She said with a little more impatience than she had intended.

Bobby, who had briefly been watching a leaf fall, stopped in mid stride, and turned to her. He gave her an almost sad smile, as he watched her for a few seconds without saying anything.

"I didn't mean to imply I didn't like walking with you Bobby, it's nice." Victoria said nervously, sensing that he was hurt. She started to walk away, hoping that he would follow.

Bobby caught up with her in two steps. "Good," He said, almost as an after thought.

She thought it would be best if she started a conversation about a book she had been reading. It was just the right distraction; they talked about the book for the rest of the walk.

When they got to the apartment, she kissed him on his cheek in a sisterly fashion.

"Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?" He asked, in a prepared voice as if he had been practicing it for days in front of the mirror.

Victoria gave him a soft smile. She wanted to clarify what he meant by that, but she could tell from his hopeful expression, he meant more than two friends going out to dinner. She gave him a weak smile. "I'm sure if it will work out."

He titled her head at her. "Dinner?"

"I don't think you meant just dinner, Bobby." She frowned, she wanted to let him down gently, but she wasn't sure how to do so. "We would never work as a couple. We are better just friends." She reached up, and kissed his forehead, and headed inside.

When Victoria got near the front window, she looked outside, and Bobby was still standing on the sidewalk. His gaze was at the concrete, and he looked like a lost puppy that had just got kicked. A second later, she watched him walk away.

Sometime about 9pm, he called her. He wanted to know that his shift had been switched and he couldn't walk her home tomorrow. He sounded like everything was okay between them, and he told her he would see her at the next meeting of the book club they were both in.

Victoria tapped her fingers nervously, and found herself blurting out. "I don't think we can be friends anymore."

It took her a few minutes to force herself to say she didn't mean it and she was sorry, but she was talking to the dial tone at that point.