Chapter 3

Laura returned from her walk which turned into a run with a plan to hash things out with Robbie. She'd expended enough energy to dissipate some of the anger and hurt. Finally, she was ready to listen to what he might have to say.

She came through the back gate, letting herself into the house through the patio doors. The house was silent, still. It only took her a moment to know Robbie wasn't home. Walking into the kitchen, she looked for a note. She picked up her mobile hoping for a text or a missed call, still nothing.

The anger and hurt she'd managed to quell on her run returned, magnified in intensity. The damn job, again. He'd put the damn job ahead of their relationship again. She shook her head, stifling a scream. She knew she had to get out of the house. If she didn't, she would spend all of her time obsessing over it. Turning on her heel she headed for the stairs.

Taking the stairs two at a time she started peeling off her sweaty clothes making a beeline for the bathroom and started the shower. She hung her clothes to let them dry while she waited for the water to heat. Her mind catalogued the things she could do today to distract herself.

Half an hour later she was dressed and ready to leave. As she entered the bedroom she saw the flowers on her nightstand. A brittle laugh escaped, had he really thought cheap marigolds were going to smooth things over? She picked up the vase and carried it with her down the stairs. In the kitchen she threw the flowers into the garbage, emptied the vase and left it sitting in the sink.

The gift annoyed her but at least it had helped her decide what to do. The patio needed new flowers. She cast a single glance to the canoe. It was going if she had to take an axe to it and chop it up for kindling. She grabbed her things and headed out to distract herself.

The last of the flowers she had purchased were being loaded into the back of her car when she got the call out. Another body on Robbie's case, another shooting. She slammed down the back of her vehicle and headed out.

She worked the scene quickly, needing to get away. All of the officers in bulletproof vests only serving to remind her of the dangers of his job. Dangers she thought long past them. She watched him, happy, vital. Why wasn't she enough? Why did he need this? What if the shooter was still out there and he got caught in the crosshairs?

Packing up her case she stalked away. She didn't say much to anyone, doubted he'd even noticed she was gone. Handing off the last of her collected evidence to the technicians she signed a few forms and headed home.

A familiar car was parked in her drive. As soon as she set the parking brake the driver's door on the other car opened. An arm held a bottle high. It was closely followed by a familiar dark head, "Are you speaking to me?"

"That depends, did you only bring one bottle?"

Jean smiled, "I brought three and if that isn't enough I will have Richard bring more."

"It's a start but I'd have him on speed dial."

"I brought Thai food as well."

Laura laughed, "Come on in. You can put everything in the kitchen then help me unload these flowers." Jean looked down at her clothes, "Don't get all fussy with me. You are still in the doghouse."

"Did you really put Robbie's dinner in the canoe?"

Closing her car door she started walking to the house, "Yes I did and if you don't help me with the flowers you might find yours there too."

Jean laughed, "Fine. You do plan on forgiving me at some point this evening I trust."

Laura shrugged and entered the house. Jean grabbed the food and wine from her car and followed her inside. She made her way to the kitchen and put the food in the oven turning it to warm. She opened one bottle and poured two glasses. A quick glance at Laura and she knew she wasn't getting out of flower duty.

Leaving the glasses on the counter she followed Laura back to the car, "Where are you planning on putting all of these?"

"On the patio, it needs some color."

Taking one tray of plants she held it far from her clothes, "You're patio isn't this big."

Laura lifted two trays easily, "It will be when he finally gets rid of that damn canoe."

"There's really a canoe, it's not a euphemism?"

Laura headed for the side gate, standing back to let Jean unlatch it, "What exactly is canoe a euphemism for?"

Jean unlatched the gate and held it open for Laura, "I don't know. I thought it was some inside joke about him being in the doghouse." She followed Laura into the patio and was stunned, "I'll be damned; it is a canoe or at least parts of a canoe."

Setting the trays on the table she turned to Jean, "Exactly, it's been on my patio for two months. Two months in almost the exact same condition."

"Why?"

Stalking past her Laura huffed, "Wanted something to do with his hands."

"Surely you can find better things for him to do with his hands."

"Jean."

Holding her hands up, she smiled, "I meant in the garden or around the house. Although the other isn't a bad idea."

"Little chance of that now you have him working all hours of the night and day."

Jean lowered her head, "I'm sorry Laura."

"For what exactly?"

"I should have talked to you first. Told you I was going to ask Robbie about coming back."

"Why didn't you?"

Jean shrugged, "It's something I've been thinking about for a few weeks. Then James caught this case…" She paused unsure how to continue, "Something is wrong with James. He's angry, resentful."

"It's the transition, he'll get over it."

"I don't think so, there's something more. He's short tempered, won't delegate. I'm scared of what he might do."

"So what, you brought Robbie in to babysit? That still doesn't explain why you wouldn't have mentioned it to me first."

"Because I thought you would talk me out of it. And I didn't want to have to say something that would hurt you."

Laura shook her head, "What do you mean, hurt me?"

"Do you really not see it?"

"See what?"

"How unhappy Robbie is?"

Laura slumped into the nearest chair, "What do you mean unhappy? Unhappy with me?"

Jean knelt in front of her, "Not with you, with himself. He's not a man used to not having something to do." She tilted her head towards the detritus, "Hence the canoe."

Tears welled in Laura's eyes, "Why wouldn't he tell me?"

"Because you were so happy. You signed on for a retired partner, not a partner still in the heat of battle."

"I saw him at the crime scene today. Everyone was in bullet proof vests and it scared me. What if I lose him Jean?"

"Not to be the bearer of bad news, but chances are he will die before you." At Laura's stricken look Jean continued, "But it won't be because he's a police officer. The job I offered him was not meant for him to be in the field. I really do want him to mentor all of the detectives."

"So why was he out there?"

Jean looked away, "He saw the same thing in James. He asked me about it yesterday. He's worried too."

"Not to put too fine a point on it but isn't it your job to mentor your detectives?"

She stood walking away, "It is but James won't let me. He resents me for bringing him back, blames me."

Thinking back to James's glee when he told her about Robbie, Laura fumed. "James is a grown man. If he didn't want to come back he didn't have to. He made a choice and perhaps everyone should stop mollycoddling him and make him responsible for his own choices."

"Perhaps, but I can't."

"Why the hell not? You sure don't have a problem knocking others into line. And you've never had a problem dealing with James in the past."

"What if I did bring him back?"

"Jean, you gave him a choice. It was his decision to accept it."

She shrugged, "He called me, at the end of his journey. He called me to taunt me. I refused to listen. Just told him the Inspector's course started on Monday and I expected him back and shaved. A small piece of me wanted him to say no, wanted him to tell me to sod off and to hang up on me. But then I chickened out, rang off before he could. What if this isn't what he's meant to do?"

Laura stood, reaching for Jean's shoulder. She turned her to her, "You can't blame yourself. James has always been a bit lost. If walking across Spain didn't help him find himself then nothing will. Take off the kid gloves and get back to being you."

"I could say the same to you."

"What do you mean?"

"You are clearly angry at me and at Robbie. Why are you dealing with us with kid gloves?"

Laura turned away, "I was angry with you. Now I'm angry at myself. Why didn't I see what you saw?"

"Because you finally got your prize. You were so happy to have him you didn't see the rest. You love him Laura, love blinds us to a lot of things."

"But we should still be able to see when our partner is unhappy."

"Robbie did a really good job of hiding it when he was around you. I would wager he thought it would pass and didn't want you to worry until it did. He loves you Laura."

Laura huffed, "Yes, he loves me so much he couldn't be bothered to tell me he went back to work. I had to hear about it from James as he mocked me. Robbie couldn't even take 30 seconds to send me a text."

Jean winced, "He's still Robbie. He's never been a great communicator."

"Then to make it all better he brought home cheap marigolds he probably bought at Tesco."

Jean laughed, earning a scathing look from Laura. "Sorry the flowers were my fault. When Maddox gave him your message I suggested he pick up flowers."

"At least you brought wine."

"Which was Robbie's idea."

"At least tell me you brought the good stuff."

Jean nodded motioning into the house, "There's only one way to find out."