Chapter 16

Laura drove to work. She knew she couldn't blame Robbie. They'd moved in together after he'd retired. James had gone away on his pilgrimage at the same time. She hadn't had to share him with anyone other than Lyn and Jack.

Anger flared as she realized she was excusing his behavior again. No, she had every right to be angry. James hadn't gone to Maddox because she had a life and he respected it. James didn't respect that she and Robbie had a life, away from the office, away from him.

One thing she was resolute about, she wouldn't be the one teaching James to respect their relationship. Robbie would have to teach that particular lesson. With some semblance of a resolution in her head, she pulled into the car park prepared to start her day.

Robbie fixed himself breakfast only to realize he didn't have much appetite. Tossing the remains into the garbage he saw the dish he'd thrown away. Last night had been brimming with possibility, why had he let James in?

He could have told him to go, said they were about to go somewhere. Instead, he'd let him barge into their home and take over their sitting room. It had been like old times. Talking over a case late into the night. Of course, in old times, James would have left and he would have been alone.

Alone with his thoughts, alone in a silent, pitiful flat with no one who cared. His life had changed so much. There was someone here who cared. Someone who lifted him up, accepted him, forgave him. Would she forgive him this time?

He made his way upstairs, made the bed and prepared for his day. Looking in the mirror he found he couldn't meet his own eyes. His words about Val kept echoing in his head. There had been real hurt in Laura's voice when she reminded him she wasn't Val. He'd never heard that before. She had always encouraged him to talk about Val in the past. Perhaps it was the comparison that had hurt her.

The day had dragged. They'd not made any real progress on the case. Maddox had headed home to her husband leaving James and Robbie alone in the office. "Care to get a drink? Maybe grab some dinner?"

Robbie looked at him and shook his head, "Another time. I need to get home to Laura."

James laughed, "She still mad you came back to work? Better run home and appease her."

Robbie stared at James, uncertain where his comments came from. "Actually James, she forgave me for coming back to work. She's not especially pleased I let you barge into our house last night."

James turned to stare at Robbie, "If you didn't want me there all you had to do was say."

"Really, if I'd just said 'James this isn't a good time' you would have left."

He looked down, recognizing his rudeness from the night before. "Yes, I would have." James paused, "I'm not really sure how I fit into your world now. Before you were always available. It was nothing for us to work late going over the details of the case."

Robbie nodded, leaning forward in his chair. "I know. We have to find a balance."

"Those sound like Laura's words. She doesn't want me around does she?"

"James, it's not like that." Robbie paused, smiling, "But maybe not dropping by at nine o'clock at night…"

"I should have called first."

"Or maybe let it wait until morning." He saw James' look and held up his hand, "I might have been the wrong person for you to have been partnered with James. I didn't have a life, I worked all of the hours I worked because I didn't have anything to go home to. Don't be like me James."

"You were the perfect person for me to be partnered with Robbie. I wouldn't have lasted and I certainly wouldn't have come back if it hadn't been for you." They sat quietly in the office, each lost in his own thoughts. "So does balance mean we can't still have an occasional drink?"

"It does not. In fact, I think we need one drink." He stood, grabbing his jacket, "One drink only, mind you."

James' laughter filled the room, "I'm going to hold you to that. And it's my treat, you know, for ruining your evening."

Robbie clapped him on the back, "The nice thing about being in a relationship, there are lots of evenings."

He opened the door sticking his head in for a quick glance. The first thing he noticed was a delicious smell, garlic and bacon. He pushed the door open and walked inside. His bags weren't packed and waiting for him which he took as a good sign. He put his keys in the bowl by the door and made his way to the kitchen.

Laura was dressed casually at the stove stirring something with one hand and drinking wine with the other. There was music playing in the background, jazz with a man singing, he didn't recognize it. She swayed slightly to the beat of the music.

Walking around the edge of the counter he cleared his throat, "Can I have this dance miss?"

She turned to him, almost spilling her wine. "Robbie, don't scare me like that."

He smiled, "Sorry, I figured you heard me and were ignoring me."

She poured him a glass of wine and placed it on the counter next to him, "I didn't hear you."

He nodded to the stove, "Something smells amazing."

"Spaghetti carbonara and garlic bread."

"Does that mean you've forgiven me?"

"It's not a matter of forgiveness, Robbie. It's a matter of respect. I need to know you respect us, me. I came in second or third to the job and James for too many years. Val might have been willing to accept it but I'm not."

Pulling his arm from where he was hiding it behind him, he revealed a huge bouquet of differently colored dahlias. "Hopefully these are better than the last ones I brought."

She laughed, taking them from him. "They are beautiful Robbie."

"I couldn't settle on just one color. I know all of the colors have different meanings. So they each represent something about you which I love."

She brushed her fingers over the soft petals of an orange flower, "What does this one mean?"

"Confidence and passion. You have both of those qualities. And you've given them both to me. I'd forgotten what they were until you."

Biting on her lip trying to stop the tears welling in her eyes, she moved her hand to a blue one. "And this one?"

"Peace and serenity."

A single tear fell down her cheek. Her hand moved to the last color. A light lavender bloom, only just beginning to open. "What about this one?"

He moved closer to her, wiping the tear from her cheek, "Grace." He stared down at her tear filled eyes, "I'm sorry, Laura. And before you ask what I am sorry for, I talked to James."

She blinked, "Really."

"Don't act so surprised. You didn't really think I would choose him over you."

She giggled, "No, but I thought it might be a close decision."

He kissed her forehead then took a deep breath. "After that awful recipe he gave me last night, do you really think I would toss you aside?"

She nudged him, "So your stomach made the decision?"

He looked down at her, suddenly serious, "No, my heart made the decision. I love you, Laura. I should have told him to go last night. And I told him that."

"So no more late night drop-ins, no more inviting himself to dinner with us, no more disappearing in that blasted canoe for hours on the weekends?"

He smiled, "Well maybe the occasional trip in the canoe. But not without also inviting you."

"I don't think we have to spend all of our time together."

"I know, Laura. But I should at least ask if you had other plans in mind. You always ask me before you make plans with your friends."

She rolled her eyes, "It's not like I'm asking permission."

"No, but you are very respectful of my time. I'm just promising to do the same."

"Is James ok?"

He nodded, "He will be. He's still adjusting." He pulled her to him, careful not to crush the flowers, "Now, Dr. Hobson, there is an unanswered question hanging between us."

"Robbie, I told you I wasn't ignoring you."

Lowering his head he whispered against her lips, "Can I have this dance?"