Chapter 7

Friday

He dropped the bag and the coffee on her desk with a smile.

"Good morning," she said. Opening the bag, she saw there was only one inside. "You already have yours?" She asked.

"I had oatmeal," he said, shaking his head. He took a long sip from his coffee, then slipped out of his winter coat. "I'll be back there," he mumbled, gesturing with his hand.

She snatched up her coffee, the bag with the scone, and her case file. "I'll come with," Alex announced.

His binder was in his hand, and he dropped it on the table with a thunk, then sat down in front of their timeline.

She sat down next to him, withdrew the scone, and started eating. She read over the timeline, too. "He was a real womanizer," she commented. Alex started thinking out loud, in between bites. "Who'd want to kill a womanizer? Jealous husband, boyfriend, etc…"

"The hockey guys don't seem to be like that," Bobby commented.

"A woman he hurt?"

"He didn't hurt them physically. Emotionally…" Bobby stood up and traced a finger along the timeline as he read through it once more. "Eames," he began his question, "how many divorcees you know who are okay with the ex's girlfriend watching the kid?"

She tilted her head. "Not many, but it does happen."

"Remember what Tammy said? It wasn't amicable at first, but they learned how for Dani's sake." He turned and asked, one hand scratching the back of his head, "How long does it usually take to 'learn how' to get along with your ex?"

Alex was getting on board with him now. She nodded. "Usually longer than two years."

"Tammy was hurt. He cheated on her. He chose other women over family. And then she's going to let the other woman keep her daughter?"

"Michelle was with him the night he died."

"Michelle was hurt, too. They were on the outs."

"They were making amends."

"So she says."

"And Filipek."

There was a pause while Bobby tried to put his thoughts together. He sat down again, next to Eames. "Guys… guys don't have those conversations with each other. Women do."

She looked at him, waiting for him to clarify.

"Look. Thornton and Filipek are practicing hockey… they're burning off steam. That's what guys do when they've got something on their minds. Maybe a sentence slips out… 'she's leaving me,' or 'she wants me back,' but that's it. We don't get into conversations about these things."

"You're stereotyping. You have conversations with me all the time," she quipped.

A hundred emotions flashed over his face: anger, frustration, fear. "The conversation only happens with a woman. With… the woman…" Bobby jumped up out of his seat and stood in front of the timeline again, with his back to her. "…you love. Have we asked Michelle about her relationship with Tammy?" He was relieved when Alex didn't appear to pick up on his confession.

"No."

"I think we should go see her."

Alex tossed her bag into the trash can and gathered up her things. "Okay."

"Dinner tonight?" Alex asked as she navigated the morning traffic.

His smile was sweet, and showed his pearly whites. "Sure."

"I thought maybe I could take you to Franklin Street. They have dancing there, too."

If it were possible, his smile brightened. "Sounds great."

"I'll take you out again when you've lost 5 pounds."

"Deal."

She parked the car, and they walked up the drive together, carefully avoiding the ice on the sidewalk.

Alex rang the bell, while Bobby's attention drifted and swayed behind her.

Michelle opened the door. "I'm getting ready for work," she said.

"We won't stay long," Alex replied. Michelle let the two come inside and shut the door.

The detectives peeled off gloves and opened their coats, but did not take them off. "I know there were times when Mack was… busy, and you had to watch Dani for him."

"Yeah. Happened a lot."

"Was he… hassled that he had a kid?"

"No, he loved Danielle! We all love her. But Mack, he… he just got caught up in himself sometimes, you know?" Michelle put her hair up in a bun and secured it with a clip. "Like last summer? He was all about Dani. But as soon as he got the job with the NHL, he got obsessed with hockey again."

"Hockey, and other women," Alex muttered.

"What?"

"He… cheated on you," Bobby interjected.

Michelle's face was angry a moment. "What if he did? It doesn't matter now, anyway. Nothing does."

"He cheated on you, but you were still taking care of his kid. Why didn't you call Tammy and ask her to get Dani?"

"I did."

Bobby grinned and waggled his finger in the air knowingly as he spoke. "I know what happened… you took Dani home to Tammy, and she invited you in… and you two had a lot in common."

"Two jilted women," Alex agreed.

"Well, can you blame me? I was hurt, and Tammy… understood."

"And you're still close to Tammy?"

"Sure, she's a friend."

A quick glance and Bobby buttoned up his coat. "Okay, we'll get out of your hair so you can get to work." Alex fastened her coat as well and said her goodbyes. "Any word on… services yet?" Bobby called back as they opened the door.

"Saturday at 9. At Resthaven."

The rest of Bobby's day was spent digging deeper into Michelle Garner's life.

Dinner was over, and the two kept the conversation going while they waited for the DJ to set up.

"You did it again?"

"All the way up. I did it just before I left for home."

"I'm proud of you, Bobby. You haven't had any more… trouble, have you?"

"No," he reassured her, and it was true. With each passing day, he felt a little better, a little stronger.

The music finally started and he led her to the dance floor. Her hand felt comfortable in his, and he liked dancing with her. For Bobby, dancing was easy, not like running.

After 20 minutes, she said she was thirsty, and they went back to their table. "I don't know if I can keep up with you," Alex said, panting.

He grinned, but didn't comment. After a few sips of water and another hard drink, he spoke again. "Alex? Thanks."

She stopped drinking two hours before they closed the place down. The air was frigid and they walked quickly to the car and shivered waiting for it to warm up.

He wasn't drunk, but he was feeling it. Bobby saw her pressing her gloved hands together and he knew she was cold. He unbuttoned one button on his coat, turned to her, and took her hands in his. He stuck her hands inside the opening, warming them against his chest. It worked. She relished the feeling of her hands against the warmth of his core. But it also trapped them against each other, faces inches apart.

He kissed her.

Bobby kissed Alex, and she didn't mind. His heart did a leap inside his chest as he realized she wasn't going to stop him, and that she was kissing him back.