Chapter 6

The soft tap-tap-tap at her office door snapped Hope out of her reverie. Looking up she saw her assistant standing in the door frame, rummaging through her handbag. Flustered, she stammered, "Y-yes, Claudia, what is it?"

"A couple of us are going over to the deli across the street for lunch, I was wondering if I could bring you back something to eat?"

Lunch? What time is it? Hope snuck a glance at her watch – it was almost one o'clock. Over four hours at work and she'd read only a dozen pages of the manuscript lying open on her desk.

"Sure… sure that … that would be great. Here, let me …" Hope reached into her desk drawer and pulled out her on handbag. She found a $20 and handed it over to Claudia, "… I think I'd like their vegetarian sandwich on multi grain and a Diet Coke. Take … take your time though, no hurry. Enjoy your lunch."

Claudia watched her boss, as curious about her today as she had been since that first day, now over three years ago. Hope had come to Hudson Publishing unexpectedly starting as an assistant editor. While Hope had always been a little distant, she wasn't unfriendly, but reserved and very private. She just didn't seem to join in any of the social activities in the office and she never spoke of family or friends. She had a couple of pictures in her office, but they were the same ones that she'd brought when she arrived. Not a new one in the bunch. Claudia liked working for Hope though, she was a thoughtful boss and really very kind, just uninvolved, not quite a part of her environment.

"Say, Hope… is everything all right? You know, It's just that recently I've noticed that you've been a little distracted… not... not quite yourself."

"Really, not quite myself?" she asked, voice pitched slightly higher than normal. And just who is 'myself'? she asked herself, before answering Claudia's question. "Everything's fine. I … I suppose I have been a little distracted, but … well, it's nothing to worry about."

"If you're sure… because you know… if you need someone to… "

The ringing of the phone broke through Claudia's comments.

Hope jumped in, "Everything's fine, really. I … I appreciate the offer…. Look, I'll get that." Hope walked back towards the desk and the phone. "You… you should get going, you don't want to keep the others waiting." Making a shooing motion with her hands, she added, "Go… go. Enjoy your lunch."

"Okay, I won't be long. I'll be back with your lunch before you know it."

"Thanks, Claudia."

As Claudia turned and started to walk away, she heard her boss answer the phone, "Hope Thornton..."


"Hope Thornton…" Just the sound of her voice, was responsible for the smile that spread across his lips, reaching up to his eyes. "Hello, Hope Thornton. This is Robert Goren."

"Hi, this is a nice surprise." She was sure that he could hear the smile in her voice. "I was just thinking about you." Okay, so she'd been thinking about him all day. In the almost four hours at work, she'd plowed through less than a dozen pages of a new manuscript, and couldn't remember a single word.

"Look, I know it's kind of late for lunch, but I just got the rest of the day off…" He let the suggestion hang in the air, as he finished his thought. …and I'd really like to see you.

"Well, this is great timing, I haven't eaten yet." Already forgotten was the vegetarian sandwich that Claudia was bringing back.

"I'll pick you up, in say twenty minutes?" Bobby turned the key in the ignition.

"Okay, I'll meet you out front." Hope's heartbeat quickened. She remembered feeling giddy like this in high school, when she'd first started dating. That had been a long time ago and a lot had happened since then, and she never expected to feel like this ever again. Yet, she was.


Claudia and her friend Monica were returning from the deli, approaching the building when she saw Hope walk out the door. She watched her boss look up and down the street, a big smile quickly breaking out across her face as her attention was drawn to the honking of a horn. Claudia turned to see a tall man getting out of a car and coming around to open the passenger door. As Hope walked up, his hand slid around her waist as he leaned down to press a quick kiss to her lips. She watched as she saw her 'distant' boss reach up and caress his cheek.

"Claudia…"

Hearing her name, Claudia turned toward the voice.

"I asked, wasn't that Hope getting into that car?" Monica repeated.

"Yeah, I think it was."

"Come on girl, dish… Who's the guy?"

"I… I don't know. I guess maybe he's why that she's seemed a little out of it lately. I… I never would have guessed that there was … someone."

"Yeah, she doesn't really send out those kinds of signals. But, hey… good for her. Looks like your afternoon might just have been freed up. You want to help me catch up on my filing?"

"Why would I want to help you catch up on your filing? I have pages of notes to type up for Hope."

Shrugging, Monica continued, "Well, if you won't help me, will you at least share Hope's sandwich with me? I doubt she'll be coming back for it today and I'm still hungry."

The two looked at each other and broke out laughing.


Bobby drove them to one of his favorite restaurants, Sal's. When they entered the small establishment, Bobby was warmly greeted. "Bobby… we don't see you here for lunch very often. In fact, I think it's been a long time since we've seen you for dinner too. Let's see about getting the two of you seated."

"Hi Veronica. You're right, it's been awhile since I've been here. I've missed it." Bobby admitted.

"So, you're a regular here?" Hope asked. "You bring all your dates here?"

"Oh, I don't think I've ever seen Bobby here with anyone before. He usually comes in by himself." Veronica winked, letting both know she was joking.

"You don't have to cover for me, Veronica."

"Well, then.... let me tell you about Bobby. It used to be a different girl every night of the week."

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" The woman joked right back.

Seeing Bobby's embarrassed grin and the woman's big open smile, Veronica added to herself, "until now". She laughed and said, "I'll send Miranda over to get your drink orders.

Eggplant parmigiana and wine were ordered, delivered and the few remains quickly taken away. The meal passed mostly in silence, with Bobby sitting back, watching and waiting. Even though he believed she'd been happy to see him when he picked her up, he noticed that a distance had grown between them. She'd been staring into her wineglass for a while, when their check arrived.

Bobby thanked Miranda and pulled out his credit card. "I'll be right back with your receipt."

"So…" Bobby began, the word breaking through Hope's contemplation. "… do you have to get back to work?"

Hope smiled back, "No, not really. Why? What did you have in mind?"

"Nothing. I just thought… maybe… we could just hang out?" He saw the expression on her face freeze. "But, if you'd rather not, I can have you back at work…" The waitress slipped the receipt and credit card on the table.

Before he could finish, she was shaking her head 'no'. "No, I'd like to hang out. It's … it's just kind of complicated, it should be so easy, but it isn't." The hostess and waitress' attitude towards Bobby had shaken her. She was beginning to wonder about Bobby. Wonder about what she had done. Bobby had seemed so alone, but what if he really wasn't? What if everything she'd written to him had nothing to do with 'saving' him? What if it had all been about saving herself? Now, if she began to question her motivation, should she be questioning his?

Bobby leaned back in his chair, "Complicated? Complicated how? With work or with…" For the first time warning bells went off and he remembered what he'd told Eames, I've thought this through… Maybe he had, but what about Hope? Had she? She had probably never thought that he would track her down from her letters.

Hope laid her hand on top of his. He could see her trying to come up with an explanation. "I … I … " she choked back a sob.

"Look, we don't have to get into this now. Let's, let's just get out of here." If they were anywhere other than a public place, he would have wrapped her up in his arms to comfort her. As it was all he did was place his other hand on top of hers.

Hope nodded, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. Bobby stood and held the chair for her. As she continued to the door, he signed the receipt, picked up his credit card and joined her at the door, where she was thanking the hostess for the great service and food.

"Thank you. I hope you'll come back soon."

"I'd like that." Hope said as the two women watched Bobby approach.

"I'll make sure to tell Miranda how much you appreciated the service." Veronica said, loud enough to be heard by Bobby.

"I think the tip I added will get that point across." Bobby added as he came up behind Hope, placing his hands on her shoulders.

That's right, I forgot, Detective Robert Goren - the last of the big-time tippers." The three laughed.

Hope reached out for his hand as they walked out. "Could we… could we go somewhere and just walk for a while?"

"Sure… sure whatever you want. We can go over to the park."

As he drove, she thought about what he'd said. "…whatever you want." Now all she had to do was figure out exactly what that was and how to get it.


It was still early when Bobby dropped Hope off at her apartment. She didn't invite him in and he didn't ask. A gentle kiss and hug ended their day. As Bobby turned to walk away, he heard her softly say, "Thank you Bobby."

He turned back to her, "No… thank you Hope." Bobby turned and walked away, hearing the soft closing of the door.