“Did you eat?” I ask as he approaches.
“Not yet.”
“Follow me.”
I pull out some deli meat and cheese and bread and makeus sandwiches while Patrick makes himself at home at the island.
“I don’t have you out here enough,” I say offhandedly.
“We tend to go our own ways on our off days,” he agrees.
“You’ve got your wife and her business.”
“And you’ve got …” his voice trails off.
No time like the present.
“Hallie.” I turn to catch the shocked look on his face only to find him smiling.
“I thought as much.”
“Really? Man. We thought we were stealth.”
“She’s far more stealth than you. First it’s the smiles. And then it’s the way you watch her when she’s doing anything at all. Not like you’re watching a rookie. You’re watching her.”
“We met years ago.”
“Really?” There’s the shocked look.
“Yeah. In Munich, of all places.”
Just the mention of Munich brings a memory rushing forward—us running out of the bakery, gripping our cocoa and pastries, smiling at one another as we walked toward the botanical garden.
“Wow. So you knew her before she joined the crew? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I didn’t want to rock the boat. She had a lot to prove. And she didn’t recognize me. Anyway …”
“So, you’re dating.”
“If you want to call it that. We’re spending our free time together—whenever she doesn’t have to be with Mia. But we’re not openly dating—because of Mia.”
“Ahhh. Yeah. That’s a tough call—when to tell a child you’re seeing someone as a single parent.”
“It is. And I’m letting her call the shots on that.”
“So, you wanted my opinion on your relationship?”
“No. Not really. I figured you’d approve—or not. I’ve got another situation going on.”
Patrick sits quietly. I set his plate in front of him. He thanks me.
“Water, tea?”
“Water.”
I fill a glass for him.
“Before Hallie showed up, a friend in DC called about a position with FEMA. I set the ball in motion to interview.”
