Page 102 of First Date: Divorce
She didn’t turn around.Hearing his voice, feeling his presence behind her, drawing in his scent with each breath was hard enough.
“We can figure out how to see each other until this is over without anyone from Marriage-Save or Bardville knowing.Our version of the closets for the outside world.”
She knew from his voice that he’d grinned at the memory.
She didn’t.
“That would have to include Cully not knowing, because we agreed to how he set it up and that included separating after we left Marriage-Save.Even last night…” She swallowed.“I have to be ready to move immediately on the next phase of the investigation if — when Gail Bledsoe contacts me.At any moment.We can’t risk…” She stopped, then aimed for light.“Going our separate ways was part of the plan from the beginning.After all, we had rings that belonged to a couple that never made it.”
“They made it — they’ve had great lives.Happy lives, with wonderful kids.That’s my definition of making it.”
“Not with each other.That’s my point — great lives but not with each other.”A tear slid down her cheek.Another escaped right behind it.They weakened her argument.But he couldn’t see them, and she thought she’d kept them out of her voice.
“You think that’s what happens now?You walk away, walk out of my life?”
“Yes.As we planned.We can’t risk contact—”
“Fine, yeah.Great.For the good of the investigation.I know.But after—”
“Eric, your life is here.Mine’s in Cabot County.Long distance?That’s hard enough, but—”
“Stranger things have worked.”
“—with my schedule and you wanting kids — four kids, Eric—”
“Maybe three.
“—and—”
“You terrified of marriage.Yeah, I know.None of that’s enough to stop us from seeing where this might go.Because I also know neither of us is the person we started out as.You know I—” He turned her to him.The tears she’d kept out of her voice must have shown.“Aw, K.D.”
He reached to put his arms around her.She stepped back.
His arms dropped.
As they stared at each other, Pauline’s voice floated up the stairwell.“Cully wants to know if K.D.’s left yet so he can monitor her communications for anything from that Bledsoe woman.”
“Tell him I’m leaving right now.”K.D.touched Eric’s arm, then turned and started down the stairs.
Eric followed after a moment.
Pauline enfolded K.D.in a hug that nearly undid her, especially as she returned it.
“You take care of yourself, young lady,” the older woman scolded.Then she cleared her throat, turned away, heading for her office, but saying over her shoulder, “Got to tell Cully.Remember, anybody could be watching you two out there.Eric, for heaven’s sake, carry that suitcase for her.”
Eric got to its handle before K.D.could.
“You heard the woman.”His voice lacked its usual warmth.“Ready?”
“Ready.”
He carried her suitcase to the rental vehicle and stowed it behind the driver’s seat.
She opened the driver’s door, then turned to him.
Turning toward …You build or you tear down in the many small moments.
But she had to leave.It was what they’d planned from the start … Turning away.
