Charlie punctuated Michael’s words with a thump on the side of the bin.
“I think he’s seconding the motion,” Angie said.
“Good.” Michael moved to her workbench to inspect her tools. “I’ve never seen where you work before.”
“Really?” Billie had been a constant visitor, but there had never been a reason for Michael to come here. “No, I guess you haven’t.”
He walked over to where her crucibles and welding gear were located. “Is this where you make your alloys?”
“Yep.”
He turned and laid a hand on the scarred wood of her stump, a four-foot-high section of tree trunk that had served her well over the years. “And this is where you shape your rings?”
“Sometimes. But I’ve got a couple of different types of ring benders, too. It depends on what I’m working on.” She moved closer, picking up one of the many hammers that sat in the leather loops circling the stump.
“No wonder you have Obama arms,” he said.
“Don’t forget the calluses.”
He raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised. She displayed her work-toughened palms to him.
“I’ve never noticed,” he said.
“I should hope not. A lady likes to have a few secrets.”
He smiled, glanced at his watch, then at Charlie. She checked her own watch and saw it was past twelve.
“Someone’s going to want lunch soon,” she said.
“Tell me about it. Probably needs his diaper changed, too, and I didn’t bring any with me.” He crossed the room and hoisted Charlie into his arms. “Time for us to go, Charlie-boy.”
Charlie immediately began fussing. Michael gave her an exasperated look over his son’s head.
“Sorry.”
“Hey, I’d cry, too, if I had to leave this palace.”
She walked them down the stairs and out the side entrance, kissing Charlie goodbye in the cobblestone laneway.
“Thanks for all your help, little man.”
He stared at her, bottom lip trembling, eyes awash with tears.
“I think that’s the saddest face in the whole wide world,” she said, unable to resist stroking his cheek with her finger.
“And yet nothing is actually wrong,” Michael said drily.
They exchanged smiles.
“Let me know if there’s anything else I can do.”
“I will. Thanks.”
She watched as they walked away, Michael’s long stride easy despite the fact that Charlie was no lightweight. She was still smiling when she returned to her studio. Having them visit had somehow taken away the worst of her angst over the break-in. What had happened was shitty, but not insurmountable.
As for that awkward flash of sexual awareness… It had been nothing. A blip. An aberration. Thinking about it now, she felt a little stupid for having been so rattled. With the benefit of hindsight, the moment settled into its rightful place in the big scheme of things: unimportant and insignificant.
The way it should be.
* * *
THREE WEEKS LATER, MICHAEL rubbed the back of his neck as he waited at the lights. Life had been crazy lately, filled with interviews with prospective nannies—none of whom had been very impressive—as well as preparations for his first week at work. Today marked his third full day back in the saddle and he was feeling more than a little weary after two complicated client briefings and a series of phone calls that had prevented him from accomplishing anything substantial all afternoon. Just as well he’d arranged with his partners to work from home on Thursdays and Fridays—he was nowhere near match fit after so many months downtime. The lack of distraction in his home office would give him a chance to make up lost ground. Hopefully.
Despite his weariness and even though a part of him felt guilty for cutting short the year he’d intended to spend with the kids, there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that returning to work was the best decision he’d made in a long time. It might have only been three days, but it was enough for him to know that Angie had been right—picking up the threads of his career had given him something to hold on to. It forced him to interact with the outside world, and it gave him things to occupy himself with that had nothing to do with Billie.
It gave him a chance to be a person again, and not simply a father and a grieving husband.
He hadn’t understood how much he’d needed that until today when he’d finished a phone call with a supplier and noticed that he’d gone a whole four hours without thinking of Billie once. Guilt had come hard on the heels of the realization, of course—but there had been relief, too.
It was exhausting living with the constant weight of grief on his shoulders.
The lights changed and he accelerated through the intersection, very aware of the need to relieve Mrs. Linton. He’d been fortunate enough to get Charlie into day care three days a week, but Mrs. Linton had saved his bacon, agreeing to pick up Eva from school and look after her until he could make a more permanent arrangement. Still, he didn’t want to abuse her generosity.
He swung by day care to collect Charlie, then headed home. A familiar green SUV was parked in front of his house when he pulled into the driveway. He smiled as he hit the button for the garage door. Angie had been busy putting her studio back together and they hadn’t seen much of her lately. It would be good to catch up with her. Good to assure himself that she was recovering okay from the break-in.
It would also give him a chance to hassle her about the rental listings he’d sent to her, too. He’d touched base with a handful of his real estate contacts and put the feelers out for a suitable studio space for her, determined to get her out of that death trap of a building. So far, her only response had been silence. If she thought that stonewalling him would make him give up, she didn’t know him very well.
He released Charlie from his car seat and locked the car. Michael could hear voices and laughter as they entered the house. He walk into the kitchen and found Angie and Eva putting toppings on three pizza bases.
“Hello,” he said.
They looked up with identical surprised expressions, obviously so involved in their conversation they hadn’t heard his arrival.
“Perfect timing. Dinner is almost ready,” Angie said.
Charlie immediately went to Angie, gazing up her worshipfully.
“Why, hello there, Charlie Bear,” she said, tapping his nose lightly.
She looked different. For a moment Michael was puzzled, then he realized it was because her hair was tucked high on her head in a ballet
