“I had a good time,” she told him. “I hope you don’t mind that Emily invited me.”
“Why should I have minded?”
She decided to let him answer that for himself. “Are we still on for tomorrow evening?”
He nodded. “My folks are going to watch the kids again. Then we’re all going early Saturday to visit Tara and Blake and the baby.”
Which meant, Jamie interpreted, that he probably wouldn’t be staying very late at her house. She would just have to make good use of the time they had together. “Why don’t I cook dinner for us tomorrow? We can watch a video or play cards or something instead of going out.”
It was the “or something” that she was actually offering, of course, and Trevor probably knew it. He nodded. “That sounds nice.”
She would have loved to kiss him goodbye, and it wouldn’t have mattered to her if half the population of Honoria saw them. But because she knew it mattered to Trevor, she took a step backward. “’Bye, Trev.”
He already had one hand on his door handle, prepared to join his children in the car. “Drive carefully.”
“I will.” Maybe she was just tired, she thought, taking another step away. Maybe that was the reason she was suddenly feeling a little depressed.
“Jamie?”
She looked over her shoulder. “Yes?”
Trevor’s faint smile was crooked. “I enjoyed being with you today. I’m glad you came.”
Her heart suddenly lighter, she returned the smile with a bright one of her own. “So am I.”
“See you tomorrow.” He slid into his car and closed the door, though he didn’t drive away until Jamie was safely in her own vehicle.
I enjoyed being with you today. I’m glad you came.
The encouraging words kept her company as she drove home.
WHEN JAMIE’S DOORBELL rang Friday evening, she rushed to answer it, rather surprised that Trevor was early. He was usually predictably punctual. It pleased her that he’d been impatient to see her.
But Trevor wasn’t the recipient of her bright smile when she threw open the door. “Hello, Clark. Have I forgotten we were supposed to meet this evening?”
“No. I stopped on my way home from the office, and I promise I’ll only bother you for a minute. I need your signature on a form. It’s one we overlooked earlier. My mistake, I’m afraid.”
“Come in,” Jamie offered, holding the door wider. “How have you been?”
“Hanging in,” he said with a shrug, stepping past her into the living room.
She closed the door. “And your boys?”
“They’re doing as well as can be expected, considering that our family is in the middle of a breakup.”
She didn’t know what to say in response to his bitter tone. To her relief, Clark made it unnecessary for her to say anything. He reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a neatly folded sheet of paper. “I’m sure you have plans for the evening, and I promised not to hold you up for long. You need to sign at the bottom of the page, on the line I marked with a red X.”
“Have a seat. Would you like some coffee while I read this?”
He looked tempted. “I don’t…”
“The coffee’s already made,” she assured him.
“In that case, yeah, I’d like a cup.”
She smiled. “I’ll be right back.”
Settling on the couch, he loosened his tie. “Take your time.”