Reunited

He nodded. “Thanks. But it’s okay. We drifted apart over the years. Our two older girls are nineteen and seventeen. We thought having Zoe would save our marriage.” He shook his head. “It didn’t.”

Kathryn didn’t know what to say, so she took another sip of shake.

“Not that I regret having Zoe. She’s been great for both of us, and for Candy and Evelyn.”

“Those are your older girls?”

“Yeah. They adore her. And Michelle has a new lease on life. We were both so young when we had Candy and Evelyn. We’re definitely better parents now, even if we aren’t together.”

“You never remarried?”

“The divorce was only final about a year ago. I haven’t really dated. Haven’t really wanted to. It’s weird when you’ve really only dated one person your whole life.”

That comment sliced into her gut. Then again, he was right. She and Brett had never actually dated. “I see.” Another sip. Her hands seemed conspicuous. What could she do with them?

“How about you? How long have you been married?”

“I’m not,” she said. “Maya’s father and I separated last year. When the divorce came through, I relocated back here.”

Was that a smile trying to escape his beautiful lips? She wasn’t sure. Wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

“What do you do, Kathryn? I always imagined you’d do something absolutely great with your life.”

“I’m a pediatrician.”

“Wow. I bet you’re fantastic at that.”

She let out a chuckle. “I try. It’s very rewarding most of the time. Heartbreaking sometimes, though.”

“I can imagine.”

“How about you? What are you doing?”

“Construction, like my dad did.”

“Did you end up going on that baseball scholarship?”

“Only for a year. I couldn’t stay in school. Michelle got pregnant, and there were other circumstances.”

“I’m sorry.” Her heart plummeted to her stomach. All she’d hoped for him had never happened. “I wish you could have finished.”

“Me, too. Believe it or not, I actually liked college, Kath. I think I have you to thank for that.”

Her skin tingled as warmth crept to her cheeks. “You don’t owe me any thanks. You were always intelligent. You just didn’t know it.”

“You told me I was and I believed it.”

“If I hadn’t told you, someone else would have.”

“You did. No one else did.”

Again, Kathryn had no idea what to say. She took a long loud sip of her shake and turned her head to watch the girls playing. They were laughing as though they’d known each other for ages. But that was the way of it with little girls. They could become best friends in an instant.

“There’s something I’ve always wondered, Kath.”

She turned to face Brett’s dark, burning gaze. “What’s that?”

“Why did you leave?”