Startled, Troy glanced at his watch. It was after five o’clock. It had been a long and unproductive Thursday. “Good night, Connie, and thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
As she started to turn away, Troy gave in and stopped her. “Connie, do you have a minute?”
She turned back. Her brows raised in question. “Is there something you needed?”
Troy stood. His question was awkward. It might even be out of line, but he had to ask. “How do you like living with Andy and Faith?”
Her smile was answer enough. “It’s great. I was hesitant at first. I didn’t know whether Andrea was planning to ask me about the team.”
“Does she?” It was a struggle to sound casual.
Constance adjusted her tan purse strap on her shoulder. “She never asks anything beyond, ‘How was your day?’ It’s like she’s going out of her way to avoid asking me about the team.”
“I see.” Images of Andrea with Constance and her daughter played through his mind. She seemed to genuinely care about them.
“Faith and I talk more about work.”
And what did Faith tell Andrea? “What does Faith do?”
“She’s an accountant with a firm. Her boss sounds like a real jerk. She’s thinking about looking for another job, but with the economy, she’s not sure she’ll find anything better.”
Was he jumping to conclusions? Maybe Faith didn’t tell Andrea anything. Maybe he should take Andrea’s actions at face value. “I wish her luck.”
Constance leaned her shoulder against the doorjamb. “It meant a lot that you trusted my judgment about moving in with them.” She lowered her gaze as her cheeks bloomed with color. “I’m not used to that.”
Troy frowned. His gaze dropped to his desk before returning it to his assistant. “I knew you wouldn’t give Andrea any inappropriate information about the team.”
Constance tipped her head to the right. “How did you know that? I mean, you hadn’t known me long. How could you be so sure that you could trust me that way?”
Why had he been able to trust Constance, a woman he’d just met, while he was still suspicious of Andrea’s motives? He’d known the reporter a lot longer and they’d been through much more together. Was Andrea right? Was his past experience affecting the way he did his job today?
He moved his shoulders restlessly. “This job is important to you. You wouldn’t risk it by leaking internal information to the press.” And Andrea wouldn’t put Constance in that position. He was sure of that now, even if he hadn’t been before.
Constance nodded. “It does mean a lot. It’s helped Tiff and me get back on our feet. So has living with Andrea and Faith.”
Troy’s brows knitted. “I’m sure you’re both more comfortable being out of the shelter.”
She shook her head. “It’s more than that. I’m grateful to Andrea for convincing me to take a chance and move in with them. It hasn’t been a month yet. Who knows? In a couple of weeks, we may be driving each oth
er crazy. But Andrea and Faith are really welcoming people.”
“Yes, they are.” They’d invited him and Serge to stay for dinner even though they hadn’t had much. It was the company more than the menu that had made it special.
Constance smiled. “Even the neighbors are kind. I know they’re watching out for Tiff and me after that episode with Wade.” She hesitated. “Wade’s fighting the divorce, but I’m not changing my mind. I want to start over. Tiff deserves for me to start over.”
Troy saw the new Constance Street again. A confident, strong woman who was stepping out of the shadows. “I’m proud of you, Connie.”
She blushed again. “Thank you. But I think a lot of it is because of Andrea and Faith. This is the environment Tiff and I needed to complete the healing process.”
“I’m sure you’re right.”
She laughed. “Listen to me. I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. I think you and Andrea are good together. You make her happy.”
Maybe he had. Troy didn’t want to be the one to tell Constance that he and Andrea had broken up. Andrea could explain in her own time.
“I’m glad things are working out for you at the apartment.”