Rick called from the lobby and Carol hurried to meet him at the door, hugging her brother hard as soon as he stepped inside.
"Well, well," Rick said, leaning back, apparently surprised by the warmth of her greeting. "I didn't expect to be knocked off my feet."
"Sorry. It's just that it's so good to see you."
Rick laughed and looked around the condo. "Where's Doug?"
"He phoned - he's running late. I'm sure he won't be much longer."
She glanced at her watch as she led Rick into the living room. Doug hadn't shown nearly as much enthusiasm about this dinner with Rick as she had. "Would you like a beer?" Her brother preferred ale to hard liquor. He only drank when he was twenty-four hours from flying.
"I'd love one." He sat down where he had an unobstructed view of the waterfront and was quiet for a long moment as he gazed out the window. He accepted the beer and smiled his thanks. "Can I do anything to help with dinner?"
"Not a thing. Everything's almost ready."
"You've done all right for yourself, little sister," he said, sounding almost sad. He tipped back the beer bottle and took a drink.
"So have you," she told him.
Rick chuckled softly. "Have I?"
"My goodness, Rick," she said, trying to lighten his somber mood. "You're a pilot for a major airline. It's your dream come true." Her brother had worked his way up through the ranks. For as long as Carol could remember, Rick had talked about being a pilot. From the time he could drive, he started hanging around airports, talking to the pilots, learning what he could.
He smiled as if in agreement. "I should be happy, then, right?"
"You aren't?" She went into the living room, abandoning the salad she'd set on the counter. The finishing touches could wait. Sitting across from him, she leaned close. "What's wrong?"
"Sorry, sorry." He laughed off the question. "I don't know what came over me. I'm fine. Forget I said anything."
"I'm not going to forget it. Now, tell me what's on your mind. You didn't come all this way to check out my view for the umpteenth time."
He shrugged, dismissing her question. "Actually, I was in a great mood until I saw what you've done with the place."
"Exactly what have I done?" Carol asked with a smile. "And why would that ruin your mood?"
Her brother looked around, and, after a few minutes, frowned. "I don't know exactly, but there's a difference."
He'd noticed. Actually, everything was in the same place it'd been during his last visit. The furniture was all the same, too; outwardly very little had changed. Yet the condo felt transformed. The flowers and polished wood and shining glass were small things, but they expressed her new attitude toward home and what it meant. This was a place of love, a place waiting to welcome a child.
"There is a difference," Carol confirmed, "but I'm the one who's changed. I'm happy, Rick, genuinely happy."
The forlorn expression on her brother's face was enough to bring tears to her eyes. "And you're not," she said softly.
"No," he breathed. He leaned forward and braced his arms against his legs, letting the beer dangle between his parted knees. "Nothing seems right without Ellie."
Her brother and Ellie had divorced a year ago. He'd never spoken of the breakup before, and his willingness to introduce the subject now was an indication of how miserable he was.
"I'm still in love with her," he confessed, "but I screwed up."
Carol held her breath. Because she loved and respected both her brother and his wife, she'd done her best to stay out of it. The one conversation she'd had with Ellie since the divorce had been awkward and unsettling, and Carol hadn't phoned her since.
Carol wasn't the only one in the dark, either. Even her parents didn't know what had caused the dissolution of Rick's marriage. Whatever it was, he seemed to regret his divorce and want his ex-wife back. "Have you been in touch with Ellie?" she asked.
Rick nodded. "She said it'd be better if we went our separate ways. I tried, Carol, I gave it a real effort, but my life isn't any good without her. I had no idea it would be like this." He briefly tilted his head toward the ceiling and forcefully expelled his breath. "I hear she's dating again."
"That must hurt." Rick and Ellie had been college sweethearts. Carol remembered the first time she'd met the outgoing blonde. She'd instantly liked Rick's girlfriend and had hoped