to put my hands around his throat for touching you.”
“You have hidden caveman tendencies. I’ve suspected it for a while.”
“He could have had a gun. Or a knife.” Matt’s tone was raw and she knew he was feeling the same aftereffects she was.
“A knife I could probably have dealt with. A gun—” she frowned “—I prefer not to think about that.”
“I prefer not to, either, but I can’t get the image out of my head. The broken lock. The look on his face.”
“How about the image where I sat on him and almost dislocated his shoulder? Can’t you replace it with that one?”
“I’ll try. So you were, what, seventeen when you took up karate?”
“Yes, but I’m a quick learner. Turned out I had a talent for it.”
“And we’re all relieved about that.”
“Eddy didn’t seem too pleased.”
Matt gave a reluctant smile and then his phone beeped and he dug it out of his pocket. “It’s James. He says that the apartment is clean, the window is fixed and he’s spending another night on the couch so that Roxy and Mia feel safe.”
“Do you think he’s in love with her?” Frankie gave a half laugh. “Listen to me—I sound like Eva.”
“Yes, I think he’s in love with her. I think he’s probably been in love with her for a while, but nothing is going to happen.”
“How do you know?”
Matt typed a reply and slid his phone back into his pocket. “Because Roxy thinks James is too good for her. She didn’t finish high school and before James threw it all in to work in landscaping, he worked as a lawyer.”
“I didn’t know that, but I can’t imagine James caring about that.”
“I agree, but Roxy won’t. And she’s pretty stubborn.”
“She’s also brave. And very smart. Poor Roxy. How did she cope when she was pregnant and living with that monster? She must have felt so alone.”
“She told me once that if it hadn’t been for Mia, she’d probably still be living with him. Mia spurred her into leaving. But she never had the courage to give a statement to the police before now.”
“She’s a great mother.” Frankie looked out the window of the cab. “We’re going the wrong way. This isn’t home.”
“I’m not ready to go home yet. There are things I need to say to you and things I want to hear you say to me. And I don’t want to do it in the chaos of the house. I love our friends, but today I want you to myself.”
“What about Claws?”
“Eva texted when you were in the emergency room. The vet has given her some antibiotics and we’re to watch for infection, but they didn’t seem too worried. Eva has agreed to keep her in her apartment until we’re home.”
“Claws and I can heal together.” Frankie glanced out the window again, nerves fluttering in her belly. She’d had a plan, but that had all gone awry thanks to Eddy. Now she didn’t know what to do. When was the best time to say what she wanted to say? “So where are we going?”
“Central Park?” Matt looked at her leg, the bandage exposed by the dress. “Will you be able to walk?”
“Of course.” She settled back in her seat and watched New York slide past her, store windows, jostling crowds, people jabbering into cell phones. A million lives blended into a small island. Small, and yet big in so many ways.
The cab dropped them off near Columbus Circle and they walked toward Bow Bridge along winding paths, past small children playing baseball and families with strollers.
It was a perfect late-September day.
“Another month and the ice rink will be back.” She slid her arm through Matt’s. “We should go. All of us.”
“You hate ice-skating.”
“I know, but it’s Eva’s favorite thing. Last Christmas was so hard for her. I want this one to be better. Shall we suggest it?”
“That depends. Will you still love me if I land on my butt?” They’d reached the bridge and they both stopped, as if subconsciously they’d both been aiming for the same destination.
Matt leaned on the graceful arch and looked over the lake.
Frankie glanced at him and then at the water, watching the reflections play across the surface.
“Nothing will stop me loving you.” The words came naturally and when he turned to her she continued in a rush. “Before you say anything, there are some things I need to tell you. I spoke to my mother this morning.”
“She called you again?”
“No. I called her. I asked her