a girl in high school to have to deal with a pregnancy. It’s not easy.”
He put down his ice cream and gazed at her intently. “Steel Magnolias was unexpected. Not what happened with Shelby but how the characters impacted the story. The guys were in the background while the women carried the plot.”
She smiled. “Now you know how we feel a lot of the time.”
“I can see that. I watched Gilmore Girls.”
“The series?”
“I started with the one that covers a year in their life and then went back and watched a couple of seasons.”
He was determined to figure out his female character, she thought, impressed by the time he was willing to put into his project.
“What did you think?”
He picked up his ice cream again. “I was confused. What happened to Rory? In the original series, she was strong and driven. In the later one, she had no direction. She was a character who always overprepared so to show up at that interview with nothing didn’t make sense. That’s not who her character was. And the ending.” He shook his head. “If I did something like that, my readers would hunt me down. Actually they wouldn’t have to. My editor would have already killed me.”
He sounded passionate and engaged in the characters. “Did you like it or not?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I was unsatisfied but I can’t stop thinking about it. So there’s a lesson in that. Plus, I liked how strong the women were in the movies. It’s like in my books. The stronger the villain, the stronger the hero has to be to defeat him.”
“Or her.”
He sighed. “Yes, or her. Although statistically, there are very few serial killers who are women.”
“That’s because they don’t get caught.”
He flashed her a grin. “Touché.”
“Thank you. So you’re thinking a strong woman for Vidar?”
“I think that would work best with him. Not a cop. If she was on the force, he would have met her already. And a transfer seems too convenient. Not that it matters—I don’t like the idea of a work relationship. He wouldn’t do that.”
“What about someone he meets locally? He goes to that coffee shop by his apartment,” she said, trying to think of who else Vidar ran into regularly in the books. “She could work there, or have just moved to the neighborhood. They could accidentally grab each other’s to-go cups.”
Jasper looked surprised. “You’ve read my books?”
She laughed. “Of course I’ve read your books. You’re a local author and the only writer I’ve ever met. Why wouldn’t I read your books?”
“I didn’t know.”
He sounded both sheepish and pleased, which oddly enough made her feel a little teary, which was craziness on a stick. Hormones, she thought again. They were powerful little creatures.
He cleared his throat. “I like the idea of someone local. She works in an office, she’s a dog walker.”
“I don’t see Vidar as a real dog kind of guy. He’s too focused on what he does. I’m not sure he’d be a good pet parent.”
“He could do it. He just hasn’t had a chance.”
Her lips twitched. “You’re defending someone who doesn’t exist?”
“Yes. He’s my guy.”
“Fine. He could love dogs.” She held in a smile. “Or cats. What if he meets a crazy cat lady?”
“No. Definitely no.”
“What about just one cat? I’ve always wanted a cat. They’re so beautiful.”
“No on the cat.”
She smiled. “Okay, she owns a restaurant, she’s a plumber, she works in a bar, she’s a teacher, she’s a...” She tried to think about what kind of career would make sense for Vidar’s lady friend.
“What if she’s a wedding planner?” Jasper asked.
Renee finished her ice cream and licked the spoon. “Really? That’s both flattering and creepy at the same time.”
“It makes sense. You’re creative and resourceful. She could be, too.”
“How would they meet? Vidar goes to a wedding?”
“He could. Someone from the force. Or a friend.”
“Not family,” she said. “He doesn’t have any. I don’t know—a wedding planner is nothing like what he does. Would they even get along? And while we’re not on the subject, where did you come up with his name? Vidar. It’s unusual.”
“I found it in a baby name book. It’s based on Norse mythology. Vidar is the son of Odin and a giantess named Grid. He’s silent and known to be strong. I thought it suited him.”
“I can’t get past his mother’s name. Grid? Really?”
“It was different back then.”
“Still. ‘This is my mother, Grid’?”
“You’re not helping.”
Renee laughed. “Okay. Vidar, son of Grid. Oh, wow, I just realized that