He nodded. Outside, they each sat in one of the rockers. In the slowly cooling air, the crickets began their chorus, welcoming the coming night.
Katie savored the wine, enjoying the fruity tang it left on her tongue. “How were Kristen and Josh today?”
“They were good.” Alex shrugged. “I took them to a movie.”
“But it was so pretty outside.”
“I know. But with Memorial Day on Monday, I figure we can still spend a couple of days outside.”
“Is the store open on Memorial Day?”
“Of course. It’s one of the busiest days of the year, since everyone wants to spend the holiday on the water. I’ll probably work until one o’clock or so.”
“I’d say I feel sorry for you, but I’m working, too.”
“Maybe we’ll come in and bother you again.”
“You didn’t bother me at all.” She peered at him over the top of her wineglass. “Well, the kids didn’t bother me, anyway. As I recall, you were complaining about the quality of service.”
“Us old guys will do that,” he quipped.
She laughed before rocking back in the chair. “When I’m not working, I like to sit out here and read. It’s just so quiet, you know? Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one around for miles.”
“You are the only one around for miles. You live in the sticks.”
She playfully slapped his shoulder. “Watch it. I happen to like my little house.”
“You should. It’s in better shape than I thought it would be. It’s homey.”
“It’s getting there,” she said. “It’s a work in progress. And best of all, it’s mine, and no one’s going to take it away.”
He looked over at her then. She was staring out over the gravel road, into the grassy field beyond.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She took her time before answering. “I was just thinking that I’m glad you’re here. You don’t even know me.”
“I think I know you well enough.”
Katie said nothing to that. Alex watched as she lowered her gaze.
“You think you know me,” she whispered, “but you don’t.”
Alex sensed that she was scared to say any more. In the silence, he heard the porch creaking as he rocked back and forth. “How about I tell you what I think I know, and you tell me if I’m right or wrong? Would that be okay?”
She nodded, her lips compressed. When Alex went on, his voice was soft.
“I think you’re intelligent and charming, and that you’re a person with a kind heart. I know that when you want to, you can look more beautiful than anyone I’ve ever met. You’re independent, you’ve got a good sense of humor, and you show surprising patience with children. You’re right in thinking that I don’t know the specifics of your past, but I don’t know that they’re all that important unless you want to tell me about them. Everyone has a past, but that’s just it—it’s in the past. You can learn from it, but you can’t change it. Besides, I never knew that person. The person I’ve come to know is the one I want to get to know even better.”
As he spoke, Katie gave a fleeting smile. “You make it sound so simple,” she said.
“It can be.”
She twisted the stem of her wineglass, considering his words. “But what if the past isn’t in the past? What if it’s still happening?”
Alex continued to stare at her, holding her gaze. “You mean… what if he finds you?”
Katie flinched. “What did you say?”
“You heard me,” he said. He kept his voice steady, almost conversational, something he’d learned in CID. “I’m guessing that you were married once… and that maybe he’s trying to find you.”
Katie froze, her eyes going wide. It was suddenly hard to breathe and she jumped up from the chair, spilling the rest of her wine. She took a step away from Alex, staring, feeling the blood drain from her face.
“How do you know so much about me? Who told you?” she demanded, her mind racing, trying to piece it together. There was no way he could know those things. It wasn’t possible. She hadn’t told anyone.
Except for Jo.
The realization was enough to leave her breathless and she glanced at the cottage next door. Her neighbor, she thought, had betrayed her. Her friend had betrayed her—
As fast as her mind was working, Alex’s was working as well. He could see the fear in her expression, but he’d seen it before. Too many times. And, he knew, it was time to stop playing games if they wanted