When the thought struck him, it gave him momentary pause. Connie Collins had to be young enough, what, to be his daughter? No, of course not. She had a daughter of her own about to go off to college, which meant she had to be forty or close to it. And he wasn’t that far on the other side of fifty.
Still, she was of the generation of his nieces and nephews. Thinking about her as anything other than a volunteer would be insane. Despite that reminder, when he looked into her bright, curious eyes, they inevitably brought on a smile. And maybe a little bump in a heart rate that had been slow and steady for way too long.
* * *
On a Friday morning two weeks after Connor’s visit, Heather was surprised when Megan walked into the shop wearing what had to be an outfit she’d picked up in Paris. She looked more stylish than ever with her frosted blond hair and trim figure.
Heather came out from behind the counter to hug her. “Welcome home! I didn’t think you were due back here till next week.”
“We weren’t,” she said, her expression chagrined.
Heather frowned. “The honeymoon didn’t go well?”
“Oh, the honeymoon was fantastic, thank you very much,” Megan said with a laugh. “The French food was amazing, the wine was superb, the scenery spectacular and the art amazing. Mick was on his very best behavior and at his most charming.”
“If it was all so wonderful, then I’m a little bit surprised you didn’t buy a place and stay there,” Heather teased.
“The truth? I missed my family,” Megan said. “I’ve just gotten them back, and being away right now, especially with everything that’s going on, was killing me. Mick, too, though he wouldn’t admit it. He made a big show of sacrificing the last few days of our trip to cater to my whim to be back here in the thick of things.”
“We would all have been right here with nothing changed if you’d waited to come back,” Heather told her.
“Maybe that’s what worried me most,” Megan admitted. “Some things need to change.”
“If you’re referring to Connor and me, forget it,” Heather said. “I will not discuss that with you.”
Megan’s face fell. “What’s happened now?”
“Absolutely nothing, really. He’s in his dark world and determined to stay there. I refuse to join him. Why keep fighting it? Now, let’s move on. Tell me everything about Paris. I’ve always wanted to go there.”
“Then you can join us tomorrow night to look at the hundreds of pictures Mick took. Or you can say no, and I’ll bring the pictures in here when you won’t have to listen to his travelogue.”
“Oh, no. I want the full commentary,” Heather said. “What time?”
Megan hesitated. “Connor said he couldn’t make it till six or so. Is seven okay?”
Heather’s enthusiasm died at the unexpected mention of Connor. “Maybe I will look at the pictures here, after all.”
Megan didn’t even attempt to hide her disappointment. “Sweetie, you can’t avoid him forever.”
“It’s hardly forever. He was here less than two weeks ago.”
Megan looked surprised. “While we were gone? That’s great.”
“Not really.” She touched Megan’s hand. “It’s okay. I don’t mind waiting to see the pictures. Then you’ll have another chance to talk about the trip. I don’t want to spoil the evening.”
“You could hardly do that,” Megan said. “I swear that son of mine needs to have his head examined.”
Heather laughed. “Don’t mention that to him. I suggested the same thing, and he didn’t take it well.”
Megan stared at her. “Seriously? You told him to see a shrink?”
“I thought maybe somebody objective could help him sort through his issues,” Heather responded with a shrug. “Suffice it to say, he didn’t like the idea.”
“No, I imagine he didn’t,” Megan said. “You see, years ago I had the bright idea that perhaps the children should all go to counseling to deal with the divorce. Mick ranted and raved that I was the crazy one and that his children didn’t need a psychologist to tell them anything. It was quite a tirade. I’m quite sure the kids all overheard this because Abby mentioned it to me years later. Connor might have gotten the idea from his father that seeing a shrink is a weakness. You’d think he’d have outgrown that view, especially with Will as a friend, but sometimes the wrong lessons stick.”
Heather shook her head. “Which is all the more reason why he needs to see one.”
Megan smiled. “You could have a point, at that. Perhaps I will push the idea myself, after all. He’s always annoyed with me, so what do I have to lose?”
Impulsively, Heather hugged Megan. “I am so glad you’re home.”
“Me, too, sweetheart. Me, too.”
* * *
Connor thrived on work, and in his drive to make partner, he’d been taking on more and more cases. Lately, when he didn’t want to think about Heather and the mess that was their relationship, work had been his solace, a crammed calendar a boon.
Today, though, for some reason he was barely able to contain himself as yet another client outlined his wife’s flaws and his own justifications for wanting out of the marriage. That’s what they were, too—self-righteous justifications for breaking their wedding vows. It was the first time Connor had looked at them that way, which meant Heather was in his head again.
He looked at the man seated opposite him, the CEO of a local company who’d found excuse after excuse for the affairs he’d been having. Now that his wife had filed for divorce and was seeking a huge settlement, he wanted to blame all of his bad choices on her.
Normally Connor would have focused solely on the man’s complaints about his wife, but as with Clint Wilder, all of a sudden he wondered about her side of the story. Had anything she’d done—or not done—really justified the man cheating on her repeatedly?
“So, you can get
