Whoa! Lisa held up her hands. I never said anything about dating him. Im not looking for a husband.
Eve flipped her blond hair over her shoulder and flashed Lisa a saucy look. Who said anything about you? He might be ten years younger than me buthoo-baby! When a guy looks that good, who cares about age?
They both laughed, and Lisa felt a little of her tension melt away.
So what color on the toes? Eve asked, pulling out a large tray of nail polish.
Oh, just a basic pink or mauve is fine.
Eve scrunched up her nose. Pink is so boring, girlfriend. How about this new sexy red I got in last week? Oroh, I know! Electric purple!
Lisa snorted. Me? Purple?
Eve wiggled the bottle and raised her eyebrows with enthusiasm. Come on. Be daring! It looks really sexy.
Lisa shrugged. What the heck. Paint me purple. Not like anyone but my cat is gonna see my toes anyway.
And thanks to her inability to have children, Lisa thought with a pang of sorrow, that was how things were likely to be for a long time. Even her attempt to adopt once had ended in heartache.
No children. No husband. No family.
A lonely ache settled over her. Her infertility hadnt just robbed her of a child, but also the future she craved.
Peter flipped his wrist to check the time. Better get a move on, sport. School bus will be here any minute.
Do you gotta work out of town again today? Patrick asked around a mouthful of cereal.
Nope. I wrapped up the legwork on a case yesterday, so Ill mostly be working from home today to get the paperwork finished. Why?
His son shrugged. Just wonderin if youd be here when I got home or if Grandma would.
He feels alone, because he thinks youre too busy for him.
Lisa Navarres assessment rang in Peters head, and he studied the droop in Patricks shoulders as he slurped sugary
milk from his breakfast bowl.
Ill make a point of being here when you get off the bus today. Okay, sport? After you do your homework, well do something together. Your choice.
Patrick gave him a withering look that said parents were the stupidest creatures on earth. Dad, its Friday. I dont have homework on Fridays.
Good, Peter returned with good humor. Then well have more time to do something together.
Can we play on the Wii?
Peter was about to agree when he remembered yesterdays punishment. Arent you grounded for the weekend?
Patricks face fell. Oh, yeah.
Outside, the bus tooted its horn.
Times up. Grab your backpack! Peter hurried to the front door to wave to the bus driver, while Patrick struggled out. Dont worry. Well find something fun to do that doesnt include the TV. AndI havent forgotten about taking you to see the football game tomorrow.
Patricks face brightened as he rushed past. Cool. Bye, Dad!
Dont forget to apologize to Ms. Navarre!
His son gave a wave as he climbed on the bus, and Peter sighed. Patrick wasnt the only one who owed the attractive brunette an apology. Hed been pretty hostile, when Patricks teacher had only had his sons best interests at heart.
Peter scrubbed a hand over his unshaven cheeks as he went back in his house. His only lame excuse for his shameful behavior was that hed already been pumped full of adrenaline after the brush with Bill Rigsbys shotgun-toting neighbor, and hed been spoiling for a fight after his meeting with Craig, where the Coltons, his least-favorite family, had been high on the list of suspects. But he should never have let his bad mood taint his treatment of Patricks teacher.
Peter took Patricks half-eaten cereal to the sink and ate a few bites himself before dumping the rest.
Jamming his thumbs in his jeans pockets, he headed into the den where he had his PC set up in one corner. Perhaps on Monday, hed drive Patrick to school and make a point of speaking to Ms. Navarre. His pulse spiked a notch, a bump that had more to do with his anticipation of seeing Patricks teacher again than his morning caffeine kicking in. He thumbed the power button on the computer and leaned back in his chair as the monitor hummed to life.
In the face of his shouting and sarcasm, Lisa Navarre had not only held her own, but shed kept her tone calm and her arguments constructive and focused on Patricks needs. He respected her for her professionalism and grace under fire.
And the fact Lisa Navarre had sexy curves and a spark of stubborn courage in her dark eyes only made her more intriguing to Peter. Knowing her observations of Patrick in the classroom mirrored his own suspicions about Patricks difficulty processing the most recent family troubles gave him reason to call on her expertise. Perhaps the attractive teacher would give him a bit of her time and help him figure out the best way to handle the recent family crises with Patrick.
When his computer finished loading the start-up programs, Peter opened his case file on Bill Rigsby and got to work, but his mind drifted again to the same family issues that had had him distracted yesterday on his stakeout. His visit with Craig at the hospital only confirmed that someone outside the Colton family needed to be looking into his fathers murder and whod paid Atkins to poison Craig.