“Yup.” I step into our cheery, brightly lit kitchen, noticing the box of cereal on the table next to a bowl and spoon. “Another romantic dinner?” I quip, as I remove my equipment belt and drape it over the back of the chair.

“I knew you’d be impressed.” He closes the door behind me. “Sorry, but we’re out of food. I didn’t have time to stop at the grocery.”

“It’s late. Cereal’s perfect.”

He’s at the refrigerator, peering inside. I look down at the bowl in front of me and go to him. “Tomasetti.”

He straightens, turns to me. Before he can say anything, I step close and put my arms around his neck. He smells of aftershave and shampoo and his own unique scent I’ve come to love. “I miss you,” I whisper, and I press my mouth to his.

His arms encircle me, pull me close. He kisses me back, long and slow and with a certain reverence. After a moment, he pulls back and gives me a long look. “I think I’ll serve up cereal for dinner more often.”

My laugh feels good coming out. “I’m sorry I haven’t been home much.”

“I’m sorry I haven’t been better company.”

“It’s just that this case…”

“It’s okay,” he says. “I get it.”

I stop myself. “Tomasetti, it isn’t about the case. I mean, not all of it.”

He tilts his head as if trying to lift my gaze to his. “I think I got the other thing, too, Kate.”

“This is new ground for me. I’m scared. I don’t know how to do this. And I don’t know how you feel.”

“It’s new ground for me, too. Having a kid … it’s a big deal. It’s okay to be scared.”

Turning slightly, I run my arms over his shoulders and grip his biceps. “It’s not only the pregnancy I’m afraid of. It’s us. There’s this … distance between us now that wasn’t there before. It’s like I can touch you, but I can’t reach you.”

“I know,” he tells me. “It’s my fault, not yours. Whatever gap exists, we’ll bridge it.”

“You didn’t want this.”

“I’m not going to lie to you. Right or wrong or somewhere in between, I didn’t. That said, we both know life rarely serves it up just the way you want.”

“I don’t want this to get in the way of us.”

“I’m not going to let it.” He reaches for my hand. “Come here,” he says. “I want to show you something.”