Cindy had been coming to the see the trial, which meant she probably wanted to talk about it with me. Our side was done with witnesses and the defense was bringing in their first one on Monday. That meant we’d work all weekend figuring out what they would try to bamboozle us with. I wanted a night off before the two straight days of work I was sure were ahead of me.

Especially because I was supposed to see Patrice tonight. We were actually going out for dinner, which was different. We’d been doing this thing where he’d show up around dinnertime, either with some takeout in hand or with a bottle of wine. I wasn’t exactly sure what any of it meant, but I wasn’t in a place to deny him. I’d gladly have Patrice Denis in my bed as long as he wanted to be there.

Although that wasn’t fair. We’d been getting to know each other. My biggest problem at the moment was the fact that the more I got to know Patrice Denis the more I wanted him, all of him. Even after all the time we’d spent together, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get that.

“Oohhhh, this is about the stunner,” Cindy said, her distant expression changing for the usual impish one she sported whenever we talked about my dating life. A knot I didn’t even know I had in my stomach loosened a bit and I smiled back.

“His name is Patrice Denis, and yes, we’re having dinner together. I’m meeting him at that brewery that has the good pumpkin beer.”

Cindy balked at that. “Ugh, I don’t know how you drink that stuff,” she said, shuddering.

I looked around at the trees, which were half bare already. Early October had a bite here in Ithaca. “I embrace the fall weather and all it has to offer.”

“Ummhmm.” Cindy did not look convinced. “So things are going well, then?”

It felt good to just chat normally with Cindy after the tension of the last few weeks. It was such a relief that I went along with the line of questioning, instead of my usual deflections when she got too nosy about my love life.

“So far things are going cautiously well.”

That was an understatement. I knew, and Cindy knew it, but that was all I was willing to say at the moment.

“Good. I’m cautiously happy for you, then.” She winked, and for the first time since I could remember she left me off the hook without a full interrogation.

“Thank you.” I could tell she wanted to hear more, but she didn’t push. She did reach out for my arm then, wanting to keep me there a bit longer, and I knew she’d followed me for a reason. “So have you given more thought to the DA’s race?”