Steadying himself, he turned away. As angry as he was, he saw the truth in that. Perhaps it wasn’t the kind of trust he’d wanted, but it was trust. “You could have been hurt.”

“Sure. I could be hurt every time I take a case. That’s what I do. That’s what I am.” She swallowed, struggling to clear an obstruction in her throat. “I had to accept you, and what you are. And believe me, it was no snap. If we’re going to be … friends, the same goes.”

“You may have a point. But I still don’t like your style.”

“Fine,” she snapped back, blinking her vision clear. “Same goes.”

At the kitchen window, Camilla shook her head. “He always was stubborn.”

“Ten pounds she wears him down.” Padrick pinched his wife’s bottom affectionately. “Ten pounds and no tricks.”

Ana shushed him. “We won’t be able to hear.”

Mel let out a shaky breath. “Well, we know where we stand anyway. And I’m sorry.”

“Excuse me?” He turned and was astonished by the tears he saw on her face. “Mary Ellen—”

“Don’t. I’m going to get this out.” She wiped furiously at the tears. “I have to do what I think is right. And I still think what I did was right, but I’m sorry you’re so angry with me, because I … Oh, I hate this.” She scrubbed her hands over her face, evading him when he reached for her. “Don’t. I don’t want you to. I don’t need to be patted or soothed, even if I am acting like a baby. You were mad, and I guess I can’t blame you for it, or for dropping me cold.”

“Dropping you cold?” He nearly laughed. “I left you alone, and well out of harm’s way, until I could be certain I could restrain myself from throttling you or present you with an ultimatum you might have tossed back in my face.”

“Whatever.” She sniffed and regained some control. “I guess what I did hurt you, and I didn’t mean it to.”

He smiled a little. “Same goes.”

“Okay.” There had to be some way to finish this with a little dignity intact. “Anyway, I wanted to clear the air, and to tell you I think we did a good job. Now that it’s done, I figured I’d better return this.” It was hard, one of the hardest things she’d ever done, to pull his ring from her finger. “Looks like the Ryans are getting a divorce.”