“It’s been a good friend,” she admitted. “I hope it isn’t dead for good.”

“I’m sure it can be resurrected, but it might cost you a bit.”

“Doesn’t everything?” she thought aloud and reached for half a sandwich.

“I suppose.”

The phone rang as the coffee brewed and Katie spent a few minutes explaining to the soccer coach about Josh’s ankle. Gary Miller was concerned and they decided that Josh should forgo practice and games until he’d received a clean bill of health from the doctor. “Here, I’ll let you speak with him yourself,” Katie offered, and carried the portable phone into the bedroom. Josh talked for a few minutes, handed her the phone again and turned back to his program. By the time she’d returned to the kitchen, the coffee had brewed. She was pouring two cups when the phone jangled again.

“Could you?” she asked as dark liquid splashed into her favorite mug.

“Sure.” Luke snagged the receiver. “Hello?” He waited, then said, “Kinkaid residence . . . Hello . . . ? Hello?” He paused and his eyebrows drew together. “Is someone there?” He paused again. “Hello? Oh, for the love of Mike.” He hung up and stared at the phone.

“No one?”

“Oh, there was someone on the line,” Luke said, glaring at the instrument as if he could see through the phone to the face of the person on the other end. “But he was put off when he heard my voice.”

“Or she.”

“Or she,” he agreed, rubbing the side of his face thoughtfully.

Katie lifted a shoulder. “They’ll call back if they really want me. Probably thought they got the wrong number when you answered.”

“Maybe.” He didn’t seem convinced and his demeanor made her edgy. “You get many hang-ups?”

“My share: Along with solicitations and wrong numbers. Come on, eat. We don’t have a lot of time if we’re gonna pick up my car.” She handed him a cup of coffee, then settled back into her chair.

“I guess you’re right.” He reached for half a sandwich and they ate in relative silence. It was odd, she thought, to have a man other than one of her brothers sitting across the table in her tiny kitchen. She’d grown up with three half-brothers and more than a handful of stepfathers, but she’d never settled down with a man, never felt comfortable with one in her house. There had been other boys and men in her life, of course, before and after Dave. She’d dated on and off over the past ten years but she’d never allowed herself to fall in love; had always found an excuse to break off a relationship before it deepened into something emotionally dangerous.