This wasn’t the place to reveal it, but at least he’d laid the groundwork should he find the courage to dig deep and bare his soul.

“Long story.” He gathered up the papers he’d been grading and tapped them into a neat pile. “If you have anything to discuss that can’t wait until Tuesday, send me a text with the word homework in it. I’ll do likewise. We’ll set up an extra study session.” He stood, leaving her no choice but to follow.

Brow pinched, she rose and hefted the bulky backpack over her shoulder, questions filling her eyes.

But she didn’t voice them.

Thank goodness.

“Fine. See you.” She rounded the table and escaped without a backward look.

As she disappeared from view, Zeke released a ragged breath and turned off the white noise app on his cell. Pocketed the phone.

Cate had never been a woman who liked to be rushed, and she’d be less receptive than ever to any overtures he made in light of their history.

He had to decelerate or he was going to scare her off.

Slow and easy wasn’t a bad plan in terms of his own well-being, either. After all, Cate had reentered his life a mere six days ago. Getting carried away by possibilities could lead to heartache.

Yes, he’d already been contemplating a career shift when their paths crossed. Yes, his lonely existence had begun to wear on him, making him yearn for a life lived in sunshine rather than shadows, where loving someone wouldn’t put that person at risk. And yes, the convergence of their lives seemed somehow providential.

But perhaps meeting Cate again was nothing more than a fluke. A mere coincidence.

Yet as he walked toward the door, bits and pieces of an old quote ran through his mind. Something about coincidences being nothing more than small miracles in which God chooses to remain anonymous.

Was God’s hand in this?

Probably a stretch.

In the world he’d occupied for close to a decade, there had been little evidence of the Almighty’s presence—or even of the existence of a loving God. Bad people dominated the revolving cast in his dramas, and examples of goodness were few and far between.

But there was goodness in the world.

He had only to look at Cate to have his faith in virtue reaffirmed. She radiated integrity and honor and a commitment to justice and duty.

So whatever the impetus for their meeting, it was an opportunity only a fool would let pass without giving course changes—and second chances—a great deal of thought.

And while he’d been called many names in his life, fool had never been one of them.

Even if, in hindsight, walking away from Cate years ago more than qualified him for that title.

Miguel’s rattletrap car was parked in front of the flat.

Not a positive sign.