Guilt hung over my head like the gray clouds dominating the Seattle skies, and I labored to find the sunshine. Guilt over deceiving my children about Easton. Guilt over betraying my dead husband. Guilt over forgetting Fran and Howard over Christmas. And most of all, heart-wrenching guilt at my weak-willed heart to fall once again for a certain sexy hockey player.

Today, that hockey player had picked them up for the team’s family skate, something the Sockeyes did a few times a year at the practice facility. He’d invited me, but I’d politely declined, even though part of me really wanted to go. I loved to skate and skating with Easton and my kids would be like a dream come true.

After they left, I paced the floor until I’d just about driven myself batshit crazy. I fretted about everything, and right now I happened to have a lot to fret about. Stopping in mid-pace, I drew in a breath and let it out slowly. I needed to do something productive.

My eyes were drawn to my cell resting several feet away on the coffee table. I had the ability to relieve myself of one worry, and I needed to do this one thing.

With determination, I marched to the phone, picked it up, and called Fran. I’d tried to contact her a few times since Christmas with no luck. Hopefully, I’d get through today.

The phone rang six times before I heard a hesitant “Hello.”

“Fran?” I swallowed hard and cleared my throat, hoping I didn’t sound like the basket case I was becoming.

“Caro.” Fran’s tone was neutral, and I’d take that as a good sign.

“I’ve been trying to reach you.”

“I know, honey.”

Her calling me honey had to be a good thing, and I jumped on it. “I’m so sorry. I miss you and Howard.” My last few words came out as a strangled sob.

The silence stretched through time and space. I glanced at my display to assure myself she hadn’t hung up. She was still connected.

“Fran?” I said in a shaky voice.

“I’m sorry too. I had to take a little time to sort out my feelings. The funny thing is I was going to call you this morning.”

Finally, she’d spoken, and I flopped onto the couch because my knees refused to hold me upright. “I can’t express how sorry I am. I never meant to hurt either of you. I had so much going on and—”

“It’s okay, Caro. I was as much to blame as you. I immediately jumped to conclusions, out with the old, in with the new. That sort of thing. Howard and I struggle every day with losing Mark. I panicked when I thought I was losing you guys too. Let’s forget about it and move on, shall we?”

“Yes, please. I love you, Fran.”

“I love you, too, my sweet girl.”

My heart soared as some of the burden was lifted from my weary soul. I’d fixed one thing going wrong in my life, now if I could figure out what to do about the rest…