The way he saw it, he was the voice of the community. He was obsessed with the news, but he also believed that it was what happened right here in their hometown that mattered to people. He often joked that all he needed to fill the entire newspaper was to spend an afternoon at a backyard barbecue listening to the gossip. He was friends with the police chief and the fire chief, which ensured that he was given all the major scoops.

Of course in Woodbrook, a place most people had never heard of, there were more scoops in the ice cream parlor than there were in the local community, and that suited Grace.

“Happy Valentine’s and happy anniversary.” She slowed as she approached an intersection. “I’m already looking forward to dinner tonight.”

“Shall I book somewhere?”

Only a man would think it possible to get a table on Valentine’s Day without forward planning. “Already done, honey.”

“Right. I should be home early. I’ll fix something for Sophie to eat so you don’t have to bother.”

“I’ve handled that. The fridge is full of food. You can relax.”

There was a pause. “You’re superwoman, Grace.”

She glowed. “I love you.”

Her family was the most important thing in the world to her.

“I’ll drop by the store and pick out something for Stephen’s birthday on my way home. He says he doesn’t want a fuss, but I feel we should buy him something, don’t you?”

“I do—which is why I bought him a gift when I was shopping last week.” Grace waited for a gap in the traffic and turned in to the school. “You’ll find it under the bed in the spare room.”

“You’ve already bought something?”

“I didn’t want you having to think about it. Remember that great photo of Stephen with Beth and the kids?”

“The one I took at the Summer Fair?”

She pulled in to a space and undid her seat belt. “I had a print made and bought a frame. It looks great.”

“That’s…thoughtful…”

“I’ve wrapped it. All you have to do is sign your name.” She reached across and gathered her coat and bag. “I’m at school, so I’ll call you later. You sound tired. Are you tired?”

“A little.”

She paused with one leg out of the car. “You’ve been working long hours lately. You need to slow down. There’s nothing for you to do at home, so maybe you should lie down and rest before we go out.”

“I’m not geriatric, Grace.”

There was a sharpness to his tone that was unusual.

“I was trying to spoil you, that’s all.”

“Sorry.” The sharpness vanished. “Didn’t mean to snap. There’s been a lot going on lately. I’ll call a cab for tonight, so we can have a drink without worrying about driving.”