“We tried.” He waited, half hoping Jonathan would question him about it. Jonathan didn’t. Thom sighed, feeling a little discouraged. Now that he’d started, he wanted to talk. “I think we’re both leery of getting involved a second time,” he continued. “Her home’s in Texas now and I live here.”

“Right, got ya.”

“But it’s more than logistics.” He tipped back the mug and took another swallow of beer. “We have…this situation. She wants to defend her mother. I want to defend mine.”

“Only natural.” Jonathan glanced at his watch.

Thom shut up. He had the feeling he was boring the other man. Perhaps he had someplace he needed to be.

Jonathan’s next remark surprised him. “Kristen and I were making out our guest list and I put down your name. You’ll come, won’t you?”

“Sure,” Thom answered almost flippantly, and then it occurred to him that if he accepted the invitation, he’d see Noelle again. He found himself eager for the opportunity. “Speaking of the wedding—” well, not really, but he didn’t know how else to introduce the topic “—did Kristen ever mention her sister being involved with a guy named Paul?”

Jonathan considered it for a moment, then shook his head. “Not that I can remember. Why?”

“Just curious.” And jealous. And worried. Noelle had said it was over between her and this Paul character, but Thom had to wonder. She seemed far too willing to walk away from their conversation this afternoon. Maybe the relationship with Paul wasn’t as dead as she’d led him to believe.

“Paul,” Jonathan repeated slowly. “Did she give you a surname?”

Thom shook his head.

The door to the pub opened, and Kristen McDowell walked inside. Jonathan glowed like a neon light, he was so pleased to see her. “Over here, sweetheart,” he called, waving his hand.

Kristen walked to the bar and slipped her arm around her fiancé’s waist. “Hello, Thom,” she said as naturally as if they saw each other every day. “How’s it going?”

“All right. I understand congratulations are in order.”

Kristen smiled up at Jonathan and nodded.

Thom felt like an intruder. Reaching for his overcoat, he was getting ready to go when Kristen stopped him.

“There’s no need to rush off.”

He was about to pretend he had people to see, places to go, but then decided not to lie. “You sure?”

“Of course I’m sure.”

Thom was eager to learn what he could about Noelle, so he lingered and ordered another beer. Jon did, too; Kristen had a glass of red wine.

Thom paid for the second round. The three of them sat on bar stools with Kristen in the middle, talking about Christmas plans for a few minutes. “She had me call you,” Jonathan confessed suddenly.

Kristen elbowed her fiancé in the ribs. “You weren’t supposed to tell him.”