Lucas gave up on the pie case and threw his rag on the bench. He hoped it wasn’t true. Kate was too good at what she did to let it all go to waste. “I take it that’s a bad thing.”

“Terrible. I’m telling you, her career is falling apart. You have to do something.”

“Me . . . What am I supposed to do?”

Jamie dropped the paper on the bench and crossed her arms, eyeing him. She tapped her foot, her glittery pink toenails rising and falling.

“You didn’t tell her, did you.” It wasn’t a question so much as an accusation.

“Tell her what?”

“That you love her.”

Lucas turned and wrapped the cord around the sander, then hung it on a prong. His sister had gotten too good at reading his thoughts. Maybe it was all those romances she devoured.

“Well,” Jamie said, “I guess that answers my question.”

Lucas pocketed his hands. “That’s between me and Kate, munchkin.”

“How can it be between you and Kate if she doesn’t even know?”

Little squirt. She was getting too smart for her own britches.

“It might’ve made a difference if she’d known,” Jamie said. “I know it’s none of my business . . . but I want you to be happy. Besides, if you hadn’t helped me with Aaron, we probably never would’ve gotten together.”

“How’s that going, anyway?”

“We’re still going out, but stop trying to change the subject. Are you going to help Kate or not?”

Later that night Lucas lay wide eyed in bed. Jamie’s question rang through his head. “Are you going to help Kate or not?” But what could he do when she was gone? He couldn’t turn back time or make that Stephanie chick rescind the story. Is there anything I can do, God?

The headline that had appeared in USAToday snagged in his mind. “Dr. Kate in Loveless Marriage.” Two of the tabloids he’d picked up had an article that focused on their loveless marriage arrangement.

When he’d read it, he’d almost laughed. Little did they know, there had been plenty of love in the marriage. Unfortunately it was all his.

Was it? Would she have been willing to give herself to me that last night if she didn’t love me? His chest tightened, aching at the thought. Maybe it was only wishful thinking.

But what if it’s true? What if Kate loves me? What if she only left because she’s afraid?

God?

He remembered the articles about their loveless marriage and wondered if it would accomplish anything if her readers knew he’d loved her. Still love her, he corrected himself. Would it somehow redeem her in the public’s eyes?

Should I contact the media, God? Would it do any good?