“I thought she’d call today, but I haven’t heard from her yet. I can’t even begin to guess why.”

“I can,” Angie said. “But then I’ve had some experience.”

There was a small, hard silence. John said, “I wondered if you’d ever bring up the subject of that letter.”

“It was a good letter,” Angie said. “It was all generosity and kindness, and you have nothing to apologize for.”

He touched her hand where it lay on the couch, lightly. “When I wrote it I thought you might answer it.”

“I wasn’t ready,” Angie said. “I wasn’t ready for the things you were offering me but I didn’t want you to give up, either. I was afraid. I still am.”

She met his gaze steadily, and saw that she hadn’t surprised him or made him mad, which gave her the courage to let the subject go for the moment.

“So you’re waiting to hear from Caroline.”

“That’s about it. It’s going to be rough over the next few days.”

Angie might have said, It’s rough now, even knowing how terrible it would sound, how unfair.

He was saying, “So I’m thinking it would be best for us to wait until things have settled down a bit.”

“Yes,” she said slowly, “that makes sense.” And: “How long do you think that will be?” Angie rarely blushed, but she felt herself coloring now. She put her forehead on her upraised knees to hide her face.

“Hey.”

She made herself look up.

“Another ten minutes is too long, as far as I’m concerned.”

Angie swallowed. She closed her eyes and nodded and kept them closed, because her self-control was shaky at best, and he was so close.

“The thing is, I have to go along as if nothing’s changed until she tells her family otherwise. That may be tomorrow, or the day after, or maybe even Thursday. I can’t think she’d leave it that long, but she might. Then you and I will have to have a serious conversation.”

Angie felt a pulse throbbing in her temple, and made the tactical decision to overhear this last statement. She said, “We’ve got a lot of work over the next couple days, so it won’t be too hard to stay out of your way.” She managed a small smile, one that must look as insincere as it felt. “Probably wasn’t the best idea for you to come here just now. For all we know Professor Hillard next store is watching us. She has insomnia.”

She meant to strike a playful tone, but instead her voice wavered.