Part 266 (1/2)

about all the rude and revolting things Stevie pulled on me. You might

come close, but I doubt you could match him.”

”Do you love him?”

”Yes.”

”Are you going to marry him?”

Thrown a bit off stride, Katherine lifted one shoulder. ”Ask me again

in six months. Bev tells me you're seeing someone named Michael.”

”He's a friend.”

I love you, Emma.

”A friend,” she repeated as she set the coffee aside.

”A detective, isn't he? The son of the man who investigated your

brother's murder.” Taking Emma's silence in stride, Katherine continued.

”It's strange how life runs in circles, isn't it? Makes us feel a bit

like a puppy chasing his own tail. I'd just finished a miserable

divorce when I met Stevie. My ego was belly-down, and my opinion of men

... Well, let's just say I found certain varieties of slugs more

attractive. I detested Stevie on sight. That was personal.

Professionally I was determined to help him, and get him out of my hair.

Now here we are.”

Though she no longer wanted it, Emma picked up the mug again and sipped

the cooling coffee. ”Did you feel as though you'd failed?”

”With my marriage?” Katherine kept her tone easy. It was a question

she'd wondered if Emma would ask. ”Yes. And I had. But then people

fail all the time. The hard part isn't even admitting it, it's

accepting it.”

”I failed with Drew, I accept that. Is that what you want me to say?”