Mary was taking a shower before they left for dinner, and Glen was on her back porch talking with Jason on the phone. “Damn, Jase . . . you should have seen it. The only thing intact was her TV and computer.”
“Any idea on who could have done this?”
“I think the police need to check out her clients.”
“I can’t imagine Mary would appreciate that.”
Glen pinched the bridge of his nose. “No, she didn’t agree to releasing any names.”
“How is she holding up?”
“Like a rock. The woman gives stubborn a whole new meaning. Her entire home is all but destroyed and she just keeps moving forward. Not one tear. I don’t know any other woman who would hold up like she is during all of this.”
“When do you think you’ll be back?”
Glen rubbed the tension out of the back of his neck. “A few days. I can work remotely while Mary’s seeing clients.” He knew his brother wasn’t asking about work, but he felt the need to tell him he was thinking about it.
“We’re good here. Just make sure your girl is safe.”
Glen ran a hand through his hair. That was the problem. All the precautions in the world wouldn’t assure her safety.
It took Mary four hours and three sets of clients before she felt her head was in the game.
Two of the three clients were married, working on their relationships, and the other set was a mother/daughter situation where they were just as codependent on the other as a married couple. And the daughter was in her forties. Mary had to keep from letting her mind wander during their sessions . . . asking if it was at all possible she was sitting across from the person who had trashed her home.
A text from Glen came in as she was finishing her notes. Can I bring you lunch?
Meet me at the Hansen’s deli?
Twenty minutes later she sat at the counter, placed her purse in the seat beside her for Glen.
Carla swung by, dropped off the iced tea, and glanced at the vacant seat. “Meeting someone today?”
“I am.”
“The cutie from the law firm?” Carla wiggled her eyebrows.
Mary was quick to shake her head. “No. He’s not . . . no.”
Carla didn’t ask for details, just winked and moved on down the counter.
Mary checked her phone to see if Glen had texted with a need for directions.
“Hey, Mary.”
She twisted in surprise. “Hi, Kent.”
“I’m pleasantly surprised to see you here.”
Mary blinked a few times without responding. The comment felt out of place.
“I didn’t see your car in the parking lot. I thought maybe you’d taken some time off,” he clarified.
She released a breath and smiled. “Oh, no . . . I had another problem. It’s back at the shop.”
His smile fell. “Nothing serious, I hope.”
“Well, yes . . . but no. It’s okay. Nothing I can’t handle.”
“That sounded suspicious.”
Mary glanced toward the door. “It’s been a crazy week.”
“And it’s only Tuesday,” he said. He looked down at the empty seat. “Saving this for me?”
“Uhm, no. I’m actually meeting someone today.” And sitting there talking to a man who had asked her out while waiting for the man she was dating started to feel as awkward as it looked.
When Glen walked into the deli she waved with a smile.
“I see.”
Glen moved to stand behind the saved seat, cut off from taking it by Kent’s presence.
“You found the place,” Mary said.
“Google.” Glen’s one-word answer had universal meaning.
It was obvious that Kent wasn’t moving, so Mary made an introduction. “Glen, this is Kent . . .” She’d forgotten his last name. “I’m sorry, what was your last name again?”
“Duvall.” Kent watched Glen as if sizing up the competition.
“Right, Kent Duvall, this is Glen Fairchild. Kent is the man who helped me when my car wouldn’t start last week.”
Glen extended a hand. “I appreciate you helping Mary out.”
There was a bit of a power struggle with the handshake. “Anytime. I hate to think chivalry is dead.”
“The act, no . . . the men willing to participate . . .”
Kent finally stepped back. “I’ll let you two get to your lunch. See you around, Mary.”
Glen moved into her space the moment he could and greeted her with a kiss. She caught him glancing over his shoulder at Kent’s receding back.
She bit her lip to keep from laughing.
“What?” he asked when he noticed her struggle.
“Male chest-bumping if I’ve ever seen it.”
He didn’t bother denying her claim. “Who is that guy?”
“Like I told you . . . he jumped my car the other night.”
Glen lifted a menu. “Uh-huh! His eyes were all over you.”
Mary gave up and started to laugh. “I told him no.”
“Told who no?”
“Kent . . . he asked me out. I told him no.”
Glen put down his menu, did a double take to find the man they were talking about. “Good.”
She sipped her iced tea, smiling.
“Why did you tell him no?”
Glen was not letting this go. “Because I’m dating you. I know we haven’t talked about being exclusive, but I can’t bring myself to date two men at the same time.” She quickly realized how that sounded and added, “My issue, not yours. It’s just how I am.”