Hannah's List (Blossom Street #7)(84)

Because I spent so long at the jeweler's, I was late for poker.

"Where've you been?" Ritchie asked when I got to his house. The others were already there.

"It's not like you to be late," Patrick said.

"I had something to do."

"What?"

I might as well own up. "I've decided to ask Macy to marry me."

Ritchie's eyes widened and he immediately glanced at my left hand. Earlier that day I'd taken off my wedding ring--the one Hannah had placed on my finger. For me removing the ring was a momentous act, not something I'd done lightly. Still, I expected Ritchie to tell me it was too soon and that I needed to think this over.

But he didn't. "You sure?" was all he said.

"As sure as the day I asked Hannah."

"Didn't I tell you?" Ritchie grinned. "I knew all along it would be her."

I think Hannah did, too.

Chapter Thirty-One

W inter stared at the computer screen, rereading Pierre's e-mail. He'd written to remind her that their three-month separation was about to end and asked if she still wanted to meet on July 1 to discuss their options. Unless, of course, she had a new relationship with that doctor she'd mentioned.

Winter had only talked to Michael Everett briefly in the past few weeks. They'd both made an effort, but it was clear right from the start that they'd never be a couple. Winter blamed herself. She loved Pierre, and because of that, she hadn't been truly open, truly receptive, to a new relationship. She couldn't be. Despite their differences, despite their constant bickering and their breakups, she was still in love with Pierre. The Sunday afternoon she'd spent with Michael, cooking him dinner, she hadn't been able to think about anything except the hours she and Pierre had spent in her kitchen. In retrospect she knew she'd been trying to replicate those times, but it hadn't worked. Michael wasn't Pierre. And she...well, she wasn't Hannah.

Nothing had changed between her and Pierre. She hadn't been in touch with him since their last confrontation, but he was never far from her thoughts. How was it that two people who loved each other so much could be so miserable together--and just as unhappy apart?

Neither of them had been able to accept defeat, and yet, sadly, there didn't seem to be a solution for them. People who were in love should bring out the best in each other, but it was the opposite with them. She detested the woman she became when she was with him.

Sitting in her small office at the French Cafe, she told herself it was time to make a decision. They couldn't go on like this. Either they ended it for good or they figured out how to make it work. Winter was willing to do whatever it took--if only she knew what. And how. The problem was that they both kept doing the same things, fighting over the same issues. She'd read somewhere that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over, but expecting a different result. That must mean they were both crazy.

Yes, it was time to decide. "Make it or break it" time. Pierre's e-mail message was simple and succinct, with no indication of his feelings.

Winter wasn't sure how to answer. They should meet. They should talk. They had to decide whether to try yet again or end it entirely.

Deep in thought, she didn't immediately hear Alix knock at the half-open office door. Alix knocked again, and Winter turned to see her standing there, holding a mug. She gestured her in. Alix's movements were cumbersome, reminding Winter that there were only a few weeks left before her due date. Winter was proud of Alix and Jordan, and she envied them, too. They'd survived the miscarriage last year without losing hope or faith. Now their first baby was about to be born.

Jordan had refinished a used crib and set it up in the nursery this past weekend. Alix had been knitting for weeks, as had everyone at A Good Yarn.

"Winter?" Alix said hesitantly. "I thought you could use this," she said, offering her the mug of coffee.

"How nice. Thanks." She reached out a hand for the mug and managed a half smile.

Alix lingered in the doorway. "Is everything all right?"

"Sure. What makes you think it isn't?" she asked with forced brightness.

"Well, for one thing, you've been sitting in here for the past thirty minutes, doing nothing but staring at that computer screen."

"Oh."

"Is the cafe not doing well?"

"Actually, revenue is up fifteen percent compared to last year at this time." The croissants had always been popular. And starting in May the cafe had added a ten-minute carryout lunch, which consisted of homemade soup and a freshly baked herb scone. That had proved to be highly successful; many office and retail employees ordered lunch and were then able to walk to the nearby park and eat there or meet friends. Winter planned to continue the quick lunch throughout the year.

"Is it Pierre?" Alix asked softly.

Reluctantly, Winter nodded. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I love him, but...but we can't seem to make our relationship work, no matter how hard we try."

Alix stepped into the office. "I don't know if you're aware that Jordan and I went through a rough patch when we were first married."

Winter didn't, but pretended she did.

"My own parents never provided a very positive example of how married people should communicate, and I'm afraid I wasn't always as good a wife as I wanted to be," Alix admitted sheepishly.