“What dire straits have left you Golden Grove's most eligible bachelor?”

“What?”

“Surely something's been bubbling in that lovely beaker you call a heart.”

He splayed back in the love seat, arms spread on each side. “Nothing but the

usual chemicals. Mostly proteins. Albumins, globulins. I had a banana today so

there's probably some potassium.”

She nodded. “Mmm. Albumins and globulins and potassium. Oh my.” She

came and sat by him. He kept his arm on the seat back behind her.

“And who's saying anything about most eligible bachelor in town?”

So, he was curious. “Oh, just about every able-bodied woman in town I meet, it seems.”

He almost snorted. “They say that about anyone male under thirty with a pulse.”

Kate nodded. “Mmm…I see. And what about, um…Penny Fitch?” she asked

nonchalantly.

“Just a friend. If that.”

She laughed. “Penny? But I thought you—I thought she was the one all the

boys had the hots for.”

“Yeah, maybe some of my friends. In high school. Besides, she's had a rough

past few years. Got divorced a few years ago, before she moved back here.”

“Really? I figured she'd have married a billionaire and be toting around five

kids in a minivan by now.”

He shrugged. “Things don't always go the way you think sometimes.”

Kate said nothing for a moment. She was thinking of this porch. Scenes from

summers years ago. “It must be hard here. Without your dad.”

He looked away, pulled back his arm and ran his fingers through his hair. It

fell back almost exactly into the same place.

“There are moments. But it is what it is.”

Her heart tugged towards him. She felt as if what she said next would carry a

huge amount of weight. Maybe enough to break whatever friendship she'd

rekindled with him. Maybe enough to ruin any chances of something more.

“That's one of the things I love about you, Peter.”

His gaze jerked towards her. “What's that?”

“Your loyalty, your love.” She looked away. “I'm not sure I could have made

the same sacrifice for either of my parents.” It was embarrassing to say out loud, but true.

“Well, I didn't have a lot of choice. Mom needed help, and Dad was…Dad.”

“I can't imagine how tough it was for her.”

“I didn't have to. I had to watch it.” His face was stony for a moment, then

softened. “But she was a trooper.”

“I'm sorry, Peter.”

“You don't have to be.”

“No, I mean for everything.” She reached out, touched his hand. His fingers

closed around hers, and they were silent for some time.

Kate tried to find something, anything encouraging to say. “Well, you know

you're doing well here, right? With teaching? It didn't turn out all that bad.”

“I suppose not.”

“Is it lonely?”

“Sometimes.”

A slight breeze moved her hair. She could smell him on the jacket she was

wearing.

He moved a little closer. “Although you never know who might turn up,” he

added.