Navy Brat. Debbie Macomber

I didn’t know.”

      This was a story Erin had heard several times over, but it wouldn’t lessen Marilyn’s pain for Erin to imply that she was another statistic. What she did need to hear was that others had survived this ordeal, and so would she.

      “I’d…gone out shopping. The bus stops right outside our house, and when I returned home, Richard was there. I knew right away something was wrong. Richard only rarely wears his suit. I asked him what he was doing home in the middle of the day, and all he could do was stand there and stare at me. Then…then he said he was sorry to do it this way, and he handed me the divorce papers. Just like that—without any warning. I didn’t know about the other woman…. I suppose I should have, but I…I trusted him.”

      Erin’s heart twisted at the torment that echoed in the other woman’s voice. Marilyn struggled to hold back the tears, her lips quivering with the effort.

      “Although this may feel like the worst moment of your life, you will survive,” Erin said gently, hugging her briefly. “I promise you that. The healing process is like everything else, there’s a beginning, a middle and an end. It feels like the whole world has caved in on you now.”

      “That’s exactly the way I feel. Richard is my whole life…was my whole life. I just don’t know what I’m going to do.”

      “Have you seen an attorney?”

      Marilyn shook her head. “Not yet…My pastor suggested I take this course, and find my footing, so to speak.”

      “In session twelve a lawyer will visit the class. You can ask any questions you like then.”

      “I wanted to thank you, too,” Marilyn went on, once she’d composed herself. “What you said about the balance of things, how nature and life even things out…well, it made a lot of sense to me. Few things do these days.”

      Erin reached for her coat, slipping her arms into the satin-lined sleeves. She smiled, hoping the gesture would offer Marilyn some reassurance. “I’m pleased you’re finding the class helpful.”

      “I don’t think I could have made it through this last week without it.” She retreated a few steps and smiled again. This time it came across stronger.

      “Thank you again.”

      “You’re welcome. I’ll see you Tuesday.”

      “I’ll be here.” Buttoning up her own coat, Marilyn headed out the classroom door.

      Erin watched the older woman. Her heart ached for Marilyn, but, although she was devastated and shaky now, Erin saw in her a deep inner strength. Marilyn hadn’t realized it was there, not yet. Soon she would discover it and draw upon the deep pool of courage. For now her thoughts were full of self-condemnation, self-deprecation and worry. From experience, Erin knew Marilyn would wallow in those for a while, but the time would come when she’d pick herself up by the bootstraps. Then that inner strength, the grit she saw in the other woman’s weary eyes, would come alive.

      As if sensing Erin’s thoughts, Marilyn paused at the classroom door and turned back. “Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?”

      “Sure, go ahead.”

      “Have you ever been in love?”

      “No,” Erin answered, regretfully. “Not even close, I’m afraid.”

      Marilyn nodded, then squared her shoulders. “Don’t ever let it happen,” she advised gruffly, yet softly. “It hurts too damn much.”

      Chapter Three

      The envelope arrived at Erin’s office, hand-delivered by the downstairs receptionist. Erin stared at her name scrawled across the front and knew beyond a doubt the handwriting belonged to Brand Davis. She held the plain white envelope in her hand several moments, her heart pounding. It’d been two days since her dinner date with Brand, and she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him. She’d been so awful, so aloof and unfriendly, when he’d been trying so hard to be cordial and helpful.

      When he’d dropped her off where she’d parked her car, she’d practically leaped out of his in her eagerness to get away from him. Exactly what had he done that was so terrible? Well, first off, he’d been pleasant and fun—horrible crimes, indeed—while she’d behaved like a cantankerous old biddy. She wasn’t proud of herself; in fact, Erin felt wretched about the whole thing.

      “Go ahead and open it,” she said aloud.

      “You talking to yourself again?” Aimee chastised. “You generally don’t do that until the end of the day.”

      “Brand sent me a note.” She held it up for her friend’s inspection as though she were holding on to a hand grenade and expected it to explode in her face at any moment.

      “I thought the receptionist looked envious. He’s probably downstairs waiting for you right now.”

      “Ah…” That thought didn’t bear contemplating.

      “For heaven’s sake,” Aimee said eagerly, “don’t just sit there, open it.”

      Erin did, with an enthusiasm she didn’t dare question. Her gaze scanned the short message before she looked up to her friend. “He wants to give me a tour of Sand Point before the opportunity is gone. You know there’s a distinct possibility the navy may close down the base. He says I should have a look at it for nostalgia’s sake.”

      “When?”

      “Tomorrow…You’re right, he’s downstairs waiting for my answer.”

      “Are you going to do it?” Aimee’s question hung in mid-air like a dangling spider.

      Erin didn’t know. Then she did know. Longing welled deep within her, not a physical longing, but an emotional stirring that left her feeling empty inside. She didn’t want to have anything to do with this lieutenant j.g., didn’t want to be trapped in the whirlpool of his strong, sensual appeal. Nevertheless, she had been from the first moment they’d kissed, despite her best efforts.

      He paralyzed her; he challenged her. He was everything she claimed she didn’t want in a man, and everything she’d ever hope to find.

      “Well?” Aimee probed. “What are you going to do?”

      “I…I’m going to take that tour.”

      Aimee let lose with a loud cheer that attracted the attention of nearly everyone in the huge open room. Several people stuck their heads out from behind office doors to discover what was causing all the excitement.

      Shaking on the inside, but outwardly composed, Erin took the elevator to the ground floor. Brand was waiting in the foyer. He had his back to her and was standing in front of the directory. He wore his dress uniform, and his hands were joined behind his back, holding his garrison cap.

      He must have sensed her presence, because he turned around.

      “Hello,” she said, her heart as heavy as the humid air of the rainy Seattle morning.

      “Hi,” he responded, his own voice low and throaty.

      She dropped her gaze, unexpectedly nervous. “I got your note.”

      “You look surprised to hear from me.”

      “After the way I behaved the other night, I didn’t expect to…I can’t understand why you want anything to do with me.”

      “You weren’t so bad.” His lazy grin took a long time coming, but when it did it contradicted every word he’d spoken.

      She found his smile infectious and doubted any woman could resist this man when he put his mind to it—and his mind was definitely to it!

      “Are you free tomorrow?”

      “And if I said I wasn’t?” She answered him