While contemplating Brian in the role of the dad, Faith was beset by an urgent need to visit the twins. On its heel came a desire to detour past the cemetery. That was probably the better choice, since she hadn’t asked Brian if he planned to visit the twins. He’d probably gone straight there from the hearing. It was likely he’d go back to New York now and resume his surgical practice until the test results became available. After snapping at him, the least she could do was allow him extra time at the hospital.
Too used to pinching pennies, Faith caught a bus to the cemetery instead of taking a cab. In spite of the lovely day, a chill enveloped her when she passed between the wrought-iron angels that served as gate sentinels.
Once she’d found the plot of newly-turned ground, Faith wished she’d stopped at a florist’s to pick up a fresh bouquet. The last of the funeral flowers had turned brown. This was a perpetual-care cemetery. Why hadn’t someone thrown them away? And where was the stone she’d ordered?
As thoughts tumbled disjointedly through her mind, staving off memories of Chloe, Faith recalled the man at the quarry where she’d ordered the rosy headstone saying it’d take three to four weeks. She sank to her knees in the warm, fragrant grass, and idly crushed brown flower petals with fidgety fingers.
“Chloe.” She murmured past the lump in her throat. “Today we made some progress toward fulfilling your wish. It’s not final, you understand. The judge can still take the babies away from me. Oh, God...I hope you knew what you were doing, handing them over to me.”
Faith scattered the next handful of petals. She brushed at a curling edge of grass. How long would it take for this bare earth, whose shape reminded her far too much of the casket, to fill in completely with bright grass?
Darn, she’d promised herself she wouldn’t cry today. The tears fell anyway. “Chloe.” Faith sniffled again. “I wish you could see Elyse and Evan. They’re beautiful. Perfect. I’m telling you this so you’ll know your sacrifice wasn’t in vain.”
A discreet cough sounded nearby. Faith straightened swiftly and smoothed the heels of her hands over her wet cheeks. “Brian.” She gasped, blinking up into a stabbing shaft of sunlight. “Wh-what are you doing here?”
Going down on one knee, he placed a cemetery-approved cone vase near the site of the crumbling brown bouquet. Dewy violets bobbed among a profusion of white daisies in his new floral offering. “Seems we have the same ideas. Forgive me, please. I didn’t mean to intrude.” Rising agilely, Brian extended a hand.
Even with his help, Faith was slow to climb to her feet. His flowers were so lovely, she paused to remove the last of the dead ones. An awkward silence fell between them. Both gazed down at the pitifully small plot of ground.
“I came out here,” Faith said at last, “because I thought you’d be at the hospital visiting the babies.”
“When I walked to the parking garage with Reed, he stated plainly enough that I need to make appointments to see the twins—-just like the Carters. The way you and I parted, I didn’t think you’d be too inclined to grant me visitation privileges today.”
Faith raised the hand filled with flower stalks to shield her eyes from the sun as she stared into Brian’s face. “About the way I bit your head off earlier—-I well, I’d like to apologize. I can’t imagine what made me act like a bitch. Nerves, maybe.”
“I’m not blaming you, Faith. The hearing was nerve-racking for everyone.”
“It’s not knowing how it’ll all turn out that makes things so tough. Realistically, I know the custody can go any way. It only makes sense for each of us to spend time getting to know the babies. I won’t impede visits by you or the Carters.”
Brian smiled. “I knew you’d do the right thing.” He wanted to hug her. But he let his half-raised arms drop. It wasn’t smart to touch her, especially not here next to Chloe’s grave. Lord help him, he wanted to hold her and comfort her...
“Yes, well, the parenting book I’ve started reading says children benefit emotionally and socially from active, early involvement by fathers.” Faith was saying.
“I believe I am the father and I want to be a good one.” Brian said forthrightly. “I understand your reservations, Faith. And you were right about my profession taking its toll on my family life. Do you by chance know of a bootie camp for dads?” He said teasingly, as much to relieve his own tension.
It was on the tip of Faith’s tongue to say she didn’t want to be having this conversation where Chloe could hear them. Of course, that was stupid. It was just that Brian stood with good posture, even for being rather short, his oceanic blue eyes laughing at her, he made her feel weak in the knees. She couldn’t help reacting to his disarming grin. The more he brought out these ambivalent feelings inside her, the more she clamped down on speaking candidly to him. As a result, she said nothing at all.
Sensing he’d put her off again, Brian groped for something to say. “If you’re finished here, I can give you a lift back to town.”
She mulled over his invitation. “I planned to stop at the hospital, first,” she finally told him. “It’s really better if we stagger our visits.”
“As you wish.” He said stiffly. “I’ll be more than happy to drop you off at First Memorial and time my visit with the six o’clock feeding. Feeding them is...” he broke off, restraining his excitement, “I get a kick out of it.” He finished softly.
Faith recognized the change in his expression and deeply regretted that her relationship with Chloe had caused this wall to go up between them. But some realities would never change. She was Chloe’s big sister and he was Chloe’s ex-husband. The fact that Faith had once had a terrible crush on him and the fact that he was now single only added to the discomfort she felt around him. She probably ought to feel shame for allowing such yearnings while standing beside her sister’s grave.
“Good Lord, Faith.” Brian exploded. “A ride into town is no big deal. I wish you’d quit looking at me like I’m a serial killer.”
“Thank you for the offer.” She said meekly. “I accept.” It wouldn’t do to divulge even the slightest hint of the thoughts running through her mind.
“You have the most revealing eyes of any woman I’ve ever known.” He said as the turned and strolled toward the gate. “No wonder you never joined any of the residents’ poker games. You wouldn’t lost your shirt.”
Feeling the tension slide away, Faith laughed. “At last the truth. You guys did play strip poker in the basement dead-record room. And you claimed not to understand why no nurse ever agreed to meet you there.”
“Ha! Was that the story you heard? You remember Donna Murphy?”
“Vaguely.” Faith frowned. “A busty redhead.”
“Yeah.” Brian grinned mischievously. “She had freckles...well, nevermind where she had freckles. Those were the good days.” He felt less on edge talking about the days before he married Chloe. Removing his jacket, Brian tossed it into the backseat of his deep blue BMW. After unlocking the passenger door for Faith, he rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt and slid behind the steering wheel.
Brian had neatly shaped, muscular arms, a gold watch just above his wrist and gentle to the touch and eye surgeon’s hands. Faith recalled the knots that had formed in the pit of her stomach every time she’d been assigned to his surgical team. Something a simple as watching him scrub had completely entranced her. Even now as he looped one elegant wrist over the wheel and turned to back out of the parking lot, her mouth felt dust-dry.
“I wonder whatever happened to Donna.” She said for the sake of keeping the conversation alive. “Now that I think about it, she was a terrible nurse. A walking disaster on the wards.”
Once he’d eased into traffic, Brian glanced at Faith. “She married Mark Sawyer.”
“Mark Saw--? That little bald guy with Coke-bottle glasses? The proctologist, right?”
“Right. Except Donna married Mark’s father.”
Faith’s mouth flopped open. “Isn’t he some hotshot plastic surgeon in Hollywood? I saw him on a talk show touting a newfangled kind of laser liposuction!”
“That’s him. I met him at a surgical convention in Athens. Donna had been liposucked everywhere except—-” he abruptly dropped his hand back to the wheel from where he had cupped it six or so inches out from his chest. “She looked ok.” He said lamely.
“Men! Why are you all so obsessed with breasts?”
Brian’s gaze ran over Faith’s compact frame. She still wore the pink suit he’d nearly drooled over at the hearing. In Brian’s opinion, Faith had always looked good, even without being exceedingly busty. He coughed-—choked really—-and berated himself for allowing his thoughts to wander.
“You can let me out here,” she informed him, stabbing a finger at the south entrance of First Memorial Hospital. It was the opposite end of the building from the nursery, but Faith wanted to disappear from beneath Brian’s scrutiny. He made her feel self-conscious in a way she hadn’t felt in...at least six years. Self conscious and plain. Unfeminine. She’d never resorted to stuffing her bra, although in high school she’d certainly been tempted. Now friends reported to envy the rapid metabolism that kept her trim. At least the women did. Faith knew men like Brian probably found her boyish.
“You want out here?” Brian jerked his attention back from checking out his former sister-in-law. He felt a stirring where he definitely shouldn’t—-and an immediate sense of guilt. He should not be thinking what he was thinking. Like how his hands could probably span her waist. Or how he’d like to unbutton that blouse and find out if she wore cotton or satin underneath. She obviously didn’t know, but men were obsessed by the mystery surrounding any woman they found interesting. Especially the parts she kept hidden—-and not just physical either. Brian recalled a time he’d been very interested in Faith. Before he met Chloe. Back then, Chloe made him feel ten feet tall, while Faith made it very clear that she needed no one but herself.
“Ah, hell.” He muttered, swinging the car in next to the curb. “You want to hike a mile to the nursery, be my guest.” Yanking on the emergency break, he vaulted from the car, circled the hood and jerked the door open for her.
If Faith had any doubts about coming up short in his perusal, they were obliterated by his actions. “Thanks for the lift.” She mumbled.
Did he expect a more effusive show of gratitude? She wondered as she hurried through the revolving glass door. Faith saw Brian reflected in the glass, still leaning on the open passenger door. He seemed to be staring blankly after her, although she was too far away to see the expression in his eyes.
Damn that Brian for making her lose the modicum of self-esteem she’d worked so many years to build. “And whose fault is that?” She asked under her breath while pacing in front of the elevator. “You get within fifteen feet of him and you let your mind turn to alphabet soup.” She scolded herself, walking into a thankfully empty elevator. Then she laughed and rotated her tense shoulders. “Maybe he knows. Maybe he hopes someone’ll see you talking to yourself. Then he and James Maxwell can declare you incompetent to take care of the babies.”
Faith was careful to lock her thoughts inside once the elevator door slid open and she stepped out onto the busy ward. She exchanged greetings with several staff members and waved to others as she traversed down the halls on her way to the nursery.
A familiar figure stood at the viewing window. Faith’s steps slowed, but Nick Carter had caught a glimpse of her reflection. He studied her somberly.
Craning her neck, Faith glanced into the waiting room where she supposed Shelby and his father must be sitting. The room was empty.
“Are you alone?” She asked, realizing the question was insane.
His face didn’t change as he shoved his hands into his pockets and gave a brief nod.
“I supposed you’d be back in New York by now, packing for your trip to Florida, or whatever it is sailors do before sailing off into the sunset.”
“Shelby complained of feeling ill after we left the hearing. We checked into a hotel, which allows her to rest awhile. I leave for Florida on Sunday.”
“Ah, then you’re dad’s staying with Shelby?”
“No. He went back to New York. I uh...I tried phoning you.” Incredibly blonde eyelashes swooped down to shutter very blue eyes. He chewed nervously on his lower lip.
Something about his expression troubled Faith.
“Would you like to take a closer look at the twins?” She asked gently.
The curtain over his eyes lifted, revealing an eager light. Almost as if afraid to concur, he spread his hands.
“I know you don’t have any reason to like me, Faith. But it’s important to me that you understand. I...Chloe wasn’t just a one-night-stand.” He cleared his throat and looked everywhere but at Faith. The tips of his ears turned red as he went on. “We connected..."
“You don’t have to explain. What’s done is done.”
“I want you to know. Chloe said she was on the pill. I took her word. Littrell thinks I’m an idiot for not making more of her scar. I did notice. She brushed off my concern, saying she’d been in a car accident.”
“I see.” Faith said. But she didn’t—-unless Brian was right and Chloe had systematically planned to get pregnant. If Chloe had arbitrarily picked Nick to father the child she was determined to have, her plan had backfired when she’d fallen in love with him. Faith didn’t think Chloe’s tears for this man were an act. “Although your lives crossed for whatever reason, you both harbored secrets. Neither of you were really free to make a new commitment.”
“Hindsight is always clearest.” He said, sighing heavily.
“Yes, and now there are two more lives that’ll forever be disrupted. Do you love your wife?” Faith asked abruptly.
If a swift, affirmative reply was what Faith was after, she didn’t get it. Nick rocked back on his heels and stared through the window at the rows of bassinets. Faith had almost given up on getting an answer when he finally spoke. “Our fathers were business associates before Shelby or I were born. Our marriage was preordained from the cradle.” He shivered. “It would be impossible for me not to love Shel. She was raised to be the perfect mate for me. Included in the life plan she was handed came a requirement that she produce the next Carter heir.”
“I see.” Faith murmured. And this time she did see. The perfect mate didn’t feel perfect when she failed to conceive. Judging by her brief peek at Shelby Carter, Faith would say it was probably the first failure the woman had ever experienced. She had no doubt that in Shelby’s privileged circle, only success was accepted. “I’ve had control of my own life for so many years, I can’t imagine what jumping to someone else’s command would be like,” Faith said. “Your wife must be a nervous wreck if both sets of parents are demanding she have a baby.”
“Her parents and my mother were killed when their yacht sank in the Mediterranean. If anything, that made my father more insistent. It was on the anniversary of their deaths that Shelby left me.”
“I want Chloe’s babies to grow up in a happy, normal household. I told Brian, and I’ll tell you. I’m going to do everything in my power to keep them.”
“I’d already deduced that. But I’m warning you, if the DNA tests prove they’re mine, you won’t have a prayer of retaining custody.”
“So we’re back to square one? Pity. I was beginning to like you.”
“Does this mean you’ll refuse to let me visit the babies today?”
“Not at all. Brian pointed out that I’d be wise to remain agreeable. He reminded me that no matter who the father is, I’ll always be the twins’ aunt.”
This time Nick’s acknowledgement was curt. While Faith directed the nursing supervisor to provide him with sterile clothing for his visit, she elected not to go in with him. She had learned her lesson watching Brian interact with the babies. Faith didn’t think she could stand it if Nick fell under their spell as Brian had.
Faith hung out with a few pals in the nurses’ lounge until Nick left. As it turned out, waiting wasn’t all that bad. She’d no more than slipped on her sterile gear when Dr. Sampson walked in.
“Well...” he announced, beaming at Faith. “These tots have done so well, I’m going to let you take them home on Monday.”
Faith could only grin foolishly at the nursery staff gathered around, hugging her happily.
Word spread through the hospital with the speed of light. Faith’s friend, Gwen, showed up with several nurses from the floor where Faith had worked. They pried her away from the babies and hustled her back to the lounge. “This is short notice,” Gwen exclaimed, waving a can of soda once everyone had quieted down, “but Cicely and I want to give you a baby shower. How about Saturday evening, Faith? At your apartment? Tacky, we know, but that way none of us will have to do a whirlwind housecleaning. Besides, it’ll make things easier on you. You won’t have to cart so much loot home on foot or in a cab. With twins, people naturally buy double of everything. Oh, and in case I didn’t mention it, we’re providing refreshments. All you have to do, little mama, is relax and enjoy.”
“A shower.” Faith had never dared hope she’d ever be the recipient of a shower, neither the wedding nor the baby variety. “That’s too cool, you guys. But...but maybe you’d better not go to all that trouble,” she said with a tremor in her voice. “At the hearing today, it was decided my custody is only temporary. The decision won’t be made until the men’s DNA tests come back.”
“We don’t care, do we, ladies?” Gwen said, and she squeezed Faith’s arm.
Megan, a young nurse from Faith’s ward, piped up. “Faith’s pretty brave, taking on two babies at once. So she deserves a real blowout. You’d better party hearty, pal.” She said to Faith. “From what my friends who have singletons tell me, get-togethers are few and far between afterward. And that’s with only one baby.”
“Singletons. Aren’t you clever.” Gwen teased. “What do you call twins or triplets?”
Megan rolled her eyes. “Twins are twinkies. Moms of triplets have no time to think up cutesy synonyms.”
“I’ll take singletons, thank you.” Cicely pretended to shudder. “Actually, erase that statement. Don’t give me any more. Three of them run me ragged. Add to that a full-time job and a spoiled husband.” She wrinkled her nose.
“Amen to that.” Gwen grimaced. “Faith has it made on two counts. She’s taking a leave from work and she doesn’t have a husband making demands on her.”
“Lucky lady.” Someone in the back row was heard to say.
“Oh, guys...” Megan chided. “I, for one, want a husband when I have kids. Don’t try to tell me any of you want to be single. Cice, how many times have you had to work overtime? I’ve heard you call Dan and ask him to pick up the kids from school or from the sitter. Plus, he starts dinner. Why can’t you give the man credit?”
Gwen looked sheepish. “My Jerry is a sweetie. He’s a wonderful dad. You’re right, Megan. It’s a bad habit of a lot of working women-—complaining about their husbands. Some women have to do it all-—cook, clean, work outside the home and have total care of the kids. They’re the only ones who should gripe. Sorry.”
Faith observed the pensive or perhaps guilty expressions on the faces of her friends. Everything they’d said had started her thinking about her situation. Eventually she’d have to return to work. Maybe sooner rather than later, depending on how much she’d have to pay in attorney’s fees. It was entirely possible that she might have to hire a mother’s helper. The very thing she’d objected to in Brian’s situation. Sadly she wondered if Nick and Shelby, for all their faults, might not be able to offer the babies greater stability. Her own life seemed bleaker for not having a husband with whom to share the joys and trials of parenting.
“Hey, Faith.” Gwen snapped her fingers in front of Faith’s blank face. “I asked if seven-thirty on Saturday is good for you? That way, the people who work the eleven-to-seven can attend.”
“Any time is fine with me. I’m the one living the easy life, remember?”
“Like Megan said, enjoy it while you can.” Cicely tapped her watch and made shooing motions towards the door. “Back to the salt mines, ladies. Two minutes and our break is over!”
They said goodbye to Faith. Soon she was left alone with her thoughts. For all the household chores she’d done while growing up, her dad had shopped for groceries and often cooked dinner, even though he’d frequently worked overtime and come home tired. In the mornings, her mother used to brush and curl both girls’ hair. There had been times their mom had barely been able to breathe, but she’d pitched in whenever she could.
A lot of women today raised children on their own. Faith argued as she shed her gown, mask and paper booties. She was, after all, fit and capable. There was no reason she shouldn’t manage beautifully.
As she stepped inside an elevator and turned to press the first-floor button, Faith saw Brian walk out of the adjacent elevator. He was surrounded by people who carried flowers, presents and a balloon bouquet. The balloons were pink and white. They must be on their way to visit a new mother who’d had a baby girl.
Brian split off from the crowd and angled toward the nursery. The door to Faith’s elevator slid closed, blocking him from sight. She probably should have gotten out and told him the news about the twins being released Monday. No, she decided. Let the nursing supervisor inform him and Nick. Faith didn’t feel like discussing visitations with either of them quite yet. By Monday, Brian would be back in New York and Nick off on his boat race; she’d be able to start establishing a routine without any interference.
After the shower on Saturday, she’d have time to wash and dry any clothing and sheets and blankets she might receive as gifts, and she could finish preparing the nursery. With luck, she’d be granted an entire week to spend alone with the babies.
Was privacy what she really wanted? Or would she rather have a happy marriage like Gwen’s? For six years, every time Faith pictured herself married, the man in her fantasy could pass for Brian Littrell’s twin.
Saturday, Gwen and Cicely arrived at five to begin decorating for the shower. They brought several bottles of champagne, as well as the makings for punch. Elyse Moore, Chloe’s friend, arrived next. She said she’d stopped by the hospital nursery to see the twins and that they were gorgeous.
Cicely popped the cork on the first bottle and poured each one of them a glass. “To Evan, Ellie and Faith.” She held her glass aloft.
“Before you toast us, come see what I’ve done in the babies’ room,” Faith begged, taking Gwen’s hand, she dragged her down the hall. Elyse followed.
“God! It belongs in some decorating magazine! Isn’t that monkey adorable?” Elyse snatched him up and laughed at the funny face.
Gwen leaned over her shoulder. “He looks a lot like Dr. Peterson, but don’t tell anyone I said so.”
“You nuts!” Faith grabbed the monkey away and propped him up next to the giraffe again. “You two are the baby experts. Is there anything I need that I’ve forgotten to buy?”
Gwen made a slow circuit of the room. “Cribs, changing table, diaper stacker, chest of drawers, mobiles, toys, clothes and a comfy rocking chair.”
Following at her heels, Elyse named a few things Gwen had missed. “Night-light, wedge pillows to keep them on their backs, diaper pail and baby wipes. I don’t see a bathtub.”
Faith choked on her sip of champagne. “How could I have forgotten about bathing them? Lord, how do I go about handling two?”
“One at a time.” Gwen said. “Remember from nursing school how slippery babies can be?”
“Don’t even mention it!” Faith gasped. “Come back into the kitchen. I’ll add a bathtub to my shopping list. Darn, I thought I had everything covered.”
“Maybe someone’ll give you a bathtub as a shower gift.” Cicely said, pausing at the kitchen counter to top off their glasses.
“Well, if they do,” Faith said, “I’ll take it off my list. Are you two driving? If so, you’d better back off on the bubbly.”
Gwen deliberately drained her glass, smacking her lips afterwards. “Jerry’s picking us up. He offered. Told me to live it up. He knows what a God-awful week it’s been at work.”
“Why don’t you leave E.R, and come back to the ward?” Cicely suggested between blowing up pink and blue balloons.
“Yeah.” Faith agreed. “Peterson’s going to fill my slot temporarily. It’d give you a break from E.R. for six months or so. A year if I can swing it financially.”
“The post-surg ward is stress of a different kind that’s all. There’s a lot more lifting than there is in E.R. After having four kids and tossing patients around for so many years, my vertebrae are giving out.”
“Have you seen an orthopedist?” Faith asked.
Gwen screwed up her face and reached for the champagne bottle again. “Fred Morrison. Until he started talking fusion. It’s either that or he wants to prescribe a heavy-duty painkiller that knocks me on my butt. I can’t take them and work. And I have to work—-we need money. Jerry has a good job, but he doesn’t make enough to put four kids through college.”
While Faith made sympathetic noises, Cicely stood up, leaned over the kitchen counter and peered around the kitchen. “Is something wrong?” Faith asked.
“Just checking to see if you had something burning in the oven. Don’t you smell it?”
The other two sniffed around. Gwen finally shook her head. “I think the champagne must have dulled my senses.”
“I do smell something, but I’m sure it’s not in here.” Faith opened the bakery box one of the women had brought. It was a beautifully decorated cake. A stork carrying two babies, one blanketed in pink and the other in blue, had been outlined in the icing. Bottles and booties dotted the rest of the cake. “This is gorgeous!” There was a loud knock at her door, and she hurried to answer it.
A whole troop of women stood clustered in the hallway. Faith stepped aside to let them in and several others got off the elevator and ran down the hall.
“Yuck!” said the last woman through the door, holding her nose. “Your neighbor’s really stinking up the hallway. A pathetic bachelor or a newlywed, I’ll bet.”
“Neighbor?” Faith stared at Katie, who worked in admissions. “The only other apartment on this floor had been vacant for six months.”
“Hmmm…” Katie drawled. “Then I’d say a hungry burglar broke in.”
Faith continued to stand in the hall as the others swarmed into her living room and piled their gifts next to the couch. “I’d better call the manager,” she said at last. “I don’t see any smoke, but there’s definitely a burning odor out here.”
She excused herself and made the call. She didn’t talk long. With the women all yakking at once, she could barely hear the manager’s explanation.
“What did he say?” Gwen asked, slicing a hand through the air to silence the noisy group.
“Apparently he did rent the unit. To a single guy. He said not to worry about anything unless the smoke alarm goes off.”
“So you have a new neighbor. Why are you frowning, Faith? Maybe he’ll be gorgeous, straight and looking for a girlfriend.”
Faith shrugged. “I hope he won’t complain everytime the babies cry. They’re bound to.” She said. “It takes time to change two kids and heat their bottles.”
“I didn’t stop to think.” Katie said from the seat she’d found for herself on the floor next to the mountain of gifts. “Bachelors tend to throw wild, noisy parties.”
“I wish no one had rented the place.” Faith grumbled. “I hope this isn’t a bad omen.”
“Quit worrying.” Gwen tore sheets of paper out of a pre-printed pad of baby shower word games. “Now come and play.”
“Hey, between changing diapers and feeding babies maybe you can teach the guy how to cook.” Cicely said, prodding Faith with the eraser of her pencil.
That garnered a laugh from everyone in the room. The festive mood continued when Gwen hauled out glasses and poured champagne all around. Soon, everyone was having such a good time the next-door neighbor was forgotten.
By the time the party ended and Faith saw her friends out, she’s accumulated not only the missing bathtub, but a thermometer, two musical swings, more stuffed animals and enough darling outfits to last the babies for a year.
Instead of going to bed, Faith stayed up and wrote a lengthy thank-you for each gift. Gwen had convinced Faith she’d never have time later.
She heard the floor creak next door, and considered popping over to introduce herself. But taking the initiative with a man wasn’t something she did easily. While she deliberated, she heard his outer door slam.
Faith glanced at her kitchen clock. One o’clock. Either her neighbor was planning to close the bars, or he worked odd shifts like she had.
Stifling a yawn, Faith sealed the last envelope and shut off her lights. She went to bed, leaving questions about her neighbor unanswered.
