Page 44 of Nate

“She’s trying to make me feel guilty for not staying longer for her birthday.”

“When is it?”

“The party is the last Saturday of June, but her actual birthday is a few days before.” Markie sighed.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you want to go?”

“I do and I don’t. I love her and can’t disappoint her but…”

“Ah, her husband.”

“Yes. I hate being anywhere near him.” Markie stared at her plate. Her appetite gone now. “Just thinking about it makes me sick.”

“And she doesn’t believe you?”

“She makes excuses for him. I know we’re not supposed to hate people, but I despise that man.”

Nate reached across the table and touched her hand.

“I’m sorry, Markie.”

“You don’t have anything to be sorry for. I’ll get through it somehow. I even thought about asking Sydney to go with me, but he’d be all over her too.”

“I’ll go with you,” he said in a low voice.

“What?”

“I said, I’ll go with you. If you want me to. I don’t think he’d bother you with me there.”

“I can’t ask you to do that, Nate.”

“You didn’t ask, I volunteered. I don’t work on weekends, so I could go.”

“I would love that. Thank you so much.”

Nate winked at her. “You’re welcome.”

After they finished eating, Nate walked her back to the hospital, then opened the door for her.

“I’ll talk to you soon,” he said, then leaned forward and lightly kissed her lips.

“I hope so.”

“Of course, I still need to call for a reservation at The Hartland.”

“Can you get us in this late?”

Nate smiled. “Yeah, it helps to know the owner. If he can’t get us in for some reason, we could eat at the diner.”

“Okay. Whatever works. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Markie entered the building, waved at Jodi, who was on the phone, and headed for her office. After putting her purse away, she headed toward the back room to look at the kitten.

She entered the room, peered into each cage until she came to the one she was looking for, and smiled. She stuck her fingers through the wire.

“Hi, little baby girl.” She laughed when the kitten butted her head against her fingers and Markie could hear her purring.

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