“Hi, Steve.”

He didn’t really have a good excuse to call. “How are things going on your end? Have you been to the building site this week yet?”

“Every day. Everything is coming together so quickly. The foundation got poured this afternoon. I wasn’t really able to help much, but I stayed close by. All the while I kept thinking, This is going to be Amiee’s and my house! I find that unbelievable.” She said this all in one giant breath.

“The work is only just getting started.”

“Stan was there, supervising everyone.”

Steve had personally asked his best friend to fill in for him. Stan was a good man and Steve trusted him to see that the work was up to his own high standards.

“Shelly and George stopped by, too. They’ve finished their equity hours but came anyway.”

“They’re good people.” He savored hearing the joy in her voice.

“How are you doing?” she asked. “I hope you were able to resolve whatever the problem was at work.”

“It’s all good.” He didn’t dare admit he was lonely and bored. “Were you busy at work?”

“Three haircuts, a color job, plus two perms, so yes, you can say I was busy, which is good. I’m building up my clientele, which helps with my finances. Once I have regular customers I’ll be able to make a decent living and I won’t need to worry so much.”

“You’re a good stylist, Cassie. In fact, I was thinking I should book another haircut.”

“You don’t need to do that. I’d be happy to cut your hair anytime.”

“Tell him, Mom.” Steve could hear Amiee pleading with her mother in the background.

“Tell me what?” he asked.

“It’s nothing.”

“Cassie.” He whispered her name low and deep. “Tell me.”

He heard her exhale as if bracing herself. “I heard from Duke … a letter.”

Cassie’s ex-husband, the bastard who’d beat her. “He knows where you live?” God help him if he learned Duke ever came near Cassie again. He didn’t know what he would do, and whatever it was would probably land him in jail.

“No … he has no way of knowing where Amiee and I live. The letter took six weeks to reach me. Duke wrote to the neighbor lady, an older woman who was more his friend than mine, but a friend. Doris took the letter to the women’s shelter and they forwarded it to me.”

“And?”

“Duke’s in prison for manslaughter charges. He’ll be there for a very long time.”

“Good. So what did Duke want?” If he wanted Cassie back, the brute would have a real fight on his hands.

“He said that he loved me and Amiee.”

Steve snorted with disbelief. “You don’t beat the people you love.”

“I know.”

“Are you going to write him back?”

“No. I’ve learned my lesson. I can’t believe a word he says and I won’t put myself or my daughter in a position to be hurt again.”

“Smart decision.”

“But Duke did say one thing that gave me pause. Hold on a minute … let me step outside.”

Steve heard some movement as Cassie had stepped outside of her apartment.

“Are you still there?” she asked. “I just wanted to go out here where Amiee can’t overhear.”

“I’m here. Tell me what’s got you concerned.” The muscles in his neck were tense.

She hesitated. “Duke asked about Amiee … he said he’s done a lot of stupid things in his life but the only good thing was marrying me and fathering Amiee. He said he understood if I didn’t want anything more to do with him, and I don’t. Duke is completely out of my life.”

“Yes?” said Steve.

“Toward the end he believed every bad thing that had happened to him was somehow my fault. If he lost his job, he blamed me, if he stubbed his toe, I had somehow caused it to happen. If I stayed I’m convinced he would have …” She sighed. “Oh, never mind.”

“He would have murdered you,” Steve finished for her.

“Yes.” Her voice became a broken whisper. “If I hadn’t fled the night I did, I believe Duke would be in prison for murdering me. I’m as convinced of that as I am of standing right here talking to you.”

“Then why would you even consider having anything more to do with him?” Steve asked, fighting back outrage.

“Not me. Amiee. He said he loves his daughter and wants her in his life. He pleaded with me to allow him to at least write her.”

Steve hesitated. “Do you know what you’re going to do?”

“No, I have no idea. I protected Amiee … she was too young to fully understand what was happening between her father and me. Even when we were living in the shelter, she asked when we could go home again. She said she missed her daddy.”

Steve knew he wasn’t in a position to give her advice on this question. It was a decision Cassie had to make on her own.

“I’m so glad you called,” Cassie whispered. “I’ve been upset the last few days over this. I needed a friend to talk to, a sounding board.”

Friend. Steve was beginning to hate that word.

“And I’m glad you confided in me. You can trust me, Cassie. I won’t let you down.”

She didn’t say anything for a long moment, long enough that Steve wasn’t sure she’d heard him. “Cassie?”

“Thank you,” she said.

Chapter 23

Nichole and her best friend, Laurie, landed in Phoenix Friday afternoon and stood in line for a taxi that would deliver them to the Phoenician Garden Hotel and Spa. It was ninety-eight degrees, in stark contrast to the mid-sixties and rain drenching Portland, Oregon.

“I am going to soak in this sunshine,” Nichole said, as she dragged her suitcase out of the airport and toward the taxi line. She closed her eyes and raised her chin, letting the warmth wash over her upturned face. “I can’t tell you how much I need this break.”

“Me, too,” Laurie agreed. “Thank you so much for bringing me! I can’t believe that Jake was able to get us the prices he did.”

“He’s the best,” Nichole said. Laurie’s gratitude was touching, but this long spa weekend wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun alone. And it would be fun, even if she already missed Owen. He’d cried when she’d left him with her mother-in-law, but Leanne had been delighted to have this special time with her only grandchild. Nichole had half expected Jake to regret arranging this, but he’d been in good spirits that morning when he’d dropped her off at the airport. They’d hugged and kissed before he had to hurry to the office.

Their turn for the taxi finally came, and none too soon. Standing this long in the intense sun had become uncomfortable, though Nichole laughed at herself, given that she’d been uncomfortably chilled just a few hours ago. Nichole gave the driver the name of the spa and off they went.

When they arrived, the outside of the hotel was everything the Internet site had promised. The valet opened the cab door, and even before they could ask, a bellman wheeled a cart to the car and collected their luggage. They were escorted to the front desk, where a clerk greeted Nichole.

Nichole was agog. She turned a full circle, gazing at their lush surroundings. The lobby was luxurious and inviting, with marble floors and pillars and deep-cushioned chairs and sofas.

Standing at the front desk, Nichole and Laurie signed themselves in. Within a matter of minutes they were handed their room keys and personally escorted to the elevator.

“This is unbelievable,” Laurie whispered, as they arrived at their room. She plopped down on the bed, her arms spread-eagled as she was nearly buried in the lush white bedding.

“It’s even better than what I expected,” Nichole agreed. She walked to the window and looked out over the view of the expansive swimming pool with its Caribbean-colored water. The area surrounding the pool was a thick green lawn with small white tents set up as areas of shade. Several sun worshippers took advantage of a refreshing dip in the water, cooling themselves off from the heat.