Steve nodded. “Yup.”

She took that into consideration and then asked. “Do you go to church?”

Steve hesitated. “I haven’t in a while.”

“Why not?” Amiee wasn’t letting up.

“Enough, you two,” Cassie cried, growing more frustrated by the minute.

Steve gave her a gentle shake of his head, letting her know he fully intended to answer Amiee’s questions.

“I’ve been sort of mad at God.”

“How come?” Amiee pressed, unwilling to drop the matter.

Steve expelled a long breath. “Because my wife died. I prayed that God would heal Alicia. It didn’t happen and so I figured if He wasn’t going to listen to me, then I’d ignore Him, too.”

Amiee tapped her fingers on the top of the picnic table as she mulled over his answer. “I guess I can understand how you felt.”

“I appreciate it,” Steve told her. “Anything else you need to know?”

Amiee nodded aggressively. “Yes, there’s more. This is my mother you’re talking about, and if we’re going to let you into our lives there’s several important factors for us to take into consideration.”

Cassie interrupted. “This has gone on long enough. It’s far too early for you two to be talking like this. Steve, I appreciate you considering Amiee’s feelings, but I believe this is a discussion you and I need to have first. I am nowhere near ready for this to move so fast. I thought you understood that.”

Amiee’s gaze was focused on Steve and his on her. Both reacted as if she hadn’t spoken, as if they hadn’t heard a single word she’d said.

Cassie couldn’t take this any longer. She scooted off the bench and, with her arms folded, paced the area.

“Anything else?” Steve asked, gesturing toward Amiee. It seemed he was more than ready to take on whatever it was she wanted to toss his way.

“If you and Mom get serious, you know, really serious, and you decide to marry, will you want children?”

“Yes,” Steve said. He glanced toward Cassie and held her eyes for a moment.

“As far as I’m concerned, this is a moot point,” Cassie said.

“Good,” Amiee pronounced, with a sharp nod of her head.

“You approve?” Steve asked.

“Well, duh. Ask Mom. I’ve wanted brothers and sisters forever. It takes the pressure off me.”

“Right,” Steve said, agreeing with her.

“One more thing, and this is important.”

“Ask away.”

Amiee leaned forward and with all the wisdom of her twelve years said, “My mother is a wonderful person and she’s been through a lot. Don’t hurt her.”

“It would never be my intention to hurt either one of you,” Steve vowed. “And I promise to think about everything you said. Now, is that it? Any other questions or suggestions?”

Amiee let out a lengthy sigh. “That’s about it, but I reserve the right to ask questions later if I think of something else.” Satisfied, Amiee resumed, munching on a french fry.

Steve reached for his burger.

The only one not eating was Cassie, and that was because her head was buzzing. Neither Steve nor Amiee seemed to think her feelings on the matter were of any significance. That rankled and now she was angry and growing more so by the minute.

As if she had a sudden thought, Amiee leaned forward and looked at Steve. “When I’m sixteen, you’d let me drive, right?”

“Amiee!”

“If your mother approves.”

“What about a car? Would you willing to buy me my own car?”

Cassie couldn’t believe this. “Amiee, Steve, stop right this minute,” she snapped, nearly shouting in order to gain their attention.

“Okay, okay,” Amiee muttered. “I probably shouldn’t have asked that, but you can’t blame me for trying.”

“Oh yes, I can,” Cassie declared. She turned and glared at Steve. “And Steve Brody, this is serious, I don’t appreciate you making assumptions you have no right to make.”

“Was I getting ahead of myself?” he asked, and to his credit, he looked at bit chagrined.

“You and I need to talk … privately, and the sooner, the better.”

“Okay. Whatever you say.”

Her daughter turned to look in Steve’s direction. “When would you like to start?”

Steve blinked. “Start?”

“Dating Mom?”

“Soon,” Steve assured her, dragging his troubled gaze away from Cassie. “That is, if your mother agrees.”

Amiee sighed expressively. “Of course she agrees. She’d be a dope not to. She’s really busy these days with Habitat and work, though. She’s at the salon early and at the house site late.”

“And I need to return to eastern Washington for the time being. Which, given the look on your mother’s face right now, might be a good thing.”

“For how long?” Amiee demanded.

“I don’t know. Hopefully for only a few more days. But before I leave,” Steve said, “I think your mother and I need a few minutes alone.”

Amiee’s eyes brightened. “Are you going to kiss her?”

Steve grinned before answering in a whisper, “If she’ll let me.”

Chapter 26

Steve drove Cassie and Amiee back to the apartment. Cassie clenched and unclenched her hands several times while she debated what to say to Steve. Earlier she’d felt ready to explode, but her anger had dissipated as they headed back to the apartment. Nevertheless, she felt it was important that she set him straight. Sitting in the truck, Amiee was already talking wedding dresses and asking if she’d serve as the maid of honor when Cassie married Steve.

Just as they neared the apartment Steve got a phone call. Cassie could hear only one side of the conversation, but it was enough to glean that he was needed back at Grand Coulee Dam as soon as possible.

Steve walked them back to the apartment, where Amiee settled in with some homework. Cassie followed him back outside and stood by his truck. He climbed in the cab and rolled down the driver’s-side window. With a heavy heart, Cassie leaned against the door.

“We still need to talk,” she said.

“I don’t understand why you’re so upset.” His look was sheepish. “Okay, so Amiee got a bit carried away, but I found it amusing and rather sweet. You have to admit the kid’s got a lot of enthusiasm.”

“It isn’t right to lead her on, Steve.”

“I wasn’t. I’m serious about us, Cassie. I know you want to go slow with this and I understand. I feel the same way, but it’s important that we’re on the same page, don’t you think?”

“Yes, that’s what I’ve been trying to say all afternoon.”

“I want us to get to know each other, and the only way that can happen is if we’re committed to this relationship. I’m not going to date anyone else, and I hope you won’t, either.”

Truth be told, there wasn’t anyone she would rather date.

“Can we agree to that then?”

She nodded.

“I want to be sure you understand,” Steve said. “I excused myself from your project not because I wanted to see less of you. I want to spend more time with you. I felt working on your house and us dating might be considered a conflict of interest.”

“Okay.” That made sense.

“We’re square, then?”

“We’re square.”

“I’d like to talk this out a bit more, but unfortunately I’ve got to get on the road.” The hesitation in his voice was evident.

Cassie felt it herself. She’d been angry, and with barely an effort he’d managed to turn it around with a few words. He was a good negotiator, a good businessman. It unsettled her.

“We will talk soon,” Steve said. “I’ll call when I can, okay?”

She nodded.

“Kiss me before I go.”

Cassie leaned in to give him a quick kiss, but he placed his hand on the back of her head and made sure she understood he was going to miss her. Standing on her tiptoes, Cassie leaned into his kiss, opening up, weaving her fingers through his hair.