“And I found myself wanting to know you.”
My heart was beating harder than it should have been.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because I was afraid you’d mistake my interest for loneliness. Or that you’d feel flattered by the attention of an older woman and decide you wanted an adventure.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“I know that now. I didn’t know it then.”
I reached across the table and took her hand.
It was the first time I’d touched her deliberately.
Her fingers closed around mine.
“I don’t want to replace Mark,” I said.
“Good. You couldn’t.”
“I don’t want to compete with him, either.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“I want to know you, Diane. I want to know what makes you happy, what frightens you, what you dream about when you aren’t busy taking care of everyone else.”
She looked at me for a long time.
Then she whispered, “That sounds dangerous.”
