“That sounds fine to me. I’ll see you when you’re done.”
She didn’t want to keep the officer waiting, so she slipped inside the office and took a chair to answer any lingering questions about Saturday night.
It didn’t take as long as she expected, and she was out thirty minutes later. Dave was sitting in the chair she’d vacated, flipping through the same magazine. “Ready?” he asked, standing.
“I guess.” She put her scarf around her neck and then went to put on her coat. In an instant, Dave was there, helping her slip her arms into the sleeves and balance the baby. “Thanks,” she murmured, buttoning the buttons and taking her gloves from the pockets.
“It’s a cold one,” he observed as he held the door and they stepped outside into the police station parking lot. “Did you walk over from the clinic?”
“No, I drove here straight from home.” She looked around and didn’t see his truck. “You walked up, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“Guess you’re riding with me, then.”
He took the carrier from her hands and they started across the parking lot. Dave was right, it was bitterly cold; the kind of aching cold that seeped through clothing right into the bones. She hadn’t worn boots today either, and her heels and nylons gave no protection against the weather. Halfway across the lot, her shoe slipped on a sheet of ice and she felt herself careening backward.
“Oopsie daisies!” The funny expression slipped from Dave’s lips as his hand caught her elbow, keeping her upright. “Careful there.”
She could feel the strength of his fingers through the thick wool coat. “Thanks. I should have worn boots today.”
“No kidding. Don’t get me wrong, your legs look great. But those shoes are not made for ice and snow.”
She got out her keys, feeling a bit fluttery from the compliment. “I know. I figured with just four hours at the office today, I’d skip the boots.”
The heater took a minute or two to kick in, and the drive was so short that Charlie’s toes had barely started to thaw when they parked on the street outside the café. It was only eleven thirty; they’d arrived before the lunch rush. This time, when Charlie got out of the car, Dave took her arm securely so she wouldn’t slip on any black ice on the sidewalk, and carried the baby with his other hand.
Breezes was toasty warm and smelled heavenly when they walked in. A local radio station played over the speakers and despite the cold outside, it was cheery and bright on the inside. It had already been decorated for Christmas, with gaudy tinsel draped along the lunch counter and silk poinsettias on every table. Above the wide window overlooking the harbor, a gold and red and green shiny sign said MERRY CHRISTMAS and in the corner, an artificial tree was up and lit with colorful lights and red and green ornaments.
“Lunch for two today, Charlie?” the waitress, Linda, called out from the kitchen. “I’ll be right out. Just putting up a takeout order. Sit where you like.”
Charlie chose her usual table without thinking; a table for two with comfortable wood captain’s chairs and an unimpeded view of the docks. “Hey,” Dave said as he hung his coat on the back of his chair and then sat down. “I can see the boatyard from here. Cool.” He pulled a spare chair over and put the car seat on it. “There you go,” he said softly, smiling down at the tiny face staring up at him. “You get a chair like everyone else.”
She was very aware that the boatyard was visible, and instead of meeting his gaze or responding, she kept her eyes down and reached for the menu tucked in a wire holder on the table.
Linda didn’t waste any time bustling over with two glasses of ice water. “You beat the rush today, folks. And oh my soul, who is this adorable boy?” Linda peered into the car seat and smiled. “Aren’t you handsome,” she cooed, and Charlie couldn’t help but smile.
“I’m watching him for a few days. He’s our baby in the manger.” Charlie knew the grapevine would spread the news anyway, so she filled Linda in on the details. “Dave and I were just at the station, answering a few final questions, and thought we’d grab lunch before going to work.”
“Oh, of course. What can I get you? The special’s meatloaf and your choice of potato with carrots, and we’ve got a holiday special happening all month long. Stuffed turkey breast with mashed potatoes and gravy, peas and carrots, cranberry sauce, and dessert.”
“I’ll have that,” Dave said quickly. “Sounds perfect.”
“And you, Charlie?”
Dave’s meal sounded like an awful lot of food. Usually she went for a salad or a bowl of soup, but today she was starving. Besides, she could go home after work and have something light, right?
“I’ll have the meatloaf with mashed,” she answered, smiling. “Thanks, Linda.”