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the chirping of crickets in the distance but he could smell the scent of fresh grass mixed with sharp tang of chlorine. There was nothing different about tonight. It could have been any one of a hundred nights just like it. Except for one thing.
    Myra. She changed everything.
    “I didn’t know you were out here.”

    Holt’s voice sounded too loud in the dark silence and Myra must have thought so as well. With a half scream she sat straight up in the hot tub, her arms crossed over her chest as if to keep him from taking in the view.
    He found himself moving forward, toward her rather than retreating which would have been his normal response. Something about her pulled and tugged at him, always keeping him nearand not at the safe distance he usually preferred.
    “You scared me,” she breathed shakily. “I thought you were in the office working.”
    “I was and then I worked out for awhile. Best way to get rid of stress. Do you mind if I join you?”
    Stripping off his shoes and socks, he didn’t wait for her answer. He quickly submerged himself in the heated water, covering most of his scars, before strippingoff his wet t-shirt and tossing it in a heap on the concrete deck. In the past two weeks he’d become more comfortable around Myra and had even rolled up his shirtsleeves when they worked together. But getting a glimpse here and there wasn’t the same as seeing all of it in its horrific glory.
    Myra levered herself from the tub and onto the edge. “I’ll give you some privacy.”
    Some demon insideof him wanted her to stay. He caught her wrist and shook his head, not sure what to say since she was probably doing the wisest thing by leaving. But that part of him that had been alone for so long…it was firmly in control tonight. Maybe a human being could only stand a certain amount of isolation before it was forced to reach out to another. He had Fiona and Bart, a few friends, his brother Beck,and his parents.
    It just wasn’t the same.
    “You don’t have to leave on my account. Stay for awhile. Talk to me.”
    Her lips parted as if to say no but then she smiled and sunk back down into the water.
    “Thank you. I will stay. I’ve been working out after Amelia goes to bed for the last four days and I’m really sore from it.”
    Since he had been closeting himself in the office he hadn’t known that.“That’s great. I’m glad someone besides myself is getting use out of the gym.”
    “Fiona and Bart don’t use it?”
    “They have their own set up in their house, but they’re always welcome to use mine of course. As much as Bart works outdoors he gets a pretty good workout no matter what and Fiona says she likes to ride the stationary bike every now and then.”
    They were quiet for a few minutes. Holtdidn’t know what to say but the quiet wasn’t uncomfortable. He let his mind wander, thinking about the day he’d had and what was in store for tomorrow. There was a crackle of static and a muffled voice and he jerked back to the present, instantly on alert.
    “What was–”
    “It’s okay,” Myra said quickly, holding up what looked like a small battery powered radio. “It’s Amelia’s monitor. This way ifshe calls out for me I’ll hear it.”
    Holt relaxed back down into the water. “That’s a good idea. Does she do that a lot?”
    “No.” Myra shook her head and set the monitor back on the edge of the hot tub. “But since we’re in a new place and I couldn’t hear her from here I thought it better safe than sorry.”
    “You’re a good mother,” Holt said and meant it deeply. Seeing her with Amelia these pasttwo weeks had shown him that Myra would do anything for her daughter. Even take a boring job like this one.
    Instead of the smile he thought she’d give him she seemed to crumple before his eyes. Her lips quivered and a few tears ran down her cheeks. He moved to comfort her, patting her on the shoulder as she sniffled.
    He had a feeling these tears had been a long time in