“Peter, it’s Jeff,” his wife called to him.
Peter walked into the hallway, over the oriental rugs that decorated the hardwood floor of the mansion he’d purchased on the north side of the city, wanting to afford Treena every luxury he could. She came from wealth, and his law business was thriving. Treena was sweet and understanding and just as lonely as he when they first realized they were both ready to love again.
Peter grinned and put out his hand to greet Jeff Trubridge, also now a married man since coming back to Chicago. Their friendship was a strange one indeed, created by the very wild adventure of being brought together because of their association with U.S. Marshal Jake Harkner back in Guthrie, Oklahoma—an experience neither of them would ever forget.
“Jeff!”
Jeff grasped his hand, smiling but also looking oddly concerned. “Peter, it’s good to see you. It’s been a year since we got together for dinner after I won that writing award.”
“And a well-deserved award it was. What brings you clear up here today? Aren’t you usually running around the city, digging up stories for the Evening Journal? And, by the way, I read your column every Sunday. Your articles about politics are very well written.”
“Thank you.” Jeff turned and hung his hat on a rack beside the door.
“Don’t tell me you’re here to ask me about my political viewpoints,” Peter joked. “I’m a lawyer, which means I can’t afford to take sides. I never know when a wealthy democrat, or a notorious councilman who is getting paid under the table, or some republican senator who is actually honest will need my services.”
Jeff adjusted his wire-rimmed spectacles, laughing lightly at the remark. “An honest politician? There aren’t many of those, either in Illinois or in Washington.”
Both men laughed, and Jeff thanked Treena as she took his hat. “Nice to see you again, Treena.”
“And you,” Treena replied as she hung Jeff’s hat on a rack beside the door.
Peter led the young writer down the hallway.
“Actually, I wish I were here about politics, Peter,” Jeff said as he walked beside him, “but it’s something—I don’t know—kind of personal in a way. Just something I wanted to share and see what you think.”
Peter noticed Jeff held a rolled-up piece of paper in his hand. “Don’t tell me you’re serving me an eviction notice.”
Jeff grinned. “From what I see here, you can well afford your home,” he answered. “This is all really beautiful, Peter. And you look happy.”
“I am.” Peter turned to put an arm around Treena. “My wife saw this place and said I want it, so I bought it for her.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Have Helen bring us some brandy, will you, dear?”
“Of course.” Treena nodded to Jeff and left them.
Peter watched her walk away, admiring her still-slim waist and her auburn hair. She had lovely skin and green eyes. But her hair wasn’t golden, and her green eyes didn’t sometimes look gray. She wasn’t Randy Harkner.
He led Jeff into his office and closed the door. “Have a seat, Jeff. You’re looking very good…very happy.”
“I am happy. Anna is going to have a baby.”
“Well! Congratulations! When is she due?”
“In about five months. After she delivers and she’s well, I’d like to have you and your wife to dinner and let you see the baby.”
“I’d like that very much. Children are something I’ve never been blessed with. My first wife couldn’t have children, and, of course, Treena won’t be having more. I guess I will have to be a father vicariously through my good friends.”
Jeff took a seat. “And I thank you for that.” He sighed as he sat down, sobering. “I, uh…I guess maybe it wasn’t necessary to come all the way up here and bother you with this. It’s just that…well, you and I share a certain closeness with Jake and Randy Harkner that few people—actually almost no other people besides Jake’s family share. After all, you’re the one responsible for getting Jake’s sentence reduced, and you’re handling his trust, and the book I wrote about him is doing pretty well.”
Peter frowned. “This is about Jake? Has something happened to him? Is Randy all right?”
Jeff met his gaze, and Peter realized he’d given himself away. Jeff was the only person out of all of Peter’s friends who knew how much Peter had loved Randy Harkner. That love still showed itself sometimes, and Peter felt angry with himself for allowing it. He had a wife now, and he truly loved her.