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“Hmm. Well, we’ll know more tomorrow. How’s your stomach?”

I rub my knotted midriff. “How did you know? Queasy.”

“Let’s pay and go walk around someplace air-conditioned. The humidity is coming back.”

“We could go home.” I lean into his strong, long torso and feel safe, really safe. Reggie won’t let anything happen to me if he can help it. Right now, I’m not so sure about Powell. If Delgado takes a plea... will they even need me? No. So what reason would they have to keep me safe? I don’t have to go to trial.

“I feel like something is off,” I say in an undertone as we gather our things.

Reggie runs a hand through his hair. “A lot of these guys seem off. They don’t share more than they have to, and they get a hard-on from holding all the cards. You know what we need? A hard lemonade.”

“Mm. We’re out, though.”

“There’s a Giant-Mart across from the mall. We’ll pick up another six-pack.” Reggie drops a few twenties on the table to pay for our meal and steers me out the door into the blindingly hot afternoon.

My skin immediately springs leaks, sweat popping from my pores. I must look horrible.

“We can get some spices, too. What do you want for dinner? Want to go out or stay in?”

Reggie's words give me such a sweet feeling of comfort. The way he smiles down at me reassuringly as we talk about the little things makes me feel grounded—but not trapped in stereotypes and expectations like I was growing up. I don’t feel like I’m trapped in some fake poor girl-turned-princess fantasy, either. I hug him tighter to my side, sweat be damned.

“Let’s stay in. You never finished telling me about all the places you went.”

“I was in Helsinki. It was beautiful, treacherous, fun, friendly, and terrifying. And that was just at the airport.” He winks, and I laugh. “Stop that.” He kisses my head. “You shouldn’t be so beautiful in public. We’ll get arrested for public indecency.”

“Naughty.”

“You have no idea.”

“But I’d like to.”

We end our mercifully short walk across the parking lot and step into the shadow of the huge superstore. We both grab for a cart at the same time, ending our banter as our rings click. He’s wearing my grandfather’s, and I’m wearing my old wedding ring. It still fits, although it’s a little bit looser these days. Stress doesn’t do good things for my appetite. I think our steak dinner was the first decent meal I’ve had in weeks. “Looks good on you,” I murmur, and I mean it.

Reggie stares at my hand as we push through the squeaking second set of automatic doors into a blast of frigid air. “I wouldn’t have gotten you anything that fancy. Maybe I’m too simple.” His eyes settle on the diamond-studded band.

“When we’re clear of all this, I’m hocking it. Selling it online. Tossing it in the ocean, I don’t care. This and my engagement ring. I’d rather have one from you.”

The cart jerks to a halt. I stumble and hit my ribs on the handle, giving Reggie a dirty look. “Need your brakes checked, pal?”

“You saidwe. Whenwe’reclear.”

Shit. I did, didn’t I?I put on a falsely light voice. “Of course, silly. You're my hubby. Not getting out of it so easily!”

“Of course not.” Reggie gives me a tight smile, and I feel like I’ve kicked an entire box of kittens. The pain in my stomach stabs me again. “Excuse me a minute?” I gesture to the restrooms near the front of the store. “I’ll be a couple of minutes. Anxiety messes me up,” I add in an embarrassed mumble.

“I’ll be right nearby.”

“Okay. Ooh! But grab the lemonade. It looks like they’re almost out.” I point to the end cap a few rows away where summery drinks and mixers are running low.

“Be right back.”

I WAS RIGHT BACK. Inever took my eyes off the door. Fortunately, these superstores carry everything, and they have it everywhere. There was a rack of earrings, necklaces, and rings in shiny blue velveteen boxes just waiting to lure me in directly across from the restrooms.

One ring caught my eye. It was forty dollars and studded with blue topaz chips. It was silver, not gold, but it was bright and shining, like a summer sky.

It reminded me of Therese.

Humidity would always remind me of Therese.