Page 162 of Confessions

But Ben couldn’t stop thinking about Carlie. Throughout the evening, no matter what direction the conversation took, his mind wandered and he wondered where she was. Tonight she was supposed to be meeting Fitzpatrick for a business dinner. Just the thought of it curled Ben’s insides.

“Is something wrong?” Tracy asked, snapping him back to the present.

“Nothing.”

She stared pointedly at his half-eaten cheeseburger. “Nothing?”

“Nothing that matters.” He grinned at Randy. “Hurry up, sport. The movie starts in twenty minutes.”

The film was an action/adventure film that featured teenaged stars Randy recognized from television. Randy ate popcorn from a tub and watched raptly and Ben tried to show some interest in the thin plot, but his mind continued to wander to Carlie. Always to Carlie. He felt like a traitor being here with Kevin’s family, and yet there was no way out of this particular emotional entanglement—at least no easy way. He slid a glance at Randy and the kid looked at him and smiled—Kevin’s smile.

Tracy touched him on the arm and he nearly jumped out of his skin.

“Where are you?” she whispered.

“Here.”

“More like a million miles away.”

“Got a lot on my mind.”

“The business?” she asked hopefully.

“That’s a big part of it.”

“And the rest?”

Even in the darkness he could see the worry and sadness in her eyes. “Nothing important,” he lied and glanced at his watch.

When he dropped them off at their apartment, Randy grinned at Ben and thanked him for the “good time.”

“My pleasure.”

Randy glanced at his mom. “Aren’t you coming in?” he asked Ben.

“Not now.”

“But...you’ll be back?”

Ben felt as if Randy had been coached, but smiled and ruffled the kid’s hair anyway. “Sure I will.”

“When?” Tracy asked.

“I’m not sure.”

“We’re free tomorrow,” she said lightly though Ben thought he detected a hint of desperation in her voice.

“Tomorrow doesn’t work for me.”

She waited hopefully.

“I’ll call.” He felt like a heel as he read the skepticism that flickered in her eyes.

“Good. Now, Randy, you go on inside and I’ll be there in a minute,” she said. “I need to talk to Uncle Ben alone.” She handed her son her keys and Ben tensed, watching as the boy slipped through the door.

“He’s a good boy, Tracy,” he said. “I guess I already told you that.”

“He thinks a lot of you.”