18. LIFE WITH CADFAEL

Carissa delicately handled the tiny pair of slippers, holding them up to the light as Garrett graciously closed her door. Curiosity flickered across his brow as the small bits of fabric waved before the window and he immediately leaned over to examine them upon settling into his seat. Amazed, he removed them from his wife�s hand, his lower jaw dropping in astonishment. �How did she...?�

His wife crisply cut him off with a light chuckle and remarked, �I don�t have any idea how she knew. I should have known that I couldn�t conceal such a secret from her very long. After all, I�ve known her longer than I�ve known you, frightening as the concept may seem.�

A twinkle accented her words and he rolled his eyes before handing the booties back to her and starting the car and essentially, the heater. Determined that he would not settle into his regular performance of lackadaisical humor, Carissa bluntly inquired, �What topic of conversation were you and Richard so deeply involved in while Charity and I walked to the car?� A bright flame of pink lit his cheeks as his lips parted with no sound issuing from them.

Pulling smoothly from the restaurant parking lot and passing the Devon�s vehicle as it turned, he watched his wife wave cheerfully to her friend, who seemed preoccupied in teasingly reprimanding her husband. Knowing he couldn�t avoid the topic for long, Garrett cleared his throat than ran a hand through his now tousled waves of sandy hair.

�Darling, I love you more than life itself. You know that. But I cannot betray a confidence, and as unlikely as it seems, Richard brought me into his confidence tonight.�

Her eyes narrowed in concern and she inquired, �But what on earth could he possibly have to say that would give you both such cause for secrecy?�

Stretching his right hand across the space between them, he tenderly enfolded her hand in his own, glancing at her eyes before turning back to the lengthy road before them. �I never once thought that a man like Richard, wealthy and important to society, would dare confide in a lowly park ranger. I don�t know many details, Carissa, but just enough that it gives me cause for minor concern. Please, I know it will be hard, because I know your natural-born curiosity, but just leave it alone. Do that for me, please?�

His brown eyes softened with an expression she knew well and saw often in her married life. Whenever he didn�t want to be questioned or had some mild prank up his sleeve, he often gazed at her in such a manner. But it felt different now, as if the world were slowly collapsing inward. He was trying to protect her, of that she knew. But Carissa also recognized the set lips, the determined brow, and gave up all hope of finagling an answer from him.

Finally, she gave his hand a soft return squeeze. It was all that he needed and a sigh of relief escaped his lips. The drive home was mostly done in companionable silence, their hands remaining clasped as the falling snow slowly faded into a crisp evening. With the garage door slowly closing behind the vehicle, Carissa unlocked the side door leading from the garage and ascended the few short steps into the entry, swiftly sliding from her coat and hanging it upon its appropriate hanger in the hall closet.

Their cat Cadfael, the only child as she fondly called him, emerged from the vicinity of the living room to wind his way around her feet. Bending, she scooped him into her arms, smoothing his twitching white ears and smiling into his soft blue eyes. A low purr erupted from his throat and Garret laughed at the sight as he stomped his way through the door, shrugging from his coat and ineffectively grabbing for it as it landed in a heap.

Rolling her eyes, she handed the contented animal into her husband�s arms where he clumsily juggled the fifteen pound beast before settling him into the crook of one arm. Snatching up the black coat from its position upon the floor, she hung it beside hers. In an effort to dispel the sense of anxiety attempting to creep over her, she teasingly commented, �I always live in mortal fear that someday you�ll come home late on a snowy evening and completely forget to hang up your coat. There I�ll find it the next morning, leaking a soggy puddle across my lovely hardwood floor.�

One blonde brow lifted as humor lit his brown eyes, lending him a lethal amount of male charisma. Slender lips pursing in mock protest, he declared, �If I were to ever attempt such a folly, you know I wouldn�t be so foolish as to commit the act while you�re home. I�d wait for you to visit your parents for a day or two and than make the appropriate mess.� Deftly avoiding the swat aimed at his biceps, Garrett dashed up the staircase with cat in tow and wife in swift pursuit.