6. TECHNICALITIES

Richard�s entrance was formidable as always, but Carissa had grown accustomed to his cool persona and he didn�t shake her one bit. Garret on the other hand was even more uneasy with Charity�s husband now in the room with them. But any concern for her husband�s emotional well being vanished as Richard informed the group of the accident which Charity had experienced on the exceedingly icy streets.

Her head snapped around as Charity calmly corrected him and proclaimed that a collision was avoided, albeit just barely. The tiny amount of humor interjected by her husband relaxed the mood a tad, but only a tad, and not enough to prevent an outcry.

Unable to contain her concern, Carissa gasped, �Charity, when were you planning on telling me that you nearly ended up a winter statistic?�

If it had been anyone else speaking, Charity would undoubtedly have merely rolled her eyes or even become annoyed, but years of friendship had bonded the two and almost meekly, Charity said, �It really was nothing, and I was hardly in the mood to give you undue cause for worry after the fact had taken place.�

Carissa�s lips tightened, but considering that her friend was indeed alive and well, happily situated across from her, irritated would hardly do her any good. Before she could open her lips to speak again, Garrett smoothly stretched his hand across the space between them and rested it atop her wrist.

His voice was sincere and his gentle eyes shone kindly, �We�re glad you�re safe, Charity. None of us have lived quite long enough to justify our lives being snatched away too swiftly.� Carissa narrowed her eyes at him for a moment, than smiled, reaching for her menu and running her eyes across the delicious items minutely described.

Charity, relief evident that Carissa wasn�t going to make an enormous fuss, continued perusing her own menu, stating, �Well, I have rediscovered a truth I already knew. Driving in the snow is something one should never be subjected too, not even in the best of conditions.�

Laughter dissipated the remaining tension. Garrett, in a not entirely smooth effort to begin a conversation, questioned, �So, Richard. How was your day in court?� The man sitting opposite him, clothed in a suit which undoubtedly cost more than one of Garrett�s paychecks, exhaled the smallest of sighs before responding.

�It did not go as I had hoped. In fact, I lost on a technicality.�

Judging by the tiniest glance Charity shot her husband, Carissa knew that he was more upset than he was letting on. But she knew well enough that questioning him further would undoubtedly cause him to clam up. He would speak if he wanted to and before Garrett could open his mouth, she subtly kicked at him beneath the table.

A mild wince at the corners of his mouth proved that her aim was true.