Tom came home to find Katie asleep on the sofa. She looked peaceful. He was glad she was sleeping, although he'd instantly worry if she slept too much. Would there ever be a time when he would stop worrying about her? Probably right before she moved on with her life, leaving him behind. Would she do to him what he had done to Tori?

The table had bags of groceries. He was glad she had gone with their new neighbor. He'd wait until she woke before he tackled that task. He went outside to call his mother without disturbing Katie. He couldn't tell her about his marriage, she wouldn't understand.

"Darling. How's Hawaii?"

"It's nice."

"That's where we should come visit you."

He felt panicked. "I'll be working constantly."

"Your father's busy, too."

He appreciated his father's work would keep his parents from traveling.

"What else is happening?" He didn't fear hearing about Tori like he had.

"Nothing, except I miss my sons. When will you come home and see everyone for yourself?"

He watched as Katie opened the door and approached him. "I don't know, Mom. I don't know." She was smiling and he couldn't find a coherent thought. His mother was talking, but he honestly didn't comprehend a word. It had been so long since he had seen her looking rested and happy. Was she happy?

"Tom? Tom? Are you still there?"

"Sorry, mom. What were you saying? I was distracted by the scenery."

"It must be beautiful."

"Yes, very."

"I said that Bea thinks Sage might finally have a baby now she's married. I'll be the only one on our street who isn't a grandmother."

"Talk to Trey about that." He wished he could help her out.

"Oh, that will never happen, but maybe your brother will come home with his girl. She was nice."

"You liked her?" He had heard his parents were pleasant when they visited Jonathan.

"Of course. I like everyone."

"Did Dad?"

"He thought she was smart."

That was something. "What's her background?"

"She's smart and articulate. You know you don't have to find a girl like Bella or Tori. I just want you to be happy."

"Me too, Mom." His happiness was sitting next to him listening to half of their conversation. "It must be late for you. I need to think about my dinner."

"Okay, sweetheart. It was nice talking to you. I love you."

"Love you too."

He hung up and looked at Katie. She was still smiling at him. "How can the man who avoids his family love his mother like you obviously do?"

He went to explain using Paco and Mama, but stopped. If she was smiling, he didn't want to give her a reason to cry. "The rift was with Jon and Trey. My father jumped to Trey's defense, and I jumped to Jon's. Jon was the one telling the truth. Years later, it seems like an overreaction, but I'm still not ready to go home."

"Why? Don't you miss your mother? Is it because of Tori? You still love her?" She frowned.

"No! I told you I didn't. Not like that. I would think about going home, but you're my legal wife. So unless you want to pretend in front of my friends and family, we shouldn't take that trip. Besides we just got here."

"Your family wouldn't approve of me."

"Not true! My mother just said she likes Jon's girl. She just wants her sons to be happy." He saw a shadow cast over her face. "Hey! Tell me about your day."

She smiled. "It was good. I have food for you from my lunch."

"You went out to lunch?" He smiled as she nodded. She had been reluctant to leave their apartment, but after one day in Hawaii, she ate out.

"Laurie's a little crazy, but she made me laugh, and I made her cry."

"You did?" What had she told her?

"Her husband was killed in Afghanistan. I told her just not how recent it was." He nodded. "She likes your uniform. What is she going to think when she sees you in your running clothes?"

"What's wrong with my running clothes?"

She smiled. "Nothing, but plenty of your neighbors got up early to get a glimpse of you."

"You're teasing!"

She shook her head. "I swear. They would talk about you in the laundry room. 'That guy who runs every day, he's so hot.' I'm not making it up."

He felt embarrassed. The only one he wanted to find him hot was sitting next to him. "Come on, gossip girl, we have groceries to put away."

Together they filled their cupboards. She said, "I feel like we need more. We hardly have any spices. How can we cook?"

Three times she referred to them as 'we'. Not that it was new. They were 'we' when they had cooked and cleaned up meals for Paco. Also, the three amigos were a 'we'. Somehow living in a new place and setting up their kitchen together felt different. Sharing the same dresser in the bedroom was different too.

There was no 'we' when they shared the bed. Most mornings he ran off his frustration or relieved himself in the shower. He woke late and had no time to do either.

There was no such thing as a perfect day. Halfway way through their dinner of the amazing meat, she spoke of Laurie again and the tears started. He spent the evening holding her while she cried.

When he ran the next morning, he wondered if women were watching him. Katie's comments made him paranoid. He stopped a few blocks early and tried to reach his brother. The time difference would be a challenge.

"Hey! How's Hawaii?"

"It's actually alright."

"How's your wife?"

Jon teased. "She smiled yesterday. God, I had forgotten."

"Forgotten what?" He laughed.

"How beautiful her smile is."

"Give her a few magical Hawaiian days and then tell her."

"I can't. I can't risk losing her. I'd rather be her friend forever than scare her away. I'm at our place."

"Let me see." He turned his phone around and panned it slowly across the bungalow. "Cute. Now take me inside."

"It's not much." He stepped inside. Katie was awake, fixing her tea. He greeted her. "Good morning!"

Jon yelled loud enough to be heard. "Good morning, Katie."

Jon had never 'met' Katie. To Tom's surprise, Katie said, "Let me see him."

Tom passed his phone to Katie. She looked beautiful, even though she had just pulled her hair into a messy bun. Her eyes were clear, so she hadn't woken up and cried.

She took it and looked at it. Neither spoke. He peered over her shoulder as they studied each other. "This is weird."

"So you two look alike, but he has a lot more hair."

Jon said, "I'm taller."

"Thanks for reminding me!"

"Katie, if he ever annoys you, tickle his left side right below his armpit pit. He hates it."

"Stop. Say goodbye or I'm going to be late for work."

"Bye." She smiled.

"Bye, Katie."

She handed his phone back. "I like him. He's cute with hair."

"He has a girl." He replied like a jealous fool. Figures she liked his brother and not him.

When he emerged, showered and shaved in proper uniform down to his shoes, she looked up from her tablet. "Have a good day."

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah, maybe I'll take a walk."

"Okay then." He left. In a perfect world, he would lean over and kiss her goodbye.