He pulled the folder free, flipped it open and scanned the collection of pages. The well-thought-out list of improvements and streamlining for both the station house and the department in general was as well organized as he’d have expected. She didn’t miss a detail—even had a list of pros and cons for each item she thought should be implemented. She’d worked out the benefits and costs of various scheduling templates, too, including the one he’d switched them to. The one she’d scratched out as impractical and said needs more thought.
On the last page, he found a handwritten note, an afterthought, perhaps, that simply said, “find Dad’s plans.” Her father’s plans for what? Roman wondered as he heard the distinctive rumble of the bay door opening and Dwayne sliding into place beside the engine.
He tucked the file back in the drawer discreetly. He looked up when he heard the rattle of her keys.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“It is now.” Frankie managed a quick smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Good thing Charlie called us. Mrs. Hastings accidentally took too much of her diabetes medication, and her numbers crashed. We got it under control.”
“Glad she’s okay.” Roman had to admit, having breakfast with Mrs. Hastings on Thursday mornings had become a routine he enjoyed.
“Your mom head back to the hotel?”
“Just after you left,” Roman said, hating the forced polite conversation they’d been falling into recently. The night had gone quiet. They were in for the evening—he hoped.
“By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask you.” She redid her ponytail. “Is your mom some kind of psychic?”
Roman looked at her.
“Seriously,” Frankie said. “She knew...something about Abby she hadn’t told anyone about. It was kind of spooky.”
“She has a weird kind of radar for pregnant women. She knew my cousin Elena was pregnant even before she did. Mom made her go out and buy a pregnancy test on Thanksgiving. Made for an interesting holiday, that’s for sure. Why? Is Abby pregnant?”
“Just about three months, it seems.” Frankie grabbed her sweatshirt off a peg. “They were planning on announcing at Christmas.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.” Roman rubbed his fingers across his aching forehead. “I’ll have a talk with her.”
“It’s fine, Roman. Abby was kind of relieved to be able to tell someone. Your mom’s promised to keep it to herself until Abby and Jason announce.”
“So Abby and Jason are going to have a baby. That’s pretty great.”
“Yeah.” Frankie headed down the hall to the entertainment room.
Roman considered himself a smart man, but even smart men had to push the boundaries of conversation at some point. Especially if they wanted pertinent information. He retrieved his crutches and pushed himself to his feet, clomping his way down the hall. “I asked Jasper to finish the dishes up tomorrow,” Roman told her when he found her curled up in the corner of the worn leather sofa, a gaming controller in her hands.
“That’s fine.” The TV screen remained blank even as she stared at it. She’d put up a smaller Christmas tree in here, complete with twinkling lights and a crooked handmade tinfoil star.
“You ever think about having kids?”
That got her attention. Her head snapped up, eyes flashing. “Do I ever what?”
“You heard me. You seem to like them. You’re great with Phoebe, and you seem happy for Abby.”
“I am happy for Abby. Yeah, I think about it from time to time. Haven’t really had to, you know—” she shrugged “—give it serious attention. You?”
“Me what?” He lowered himself beside her and stretched out his leg with a wince. Maybe it was time for one of those painkillers after all.
“I’ve met your mother, Roman,” Frankie said. “Don’t tell me she hasn’t given you the ‘when am I going to be a grandmother’ lecture.”
“Why do you think I moved across the country?”
Frankie smirked.
“Ha, I know. Bad joke. Maybe it’s half-true. I almost got engaged once.”
Frankie’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“Don’t sound so shocked. Some women think I’m a catch.”
She discarded the controller and faced him, resting her cheek in her palm. The way she looked at him, with an overbright smile and fluttering lashes, had him laughing. “Did the almost fiancée throw you back?”
Ah, there was the Frankie he’d come to... Roman swallowed, diving hard and fast away from any completion of that thought. “In a way. When the discussion turned to kids.”