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Sure she was. Ex-husbands usually traveled with friends. But apparently the headache was real.

“She took a couple of aspirin and is lying down.”

Beth cupped her hands around the paper cup, the heat of the coffee stinging her palms. “I hope she feels better soon.”

“She’ll be fine.” Without waiting for an invitation, Kent pulled out a chair and sat down across from her.

“You want a coffee, sir?” the kid behind the counter called out.

“Sure. I’ll have whatever she’s having,” he said.

“You got it,” Mr. Gameboy said with a promptness he hadn’t demonstrated earlier. Maybe her generous tip had something to do with it.

“You looked deep in thought when I walked in,” Kent said, relaxing against the back of the chair. He extended his legs into the aisle, crossing them at the ankles. He seemed so comfortable, so calm, as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

Beth stared at her ex-husband, unable to grasp how he could remain so unaffected by what had happened between them.

Perhaps Beth was the only one who had regrets, who wanted to examine the reasons their marriage had failed. What did it matter, anyway? she reflected darkly. Kent was with Danielle. He’d moved on, and she should, too.

“Beth?” he said, breaking into her thoughts.

She looked over at him, wondering what he’d just said.

“You worried about something?”

“Of course not,” she said, forcing a brightness into her voice. “Why would you think that?”

“You never were much of a liar.”

Beth shrugged, knowing it was true.

“Why are you out here, anyway?”

“I dropped off a puppy. A Christmas gift.”

He seemed to be waiting for her to explain why she hadn’t gone directly home. If she knew the answer to that question, she wouldn’t be sipping blistering hot coffee and feeling as if the entire world was against her.

“So, how long have you and Ted been…friends?”

“Oh, for some time now.”

“Is it serious?”

“No.” She managed a nonchalant smile. “Perhaps I should’ve clarified that. I routinely see Ted on a professional basis—and yes, we’ve been out socially.” She didn’t mention the few kisses they’d shared because, frankly, it wasn’t any of his business. When it came to his friend, she’d rather not know.

“But it could develop into something serious?” he asked.

This was even more difficult to answer. “I suppose. If we both wanted it to.”

“And do you?”

She stared down into her coffee to avoid looking at him.

“No.” Then she quickly shook her head. “Well, maybe.”

“Maybe,” he repeated slowly.

“It depends.”

“On what?” he prodded.

Beth straightened. “I’d rather not talk about Ted and me. I didn’t ask you about Danielle.”

“True.” He nodded. “All right, what do you want to talk about?”

“Do we need to talk about anything?”

He hesitated. “I guess not.”

The kid brought over Kent’s coffee and he paid for it. He was about to take his first sip when Beth warned him, “Careful, it’s hot.”

Kent sipped his coffee guardedly and grimaced. “You’re right.”

Beth took another sip of her own coffee, which had cooled slightly. “The puppy I delivered—it was to the Polgars.”

“Polgar. That’s an unusual name. As in Bobby Polgar, the chess champion?”

“Yes, he lives in Cedar Cove.”

“Bobby Polgar lives here?” Kent arched his brows, clearly impressed.

“His wife is, or rather was, a local hairdresser. She’s a wonderful, wonderful person.”

“You mean to tell me Bobby Polgar married a beautician?” Kent grinned, as if the idea amused him.

“Don’t say it like that. Teri’s perfect for Bobby and now they have triplet sons….”

“And they took a puppy?”

“Actually, no. The puppy was for Teri’s sister.”

“What did you want to say about the Polgars?” Kent asked.

“I…I was remembering how it was with us when the girls were little.”

“We talked about that earlier.”

“We did,” she agreed. “Those early Christmases, the basement apartment, those silly gingerbread decorations I sewed.”

“What you’re really saying is that you wonder what happened to us.”

So Kent was the one brave enough to lay it on the table, the subject neither of them had been