Free COLLATERAL CASUALTIES (The Kate Huntington mystery series) by Kassandra Lamb Page B

Canfield household. Let me live vicariously.”
                Skip grimaced.
                “Seriously, Skip. I love your kids. Don’t feel like you can’t talk about them because I told you about the whole childlessness thing.”
                “It’s not that,” Skip said, then wished he hadn’t. Today was not a good day to mention his concerns about his wife.
                But there was a reason why he was attracted to Janice as a friend. Despite all her bluster, she was a very astute lady. “Then what is it?” she asked.
                “Nothing,” he said.
                “Bullshit.”
                Skip poked at his half-eaten steak, then took a bite of baked potato.
                “Come on, Tex, ’fess up. What’s bothering you?”
                “You do love to invent nicknames. Now I’m Tex?”
                “Yeah, I think I like that one best. So what is it, Tex? What’s bothering you?”
                “You know, Janice, I’m not sure about this whole platonic friendship thing,” he said, half teasing, half serious. “I’m not sure I can handle two women trying to get inside my head.”
                “Sorry. You don’t have to tell me.”
                “I’m making more of it than it deserves.” He poked again at his steak, trying to decide how much to say. “I’m just worried about Kate. She’s upset about a client who’s in a bad situation. It’s got her depressed and preoccupied, but because of confidentiality she can’t tell me about it. It’s frustrating to see her unhappy and there’s nothing I can do.”
                “See, that wasn’t so painful,” Janice said with a small grin, then her expression sobered. “My dear Skip, your wife does not need you to do anything about it. She just needs to know you’re there for her.”
    ~~~~~~~
                Skip managed to get home a little early that evening. Kate’s Prius was parked in front of the house. She had apparently gotten home even earlier.
                Inside, the house was quiet, except for the faint sound of children’s voices. He walked through the laundry room and out the back door. Billy was kicking a ball around the yard. Maria sat at the picnic table with Edie, who was laboriously writing on a pad of paper.
                “Edie learn to write her letters in school,” Maria proudly announced when she saw Skip.
                “They’ve got homework in kindergarten?”
                “It’s real school, Daddy,” his daughter said, with a touch of disdain for the preschool she had so recently attended.
                Skip hid a grin. “Where’s Kate?” he asked Maria.
                “She take a nap. I bring kids out here so dey not disturb her.”
                “What time did she get home?”
                “One-tirty.”
                Skip’s stomach clenched with worry. Kate didn’t cancel her clients’ appointments without good reason. Was she sick?
                “Look, I’m going to fix something for the kids,” he said. “Then could you do their baths and bedtime routine?”
    ~~~~~~~
                Kate woke to the fragrance of chicken frying. Her stomach rumbled. She looked at the clock beside the bed. Seven-ten. She’d almost slept past the children’s bedtime.
                She went into the bathroom and splashed water on her face, then straightened her rumpled clothing.
                Out in the living room, the kids were playing on the floor, already in their pajamas. Skip came out of the kitchen, spatula in hand. “Kiss ’em goodnight, darlin’. Maria’s doing story time.”
                After goodnight kisses all around, Skip led Kate into the kitchen. On the table were a platter of