Escorted By The Ranger. C.J. Miller

“And he backed down faster than I would have expected.”

      “Rob wouldn’t hurt me,” Marissa said.

      “I wasn’t concerned about Rob hurting you. I was worried about him. You don’t carry much bulk, but you’ve got an iron core,” Jack said. “I expected more drama. Screaming. A slap across the face at least.”

      “Not at Avery’s memorial service,” Marissa said. In the context of Avery’s service, her anger at Rob was small and unimportant.

      Marissa questioned her relationships in a larger sense. She’d let Rob go easily enough. Her marriages were part of the past. Losing touch with Father Franklin was another aspect of her life she regretted. She rarely spoke with her family and while traveling she missed birthdays and holidays. Those hadn’t bothered her.

      Until now. Now, she felt like she had given up too many personal aspects of her life for success in her career. Starting with her retirement, she could make changes. “It’s never too late to start over.”

      “Excuse me?” Jack said.

      She hadn’t realized she’d spoken aloud. “I was thinking about Avery. And wasting time. I want more in my life than work.”

      “I understand that sentiment.”

      Marissa heard something in his tone and for the first time since meeting him, she wondered if they were on the same path.