Perfect Partners

methodically rinsing coffee mugs at the sink. She glanced over her shoulder when they walked slowly into the room.
    “It’s about Daddy, isn’t it?”
    “He’s dead, Diana.”
    “I know.” She put a clean mug on the drainboard. “I think I knew it when you arrived.”
    Joel looked at her, his gaze somber. “I don’t know how to tell you this. But I’m sorry for all you’ve been through.”
    Diana stood quietly at the sink, gazing out the window at the afternoon sun on the snow. “Do you want to know what I feel, Joel? I feel a sense of relief. I’m not happy or sad. Just relieved. It’s over at last. I feel as if I’m emerging from hell, thanks to you and Keith.”
    Matthew Christopher cried out from the vicinity of the bedroom, a lusty, demanding little cry signifying new life and new hope. Diana’s head turned toward the sound.
    Letty smiled and went forward to put her arms around her. “Now you and Keith can have your own baby.”
    Tears streaked Diana’s face as she hugged Letty, but she was smiling. “Yes. It’s safe now, isn’t it? Thank, God. Now it’s finally safe to have Keith’s baby.”

    “I wasn’t sure how she’d take it,” Joel said later that night as he lay in bed with Letty.
    “Diana’s going to be all right.” Letty curved herself into his warmth, grateful that he was there beside her and that he was safe. Outside, the storm had long since ceased. “How are you taking it?”
    “I’m all right.” Joel’s arm tightened around her. “He murdered my father, Letty. He thought it was me in the car that night, and he forced it off the road.”
    Letty touched him gently. “At least you know for certain what really happened that night. As bad as they are, you finally have the answers.”
    “Yeah.” Joel was quiet for a moment. “Knowing for sure what happened makes it easier to handle, for some reason. It was not knowing the truth that had been eating at me all those years.”
    “Your father’s death has been avenged. And you know he didn’t kill himself because of you. Can you let go of the past now?”
    Joel looked at her. “I think I started to let go of the past the day I met you.”
    Letty smiled tremulously. “Fair enough. I did the same with a lot of my own past when I met you.”
    “In any event,” Joel continued softly, “I don’t have much choice but to put it all behind me, do I? I’m going to be too busy with my future to worry about my past. Speaking of which, you looked very interesting with a baby in your arms, Madam President.”
    “Interesting?”
    “Yeah. Interesting. I liked it. I can see you in our new ad campaign already. We’ll photograph you holding a baby in one arm and pitching a Pack Up and Go tent with the other. Real hardy pioneer stuff, you know?”
    “Forget it. That ad campaign has to be finished in three weeks, and it takes nine months to have a baby.”
    “Well,” Joel said, “I guess maybe we’d better get started right away.” He rolled over on top of her, covering her body with his own and crushing her deep into the thick mattress.
    “Hold it,” Letty said, already breathless. “Where I come from, we don’t start planning babies until we’ve planned the wedding.”
    “Don’t worry about it, one way or another there’s going to be a wedding before next spring.” Joel kissed her throat.
    “You’re sure?”
    “I’m sure.” He kissed her mouth.
    “I don’t know, Joel,” Letty said with a tiny considering frown. “I was just starting to get used to the idea of an affair.”
    “I told you, you’re not really cut out for an affair, Letty.”
    “I thought I was handling it very well,” she said.
    “You’re not the type.”
    “I’m not so sure about that. I mean any woman who can do what I did to you in your office is the type who can handle anything.”
    “Trust me. You were not cut out to have an affair.” He ran his hand down over her thigh, found the hem of her nightgown, and tugged it upward.
    “What about all the passion and pizzazz?” Letty smiled up at him, her hands moving on his shoulders. “I’m really enjoying that part, Joel.”
    Joel laughed softly in the shadows. “Passion and pizzazz are our middle names, Letty my love. We’ve got enough to last us for the rest of our lives.”
    Her smile turned quizzical. “And what about Thornquist Gear?”
    Joel shrugged. “Everyone’s going to say I married you to get my hands on the company. I can deal with it. I didn’t think I