Leaving Enchantment

“I won’t take much of your time. I didn’t realize I needed to phone ahead.”

He tried his smile again, but it faded rapidly when she didn’t return it.

“Look, I’ll phone ahead next time, okay? But since I’m here and I’ve already interrupted your very important work…”

She didn’t allow herself to react to the slightly sarcastic tone in his voice.

“We might as well settle this thing, don’t you think?”

“And what thing would that be?”

A ghost of his charming smile returned, and she knew he was going to ask for some sort of concession. He must have brought his daughter along in a sympathy bid. Those tactics disgusted her.

“I have an outstanding invoice to discuss. I’m Nolan McKinnon, by the way. This is my niece, Sammy.”

His introduction startled her. “The editor of the Arroyo County Bulletin?” She’d been a subscriber for years—ever since she’d read the final report of the private investigator she’d hired with her first paycheck after college. That report had led her from Denver to Enchantment. It was through the classified section of the Bulletin that she’d found this job.

She still read the weekly paper with enjoyment—in particular Mr. McKinnon’s editorials. In fact, she’d become addicted to his editorials.

“Yeah. That’s me.”

He didn’t continue, and suddenly she realized she hadn’t introduced herself. “I’m Kim Sherman.” She stood to shake his hand. Almost grudging, she added, “I think that teen drop-in center was a real good idea.”

He’d spearheaded the organization to start the teen center. And even though she wasn’t intending to stay in Enchantment much longer, she’d made a generous contribution—anonymously, of course. She wished that when she’d been in her teens she’d had access to a place like that. A safe meeting ground where kids could gather to chat, do homework and play sports. The Enchantment Teen Center even had counselors available.

“Thank you.”

The smile he gave her this time wasn’t the charming one. This one was genuine.

“But you’re not here to discuss the teen center.”

“Afraid not.” He pulled a folded sheet of paper out of his jacket pocket. The invoice was stamped with The Birth Place logo.

Kim held out her hand for the paper. On closer examination, she caught her breath. The name in the left corner was Mary Davidson, the mother Lydia had lost two weeks ago.

“I don’t want to keep you,” he continued. “I just hoped we could settle this. You see, I’m Mary’s brother and the executor of her and Steve’s estate. Until their assets pass probate, I’m afraid I don’t have the funds to cover this.”

Kim looked at the little girl again. Was this the Davidson’s daughter, then, not Mr. McKinnon’s? She remembered Lydia mentioning that name, Sammy. Now the child’s quiet demeanor struck Kim in a very intense, personal way. She not only saw, she felt the sorrow in the little girl’s expression.

For a moment Kim was six again. The neighbor from the apartment down the hall was at her door. A police officer stood behind her, his hat in his hands.

Your mother is gone, Kim. You’ll have to come with us.

It had been a long time ago, but Kim hadn’t forgotten the overwhelming pain of a child whose world had crashed around her.

Kim had the oddest, most inappropriate impulse. She wanted to hug the little girl, to crush her to her chest.

“I’ve been trying to put my sister and brother-in-law’s affairs in order. I found your invoice in a stack of unpaid bills. It seems their account is over ninety days delinquent, but that can’t be right.”

She ignored him, looked back at the girl. “That book was one of my favorites when I was little.”

Sammy edged closer to Kim’s desk. “Do you keep stuff in those drawers?”

Opening the one at the top, Kim found a blue marker and a pad of notepaper. “Would you like these, Sammy?”

The little girl nodded. “I like making pictures.”

“Would you like to make one now? How about you go sit in one of the chairs beside that nice lady who walked you in here?” If she and Nolan McKinnon were about to start haggling over the Davidsons’ invoice, she didn’t want Sammy to witness the scene.

She glanced at the uncle. “Trish will keep a close watch on her.”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

Kim walked the little girl back to reception and stopped to talk with Trish. As she’d expected, the receptionist was only too pleased to help.

Back in her own office, Kim resolved to regain control of the situation. Realizing Nolan McKinnon was the editor of the Bulletin, then identifying the little girl as Mary and Steve Davidson’s daughter had thrown her a little. But her hands were almost steady once more.

“Okay.” Kim sat down and leaned over her desk. “We can discuss your business now.”

Nolan gave her another smile. The sincere kind. “Wow.”

“Pardon me?”

“Sammy must really like you. She doesn’t speak as much in a day to me as she did to you right now. I suppose you’re one of those people who is just naturally good with kids.”

Heat flooded her cheeks. “No, I don’t think so. I’m not what you’d call a people person.”

She saw him fight back a smile and clenched her pen tightly. Damn him for laughing at her. Did he think she cared what he thought of her?

McKinnon had taken a seat without an invitation. Now he leaned over his knees and regarded her intently. “You’re not from around here, are you?”

“No. I grew up in Denver.”

“How long have you been in Enchantment?”

“Almost a year.”

“But I haven’t run into you anywhere.”

“I’m not one for socializing.” Her glasses sat perfectly on her nose, but she pushed a finger against the bridge. “Um, I assume you wanted to talk about this invoice?”

The little spark in his eyes disappeared.

She carried on. “It really is more than ninety days delinquent. Our policy is to start charging interest after the third month an invoice is unpaid.”

“I see. But surely in special circumstances you’ll make an exception? You see, Steve quit his full-time job about six months ago and started his own business. He signed with a new insurance company, but since Mary was already pregnant at the time…”

Kim sat impassively. Over the months she’d worked here, she’d heard all sorts of stories. But here was the bottom line—someone had to pay. If the Davidsons didn’t have insurance, then the money would have to come from their estate. And she could not let them get off paying months and months late without an interest penalty.