For the Right Reasons

After thinking about it, MacKenzie nodded.

A couple of minutes later Bree bustled through the door, looking a bit harried. Molly smiled at her and pointed toward their booth, and Bree hurried their way, waving as she caught Eric’s eye.

The sight of her had a stronger effect than he’d anticipated. She had her hair pulled back in a ponytail now, and several unruly strands had escaped to frame her face. She’d changed clothes since this morning, opting for a simple white blouse and gray pants. Again, he could tell at a glance that the clothes were high quality. Could a woman even buy clothes like that in Tuckerville?

Didn’t matter. The sight of her made his mouth go dry. He couldn’t recall reacting that strongly to a woman since...well, since Tammy. Tammy, the supposed love of his life, who’d turned out to be aggressively unfaithful.

You can’t trust a sweet smile. Bree had already proved she had a sharp side. During their very first meeting, no less.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” she said as she slid into the booth opposite them. “I got held up at work. I hope you haven’t been waiting too long.”

“Just a couple of minutes.”

Then Bree’s attention focused on MacKenzie, and her face was transformed with a look of such sweet maternal softness that Eric found himself struggling to breathe.

“And who have we here?” Bree asked.

MacKenzie ignored her.

“This is my daughter, MacKenzie,” Eric said. “MacKenzie, this is Dr. Johnson.”

“Hi, MacKenzie. You can call me Bree.” Her voice was soft, nonprovoking. “Nice to meet you.”

MacKenzie kept her eyes on her coloring book, where she was filling in Cinderella’s dress with a brown crayon.

“Is that Cinderella?” Bree asked.

“Mmm-hmm,” MacKenzie replied.

“You’re good at coloring. You really know how to stay inside the lines. Me, when I color, I’m really messy. I bet you get gold stars in your art class.”

“I get all As,” MacKenzie said matter-of-factly.

“Where’s Philomene?” Eric asked. “I’d like to move this along so I don’t keep MacKenzie out too late.”

“Of course.” Bree looked around. “I’ll go ask if she’s here. If the waitress comes, order me a meat loaf special and a coffee.”

“Caffeine doesn’t bother you this late at night?”

“Unfortunately, no. If it did, maybe I wouldn’t drink so much of the stuff.” She slid out of the booth and headed for Molly. Eric studied her retreating form at leisure, especially those gently swaying hips.

MacKenzie was staring, too.

“See, she’s not so scary,” Eric said.

MacKenzie shrugged and turned her attention to the menu. “I don’t see ice cream on here.”

Eric flipped the pages until he found desserts. “Right here. Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.”

She put her finger on the menu where Eric had pointed and attempted to sound out the words. The waitress stopped back, and Eric dutifully ordered Bree’s meat loaf special. “I’ll have the same thing,” he added. “And a grilled cheese and tomato soup for the little one.”

“You want a soda with that?” the perky waitress asked.

MacKenzie nodded, but Eric shook his head. “Milk.” Bree might not be bothered by caffeine, but it made MacKenzie spin like a top.

As soon as the waitress left, Bree returned, a worried frown on her face. “Philomene’s not here. She should have gotten off work at six.”

“Maybe she got held up.”

“Maybe. But wouldn’t she call?”

“You’re asking me? I’ve never met this woman.”

“She should have called,” Bree said decisively.

Eric stifled a groan. He should have known this was a fool’s errand. “Sounds like maybe she had a change of heart.”

“When I talked to her yesterday, she sounded really eager to unburden herself. The guilt has been eating her alive.”

“You said she was nervous about changing her story. She probably just got cold feet.”

“I hope that’s all it is.” Bree already had her phone in her hand. “I’ll call her and see what’s what.”

The waitress brought MacKenzie’s milk and Bree’s coffee. Bree took a healthy gulp of the stuff, black, while waiting for Philomene to pick up.

“Hi, Philomene, it’s me, Bree,” she said after a few moments. “I’m at the diner with Eric Riggs from Project Justice. Please call me when you get a chance.” She was still frowning as she hung up.

“Look, Daddy, I finished.” MacKenzie displayed her coloring work. Although the colors were a little drab, she’d kept within the lines in her usual meticulous fashion.

“Very nice, sweetheart.”

Cautiously, she turned the page around and slid it toward Bree.

Bree smiled, and again her face was transformed.

She ought to smile more often, Eric thought.

“Very good work, MacKenzie. I think I might have something here...” She dug into her purse. “I do. Would you like a glitter heart or a gold star?”

“Heart, heart heart heart!”

Eric was touched. Had Bree put those stickers in her purse just for MacKenzie? Or... “You must have kids.”

A stark sadness flashed across Bree’s face before she masked it. “No, no kids. But I keep a few things on hand for children who come through the E.R.”

“So emergency medicine is your specialty?” She’d said earlier today that she’d met Philomene in the E.R., but he wanted to keep her talking about herself.

“Yes. I work at the county hospital.”