Page 185 of Trust No One

“Your family looks sad,” I said.

“They don’t like each other. They fight a lot.”

“I’m sorry.” I added more swirls to my version of Molly’s hair. “Why do they fight?”

The waitress arrived at the table with our plates. “Those are nice pictures.”

“Thank you,” I said.

Molly nodded, and though I was tempted to remind her to look up and acknowledge the comment, I gave the waitress a pitying look.

“I get it,” the waitress said. “It’s been a rough week for that little girl.”

I drew in a breath and sipped my coffee.

“Any word on how it all happened?” the waitress asked.

My jaw tightened. “Don’t know.”

Instead of leaving, the waitress lingered. “I knew them all. They came in here a lot. Not together, mind you, but they were all my customers.”

Molly’s pen dug deeper into the paper.

“Now isn’t really the best time,” I said.

She finally hesitated and nodded. “Right. I get it.”

When she left, I leaned forward. “Do you want to eat?”

“No. I hate pancakes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I thought you loved them.”

She shrugged. “Daddy and I came here. He ordered pancakes. So I ate pancakes.”

“What do you like to eat?”

She shrugged. “Amy made good pancakes.”

Amy. “Do you miss Daddy and Amy?” Rebecca had encouraged me to ask questions when I felt there might be an opening into Molly’s mind.

“Yeah.” She looked up, her eyes glistening. “And Mommy.”

“What did you do with Mommy when she wasn’t working?”

“We visited the big house. Played hide-and-seek. She’d tell me stories.”

Hale House. Maria must’ve found Amy’s hideaway inside Mom’s old bedroom. Molly glanced at her untouched food. “Mommy loved the big house.”

“We can leave here,” I said. “There are other restaurants. Do you want to leave?”

“Yes.”

After attempting a public meal with Gabe, I should have known better. We were the center of the gossip world now and likely would be for some time.

I dropped two twenties on the table, gulped a sip of coffee, and rose. “Then let’s find another place.”

She grabbed the two pictures and followed me out of the restaurant.