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The decor wasn’t intended for male customers, but the service was fast and Zach’s steak sandwich was perfect. Apparently enthralled with the feminine atmosphere, Katie even relinquished her death grip on her doll and placed it on the empty seat next to her.
“How’s your food?”
“Okay.” She looked shyly up at him from beneath her eyelashes, then her gaze slid around the room. “This is like my dollhouse.”
Dollhouse? Guilt lanced through him at all she’d lost in the past weeks. What little she had now. She was safe, but all she had was that bedraggled doll, the faded clothes he’d found in her backpack, and the few books and small toys he’d bought her. What did a three-year-old play with? What did she need?
A search of Janet’s shabby apartment had turned up only basic housewares, scattered clothing, a mattress on the floor, and a few battered toys. So few possessions—had she been on the run even before dropping off Katie?
She’d been gone five weeks and they still had no leads. It didn’t take much imagination to guess that she might be dead.
He’d mentally prepared himself over the years. After not seeing her since they were kids, he’d gone back East to find her, but he’d been too late to make a difference in the life she’d chosen. Into drugs and wild friends as a young teenager, she’d moved on to methamphetamines and worse by the time he’d caught up with her.
He’d known her addictions and refusal to accept treatment would probably lead to her death. But logic and forethought didn’t lessen his gnawing anxiety now. Another chance. Just give me another chance.
Lost in thought, he didn’t look up when the entrance chimes trilled at the arrival of yet another customer. Awareness slid through him.
It was Dana. He knew without looking up. And once again, he knew it had been a mistake coming back to Fossil Hill because the moment he’d seen her at her vet clinic, the past exploded into his thoughts in a dizzying rush. Her sweet, shy smile. The wit and intelligence that had charmed him from the moment they’d met. The feelings that had overwhelmed him when they’d first kissed behind the school.
She’d been so innocent and awkward at first, and then she’d blossomed. He’d never loved anyone as much as he’d loved her.
He’d figured that she would have gone off to college, won some guy with a great future in medicine or law, and would now be living in a fine house on either coast. “I’m going to make something of myself,” she’d said long ago. “I’m not staying here.”
He should have checked. Done a little research on the Internet, looked up her name. Asked a few questions and found out for sure. He’d carelessly left that little detail up to chance, and now he’d signed a four-month lease on a house right next to hers. “Serves me right,” he said under his breath.
Her tousled blond hair gleamed in the subdued lighting and her soft, creamy complexion glowed. She’d changed into a silky peach top and tan slacks, but nothing about her hair or clothes or makeup spoke of pretension. She seemed completely unaware of how she looked. And yet, in this sea of femininity, he would have picked her out in a split second.
She sauntered over to the woman sitting alone, her stride confident, but another emotion flashed through her expression as she sat down. Weary acceptance, maybe. As if she wished she were someplace else.
He watched her profile as she spoke to her mother. He’d only met Vivian Denton twice, and that had been before middle age had added lines to her face and even greater bitterness to her eyes.
Katie fidgeted in her chair. She’d nipped tiny half-moons from the center of each sandwich now lying forgotten on her plate. He must have missed her first request, because her voice rose to whine. “Potty. Now.”
Again?
Some of the older women at the neighboring table glanced over at him with reproving expressions. Apparently he wasn’t passing their private daddy test with flying colors.
Rising gingerly to protect his ribs, which were starting to ache again, he dropped three fives on the table—a fifty-percent tip, but not worth the time to ask for change. Had he remembered his ibuprofen at eleven? Probably not. “Come on, honey.”
He offered his hand but she drew back, an overtired glaze in her eyes and her mouth forming a mutinous pout. “Carry,” she whimpered, her doll held tight against her chest.
Taking a steadying breath, he carefully leaned over and picked her up with his good arm, steeling himself against the searing pain radiating through his damaged shoulder.
His expression must have betrayed him, because Katie instantly burst into tears. She stiffened and kicked back, knocking over a glass that sent ice water across another customer’s back.
The woman gave a startled yelp. Customers around the room stared as she jerked her head around toward Zach, but the thin line of her mouth softened when she saw Katie staring at her with frightened, tear-filled eyes.
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” Zach began. “She suddenly decided she had to—”
“I heard.” She raised her voice to be heard over Katie’s wails. “Don’t worry, I’m not wearing anything that won’t dry.”
“Thanks,” he murmured. He started sidestepping through the crowded room, corralling Katie’s legs with one arm. Not for the first time, he wished that kids came with a guidebook or online instructions.
He’d reached the restroom door when he felt a warm hand on his arm. It was just a light touch, but he felt it even before she made contact. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
“Want me to take her?” Dana’s voice was filled with quiet amusement. “This is probably enemy territory to you.”
Gratitude flooded through him, followed by other, deeper emotions he didn’t want to acknowledge.
