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“Callie is at OT and speech until noon.” Chess’s watch dinged, and she glanced at it. “I need to step out to make a call. I’ll be right back.”
As Chess left, he slid into the empty seat next to Macy. She looked incredible in her green dress. It had little fluttery bits on the sleeves and along the slight dip of the neckline. He fought the urge to reach out and trace the lacy edge.
“Is Callie her daughter?”
He tore his gaze away from the interesting constellation of freckles on her chest. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking of her breasts since the pasties incident. Even now, his fingers itched to get on her bare skin again. “Yes.”
“Is she special needs? Chess mentioned occupational therapy.”
“She was born with heart defects. She also has autism. Chess homeschools her, but Callie spends her mornings at a private autism clinic for therapy. That’s when Chess handles most of her business.”
“That’s a lot for a single mom to deal with,” Macy said in that caring way of hers. “She was young when she had her daughter?”
“Right out of high school.” He hoped Macy didn’t ask any other questions. He didn’t like keeping the truth from her, but there were some things he couldn’t discuss. “How did your meeting with the lawyers go?”
“Fine. I think?” She shrugged. “They’ve had Janie in the conference room alone for a while.”
“I’m sure there’s a lot for them to discuss.”
“One of the lawyers interviewed me alone.”
Danny sensed that had been unsettling for Macy. He reached over and took her hand. Her fingers were cold. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” She put on a fake smile that didn’t fool him.
“Macy.” He stroked his thumb across her fingers. “What happened?”
She placed her hand over his, trapping it between both of hers. “They asked me about my mom.”
She had only mentioned her mother once, not long after he first met her. She had been carrying a small bouquet of flowers, and he had made a stupid remark about getting them from a boyfriend. She had been on her way to the cemetery to visit her mother’s grave. Even now, he cringed at the memory.
“About how she died,” Macy said, her voice barely above a whisper. “She drowned.” Macy glanced at him. “In the shower.”
Danny frowned. “The shower?”
Macy nodded. “She fell first. Hit her head.”
“I see.” Danny didn’t, actually, see. It seemed a strange way to die, but maybe she had other medical issues.
“I don’t remember a lot about it,” Macy admitted. “Like bits and pieces, you know? All jumbled up.”
“You were a little girl.”
“I feel like I should remember more. Like there’s something there. Something hidden.” Her hand tightened atop his. “Maybe I blocked something out?” She swallowed nervously and glanced over at him with a frantic gleam in her beautiful green eyes. “What if my dad did something?”
“Macy, don’t torture yourself like this.” He hated to see her on edge.
“Danny, my dad tried to burn our house down and kill us!” she hissed. “If he was willing to do that, killing my mom isn’t a stretch.”
She was right. It did sound like something that an asshole would do.
Before he could ask her why Burt would kill his first wife and try to kill his second wife and entire family, they were interrupted by Janie entering the waiting room. She had obviously been crying, but she seemed lighter and more relaxed than the last time he had seen her. She had clearly been through the wringer in there, but whatever she had learned had given her some hope.
“You okay?” Macy was on her feet and closing the distance to her stepmother’s side.
Janie grasped Macy’s hand and smiled at her. “I’m good.” She glanced at him and smiled. “Hello, Danny.”
“Janie.” He had planned to take Macy out for lunch, but looking at Janie now, he thought she could use a nice meal. “Would you like to come with us to lunch?”
