Desperately Seeking Dad by Marta Perry Read Free Book Online Page A

the front parlor. “We’ll get acquainted. I’m surprised Mitch isn’t here to get you settled. He’s always so helpful to his friends.”
    Was that a question in Kate’s voice? Maybe this was her chance to refute any rumors the woman had heard. Or started, for that matter. She moved to the archway.
    â€œMitch and I aren’t that close. He probably didn’t even know when we were arriving.”
    â€œOh, I’m sure he did.” Kate turned from the breakfront cabinet, where she was showing Emilie a collection of china birds. “He keeps track of things. And when his old Army friend’s widow comes to visit…well, you can just be sure he’d keep track of that.” Kate’s round cheeks, like two red apples, plumped in a smile. “It’s so nice that you could keep in touch.”
    â€œOld Army friend…how did you—” Leap to that conclusion —that was what she was thinking, but it hardly seemed polite to say so. She’d mentioned thatshe was a widow when she’d checked in the first time. Kate seemed to have embroidered the rest.
    â€œWanda had all sorts of ideas about why you were here.” Kate tickled Emilie’s chin. “I told her, ‘Count on it, that’ll be why. Mitch’s friends from the service have dropped by four or five times since he’s been back in Bedford Creek. That’s why Anne and her baby are here, too.’”
    Mitch clearly knew his town a lot better than Anne did. She owed him an apology for thinking he was wrong about the stir her presence would create. As he’d said, she needed a reason to be here.
    Anne opened her mouth and closed it again. What exactly could she say? Wanda, the dispatcher, had probably floated some much more colorful theories about Anne’s visit. If Anne denied Kate’s story, she’d just fuel the curiosity. She certainly wasn’t going to lie about it, but maybe the safest thing was to say nothing and let them think what they wanted.
    â€œI’m sure Mitch is busy.” She settled on noncommittal. “I probably won’t see much of him while we’re here.”
    Kate swung around again, eyebrows going up in surprise. “Not see much of him? Well, of course you will. After all, his house is right across the street.”
    â€œRight—” She stopped. Anything she said now, she’d probably regret. Instead she headed back to the car for the next load, fuming.
    So Mitch lived right across the street, did he? Hemight have mentioned that little fact about The Willows at some point in their discussion. He hadn’t wanted her to come back to Bedford Creek at all; that had been clear. He certainly didn’t want her to join in his investigation. But apparently he felt that if she did come, she should be under his eye.
    Well, they’d get a few things straight as soon as possible. She was used to doing things on her own, and that wasn’t about to change now—
    It looked as if she’d have a chance to tell him so in the immediate future, because his police cruiser was pulling up directly across from The Willows.
    Mitch got out. He closed the door, hesitated a moment, and then headed straight for her.
    â€œAnne. I see you arrived safely. Any problems?”
    â€œNot at all.” She tried for a cool politeness. It would help, she thought, if she didn’t experience that jolt of awareness every time she saw his tall figure. “We just got in a few minutes ago.”
    â€œI’ll take that.” He reached for the suitcase she’d begun to pull from the trunk, but she tightened her grip.
    â€œI can handle it.”
    â€œI’m sure you can.” His hand closed on the bag, his fingers brushing hers. “But why should you?”
    â€œBecause I don’t need any help.” Mitch Donovan had to be the only person in her life with the ability to make her sound like a petulant