Words telling her not to blame herself on the tip of his tongue, Mason didn’t get a chance to speak before she continued.
“It’s just… Miriam and I…we could always say what’s on our minds. We’re both kind of bossy women, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
He grinned at that.
“Strong and independent,” she went on. “We like things done our way. I just never… I should’ve known…”
“How could you have known? None of us did.”
“But… I should’ve been there for her.”
“You’re here for her now.”
“Does she know I’m coming?” Grace hadn’t asked when he’d issued the invitation.
“Yes.” He could feel the older woman’s gaze on him. “If you want my opinion, and it’s only my opinion, I think she really wants to see you. She hardly argued at all when I made the suggestion.”
“She didn’t argue?”
“Not much. She did have a stipulation, though.” He glanced at her, saw her frown.
“What is it? Not that I care. I’d run barefoot on hot tar at this point if it would help her.”
“Don’t mention skydiving.”
“Seriously?” Grace’s mouth hung open. “Seriously?” She started in with the yarn and fingers again. “I need to have a talk with that woman.”
Exactly what he’d been hoping for.
* * *
HARPER WAS WAITING for Mason Saturday morning. They’d planned that he’d drop Grace off in the family visiting room and then come back to her office while the two women had their visit. Miriam’s guard would be close by, but she’d been told to give them as much privacy as she could while still doing her job.
After some morning delays at the the Stand, they’d finally settled on a ten o’clock meeting for the ladies. She’d expected him at 10:05. She was in uniform, of course, since she was working, but had put on eyeliner and sprayed her hair so it looked the way her hairdresser had meant it to. Sitting behind her desk, she’d unfastened the top button on her shirt, thinking…she didn’t know what…but refastened it immediately.
A cop didn’t disgrace the uniform on duty. And she had no reason whatsoever to appear more feminine to Mason.
She’d been okay until the point she’d taken Brianna to day care; she’d kept herself firmly in check, focusing on what mattered most. Brianna’s well-being. Her own job. Having a workable relationship with Bruce—for Brianna’s well-being. She’d even managed a decent night’s sleep, reminding herself every time she woke up that all would be as it was meant to be and then falling back asleep. But standing in the doorway of the day care, wondering if, when she picked up her daughter that evening, Brie would have a different father, she’d come undone.
That had been fifteen minutes of undoneness. It was ten after ten now. Where the hell was he?
He’d indicated he had some things to discuss with her. After her phone call from Bruce that morning, she knew she had something to discuss with him, too.
From what Bruce had said, and Mason’s comment the night before had alluded to it, Miriam’s case might be wrapped up soon. At least they had a solid perp now. It depended on how quickly Mason could put enough evidence together to do something about it.
It could just be a matter of Grace somehow breaking through to Miriam. Getting her to testify as to who’d hurt her; that would be all it took. Mason could leave and…
He might be the father of her child.
Bruce had sounded so good that morning, telling her Mason had told him he’d questioned her about the case. She could hear the swelling of emotion in his tone as he’d told her his brother had mentioned how loyal she’d been to Bruce, certain that he hadn’t hurt Miriam. He’d thanked her.
Told her he loved her.
How much was he going to love her if he found out that she’d assisted Mason with a paternity test and Mason was Brie’s father?
Panic seized her and she stood, needing out with nowhere to go. Mason could be there any minute. She had to get hold of herself. Be the in-control adult woman she knew herself to be.
Disallow the drama that would take control if she was weak enough, or foolish enough, to let it.