Chapter 28

“Tell me about Mike.”

Mattie stilled, about chocolate chips poised above the mixing bowl. Her hand clenched on the package and a few chips tumbled in. Deliberately, she shook half the chips into the bowl before asking, “What do you want to know?”

She had the tapping of Brad’s shoes as he crossed the tile floor to stand beside her. In her peripheral vision, she saw him against the counter and cross his arms over his chest. “Tell me about the money.”

She squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them, she dumped the rest of the bag in the bowl—the day she was having for double chocolate chips. then she flipped the mixer on and waited for the consolation only raw cookie dough could provide.

She turned to face him, “They told you about the loan,” she surmised. He nodded. “They shouldn’t have said anything.”

“I pressured them.”

She almost laughed at that. “Right. You’re the last person I’d expect to hear a defending them.”

“They only wanted to help.”

“I know.” She flipped the mixer off, extr