Part Forty-Three

Mason had just finished breakfast and Grace sat at the counter eating blueberry pancakes. He hadn’t slept much the previous night for fear of waking up and finding Grace gone. He knew it was a ridiculous fear but he couldn’t help it.

“Daddy …”

“Sorry, princess, what?”

“There’s someone knocking on the door.”

Mason stalked to the front door, unlocked the latch and opened it. Andrea stood there in jeans and a checked shirt and Mason gripped the door tighter. “I don’t want to fight, Mason.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I won’t tell her who I am, please, I just need to see her.”

Mason stood unmoving, thinking about what she’d just said. He saw the pleading in her eyes, the need to see her daughter and he couldn’t deny her that one small act. “Come in.”

“Thank you, Mason.”

“Don’t make me regret it.”

Andrea nodded her head. “I won’t.”

Mason closed the door and Andrea followed him through to the kitchen. Grace turned her head and Andrea faltered in her steps. Grace looked quizzically at the woma