“Mr. Galloway, you’re slow to catch on. There’s no reason for us to make small talk or to try to get better acquainted.”
“No, I suppose there isn’t Besides, I wouldn’t want you to accuse me of taking advantage of your hospitality. It’s obvious you’re tired and sleepy.” He took a last bite from his sandwich and drained the glass of milk. “Go on up to bed and I’ll rinse the dishes and wrap up the food.”
Mackie was past caring whether the dishes got rinsed or the food wrapped. She was fading fast and relieved that Galloway understood that much. Maybe he wasn’t willing to leave, but at least he wasn’t going to be a demanding guest. “Whatever,” she said. “I’m going to bed.”
“By the way...” Gordon’s voice stopped Mackie just as she reached the door of the kitchen. “Do you happen to have a spare toothbrush?”
Mackie eyed him skeptically as if the question was loaded. Then she said. “Medicine cabinet. Guest bathroom.”
Gordon watched her leave and pondered her reaction to him. Mackie Smith was one skittish lady. Was it the attorney or the unhappy divorcée showing through? Mackie was hard to read. She’d reacted to the marriage question and the innocuous family question as if she were a prisoner of war required to give only name, rank and serial number. Then he remembered—this was war. She and Beth on one side, he and Ashley on the other. Mackie Smith wasn’t forgetting that and neither should he. He shouldn’t be letting his guard down or getting too chummy.
Mackie slept until nine the next morning, waking with a start when she realized how late it was. Shrugging quickly into her robe, she tore downstairs, fearful she’d find the Galloways long gone.
Once in the kitchen, her anxiety subsided as she came upon the two having breakfast together. Ashley, sitting on the cabinet, was eating slices of banana. Gordon, standing in front of her, was drinking coffee and coaxing the baby to take spoonfuls of cereal.
“I...uh, I overslept,” Mackie said, flustered and searching for something to say. She was glad the chenille robe was strictly of the utilitarian variety. Galloway’s peep show was enough. He was dressed, but his shirt was unbuttoned and hanging loose, revealing an expanse of furry chest. Maybe it was because she wasn’t used to bare chests in the morning, but the view of male flesh was disconcerting. She averted her gaze. “I need coffee—bad.”
“Coffee’s made,” he said hostlike, gesturing toward the nearly full carafe as if they were in his kitchen rather than hers.
Mackie poured a cupful, holding the mug with both hands as she watched the interaction between the Galloways. “You found something for her to eat.”
“Yeah, been rummaging again. I’m grateful you’re not the type of woman who stocks only tofu and sprouts.”
“A compliment? That’s almost too much to handle first thing in the morning.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make up for it later.”
“I’m sure you will.”
The baby, tiring of the cereal and the adult conversation, pushed away the spoon in her father’s hand and centered her attention on Mackie.
“Hi,” Mackie said tentatively.
The little girl didn’t answer, but did respond with a grin of tiny teeth.
The grin was irresistible and Mackie could only smile back. “Is she feeling OK this morning?” she asked Gordon.
“She’s great.”
“That’s good.” At least there wasn’t a pediatric health crisis facing her, Mackie thought. So what do I do now? Beth would be arriving before long and it might be dicey if Gordon was still around when she did. Addressing that was priority number one. “Don’t mean to rush you along,” she said, “but since everything’s under control, why don’t you run on home? Beth should be here soon.”
“You don’t get it, do you? For a sharp legal eagle...” He shook his head as if unable to believe anyone capable of such naivete. “First, I’m staying till Beth shows. Second, don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen. God only knows when it’ll be. Experience says she’ll come when she’s good and ready. My money’s on tomorrow. About a half hour before her visitation’s due to end.”
Mackie encountered enough strife in court appearances during the week and wanted only peace and quiet on the weekends. Today that appeared about as likely as Galloway turning into a nice human being. She was mentally composing a nifty retort when the telephone rang.
“Mackie?”
“Good morning, Beth.” Smugly Mackie cast her eyes at Galloway who was monitoring, her conversation. “How’s the car thing going?”
Big sigh from Beth. “You know mechanics. I’m sitting here at the garage cooling my heels and now he tells me it’s going to be midafternoon before it’s fixed. A part has to be sent over. There’s no way I. can get to your place before three. Go ahead and tell me I’m the worst client ever, but I need to beg for another favor. Can you keep Ashley a bit longer?”
A bit? Three o’clock was almost six hours from now. But what choice did she have? “I suppose I can hold down the fort until three.”
“You’re a dear, Mackie. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Promise.”
“Car trouble...that was the emergency? She used to be more original than that,” Gordon taunted as Mackie hung up the phone.
“Give it a rest,” Mackie snapped. “Beth’s doing the best she can. Not everyone can afford cars that don’t break down at the most inconvenient times. Shiny new Infiniti vans like you’ve got parked out front don’t fit most budgets.”
“Would Beth go away if I bought her a new car? She can have an Infiniti, too, if she wants. Or a Mercedes. Her choice. You can tell her that if she ever arrives. As for me and Ash, we’re going home.”
“Leave with my blessings; only Ashley stays here.”
“No way. When Beth comes, I’ll zip right over here and hand Ashley over... just like the judge ordered. But in the meantime, I need a shower and she needs a chance to wander around somewhere safe.”
Mackie bristled. “You act like my home is seeded with land mines.”
“Almost. You’re damn sure not equipped for a fifteen-month-old. Those steep stairs are a hazard to grown-ups much less kids and I have yet to spot a plug protector or cabinet guard.
“Besides, how long do you think that white upholstery and those oriental rugs will hold up to a toddler’s abuse?”
“That’s my problem.”
“No, it’s Beth’s problem and she’s not here to handle it. I don’t think the judge gave Ashley’s mother temporary custody for the weekend only for her to turn around and transfer it to her lawyer.”
“There are extenuating circumstances here, Mr. Galloway,” she protested. “And most reasonable people would extend some leeway to Beth. After all, car problems can be overwhelming.”
Gordon took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “Be that as it may, if it weren’t the car, then Beth would find something else to be overwhelmed about. She always does. She was overwhelmed when she got pregnant, when she delivered, when she came home with the baby. Do you realize that she ignored her daughter from the very beginning? Didn’t want to hold her, cuddle her, feed her?”
“Symptoms of postpartum depression at its most severe,” Mackie defended.
“A lot of women suffer depression after giving birth but they don’t abandon a month-old