Where Shadows Meet(45)

“Hang on, let me get Caitlin.” He went to the door and called his daughter inside. She had her head down and wouldn’t look at him. “Say hello to your grandmother,” he whispered. “Be nice.”

Her steps dragged, but she went ahead of him into the living room. “Hi, Grandma.”

Trudy’s gaze went to the backpack Caitlin carried. “Are you planning on staying, child?”

“No, she’s spending a few days with Gina. I didn’t realize she had it with her.” He glanced down at Caitlin. “You can put that back, princess.”

Caitlin smiled and went back outside, and Matt knew she’d brought it so she could take it out. It was hard being under Trudy’s stern stare—he should know. Still, the woman meant well. She’d taught him discipline, and he was thankful for that.

“Let me take you to the doctor, Trudy. You might need stitches.”

“I’ll put a comfrey compress on it. I’m fine. Why is she staying with Gina?” Trudy asked as soon as the screen door slammed.

He couldn’t tell anyone the full story—especially not Trudy. “I’m going to be working a lot of hours, and it seems easier.” The lie rolled off his tongue too easily, but he wasn’t about to tell Trudy that Caitlin might be Hannah’s daughter. “Want me to fix you some tea?”

She ignored his offer. “Why are you working so many hours? What will you be doing?”

“Searching for the person who killed Moe Honegger.” Her gaze sharpened when he said the name. “Have you thought of any new details? You didn’t mention the other day whether you knew him or not.”

“It’s pretty hard not to. I’ve bought all my flowers and plants at the greenhouse for years.”

“I hear you knew the Schwartzes. At least Hannah’s mom.” Trudy hadn’t attended the funeral, he remembered. But then, why would she go? Their contact had been broken decades ago.

“Again, I frequent the greenhouse. But where did you hear I knew Patricia?”

“Hannah Schwartz told me.”

Her hand stopped its movement, then continued when Ajax whined outside the front door. “You mean Hannah O’Connor. Where’d you see her?”

“She’s here in town. She and Reece are separated.”

“Have you seen Reece?”

She had a blind spot where Reece was concerned. In her mind he could do no wrong. It wasn’t Matt’s place to spoil her fantasy, though. “He’s here too. Somewhere around.”

“Maybe he’ll stop and see me. I’ve seen her picture. She looks like a sweet girl.”

“How did you know Patricia?”

“She was at the house to see Irene all the time.”

“What was she like?” Maybe if he understood the dynamics more, he’d be better able to figure this out.

Trudy touched the swelling goose egg on her forehead. “Pretty. Vivacious. All the boys liked her. But once she met Abe, she wanted no one else.”

“How’d she meet Abe Schwartz?”

“He worked at your grandfather’s lumberyard, and they’d also gone to school together, back before there was a dedicated Amish school. Irene introduced him to Patricia.” She rubbed her head again. “Gina’s so busy. You can leave Caitlin with me.”

“It’s already arranged with Gina. Besides, you said you weren’t up to taking kids anymore.”

“I know my duty.”

It hurt that she cared for Caitlin no more than she’d cared for Matt—out of a loveless sense of duty. It was something, but it wasn’t enough.

“We’ve got the arrangements made, but thanks anyway. Are you sure I can’t run you to the doctor?”

“I’m fine. Don’t be a stranger, Matthew.”

“I won’t.” He left her with a sense of relief. Caitlin was ready to go. She hopped in and fastened her seat belt. He put Ajax in the back of the SUV.

“How long am I staying at Aunt Gina’s?” Caitlin asked.

“Maybe a week.” A lifetime when he craved time with her. He just had to get things sorted out with Reece and Hannah. Find some proof that Caitlin didn’t belong to them.



ALL DAY SUNDAY Hannah moped around the house. She would have liked to attend the Amish service, but no one invited her. Maybe it was better that way. The bishop might have expected her to confess.

On Monday Hannah found herself looking at the picture and beginning to think of the little girl as her own. Dangerous ground. But there was something in the child’s sweet gaze that drew her. If only she could talk to her aunt. She’d tried to stop by this morning, but no one was home. She’d been in town five days and still had no leads.

She put the picture on the coffee table when she heard a knock at the door. It was probably Angie. “Don’t eat it,” she told Ajax. The dog grunted. He was pinned in place by four cats lying on top of him anyway. When Matt said he’d leave the dog with them for protection, she’d expected trouble, but Ajax was a perfect lamb.

She went to the door just as it rang again, two impatient peals in quick succession. Angie would have called out to her. Peeking through the peephole, she saw a woman on the steps. About thirty with long raven hair and eyes as blue as a robin’s egg. The V-neck top she wore showed a long tanned throat swathed in pearls. Her expression revealed just as much irritation as her trigger finger.