Desperately Seeking Dad by Marta Perry Page A

always made him vaguely uncomfortable. Mitch believed, of course. But Simon seemed to have found a closeness that had always eluded Mitch.
    The prayer over, a wave of people swept toward the long serving table. Anne still stood at her chair, eyes closed in prayer for another moment. The sight seemed to clutch his heart. What prayer kept her so still, so focused?
    Anne gripped the plate Kate had given her and edged closer to the serving table. Kate had insisted on watching Emilie so she could go first, since Mitch seemed to have disappeared. She’d noticed him talking to a man Kate said was Alex Caine, owner of Bedford Creek’s only industry. The next time she looked, he was gone.
    Not that she cared. The memory of that moment in Kate’s front hall made her uncomfortable. She hadn’t come to this dinner to be with Mitch.
    â€œI don’t think we’ve met.” The woman in front of her smiled a welcome. “Let me introduce you to some of these hungry people.”
    By the time she’d reached the end of the buffet table, half-a-dozen names buzzed in her mind and way too much food had found its way onto her plate. She’d begun to feel that all she’d done since arriving in Bedford Creek was eat.
    â€œI’m finished.” She deposited her plate across from Kate, next to the high chair Mitch had put at the end of the table. “You go on now, Kate.”
    Kate rose and looked around the crowded room with a frown. “I don’t know where Mitch is. He’d better get back here before the food’s gone.”
    â€œI don’t think there’s any danger of that.” And she’d probably have a more placid meal if he weren’t sitting next to her, drawing her awareness with every breath.
    She’d just given Emilie a biscuit to chew on whenshe became conscious of someone standing across from her. She looked up to meet an intent stare.
    The older woman’s narrow face formed a brief smile. “You’ll be Kate’s new guest.”
    Anne nodded. “Anne Morden. This is Emilie.”
    â€œI’m Enid Lawrence.” The woman’s gaze swerved, sharply curious, to the baby and back again. “Tell me, what brings you to Bedford Creek?”
    Anne should have been better prepared for a direct question, she thought. As she groped for an answer, someone intervened.
    â€œExcuse me, Enid.” It was the man she’d seen Mitch talking with earlier. “I think your daughter is trying to get your attention.” He diverted the woman smoothly away from the table, taking the chair she’d been blocking. “I’ll keep Anne company until Kate gets back.”
    Enid Lawrence frowned. For a moment Anne thought she’d argue, but then she nodded, giving Anne a frosted look. “We’ll talk later.” It almost sounded like a threat.
    She moved away, and Anne assessed Mitch’s friend, Alex Caine. He was tall, nearly as tall as Mitch, but not as broadly built. His lean, aristocratic face was handsome, but marred by a scar that ran along one cheek. He had the inward look Anne had seen before in people who lived with pain.
    â€œAlex Caine.” He held out his hand. “Sorry if Iinterrupted, but Enid can be overwhelming at times. ‘Curiosity’ is her middle name.”
    She lifted her eyebrows. “Did Mitch suggest I needed protecting?”
    She caught a flash of surprise mixed with amusement in his dark eyes. “You caught us, I’m afraid. Mitch thought you might prefer not to explain why you’re here too many times tonight.”
    Now it was her turn to be surprised. “Mitch told you?” She’d have expected him to guard that information more carefully.
    â€œMitch and I go back a long way. He doesn’t keep many secrets from me. Or from Brett.”
    â€œI see.”
    He frowned. “I’m not sure you do. I know Mitch as well as I know anyone. He tells me he