The Liar by Nora Roberts Page B

up with, he came down off and on. Nice guy. Shortening it up, the time off and budget cuts cost her her job at the Baltimore hospital—or made it hard for her to keep on. She and her guy, they moved on down as she got an offer to work at the clinic in the Ridge.”
    “Daddy.”
    “Yeah. He says she’s a damn good nurse. Matt—that’s her guy—he moved on down with her, started a business with his partner. Griff’s out of Baltimore, too. Construction-type business. They’re The Fix-It Guys.”
    “I saw a truck with that name on it at Emma Kate’s house.”
    “Matt and Griff are doing a new kitchen for Miz Bitsy. What I hear is she changes her mind every five minutes on what she wants, so it’s taking a while. Emma Kate and Matt got the apartment across from mine, and Griff’s got the old Tripplehorn place out on Five Possum Road.”
    “That place was falling down when we were ten,” she remembered.
    And she’d loved it.
    “He’s fixing it up. Likely take him the rest of his life, but he’s got it going.”
    “You’re stock full of news, Forrest.”
    “That’s only because you haven’t been around to hear it. You should go see Emma Kate.”
    “I wish she’d come today.”
    “She’s working, and she’s likely still in the annoyed stage where you’re concerned. You might have to work some to bring that down.”
    “It’s hard knowing how many people I hurt.”
    “Then don’t do it again. If you decide to leave, say goodbye proper.”
    She looked out the back door, saw Clay running around with his son on his shoulders, and her grandmother pushing Callie on the swings.
    “I’m not going anywhere. I’ve already been gone too long.”
    •   •   •
    S HE SLEPT IN HER childhood bed on a new mattress, and though the night was cool, kept the window open a crack so the night air could waft in. She woke to a quiet rain, snuggled right in with a smile on her face as the sound of it pattered so peacefully. She’d get up in just a minute, she told herself, check on Callie, fix her baby some breakfast.
    She’d deal with the unpacking, and all the other chores that needed doing. In just five more minutes.
    When she woke again, the rain had softened to a misty drizzle, a drip and plop from leaves and gutters. Around it she heard the birds singing. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d woken to the song of birds.
    Rolling over, she glanced at the pretty glass clock on the bedside table, then shot up like an arrow from a bow.
    She scrambled up, dashed through the bath and into Callie’s room to find the bed empty.
    What kind of a mother was she, sleeping till after nine o’clock and not having a clue where her daughter might be? Barefoot, a little panicked, she raced downstairs. A fire burned in the living room hearth. Callie sat on the floor, the old mutt Clancy curled beside her.
    Stuffed animals sat in a line while Callie busily poked and prodded at the pink elephant lying trunk up on a kitchen towel.
    “He’s very sick, Gamma.”
    “Oh, I can see that, baby.” Curled in a chair, sipping coffee, Ada Mae smiled. “He’s looking peaked, no doubt about it. It’s lucky you’re such a good doctor.”
    “He’s going to be all better soon. But he has to be brave ’cause he needs a shot.” Gently, she rolled him over, and used one of her fat crayons as a syringe. “Now we kiss it, kiss the hurt. Kisses make hurts feel better.”
    “Kisses make everything feel better. Morning, Shelby.”
    “I’m so sorry, Mama. I overslept.”
    “It’s barely nine on a rainy morning,” Ada Mae began as Callie leaped up, ran to Shelby.
    “We’re playing hospital, and all my animals are sick. I’m going to make them better. Come help, Mama.”
    “Your mama needs her breakfast.”
    “Oh, I’m fine, I’ll just—”
    “Breakfast is important, isn’t it, Callie?”
    “Uh-huh. Gamma made me breakfast after Granddaddy had to go help the sick person. I had slambled eggs and toast with