Page 62 of Mack

“Okay.”

After locking up, the two women walked along the sidewalk to the diner, settled into a corner booth, shed their coats, and fell into conversation, both of them already having someone in common that they both love.

Mallory’s phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen and smiled at Juliana.

“It’s Mack.”

Juliana raised her eyebrows and said nothing, which said everything.

Mallory answered. “Hi.”

“Hey. Any chance you want to grab lunch?”

“I’m already having lunch with someone.”

“Your mother?”

“No.” She caught Juliana’s eye. “Not my mother.”

“Are you going to tell me or do I have to keep guessing?”

“Who pissed in your corn flakes?”

Juliana pressed her hand over her mouth, but laughter bubbled out.

“Was that my mother?” Mack said.

“It was.”

“You could have just told me. I thought you were having lunch with another man.”

“Like whom? I have enough trouble with you.”

“Hey.” He laughed. “I’ll let you go. Talk later.”

“Bye.” She set the phone down, looked at Juliana, and they both laughed.

Juliana wrapped her hands around her mug and looked at Mallory with a look that had shifted into something quieter.

“My son is a good man, Mallory.”

“I know he is.”

“I hope you do.” She ran her fingertip around the rim of her cup. “Truly.”

Mallory looked at her. “Did Mack tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“Juliana.” Mallory kept her voice even. “You’re a smart woman. You know what I’m asking.”

Juliana was quiet for a moment, then sighed. “No. Mack didn’t tell me anything. I recognized it myself. I saw the same thing in my daughter’s face.” She shook her head. “Mack wanted to put that man in the ground. Max blamed himself for not seeing it sooner. It’s not easy to see when someone is good at hiding it.” She reached across the table and covered Mallory’s hand with hers. “It was not your fault. Not any of it.”

A tear slid down Mallory’s cheek before she could stop it. She wiped it away and held Juliana’s gaze.

“Thank you. My father said the same thing. My mother was devastated.” She shook her head. “People say just leave, like it’s that simple.”

“I know. Juliette was terrified of what he’d do if she tried. To her, to the people she loved.”