"He didn't say anything. I saw him at the Grits and Gravy with his mama and all her friends at the center table." She hung her head. "I confess I turned tail and ran when I realized it was him."
At his groan, she looked up.
"I'm sorry he's come back, baby girl."
She could swear there was a moment of guilt in his eyes but it was gone so fast maybe she'd imagined it. Besides, what would he have to feel guilty about?
"I know it's raking up a lot of old sorrows. And probably a lot of old gossip to boot." He looked away from her. "If I could, I'd change it all for you."
She fiddled with a loose string on the edge of her blouse. Hesitant to pull it in case she caused a big hole by doing it. And wasn't that a metaphor of her whole life. Scared to pull against the tide in case something bad happened and missing out on a lot of good because of it. She shook off the useless thought and let go of the string.
"This is his home, Daddy." She replied. "He has every right to be here. And it's not his fault that there's a passel of folks that love to gossip around here."
Matt MacKenzie gave a deep sigh. "I'm trying to turn over a new leaf in my old age. Be a better man than I have in the past. But I won't have you takin' up for him, Piper. I'd give everything I have to save you from more heartache."
"But he didn't know about Mama." She protested. "He thought I just didn't love him enough."
"Be that as it may, he let you go too easily. I agree that he has a right to be here in town. Probably has a good reason for it. But, you steer clear. You hear me?"
She nodded, seeing the real anguish in his face. But, in the long run, Mercy was a very small place and she knew she'd never be able to avoid him.
