Man of the Hour. Patricia Kay

I need to come with you?”

      Michael shook his head. “Nuh-uh.”

      “Be sure to wash your hands when you’re done.”

      “I know.”

      She watched him as he walked inside. He was such a good kid. So was Livvy. They were wonderful children. They were the reason she could never regret her relationship with their father, for if she hadn’t married Ben March, she wouldn’t have had Michael and Olivia. They were worth any amount of humiliation she had suffered over her gullibility and misplaced trust in their father.

      When Michael came out of the bathroom, he said, “Mom, where did Livvy go?”

      The look in his eyes almost broke her heart, and she drew him into a hug. The feel of his warm body, the trusting way he wrapped his arms around her neck, was nearly her undoing. “I don’t know, honey, but I don’t want you to worry. The policemen will find her.”

      “But why did she go? She knows she’s not s’posed to go anywhere with strangers!”

      “Oh, honey, I—” What could she say that wouldn’t frighten him?

      “Glynnis?”

      “Aunt Kat!” Forgetting all about his question, Michael broke away from Glynnis and ran to Kat, who stood in the doorway of the small office. The children adored Kat, so much so that Glynnis had deemed her an honorary aunt. Kat bent down and gave Michael a hug. When she straightened, her eyes were suspiciously shiny.

      Glynnis had never been so glad to see anyone in her life. She got up, and the two women hugged hard.

      “Glynnis, this is just awful. I am so sorry.”

      Glynnis swallowed against the lump in her throat. “It’s all my fault.”

      “Oh, hon, don’t blame yourself. You can’t watch them every second.”

      “Don’t try to make me feel better, Kat. I’m a total screwup. I can’t do anything right.”

      Kat took her by the shoulders. “Now you listen to me, Glynnis Antonelli.” Fiercely loyal and outraged by Ben March’s deceit and bigamous marriage to Glynnis, she never used the March name. In fact, Kat had tried to persuade Glynnis to change the children’s names. Glynnis had considered it, but in the end, she’d decided it would only hurt and confuse them, especially Michael, who was old enough to question the reason.

      “You are not a screwup,” Kat continued vehemently. You’ve had some rotten breaks, that’s all. None of what’s happened has been your fault.”

      “I lost my child, Kat! What kind of mother loses her child? All for a sweater. For a stupid sweater! I knew they were tired and cranky, yet I had to push them. Why couldn’t I have just taken them home when they wanted to go?” She could hear her voice rising and knew she was becoming hysterical, knew she was frightening Michael, yet she couldn’t seem to stop. “Oh, Kat…” she cried.

      “Ah, honey…”

      This time when Kat put her arms around Glynnis, Glynnis broke down.

      “Mommy?”

      “Mom’s okay,” Kat assured Michael. Fiercely, she whispered in Glynnis’s ear. “Get ahold of yourself. You’re scaring Michael.”

      Drawing on every ounce of strength she possessed, Glynnis got herself under control again.

      “Okay, now calmly tell me everything,” Kat said. She put her arm around Michael and drew him close.

      When Glynnis finished, Kat wore her determined look, the one that meant she was going to take charge. “What’re the police doing? Besides checking people at the exit? Are they searching all the stores? Did they put out an Amber Alert? Contact the TV stations? Who’s in charge? Do you know? Is my brother here?” The questions tumbled out in a rapid-fire barrage.

      “I don’t know who’s in charge,” Glynnis said. “I can’t remember his name. I was in such a fog when he got here, I didn’t hear what he said. He seemed to know what he was doing, though.”

      “I hope so. You do know my brother moved back and is now working for the Ivy Police Department, right? I told you, didn’t I?”

      “Yes.” But until now, Glynnis had forgotten.

      “Well, we need to get him out here if he’s not here already. He’s got all kinds of experience that these small-town cops don’t have.”

      “For all I know, he might be here. The two officers who came initially sent for more backup.”

      “I’ll call him just to make sure.” Kat whipped out her cell phone and punched in a few numbers. She tapped her small, booted foot impatiently as she waited. “He’s not home. I’ll call the station.”

      Glynnis watched her. If she hadn’t been so worried and frightened she might have been amused. Kat was never unsure of herself; she never hesitated. She saw a problem, she decided on a course of action and she jumped in with both feet. Glynnis wished she could be like that. Anytime she’d made a quick decision, it had turned out to be a bad mistake. Now caution was her watchword. Except for today. Today you weren’t cautious at all.

      “Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Oh, really?” Kat grinned at Glynnis and made an O with her thumb and forefinger. A few seconds later, she switched the phone off. “Dan is here. He’s the detective in charge of the case.”

      “You’re kidding.” Glynnis pictured the detective who had been so kind—the dark, unruly hair, the world-weary blue eyes, the tall, athletic body. Now that she knew he was Kat’s brother Dan, she immediately saw the resemblance. “He was so nice.”

      “Does he know who you are?” Kat asked. “And by the way, where is he?”

      “I don’t know. To both questions. He said he was setting up a command post in the management office, so he could be there.”

      “Is the management office down by the food court?”

      “Yes, I think so. I’m sure I’ve seen a sign when I’ve used those rest rooms down there.”

      “Want to walk down and see if we can find him?”

      “I don’t think I should. He told me to stay here…just in case.”

      “In case what?”

      “You know.” Glynnis realized they’d already said too much in front of Michael, but what could she do? He was avidly listening. “In case Livvy should come back here looking for me.”

      “But…” Kat stopped at the expression on Glynnis’s face. She glanced down at Michael. “Of course. That was silly of me. All right. I’ll go down and see if Dan’s at the management office and try to find out what I can. Want me to get you guys anything to eat or drink while I’m there?”

      Glynnis looked at Michael. “Do you want something to eat from the food court, honey?”

      He nodded. “Uh-huh.”

      “Yes, please,” Glynnis corrected automatically.

      “Yes, please,” he echoed.

      “What would you like?” Kat asked.

      “Chicken nuggets and a Coke?” he said hopefully, eyeing Glynnis.

      “Whatever you want,” she said.

      “Some french fries, too?” Kat said.

      “Okay. And will you get me lots of ketchup?” He turned to Glynnis. “Mom, can we get some for Livvy, too? ’Cause when she comes back, she’ll be hungry.” The worried look was back in his eyes.

      “Livvy will probably want to pick out her own food.” It was all Glynnis could think to say.

      “I know what she likes,” he said stubbornly.

      “Tell