Saturday morning was for catching up on paperwork, but Graham couldn’t keep his mind on work. He finally leaned back in his chair, propped his feet on his desk, and laced his hands behind his head. Closing his eyes, he watched everything that had happened the night before play through his head like a movie, repeating the scenes involving Mitzi. He was already looking forward to the next day, when they could have more time together—when no one would drag one or both of them off.

He picked up his phone and sent a text to Mitzi saying that he was looking forward to the next day and got one back saying that she was, too, and then his cell phone rang. Hoping that it was her, he answered it on the first ring.

“Daddy, guess what.” Dixie’s voice always shot up a few notches when she was excited. “Mitzi and Paula and Jody are coming down to Greenville to buy stuff for the bridal fair next week. Mitzi asked if we wanted to go with them. Is that okay? We really, really want to go. We’re going to have lunch with them, too. Please say yes. And some of the stuff might be heavy, so could you meet us somewhere and help? And could you bring a truck in case it all won’t fit in the van?”

“Just text me where you are about”—he checked his schedule—“one o’clock. And it looks like I can take off the rest of the afternoon, so I’ll be glad to also help you unload at the shop when you’re done.”

“Yay! This is going to be a great day,” Dixie said.

He laid the phone on his desk and pumped his fist in the air. Things were looking up if he got to see Mitzi three days in a row.

“Good mornin’.” Vivien’s voice crackled through the intercom in his office. “Your ex-wife is here. Shall I send her in?”

Talk about bursting a bubble. He backed up and sat down in his chair, not knowing what to say. “That’s not funny, Vivien.”

“Funny or not, I’m here.” Rita’s voice, gravelly from years of smoking, came through the machine on his desk.

“I’m busy. Make an appointment,” he said coldly.

“I’m coming in there whether you like it or not.”

Graham hadn’t seen her since the day she walked out on him. He’d talked to her, making arrangements that one time for the girls to see her, but had managed not to actually come face-to-face with her. And now he only had a matter of seconds to prepare himself.