The Goddaughter Read Online Free Page B

it. Besides, I like Hamilton. I wanted to come home.”
    I did too. Yeah, it was a bit smoggy, and some people would call it a backwater compared to Toronto. But it was right on the lake, and it was real , if you get what I mean. It wasn’t pretending to be anything it wasn’t. No “World Class” about it, unless they’ve started a category for mid-century industrial. And it has character. Not to mention a pile of great Italian restaurants.
    Pete was still frowning. “It’s not fair that you have to live your life by their terms.”
    I sighed. “I don’t, really. It’s on my terms now. Except I shouldn’t have agreed to do this little rendezvous. I capitulated in a weak moment. Believe me, I won’t ever do it again.” No kidding. I could hardly have bungled it more.
    Pete sat back and seemed to relax a bit. “I can’t imagine what your life has been like.”
    â€œI had a good childhood.” I swirled the coffee around in the mug. Lovely aroma coming up. “Mom was a great mom. She’s in Florida now with husband number two. He’s a nice guy, a retired engineer. She met him a few years ago, when she stayed at a resort down there.”
    â€œWhat happened to husband number one?”
    â€œAh.” I slurped again. “Now that’s a puzzle. He kind of disappeared before I was born.”
    â€œWhat kind of ‘disappeared’? He left town? Or something else?”
    â€œCouldn’t help you there. The story is he got scared, so he took off. Our family didn’t have anything to do with it. They all seem pretty baffled about where the guy got to. And I know when they’re lying.”
    Pete went silent for a moment. “So you grew up without a father?”
    â€œYes, but don’t go feeling sorry for me. I had plenty of family around me growing up. Several aunts and uncles and exactly twenty-four cousins, to be exact.” Oops. Too many exacts in that sentence. Maybe I needed some food. I hadn’t had breakfast.
    â€œYou hungry?”
    â€œI’m always hungry! I could eat a skunk.”
    He laughed. “Always, you say the one thing I’d never guess. Why a skunk?”
    I shrugged. “Wouldn’t want to eat a horse. I like them. Skunks, not so much.”
    â€œNot sure they have skunks on the menu here. They may have brunch though. I can personally vouch for the—”
    â€œHoly cow, Pete—that’s her!” I was out of my seat and pointing through the restaurant window.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œRight over there, talking to that man. The blowsy blond with the huge—crikey She’s turning away and—she’s going to leave the mall, Pete! I have to follow her.”
    â€œHold on while I leave some cash—”
    I grabbed my purse and pushed away from the table. “I’m going after her!”
    I ran. Chairs fell, and a few people swore.
    Behind me, someone was yelling my name.

CHAPTER NINE
    T wo hours later, my purse was singing “Shut up and Drive” again. I held my breath, then made a dive for the cell phone.
    â€œGina?”
    â€œUm…hi, Sammy. I was just going to call you.” I held the phone close against my mouth. “I may not be able to make that drop tomorrow.”
    Silence. “Where the hell are ya?”
    â€œIt’s not that I don’t know where the shoes are. I can actually see them from here. It’s just that I gotta find a way to get them off the goddamn thief who’s wearing them, without causing a riot.”
    Another pause. “Where are you?” Sammy said again.
    I tried to sound casual. “In a restaurant.” A restaurant in a very big airport, but he didn’t have to know that. And I wasn’t exactly in the restaurant, but I could see it from here. I tried to shut out the noise of the planes with my hand.
    â€œIn Buffalo?”
    â€œEr…not exactly.”
    â€œWhere,