“Jack Carter.”
“Do you really want to be somebody’s father?”
Jack didn’t answer immediately.
He looked at Emma.
The dirty blonde hair.
The tiny hand still holding his thumb.
The way she slept like she was afraid someone would take the moment away.
Then he spoke.
“For twenty years…”
“I woke up every morning and had no reason.”
“None.”
“I got out of bed because the sun came up.”
“Because my knee hurt.”
“Because life kept moving.”
“That’s it.”
“Twenty years, Preacher.”
“Twenty years of nothing.”
“And then this kid walked up to me.”
“She asked me one question.”
“And for the first time in twenty years…”
“I had a reason.”
“Just one.”
“But one is a lot more than none.”
Preacher nodded.
He understood.
Emma stirred.
Her eyes opened slowly.
For a second, confusion crossed her face.
Then she saw Jack.
The relief was immediate.
“You’re still here.”
“I’m still here, honey.”
“I slept.”
“You did.”
“How long?”
“Twenty minutes.”
“Was I drooling?”
Jack smiled.
“A little.”
Emma giggled.
A small sound.
A real sound.
Like she had forgotten she could make it.
The diner door opened.
A woman walked in.
Late 50s.
Short silver hair.
Expensive suit.
Leather briefcase.
She walked straight toward the booth.
“Mr. Carter?”
“Yeah.”
“Moira Whitfield.”
She extended her hand.
Jack shook it.
“I understand we have a situation.”
“We do.”
Moira looked at Emma.
Her professional expression softened.
“Hello, Emma.”
“Hi.”
“I hear you had quite a walk last night.”
“Yeah.”
“And I hear you asked a very important question this morning.”
Emma nodded.
“Would it be okay if I sat down?”
Emma looked at Jack.
He nodded.
“Yeah.”
Moira sat.
She opened her briefcase.
“Mr. Carter, I need you to understand a few things.”
“Okay.”
“First, the man outside is probably contacting his supervisor.”
“Second, anything we discuss here is protected.”
“Third…”
She looked directly at Jack.
“I need the truth.”
“Every word.”
“If you lie to me once, I walk.”
“Understood.”
“How many convictions?”
“Three.”
“Felonies?”
“Two.”
“Aggravated assault in 1996.”
“Possession with intent in 2004.”
“Time served?”
“Six years.”
“Out since 2009.”
“Any arrests since?”
“No.”
“Drug use?”
“None in seventeen years.”
“Employment?”