He let out a soft exhale that seemed to come from deep inside him. “It’s been very hard.” He turned his head to look out the windows. “Nothing in life prepares you for death.”
“Except another death. And even then, only by degrees. I’m very sorry for your loss. I’m sure she was an incredible woman.”
Mitch cut his eyes at her, his tone sharp. “You mean because she put up with me?”
Harper shook her head. “No, because of all the dedications you wrote to her in your books. You said such wonderful, heartfelt things about her. There was no way she could have been anything less than extraordinary.”
Muscles in his jaw tightened. He nodded, looking away again. “She was,” he mumbled.
Harper hadn’t expected him to get emotional. “I’m sorry if I brought up something I shouldn’t have.”
“No, it’s fine.” He sniffed, then made eye contact again before doing something even more unexpected. He smiled. “I didn’t think anyone ever read the dedications.”
She laughed softly. “I do. It’s a way of making the book last a little longer. I read everything. The author note, the acknowledgement. Whatever I can do to stretch out the read.”
“You’ve read the whole series?”
“I’ve read everything you’ve written. But the Blackstone Detective Agency is hands down one of my favorites.”
“Thank you. Always nice to know one’s work is appreciated.”
“Well, you do have your own show. You must know how loved the series is.”
“I do. But I don’t interact with many people anymore, so…”
“Right.” She sipped her coffee. He didn’t interact with many people because he chose not to, but she kept that to herself.
“Arlington mentioned you.”
That got her attention. “He did?”
Mitch nodded. “In the letter. Said you’d been a big help to him.”
She’d been curious about what was in it. Now she knew a little. “I just did what he was paying me to do.”
“Which was?”
“Nothing I can talk about.”
Mitch smiled again. “He said you’d say that. He thought you might be able to help me, but I don’t really go in for that whole therapy racket.”
“Good, because I’m not a therapist.” And she’d never claim to be, because words mattered.
“You’re not?”
“Nope.”
“Then what are you?”
“I’m a good listener. A sounding board. An unbiased opinion. Sort of like if a life coach and the best friend you could imagine were combined with a side order of Catholic priest.” She grinned. “In that whatever anyone tells me stays with me. I’m a human confessional.”
He arched one brow. “Mm-hmm.”
“I am. It’s what I built my career on.”
He drained the last of his coffee.
Her cup was still half-full. “I should go. I’ve kept you from the book long enough. It was nice chatting with you. I’m just next door if you ever need anything. Sorry about Archie’s barking the other night. I don’t know what got into him. Well, there was a raccoon. Anyway, I really didn’t mean to wake you.”
