Say Goodbye (Romantic Suspense #25) by Karen Rose

            “Molina says that Rodriguez is a good agent,” Mercy murmured.

            “I know. She told me.” Liza trusted Special Agent in Charge Molina more than she trusted most people, which still wasn’t a lot.

            Mercy’s lips twitched. “I forgot you two were besties now.”

            Liza rolled her eyes. “We are far from besties. I just looked in on her a few times when she was on disability.”

            “You cooked her meals, changed her dressings, and did her laundry,” Mercy said. “She told me that you did, so no use trying to deny it. Molina doesn’t warm up to just anyone, you know.”

            Liza shrugged uncomfortably. “She doesn’t have any family in the area. Her daughter lives out east and had to go back to work, so she was alone. I was glad to help her.”

            “Which makes you a nice person. I wish I’d visited her more while she was laid up.”

            Liza patted Mercy’s shoulder. “You were a little busy taking care of Amos.”

            Abigail’s father still had a ways to go before he fully recovered, but he was improving daily, and Mercy’s care during his recovery in the hospital was one of the reasons.

            Abigail turned at the mention of her father’s name. “I helped!”

            “And he’s getting better faster because you did,” Mercy agreed.

            Abigail beamed, choosing a pair of purple frames, sliding them onto her face. “I like these.”

            Mercy leaned down until their faces were side by side in the mirror. “I like them, too. They make you look smart and very pretty.”

            Abigail shifted and bit her lip, but nodded.

            “It’s okay to look smart and pretty,” Liza said gently. The slump of Abigail’s shoulders told her that she’d guessed right. “It’s also okay to want to look smart and pretty. There is nothing wrong or sinful about that.”

            “It’s vanity,” Abigail whispered.

            Mercy shot Liza a grateful glance in the mirror. “Maybe,” she allowed. “But as long as you understand that it’s not the most important thing in life, a little vanity is okay. I’m a little vain.”

            Abigail’s eyes widened. “You are?”

            “I am,” Mercy said, her eyes twinkling now. “I like to look good for Rafe.”

            Abigail’s sigh was wistful. “You’re beautiful.”

            Mercy kissed the child’s temple. “So are you. And these glasses make you even more so. I say we get them.”

            “Now me,” Liza said. “I think that purple will clash with my hair, though.”

            “I like your hair,” Abigail insisted. “It’s brown and red together.”

            “I like it, too. But it’s got a little too much red to go with that purple. What color do you think I should go for?”

            For the next ten minutes, Abigail considered the choices before picking out a pair of hot pink glasses in a retro cat-eye style. The corners were covered in rhinestones, sparkling in the overhead lights.

            “These,” Abigail announced. “They’re perfect.”

            “Perfect” might not have been the word Liza would have chosen. They were . . . “Wow,” Liza managed. “They’re about as far from military-issue specs as I could possibly get.”

            Abigail bounced on her toes while Mercy visibly struggled to swallow a grin. “Try them, Liza!” Abigail urged.

            “Yes, Liza,” Mercy said, her lips curving. “Try them.”

            Biting back a wince, Liza slid them on, then stared at her reflection, barely recognizing the woman staring back. She liked the frames. She actually loved them. “They really are perfect.” She hugged Abigail to her side. “You are a genius, Shrimpkin.”

            Abigail preened. “Agent Tom will like them, too.”