Read Chapter 1 of Mind Drives Matter

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On the morning after arriving home from Texas, Whit Filmore wasted no time going to see his daughter. He had dropped Anna off at her apartment around three in the morning, and even though he’d only had a few hours of sleep, he couldn’t wait for his breakfast date.

He was just up the road from his ex’s house when his phone went off. Seeing her name made him smile as he answered. “I’m almost there. I told you I was on the way.”

“Mom says she needs my help today. That it’s a bad idea to go anywhere this early with you.”

He’d had a feeling Olivia would try to put a wrench in their plans. She usually had some excuse for why Emily should stay home when it was his time with her. “You can help her when you get back. I haven’t seen you. Besides, tell her I’ve had my coffee. I won’t growl at her if she doesn’t growl at me.”

“She says that it’s your fault you haven’t seen me.” He could tell by the monotone of Emily’s voice that she wasn’t happy with her mother.

“Oh, does she? Well, I’ll have to talk to her then, won’t I?”

“I don’t want to be in the middle of anything. I’ll just stay and help her, and we’ll go out later.”

Whit hated that Olivia could manipulate their kid that way. “Emily, do you want to go to breakfast?” He slowed the car to turn into her street. “Because I’ll be there in about two seconds, and I’m not in the mood to turn around.”

“Yeah, I want to go. But I have to live with her. I was going to talk you into taking me to Griddles.”

“Griddles, huh? Sounds good. I’m pulling in now. Get ready.” He hung up the phone and parked. He took a deep breath and let it out. “I won’t bite her head off. She probably tastes horrible anyway.” He got out of the car and went to the door.

Olivia answered. Whit still couldn’t deny she was beautiful, even though he knew the ugliness inside her. Her green eyes scrutinized him as she looked down her nose. “Last weekend was your weekend. This is officially my time with our daughter.”

“I was away at work. And you know we’ve made a deal.”

“Your work is a whole other problem.” She rolled her eyes as if the very idea of it embarrassed her. “What kind of lectures are you giving this week? Bigfoot’s love child?”

“I don’t know, are you available to be a visual aide?” He couldn’t resist the urge to be childish when she was around, and he pulled his lips in tight to avoid anything further.

Olivia stared through him. “Funny.”

“Nothing about this is funny. Especially since we agreed now that she’s older, she gets to decide when she wants to see me. You could pull this shit when she was ten, but not now.”

“Well, legally, I don’t have to let her go.”

“Yeah, I get it, Olivia. You like to be in control. I’m pretty sure that’s why you can’t keep a boyfriend. But do you really want to throw your weight around and make her resent you?”

“She doesn’t resent me. And for your information, I’ve met someone new.”

Whit had expected that sultry profile photo to rake someone in quick. “Let’s hope this one has a job and no record. Those child-support checks I send you are supposed to be for our daughter.”

“You’re an ass.” She turned and smiled at Emily, who had come out to greet him.

“Nice one, Olivia,” he said as he realized his daughter heard her mother’s comment.

“I’m ready, Dad.” Emily rolled her eyes as she breezed past her mother to walk out past him.

“I’ll have her home later.”

Olivia curled her lip, but Whit turned around before she could say anything else.

He caught up to Emily at the car and opened her door for her. Once he was around the car and in the driver’s seat, she was putting on her seatbelt.

“How was your trip to Texas?”

“It was okay. I got the job done. I’m glad I’m back here where I’m close to you, though. I hope you realize I don’t like being away. It’s just what I have to do to support you.”

“I know.”

“So, your mom is seeing someone new?” It was a question he felt he asked much too often.

“Yeah.”

“So, what’s his name?”

She smiled. “Mom said you’d ask that. She told me you run background checks on all of her boyfriends. She thinks you run them off. Do you?”

“I’m pretty sure the only person running them off is her, and besides, I have to make sure who she’s bringing around you. So, yeah, I check to see if they have a clean record.”

“Well, this guy is really nice. He has a job, and Mom seems happy.”

Whit sure didn’t feel that from his encounter with her. “If you say so. What do you think of him? Have you met?”

“Yes, I had met him briefly when he came to pick Mom up for a dinner date. He’s okay.”

“Well, that’s good.”

“So you won’t be upset if I don’t tell you his name?” She wore a sly grin, and he shook his head.

“I don’t get upset with you, kiddo. I just worry. So you keep that name to yourself as long as you want. But all I ask is that you’ll tell me if any of those men ever yell at you or hurt you in any way.”

“Yes, I promise.”

“Because I’ll take care of it. I’m always here for you. And even if your mother doesn’t know it, I’d never let anything bad happen to her either.”

“I know, Dad. Mom says you get jealous.”

“Of her and her boyfriends? Never.” He would stay mad if that was the case. There was a short time in his life when he really thought he loved that woman, but now, he couldn’t even imagine it. 

The only thing she ever did for him was to give him his daughter. He sometimes thought she only got knocked up to get support. The pregnancy had come as a surprise, but it was the best thing that ever happened to him.

He drove her across town to Griddles, where they served fancy pancakes and the best bacon a man ever tasted.

They went inside and were seated right away, although the table was a bit uneven. “I hate a table that wobbles,” she said, grabbing the sugar packets from the table.

“Ah, don’t use that,” he said. “I got it.” He showed her a wad of napkins from the dispenser on the table. “This should do just fine and less waste.”

“Mom always uses sugar packets.”

“I remember. So, how’s school?” he asked once the table was stable.

“It’s okay. We had to write a book report in English class, and I have a science project coming up. They said we’ll dissect a frog by the end of the year. I’m really not looking forward to that.”

Whit smiled as she scrunched up her nose, but her next comment came as a surprise.

“I don’t see how you do your job. I wouldn’t want to see a dead body.”

“Well, there’s a big difference in seeing a body and dissecting one. That’s why I’m not a doctor, I suppose. But maybe we shouldn’t talk about that kind of thing.” He wondered where she had gotten the notion.

“Morticians work with the dead.”

“Yes. They do.” He gave her a sideward look, wondering if the question was more than just dealing with her own mortality or if there was a bigger reason.

“It’s kind of creepy, isn’t it?”

“Well, it depends on how you look at it. They do us all a great service. Someone has to tend to the dead. Show them respect and keep their dignity at that time.”

“So, it’s really not a bad job to have then?”

“Are you planning on becoming one?”

“No,” she said with a casual shrug. “Just curious. Mom knows a mortician.”

Whit could tell by her tone there was more to say on that subject, but he didn’t press on as the waiter walked up and took their order.

Later, as Whit felt his stomach reach its full capacity from his plate of chocolate-chip pancakes, Emily sat back and held her tummy.

“Oh, man,” she said. “I always overdo it here. But it’s so good.”

“Yeah, me too.” His phone rang as the waiter brought the check. “One second,” he said to his daughter. He hated to take it but knew it was better than putting it off. “Whit Filmore speaking.”

The woman, on the other end, seemed surprised. “Oh, Mr. Filmore, hello. I wasn’t sure if this was a direct line or your office.”

“I have my calls forwarded on the weekend. And you are?”

“I’m Tessa James. I’m from the Truth, Crime, and Justice Network. I was hoping you’re not too busy.”

“I’m having breakfast with my daughter.”

“That’s sweet,” she said. “I’m sure she’ll be excited when she hears why I’ve called her daddy.”

“I’m curious why you have as well.”

The woman chuckled. “We wanted to extend an offer to you. We’re starting a new true-crime series, and we want you to host it. You would have an on-camera role as well as lending your voice. It’s really a great opportunity, and you were my first pick.”

He was flattered but also taken aback. “A hosting gig on television?” He hadn’t really expected to do much more TV. He wasn’t much for a spotlight on himself as much as he preferred to shed light on things most didn’t understand.

He watched as his daughter’s eyes lit up.

On the phone, Tessa continued. “That’s right, sir. We’re hoping to work out the specifics if you’re interested and work up a contract, but I needed to know if you’d be interested.”

“How much time do I have to decide?”

“I’ll send over some notes, and you can take a look, but I’ll need to pass the offer off to someone else by the end of next week. I’m really hoping I don’t have to, though. You’re just what we’re looking for, and we’re ready to make a sweet deal.”

“Wow, two weeks? That sure gives me some time to think.” Most of his offers came and went much faster.

“Well, to be honest, sir, I didn’t think I’d reach you so easily.”

“I’m a simple man,” he said. “Send me more information, and I’ll be in touch, Tessa.”

“Thank you, sir. I sure will. It’s so good to talk to you. Enjoy your morning.”

When Whit ended the call, he felt a little kick under the table. “Did you say, television host?”

“Don’t get too excited,” he said, seeing the look in her eyes. “It’s a lot to think over. I just got back home, and I have a lot of people who depend on me at the university for their education.”

“You also have a lot of other fans out there who would love to see you on a show.” As his biggest fan, she hadn’t missed the attention he had gotten for the Johnson case, and she knew about his lectures and even asked to read his series when she turned thirteen.

“I’m pretty sure I’d be more of a narrator than anything, but I told her I’d think it over.”

“Oh, please take it. It is so exciting!” She practically bounced in her seat. “Mom even said you should do more television.”

He bet she did. She probably hoped she could take him back to court for more child support too. “I’m going to think it over. I know it sounds exciting to be on television, but there’s a lot to it. A lot to consider. So, why don’t you do me a favor and not mention this to your mom just yet? If it happens, we’ll tell her but only then.”

“Fine, I won’t.” She pushed her plate aside as he threw down his credit card. “Can we go to the mall?” She looked up at him with her puppy eyes.

“We can do anything you want to do. It’s your day. Where do you want to go?”

“To the Beauty Boudoir. They’re having a sale on eyeshadow.” She gave him a hopeful look.

“Eyeshadow? Since when do you wear makeup?”

“I have on a little right now, thank you very much. And Mom said I could move past lip gloss and mascara when you say it’s okay.”

“Honey, you don’t need that stuff. You’re too young. Your skin is flawless, and makeup only introduces your skin to clogged pores and bacteria.”

She deflated a little, her shoulders sinking. “But I’m almost fifteen, and all of the other girls get to wear makeup.”

“They might, but they don’t need it either. Trust me. You’re so beautiful. Embrace your natural beauty.”

“Mom is a natural beauty, and she says makeup accentuates it.”

“What she means is, she’s got a few laugh lines that Botox can’t fix.”

“Dad!” She gave him a scolding look but couldn’t stop laughing.

“I’ll take you to the Beauty Boudoir, but you’re going to call your mother first, and if she agrees, I’ll buy you some eyeshadow.”

Emily smiled. “Thanks, Dad. You’re the best.” She fell into him and hugged him tight as they stood from the table.

“I don’t know. I’m still against it. But if it’s what you want, fine. But no loud colors and nothing too heavy. You need to start slow.”

“Awesome! Mom said you had to approve.”

“Well, that’s a first.” He had a feeling Olivia expected him to say no. She was really good at making him the bad guy. 

As they got in the car, Emily settled into the seat beside him. “Morticians work with makeup, too,” she said. “At least I heard they did.”

Whit smiled. “That’s right. They do.” He was pretty sure her mother was dating a mortician. Now he’d just have to figure out which one. He’d add that to the list of his things to do now that he was back in town.