Mignon Germaine never ceased to be amazed at all the magical pathways in life that led to the truth. Decisions she'd made in her youth had led to the well guarded secret she'd hoped never to have to reveal. She'd been young and naïve then and more concerned about the future and happiness of a good friend at that time than she was the possibility that time would eventually reveal all and in less than ideal circumstances.

It had started out an ordinary day like any other. She and her good friend of nearly 30 years were meeting for lunch as they normally did a couple times a month. Arriving at the intended destination earlier than she'd anticipated the raven haired woman ducked into a few clothing stores nearby in order to kill some time.

On her way back to the restaurant she was meeting her longtime friend at, she passed a nearby café. Movement caught her attention out of the corner of her eye and she turned her head to see her handsome son, Larry waving enthusiastically to her from a window inside the café. Mignon smiled warmly at her son and noted the presence of a pretty young woman seated in the booth across the table from Larry. Recognizing the young woman, Mignon's heart lurched in dread. It wasn't that she didn't like the girl. Far from it, in fact. She'd known Larry's lunch lunch companion since the day she was born and knew she was the polar opposite of that floozy Carina Willeen who'd nearly ended Larry's career and possibly his life had it not been for the joint efforts of herself, Perry Mason, and Hamilton Burger.

She considered going in for a few minutes to visit with them, but upon checking her watch she realized she only had a few minutes before she was due to join Burger for lunch. She tapped her watch and pointed in the direction she was headed to let Larry know she had no time to visit and he nodded with a smile and resumed his conversation with the young woman he was with.

Mignon would ask him about his relationship with the young lady later. Hopefully it wasn't what she feared it was or several people were about to be hurt when the truth came out.

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Hamilton Burger frowned as he sipped his coffee. Mignon could be aloof and distant at times, but today took the cake. She was plain, downright distracted by something and it concerned the district attorney.

"What's the matter, Mignon? You seem unusually distracted today."

Mignon looked away from Burger's intense gaze and let out a frustrated sigh. She wasn't sure how much she wanted to confide in Burger so soon since she had no idea yet if her fears were even based in reality. Still… Burger might know more than she did since women were more likely to talk about their relationships and hopes for such.

"On my way here, I happened upon Larry having lunch with Katie."

Burger's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "I know. They've been seeing a lot of each other the past month. You didn't know that? Is it a problem? Katie is a good kid."

He tried not to come across as defensive even though it sounded like Mignon had an issue with Larry seeing his second daughter. At least Larry was closer to Katie's age than Paul Drake was to Helen's. While Burger hadn't really seen it coming either, he didn't think Larry and Katie would be bad for each other. Larry was a skilled and knowledgeable up and coming attorney with an excellent law school record and Katie was following in her mother's footsteps in counseling.

Mignon shook her head as she took a sip of ice water. "He'd mentioned he'd been hanging around with a girl, but he hadn't mentioned details. He tends to clam up when I pry so I try not to. Though I worry about him sometimes, I try to trust that he'll tell me important things when he's ready. And yes, it's a problem, Hamilton, but not for the reason you think. The problem isn't Katie herself. You know I think highly of all of your daughters."

"Alright…," Hamilton said, more confused than before. "Then what is the problem, Mignon? Are you worried that if they don't work out it will somehow affect our friendship?"

"It could," Mignon said seriously, but she was still holding back. What if it was all her imagination? What is there was nothing going on between Larry and Katie? She really didn't want to reveal her only deep, dark secret unless she truly had to. Too many people would be swept up in the storm that would redevelop because she hadn't confronted it all those years ago.

Burger studied her intently. Friends didn't go 30 years without learning to read each other's non verbals and he could see that Mignon wasn't coughing up everything that was on her mind.

"Out with it, Mignon," he said bluntly. "I can see there's more to it than what you're telling me."

It was like pulling teeth and it was starting to make him angry. He endured that process enough in his work as district attorney.

Mignon wasn't the type of woman to wither under the icy stare of anyone, but Hamilton Burger could be intimidating at times, no doubt owing to many years of grilling witnesses on the stand in the courtroom. She met his eyes unflinchingly and like a ton of bricks, it hit the hapless prosecutor as he quickly put the pieces together. If it had nothing to do with Katie herself…

Unbidden a memory of one night during a party at George's house shortly before he met Alexandra replayed itself in Burger's mind and his eyes widened to the size of saucers.

He inhaled sharply; suddenly feeling like someone had punched him in the gut and unable to breathe.

"Mignon… please tell me it isn't what I think it is. Of all things to keep from a man…"