“Good morning. Sorry to keep you waiting, it’s been a little crazy,” he says.
His life has been crazy?
Okay, buddy, try being thrown into a war zone without any training. Sure, I was at Sky’s house a lot and the kids know me and are close to me, but I never planned a dinner unless I was babysitting, and then it was anything that could be delivered. I’m unprepared for Lake’s clothing crises, Lincoln constantly throwing a ball against the wall, and Monroe’s today I only eat this food. Especially while we’re all in the midst of grieving and trying to make sense of the loss of their parents.
“Crazy, huh? That many lives to ruin?” Callie raises her eyebrows.
I kick her under the table, but she doesn’t flinch. She’s become immune to it. Her eyes are set on Mr. Notting. He chuckles, and Peggy gives us an awkward smile.
If I had to guess, I’d think he’s in his fifties—attractive and definitely keeps up with his health and fitness, with a trimmed salt-and-pepper beard and sparkling blue eyes. I think it’s why he’s wearing a blue suit every time I see him. Makes people get lost in his eyes and stop thinking about what he charges per hour.
“Good morning, Callie, nice to see you again.” There’s a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
“Morning, Mark. No coffee, huh?” She leans back, crosses her legs, and rests her forearms on the chair. “Is Leighton allowed to deduct her mileage and the cost of getting here off your bill?”
I have no idea why Patrick and Skylar chose Mr. Notting, but I do think he knows his stuff and can help me navigate this unfamiliar path.
He sets his gaze on me, ignoring Callie, and I’m sure if I looked at her, she’d have a shit-eating grin across her face. “Now that you’ve had some time to think about the news and you’ve had the funeral and things are going to start settling down, I want to discuss how you’re feeling about taking on guardianship of the children. If you want to move forward, we need to petition the court.”
I glance at Peggy then back at him, looking for someone to help me understand. “Petition the court? They listed me as a guardian. It’s a done deal, isn’t it?”
Callie straightens in her chair, her alarm bells going off along with mine.
“Yes, Patrick and Skylar listed that their wish was that you would be the guardian to Lake, Lincoln, and Monroe. But now the court has to approve you.”
“Approve her?” Callie’s voice booms off the dark walls.
He gives Callie a fleeting gaze before he directs his attention back to me. “We have to say you want them?—”
Panic hits, flooding my veins as if someone just pulled the fire alarm. All this time, I wondered what would happen if I said no. Would Aunt Iris step up? Patrick’s dad? Where would the kids go? I felt trapped and lost, but now that Mr. Notting is implying there’s a possibility I could not be approved, I can’t imagine not doing it.
The idea of going back to my quiet, empty apartment feels like poison in my veins. I’ve grown accustomed to the chaos. I can’t imagine how much I’d miss those kids if they were taken from me. Besides, it was obviously important to Sky and Patrick that I be the one to raise their children, and I want to make sure to honor their wishes.
“I want them.” I turn to Callie.
A soft smile creases her lips as if she was waiting for me to be firm on my decision. Her hand wraps around mine in silent support. I really do have the best friend anyone could ask for.
Mr. Notting nods at Peggy. “Then we start by filing your Petition for Guardianship.”
“But a judge has to agree that I’m fit to be their guardian?” Fear strikes me like a small itch that spreads into a rash. Quickly, my mind is calculating my job, my salary, my savings. Will a judge think I’m fit to take care of them?
“Why does she have to prove herself? Obviously, their parents thought she was the right person to raise their kids.”
I squeeze Callie’s hand. She’s always the first to go to bat for me.
Mr. Notting raises his hand. “Let me explain what will happen moving forward. I’m sure you were a little stunned when I read the will. So…” He glances at Peggy again, and I suddenly feel like the third wheel on a date. They know what’s about to happen to me before I do. “We file the petition, which tells the court that the will states you as guardian, and you do, in fact, want to take guardianship of the children. Then a notice will be issued to all other family members, and they will have the option to come forward if they wish to be the ones to raise the children.” He must notice my face drain of color because he tips his head down. “I know, but nine times out of ten, nothing comes of this. It’s just part of the process. If anyone should want to object, they can, and then temporary guardianship will be issued to one of the parties while the court figures out what is in the best interest of the children.”
I spin toward Callie, and she squeezes my hand. I’m what Skylar wanted, and Patrick clearly agreed. I rack my brain on who might come forward. Aunt Iris said she wishes she could, but there’s no way she could keep up with them. Though she offered to help me as much as she can. Sky had no other siblings. We were like sisters to each other since we were both only children.
“You’re going to get them,” Callie tries to assure me, but a haunting thought comes to mind.
“Art and Julianna,” I whisper.
Callie shakes her head, but I’m not sure we can count them out. He’s got a great job, and she’s working now but made a point of telling me at the funeral that as soon as she gets pregnant, they can afford for her not to work. She was up my ass the entire time about how things should go and made more than one comment about how it seems like her motherly instincts might be better than mine.
“The brother?” Mr. Notting asks. “The one who got the house up north?”
I nod. The house Patrick and Sky were staying in before they died. I wasn’t upset about that. I’d never want that house and reminder of what happened. I’m never going hiking again.
