“I guess we’ll find out if he has any interest in taking on guardianship. In the meantime, we’ll file the paperwork. If no one comes forward before the hearing, then it will be easy.”
“Good,” I say. Callie and I share a look.
Art didn’t show much interest in the children at the funeral. He hasn’t been much of an uncle to them. Sure, he was upset about the news of his brother and sister-in-law’s deaths, but he never said anything to me after finding out I was listed as the guardian.
“If someone does step forward, I’ll refer you to a colleague, someone more experienced in that realm, but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” He slides out of his chair and leans across the table, holding out his hand. “Thanks for coming in today.” His smile shifts to Callie, and she giggles a little. “I’ll be in touch.”
I shake his hand, and when he shifts it in front of Callie, she slides her hand into his.
“Always a pleasure, Miss Carlisle.”
I look between the two of them. There’s a slight blush on her cheeks, and the way her teeth bite down on the edge of her lips… and she’s getting a lot longer handshake than I did.
I clear my throat, and they part, Mr. Notting picking up his papers. “Peggy, do you mind seeing them out?”
“Of course,” she says, unfazed by the exchange. Is he like that with all his clients’ friends?
He walks out of the office, and I give Callie a look.
She shrugs. “I’m not his client.”
“Well, I am.”
“You didn’t see me saying anything when you were holding hands with my brother the other day.” She arches an eyebrow.
I’m surprised this is the first time she’s brought it up.
I attempt to stare blankly, masking any reaction, as though I haven’t replayed that interaction several times over the last few days. “I was not holding his hand.”
“Okay, ladies, let’s get you out of here. Surely you have things to do.” Peggy smiles politely as she opens the door into the reception area. Polite but pointedly. She wants us gone.
We say our thanks then wait at the elevator.
“We weren’t holding hands,” I murmur, just to make sure she knows I’m not stepping over the line she was so adamant about when we were younger. Which I understood. Hell, every girl in our class wanted Hayes, and she had to deal with a lot of girls pretending to be her friend just to come over to see him. I swore I’d never do that to her.
Guilt weighs heavy on my shoulders, but I push it aside.
She puts her arm around my shoulders. “I know, but it’s not my fault your lawyer has that hot-daddy energy.”
I blow out a breath. “Callie…”
She laughs. “Relax, I’ll wait until you’re done with him.”
The elevator doors slide open. “Ew, don’t say it like that.”
We step inside the small space as she laughs. “Why? Just because you’ve always had a thing for my brother, admitting that Mr. Notting is hot doesn’t make you a cheater.”
She laughs again, and I press the lobby button to be done with this conversation, pretending she’s delusional, although I think we both know she’s not.
Chapter
Six
Hayes
One Month Later
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