“Lily Sinclair, Leighton’s mom.” My mom gives him a purposeful stare, and I can’t help but wonder how, at my age, my parents are still competing over me.
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Sinclair.”
“It’s Miz,” Mom clarifies, and I take a big cleansing breath.
“My apologies, Ms. Sinclair.” Then he glances at the bench. “Is this another family member?”
Aunt Iris lifts her hand in greeting. “I’m Iris. Lily’s sister, Skylar’s mom.”
“I’m very sorry for your loss, ma’am.” Mr. Notting gives her a solemn nod.
“Thank you.” Her voice is choked with emotion, but she swallows it down. Her usual stoicism is a trait I think was ingrained in their generation—feelings are meant to be hidden.
“Everyone, this is Vivian Dupont. She’s going to be your legal representative when we go in there.” He motions to the blonde at his side.
A small part of me feels a bit calmer from her kind smile. I extend my hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Same. And don’t call me Miss Dupont.” She shoots a teasing glance at Mr. Notting. “Just call me Viv.”
“Okay.” I manage a small smile.
She sets her briefcase on the bench with Aunt Iris, then comes back over, taking both my hands. “Look at you. Try not to worry, okay? You’re in the best hands with me. I’m”—she nudges Mr. Notting with her elbow—“as Mark believes, a great lawyer. Even better than him.”
Her camaraderie with Mr. Notting eases some of my tension. He hasn’t done me wrong yet.
“So, this is how it’s going to work…” She explains the process, going through the details, and it’s as if someone flipped a switch. The caring woman who was in front of me a moment ago has been replaced with a take-no-shit attorney. “I have the will, which is an updated will. There’s nothing fishy about it, and it was executed by Mr. Notting and witnessed. So, we’re golden there.”
“But…” my mom whispers, dread coloring her tone. Always the pessimist.
“Well, the people contesting the guardianship are family members. A closer family relation than you.” Viv holds up her hands in a placating gesture. “I’m not saying that to upset you. I’m just explaining what the judge will consider and what the other side will probably argue. He’s an uncle, and you’re a cousin once removed.”
That title hits me hard. I never considered how that might look in court—that I’m a more distant relative… oh my god. Panic rises within me, and it’s hard to breathe.
“No, no, no, please don’t do that. We’re going to be fine. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure those kids end up with you, okay, Leighton?” She talks to me in a soothing tone as if she thinks I’m one more word away from fainting.
Which I might be.
“I know you and Skylar were practically sisters. We might need more proof of that—pictures showing your relationship, photos of you with the kids—but we’ll handle that later. Today, our focus is on the will stating that you’ve been chosen as guardian by the deceased, and that you’ve taken care of the kids for the past six weeks. We need to show the judge that remaining with you is in their best interest, okay?”
“Okay. All right. Okay.” My mind is a jumble. What if I don’t get the kids? What if tonight I’m in that big empty house all by myself? Or worse, I’m back in my apartment and Julianna is sleeping in my bed?
“One fight at a time,” she assures me. “Today is about getting them to stay with you. So just let me do the talking, and we’ll be fine. Their lawyer is probably going to?—”
At the sound of shoes clicking against the tile floor, we all turn our heads in that direction.
“God, there they are,” my mom says, disgust dripping from her tone.
“Oh, relax, Lil. They’re trying to do what they think is best.” As always, my dad’s attempt to calm her down is lacking.
My gaze catches Julianna’s, and she holds it longer than necessary before looking away. Art doesn’t even glance in our direction. I want to stomp over and scream and yell that these are my kids to care for.
“Of course, I shouldn’t be surprised by who their lawyer is,” Viv says.
“What’s wrong with their lawyer?” I can’t help but ask, looking at a man who appears the same age as Viv.
He has blondish-brown hair, is clean-shaven, and I’d think he was quite handsome if my libido was into guys like him. Unfortunately, it has a thing for guys who kneel in the dirt all day. The thought has me kind of missing Hayes right now.
“He’s an asshat,” Viv says.
