She stuck her tongue out at her sister.
Fallon did the same.
Hadley laughed. “Better not let the kids see us, or they’ll copy.”
“Too late. They started as soon as they discovered that appendage in their mouths.” Fallon motioned to the planners. “Anything else you want to discuss?”
One planner contained the menu plan, but Hadley had filled that out before the month began. It saved running to the grocery store because they didn’t have what they needed to make dinner. The other planner held her budget. Hadley didn’t want to bring that up because Fallon hated discussing money. Her sister had gone from spending whatever she wanted to watching every dollar she spent and cutting coupons.
“I’m good,” Hadley said. “I keep the three together so I know where everything is.”
Fallon giggled, a sound that wasn’t as rare as it had been a few months ago. Another sign that she was healing, albeit slowly. “I’m so tempted to rearrange the sheets in your planner and watch you freak out.”
Hadley grabbed the three planners and clutched them against her chest. Her pulse raced. The discs holding the pages together would make it easy for someone to mix up the pages or remove some without her knowing.
She took a breath and then another. “That would be cruel.”
Humor glinted in Fallon’s eyes. “You know I’m joking.”
Yes, but that didn’t stop a shiver from racing along Hadley’s spine. When they were kids, she remembered the horror when Fallon had cut off the hair on Hadley’s favorite doll.
Maybe she would store the planners in her desk.
And lock it from now on.
That way Fallon wouldn’t be tempted…
* * *
An hour later, Hadley entered the lobby of the workspace floor where she leased a two-person office. Companies like this were the hottest trend across the country, allowing businesses flexibility with their office space, and giving her a popular business location for an affordable price.
Her computer bag hung from her shoulder, bouncing against her hip. The scent of coffee tempted her, but she ignored it.
“Good morning, Hadley,” a receptionist greeted her with a wide smile. “Ella dropped off today’s list of appointments. We’ll take good care of your clients.”
“Thanks.”
A short walk down a hallway and two right turns later, she opened the door to her office. A familiar sense of pride washed over her—the same way it did each morning when she stepped inside.
Some people called her the wife finder. Others the husband finder. She was fine with either moniker. Her clientele came from word of mouth. The more people talked about her services, the better for her business.
“You’re early this morning.” Ella, her assistant, greeted her. “Getting the kids off to school must have gone smoothly.”
“It did.” Hadley approached the desk. “Ryder misplaced a shoe, but it was under the couch so it didn’t take long to find.”
“Good.”
Yes, except… She studied her assistant. Hair, makeup, jewelry, and Ella’s posture were perfect as always, but something was missing. A big something. “You’re not smiling.”
Ella shrugged.
Not a good sign.
Neither were the lines creasing her forehead, emphasized by her intricate cornrow braids. The woman dressed to impress, coordinating in ways that would make paid stylists drool. Her competence and intelligence made her the best assistant ever. Her only flaw—if it could even be called that—was her kindness. Ella exuded compassion and empathy. Sometimes too much.
But Hadley didn’t mind being the heavy if Ella couldn’t do that on a phone call or in person.
Hadley mentally reviewed the list of current clients, but no red flags popped up. Not even yellow ones. She didn’t work with people who caused problems. That was part of the reason for her high success rate. She limited the variables so less could go wrong. She knew each client’s wants, needs, avoid lists by heart. Technology provided the first step in comparing profiles, but the matches came from a gut feeling telling her which two people belonged together.
