“I’m aware,” I agreed, excitement still buzzing through me. “We even have staff. We’re big time.”
He snorted. “Our staff consists of your cousin and a kid working off a debt to you.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “The debt is paid off. We’re paying them both.” I couldn’t ask Oliver to work for free, and I hadn’t done much for him. He’d been arrested for trespassing on a farmer’s land, and after I’d talked to the farmer, he’d actually hired Oliver part-time in exchange for room and board. They’d both been lonely, and I think it had worked out well.
Clark studied me. “We have to take paying clients, Albertini. You know that, right?”
“Of course,” I said. I did enjoy eating, after all.
Clark didn’t look convinced. “I mean it. At first, we really have to concentrate on getting lucrative. Then you can take pet projects and help out humanity. We have to keep afloat so we can help out people. Right?”
“Right,” I said.
“You are such a softie,” he muttered, but he didn’t sound that unhappy about it. “That’s good, but let’s try and get a few corporate clients right off the bat. Transactional work is steady and will pay the bills. Then litigation will fill in the holes and hopefully give us bonuses.”
I rubbed a smudge of dirt from one of the boxes off my arm. “One of us could specialize in estate planning. There’s only one lawyer around here who does the bigger estates and trusts, and that’s good money.”
Clark nodded. “I agree. If we can figure out how to pay for it, I’d like to study tax law and take several of the estate planning seminars.”
So we were on the same page. Excellent. “See? This is going to work out. We applied for a firm credit card. If we get that, we can pay for the seminars for you.” I didn’t want to practice in estate planning, so it was good that Clark was interested.
“I covered the picnic table with a tablecloth to make it look a little bit better, and folks can put the food there,” Clark said. “We need to find something better. There has to be a business around here closing down that has a conference table. It’d be cool to get one with leather chairs.”
“Let’s not get too fancy.” We couldn’t afford anything like that yet.
“You-hoo,” my Aunt Rachel called from the other room. “I have deviled eggs, napkins, and a couple bottles of Prosecco.” She was Pauley’s mom and one of my favorite aunts.
I turned and hurried into the room to help her with the goodies.
“Oh, you look lovely,” she said, her light eyes beaming. “So lawyerly.”
I laughed. “I’m trying. Let’s hope this works out.” I led her to the conference room, where Clark had indeed placed a tablecloth. It was decorated with the Seattle Seahawks, probably since he’d gone to school in Seattle. At least many of my family members were Hawk fans.
We set up the food, and more goodies arrived along with family members, colleagues, and business owners in the community. The food and drink flowed freely, and Clark impressed me with how easily he moved through the crowd and kept everyone’s names straight.
Pauley disappeared before too many people arrived, but Oliver kept busy refilling glasses and collecting empties. The kid was really working out.
Quint showed up about half-way through, and damn it all if he didn’t have Jolene with him.
He met me across the room before I could reach him. “She’s covering the opening for the paper and would be here anyway.”
I hesitated in smacking him. “Do you know what you’re doing?”
He grinned, and the sight was so charming I could only sigh. “Yeah. I know you two have gotten off to a rough start, but she’s not so bad. She’s had a rough time of it and might’ve tried too hard with the new job and messed with you, but I think you two would get along great if you tried. Everyone makes mistakes, Anna Banana.”
He always used that nickname to get to me, darn it.
Jolene made her way toward us, her pretty blonde hair up in some intricate knot. “Hi, Anna. This place looks amazing.”
I smiled and held out a hand. “Jolene, it’s good to see you.” I tried to feel the words. “Quint said that you’re covering our opening for the paper?”
She nodded. “If that’s okay with you. We’re doing a series on new businesses in the area, and this would make a great feature story. It might lead to some new clients for you.”
Clark instantly popped up at her side. “I’m Clark.” He held out a hand.
“Jolene O’Sullivan.” She held out her hand, and they shook. She wore her customary pantsuit, this time in navy blue, and looked professional and chic. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“I’ve heard of you,” Clark said, cutting me a questioning look.
