He exhaled into the phone, that quiet sound I’d come to recognize when he was still thinking of ten other things. “All right, angel. Be safe. Talk soon. Love you.”
The line clicked.
I stared at the phone for a second. The word felt different when it came out of nowhere like that. Sure, we’d said it on Valentine’s Day, but hearing it dropped into an ordinary afternoon still managed to catch me off guard.
The road ahead shimmered with light, and the scent of warm pine rolled through the open window. “Love you too,” I murmured.
Most people in my family didn’t bother with goodbyes. We just hung up. Maybe we needed a family meeting about manners.
I reached Silverville and followed the curve of the river, where the spring runoff shimmered in the sunlight.
By the time I turned onto my Nana and Bampa’s long drive, the world had gone quiet except for the rush of water and the rhythmic crunch of gravel under my tires. Their home sat on several acres facing the river, the sprawling farmhouse blending neatly into the green slope behind it.
Nana was already outside when I parked. I jumped out of my Fiat and hurried around to open the passenger side door. “You look beautiful,” I said.
“Thank you, sweetheart.” She smiled and straightened her skirt. For her arrest, she had dressed to the nines in a fitted blue-and-white dress, matching heels, and sheer stockings. Her hair was carefully styled, showing streaks of reddish blonde threaded perfectly with gray. Her green eyes sparkled as she adjusted her purse. “You know,” she said, “I’ve never been arrested.”
I helped her into the passenger seat, the leather creaking under her weight. “I guess I never really thought about it.”
The scent of her rosemary perfume filled the car as she buckled her seatbelt. “It almost happened once,” she said. “When I was seventeen.”
I paused with my hand on the door. “Really?”
The spring breeze caught the edge of her dress as I shut her door and ran around to the driver’s side to hop inside. “Tell me more.”
“No,” she said with a soft laugh. “Those kinds of stories are better left in the past. I’m not even sure your grandfather knows.”
I backed out of the gravel drive, tires crunching. “Speaking of Bampa,” I said, glancing at her, “I kind of thought he’d be here.”
She smoothed her skirt and looked straight ahead. “He wanted to be, but I was afraid he’d punch whoever tried to fingerprint me. And frankly, I want to do this myself.” Her chin lifted just enough to make her point clear. “Woman power and all that.”
“You’re not by yourself,” I said.
“You know what I mean,” she replied, glancing at my outfit. “My very tough and beautiful lawyer can accompany me. That red suit is stunning on you, Anna.”
I focused on the still wet road. “Thanks. It’s my power suit.”
“A power suit.” She clicked her tongue thoughtfully. “I believe I should get one of those, especially if we go to trial.”
“I’m really hoping we don’t go to trial,” I said. The car hummed as we followed the river into town. “We’ll figure out this criminal matter. I’m meeting with Zippy O’Bellini later today.”
Her back stiffened. “Excuse me?”
“Gloria’s attorney,” I explained. “We’re meeting to discuss a possible settlement.”
“Absolutely not.” Nana clutched her hard-sided, flowered purse. “I will not settle.”
Ah. I should’ve explained better. “I know you won’t,” I said calmly. “But it’s good to meet with opposing counsel and get a read on their case.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” she said primly. “We’re not giving them an inch. I order you as my attorney not to meet with opposing counsel.”
I turned onto the main street in town. “Nana, that’s not how it’s done.”
“It’s how I want it done,” she said, crossing her arms. “And you’re my attorney, right?”
“Yes,” I said slowly, pulling up in front of the brick building that housed the sheriff’s office. “I’m your attorney.”
Her shoulders straightened even more. “Then you have to do what I want as your client, correct?”
