Page 14 of Talk Birdie to Me

Or had it?

Truthfully, she couldn’t remember what she’d felt or what her gut had been telling her before she married Ricky. All she remembered was that it seemed like a sound decision. It made sense on paper, and that was how she based most of her decisions.

“I just want to know if anything looks… off.”

“Off, huh?” James inspected the document for a few moments, then frowned. “Looks right to me. Technically. But something does seem weird. Like, the math is right, but…”

The feeling in her gut churned. “But what?”

James handed her the papers back. “Are these all of his assets? Are you sure he isn’t hiding something?”

“I’m not sure of anything.” She took the papers from him. “But thanks. I appreciate the extra set of eyes.”

She wasn’t sure what to do with James’s corroboration, but she would at least take the hunch to her attorney. They were trying to keep it all simple by going through a mediator, but nothing said Geena couldn’t pay someone to double-check things.

Maybe her attorney would have a better angle on this. Geena was sure the woman had seen plenty of shady stuff cross her desk. If Geena pointed out her own suspicion, her attorney might be able to identify what was going on beneath the numbers based on something else she’d dealt with in another divorce situation.

“Not so fast,” James said when she turned to leave. “My turn for a favor.”

“I would have done you a favor for free. You didn’t have to wait until I filed for divorce.” Geena smiled at him. “What do you need?”

Their job wasn’t exactly something that required collaborative work. So she assumed it was personal. Whatever it was, she’d be glad to help. And not just because he’d looked over her form. She’d never turn away someone who needed help.

And she could use the distraction from obsessing over whatever Ricky was up to.

“I know you don’t do studio-type stuff, but could we hire you to take Chelsea’s bridal photos?”

He was right. This wasn’t a thing she’d normally do. Not for anyone else, at least. But since Geena had started taking photos for the rescue group, she’d gotten hooked on that feeling of having an impact. And much like she was refilling her life with the people she cared about since Ricky was gone, she was happily filling those now-empty spaces with photography as well.

She’d have to brush up on her wedding photo skills, but that would be easy enough.

“I would love to,” she said. “But you aren’t hiring me. I insist on giving them as a gift. You’ll only need to pay for any prints you want.”

“Oh my gosh, you’re a lifesaver.” He put a hand to his chest. “I would normally fight you over this, but I had no idea how expensive wedding stuff was. We’re up to our eyeballs in debt already. I’m half-tempted to run off to Vegas and get this all over with, but Chelsea wants the whole big wedding thing. I think her parents are pushing her, guilting her to invite everyone who’s ever invited them to weddings over the years. Not that they can afford to help us out with paying for it. But I want Chelsea to be happy. I want her to have the wedding of her dreams. At this point, I don’t know if that’s even possible.”

Geena felt a stab of sympathy for him. She’d gotten to know him and Chelsea well enough to believe he’d give that woman the world if he could. He probably wasn’t even revealing to her how much the whole thing was costing them.

“Then I’m glad I can help.”

James released a heavy sigh. “I don’t think you understand what a relief that is.”

“Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help.” She nodded toward the door. “I’d better get back to work. Ask her when she’d like to do the bridal shoot, and we’ll schedule a time.”

“You’re the best!” he shouted as she left.

Geena walked down the hallway, then placed Ricky’s forms on her desk with a sigh. She’d send her attorney an email later that afternoon.

Or maybe real quick.

Her mind wouldn’t let her concentrate on anything else until she got a pair of qualified eyes on whatever Ricky was trying to pull over her.

5

Cody opened his lunch bag and pulled out a salami and Swiss sandwich on rye, his go-to work meal. While he couldn’t stay in one city or zoo for long and craved change in most areas of his life, lunch was not one of those areas.

“Tasty, tasty, tasty!”

“Not for you, Gary,” Cody said through a mouthful of bread, meat, and cheese. He used his sandwich as a pointer and aimed it at the giant cage. “You’ve got your own food.”

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