Page 36 of This Moment

He nodded. “When she was thirty-five, she passed the New York bar exam.. She enrolled in law school in 1897 after Katherin Stoneman got into Albany Law School in 1896. She was almost fifty when she graduated. She was the third woman to receive a bachelor’s degree.”

“She was a true trailblazer.”

“That she was.”

Kian was smiling, and I knew I had to ask my next question. “You’re related to her, aren’t you?”

He laughed. “I am. She is my great, great grandmother on my father’s side. Anna’s father started the only law firm here in Moose Village. She worked for him for years in a position that we now call a paralegal.”

“And does your family still own the law firm?”

“Yes. My father’s brother, Uncle Trey, runs the branch here in Moose Village. My grandfather opened up another branch in New York City in the ’40s and it really took off. By the time my father graduated law school, he was working full time for the firm in New York City. They don’t have much to do with the Moose Village office, which I think Uncle Trey is perfectly fine with.”

“Macy said Opal is your mother’s sister. Does she have any other siblings?”

Kian frowned and seemed to get lost in thought for a moment. “No, just Opal.”

“Why thefrown?”

He forced a smile. “Sorry, it’s just Opal shared something about my mother that I wish she hadn’t.”

“I’m sorry. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “Have you ever found out something about someone you loved and wished you would have never discovered that truth?”

I wanted to laugh. “Yes.”

“I didn’t have much of a relationship with my mother before, and now my whole perception of the woman has changed.”

“Was it something bad?”

“Not to me, but to Opal. They were young, and my mother…well…she slept with the man Opal was dating. Mom got pregnant, and the guy married my mother.”

My hand came up to my mouth. “Macy?”

“No. She lost the baby, and they got divorced, but the most fucked-up thing about it was my mother was dating my father again while still married to this Jake guy. And she got pregnant with Macy this time.”

“Are you sure it’s your father’s child?”

“I asked the same thing. It was. She didn’t love Jake, only slept with him probably because she could. They got divorced, and she married my father, whom she had cheated on with Jake, then cheated on Jake with my father. It’s fucked up.”

“Holy crap.”

“Yeah, tell me about it.”

With a slight shake of my head, I asked, “Why did Opal tell you this? Now?”

“She saw the guy…Jake…here in Moose Village.”

“Is he from here?”

“Close by. He lived in Lake Placid. Actually, he’s from there but lives in New York City now.”

“Did she junk punch him?” I asked, causing Kian to burst out laughing.

“Opal doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. I think seeing him just sparked the sadness in her, and she probably needed to talk to someone. I know Opal, and I’m positive the next day that she regretted confiding in me.”

“Have you told your sister or younger brother?”

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