Page 25 of Island Protector

“It really does,” Connie agreed.

“I’m so glad Jess found an attorney for you,” Lila chimed in. “You can count on Guardian Agency resources. And Travis too. Whatever you need.”

Everyone kept saying that. “I should have the initial meeting soon.”

“I forwarded the documents you shared,” Jess told Molly. “Devaney’s paralegal told me it might be a day or two while they get a handle on the case. But you have representation.”

“I signed a couple of things earlier. Online,” Molly said. “And requested the appointment.”

“And you started to worry again,” Sharon chided.

“Well, yeah.”

Jess waved it off. “Completely understandable. I can help run interference between attorney meetings. Don’t ever hesitate. Goes for you too, Sharon.”

“Wonderful,” Sharon replied. “I don’t care who shows up or flashes a government ID, no one is taking Bryce from us.”

Molly hoped it would be that simple, that the crisis would fizzle out. Especially after the car wreck. She knew she was stressing more than she should, but the Graingers had money. The kind of money she couldn’t compete with on her salary even with Sharon’s generosity backing her up. She didn’t want to think of how many paintings her aunt would need to sell to pay off the legal bills if things dragged on.

“Well, there isn’t a woman on this island who isn’t on your side,” Nina said.

“It’s true,” Sharon said. “I haven’t been blabbing or betraying your confidences, but I figured we needed to be proactive.”

Molly swallowed the last bite of her second jam bar. “So this is brunch and a strategy session.”

“We’re excellent multitaskers,” Connie said with a wink.

“We all want to help,” Lila said. “Not just as you recover after last night, but until the custody nonsense is over and done.”

“Y’know, I’ve been on the other side of it,” Connie mused. “We had to jump through all kinds of legal hoops to adopt Lila.”

Lila smiled at her grandmother. “And my parents were eager to be rid of me.”

Molly stared. She knew the Copelands had raised Lila, but she’d never been privy to why or how. It had happened long before her arrival.

“Good riddance,” Connie muttered. “I only bring it up because from what I’ve heard so far, this is moving way too quickly for normal legalities. Especially with a family court.”

More to think about. She watched the women around the table, gathered here for her and Sharon, and knew it was timeto open up, to lean on the friends she’d made. “Then there’s something you should know.” All eyes turned to her. “Last night I was thinking about why the Graingers might be doing this.

“I haven’t thought about them in so long. There was no reason to. I never really knew them.”

Sharon reached over and patted her hand. “No one blames you for any of this, honey.”

“Right, but he’s my whole life. You know that. Bryce needs me to figure this out. If the lawyers have more insight or information, surely they can wrap things up sooner.”

“Go on,” Roxy urged.

“Tommy—Bryce’s father—never knew I was pregnant, so this can’t be anything like grandparent visitation or paternal rights. The fact is Tommy disappeared. Both his mom and the police assumed he died.” She swallowed. “I left town shortly after because Sharon invited me here.”

Nina smiled. “If I didn’t thank you, Sharon, I should have. She’s the best designer and manager I could’ve hoped for.”

Molly felt herself blushing at the praise. The sincerity was clear and yet Molly struggled to accept the compliment. She plowed on, “When I went to the Graingers house to look for Tommy, his mother was upset. And she blamed me.”

“That bitch.” Sharon stood up, pacing the width of the room. “You’ve never mentioned this.”

“It was irrelevant.” Molly shrugged. “I was here, they were there, it was over.”

“Until it wasn’t,” Roxy murmured.

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