Page 6 of All It Takes

“Oh, oh! Of course. I’m sure we can figure this out,” I managed.

Somehow, we continued talking while my thoughts spun. A while later, Eileen left her business card with me, assuring me she’d see me Friday at a meeting with the local attorney and the attorney from Seattle via videoconference.

After Eileen left, I stared at Alice.

“Holy shit.”

ChapterFive

TIFFANY

The evening before the meeting, I wondered if I should try to get ahold of Wes. I was a bundle of nerves. My grief was starting to break through the shock of the news about Sarah’s death.

The following morning, I made myself dress nice. It wasn’t like I was a slob at work these days, but at the vet clinic, you had to be somewhat practical. As the receptionist, I didn’t handle the pets the way Alice did, but at any moment, I could be called upon to wrangle a loose dog, or parrot, or goat, as was the case just last week.

I pulled out my city clothes this morning, wearing a fitted silk blouse that flared around my waist with a navy pencil skirt that had a little ruffle at the bottom and low heels. I smoothed my hands over the skirt as I studied myself in the mirror. Maybe this was ridiculous, but I didn’t want to look like a slouch at the meeting with the attorney.

After a call to my father, he had put me in touch with his friend’s daughter who was one of only three lawyers in Willow Brook. She had assured me she would review the paperwork and be available for any questions and explained she was the local attorney coordinating with the firm in Seattle.

A short while later, I was walking down a hallway off the side of the reception area at the attorney’s office. I was glad I knew I was going to see Wes so I could brace myself. When I walked into the conference room, Wes was already seated at the table, and his eyes lifted to mine. It felt as if a flame flickered to life, racing across the space between us when our eyes met.

Wes stood from the table. Even though we already knew each other, I inexplicably approached him and thrust out my hand. “Hi!” I squeaked. My tone sounded too bright, almost harsh to my own ears.

My pulse kicked off at a fast gallop when his fingers curled around mine. I tried to take a deep breath to slow my body, but my lungs weren’t having it. All I could do was pull in a shallow breath of air. I didnotsqueak around anyone, much less men. I was deeply cynical about men and had mastered the art of being dismissive. I wasn’t even faking it. I truly did not give a shit about men and wanted nothing to do with them. Except that not giving a shit wasn’t working too well in the presence of Wes.

Wes’s brows arched up, and his cognac eyes studied me. “Hi, Tiffany.”

“Hi,” I repeated.

Another voice chimed in, “Nice to see you, Tiffany.” Turning, I belatedly noticed Eileen waiting.

“Nice to see you,” Wes offered as I released his hand after holding it for way too long.

“Uh, you too.” Again, with the squeaking. Ugh.

Eileen stood from the table, smiling at us as she gestured to a woman beside her. “This is Tasha Keller. She’s the attorney handling the guardianship locally.”

I looked over at the woman, and I could’ve sworn I recognized her. She pushed her glasses up on her nose as she stood from the table. “Hi, I’m Tasha.”

We all sat down, and I said, “I swear I recognize you, but I can’t quite place you.”

She shrugged. “I was in high school with both of you. But two years behind, so you probably don’t remember me.”

“Wait a second!” I exclaimed. “Your mom was Mrs. Keller, the attorney who did that fun presentation on being a lawyer in high school. I loved that! Even though I didn’t end up being an attorney,” I hastily added.

Tasha smiled warmly. “That’s her.”

“So you’re a lawyer, then,” I stated the obvious.

“I am. This is actually my parents’ practice. I slipped right in.”

I glanced around the room. “Where’s Ross?” Beyond the emotional shock of my friend’s death, I’d been anxious about meeting the little boy who I was now partially responsible for. The anxiety was big.

“He’s with my mom,” Wes explained. “I checked with Eileen, and she didn’t think it was the kind of meeting he needed to be present for.”

I nodded. “That makes sense. How is he?”

Wes lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Okay. I guess. But probably not. His parents died last week. I’m still in shock at the news, and I’m sure he is. Fortunately, he loves the dog I’m fostering. They’ve watched a lot of TV together.”

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