Page 6 of When Cardinals Appear

“I was sorry to hear about her passing. Did you move back to town?”

“Oh no. I’m just here to finalize her estate.”

He harrumphed but said nothing else. I bristled. The noise reminded me of my father, whose tick often indicated his disapproval.

Just as I opened my mouth to give him a piece of my mind, the whir of the printer sounded beside him. He marked a couple of places on the paper and slid it over. “If you’ll initial here and here and then sign right here, we can get you a new tire.”

I scanned the document and filled in the sections he indicated then shoved it back across the counter. The man didn’t even blink as he checked to see that I’d filled it out correctly.

Nate walked in through the back door and glanced at the paper. “Thanks for checking her in, Sam.” He raised his eyes. “Are you ready to go?”

I nodded, and he opened the door. As I walked toward him, Sam gave a low chuckle, which did nothing to improve my opinion of him. Perhaps he was more familiar with my and Nate’s history than he let on.

Nate led the way, but I froze when I saw the car he was headed toward. It was a ’69 black Camaro convertible, a car with which I was well acquainted. He opened the passenger door and turned but frowned when he didn’t see me directly behind him. My expression must have betrayed my thoughts because he smiled for the first time since he’d picked me up.

“I can’t believe you still have this car,” I finally said as I strolled over to him.

“She’s in mint condition,” Nate confirmed, a hint of pride in his voice.

I grinned as I climbed in and set my bags on the floor, feeling like I was stepping back in time. I recalled many evenings with Nate, cruising down back roads and stopping to take in the sunset over the water. It made me wish for a simpler time, before a broken heart and Mom’s death completely altered my life.

He slid in, a warm smile pulling on his lips. He had always loved that car, and the change in his mood was palpable. We pulled out onto the road, and I relished the vibration of the rumbling engine as he switched gears. Something about that moment felt more like coming home than anything I’d experienced since my plane landed.

Within a few minutes, we pulled up in front of an unfamiliar building with a sign outside that said McAllister and Associates. What? We’d already arrived? I bit my lip and tried to get control of myself. Get a grip, Lanie. The man was giving me a ride, not taking me on a date. I pulled the bag into my lap.

“Well, thanks for the ride.” I turned toward Nate with a forced smile. “And the rescue.”

“No problem.” He nodded toward the bag. “What’s all that?”

“My mother’s life, essentially.” I opened the bag and gestured to one pile. “This is to put her house on the market. The rest is her will and other related documents.”

“How long will you be in town?”

“Not long, I hope!” I met his gaze and realized a moment too late I’d suffered from foot-in-mouth syndrome for the second time that morning. The warmth he’d had moments ago disappeared in an instant.

“I hope it all works out for you,” he said, his voice hard and cold.

“Nate, I didn’t mean—“

“I’ll call you when the car is ready.” He stared at the road, and I took that as my dismissal.

“Thanks.” I snuck one last glance at him, but he refused to look at me. As soon as I climbed out and closed the door, he merged onto the highway, leaving me alone on the sidewalk.

“Welcome home, Lanie,” I whispered to myself.

Chapter Two

I waited for my brother to finish a phone call. For someone who owned a small-town firm, he had gone to extra lengths to make it feel both professional and comfortable. It wasn’t stuffy like some other offices were, and I could tell he had put a lot of thought into choosing the furniture and decor.

From the comfortable reception area with four high-back armchairs to the small oval coffee table covered with various legal magazines, it was clear he’d aimed for a friendly, professional vibe. A window at the front of the room looked out over a recently plowed Main Street. The receptionist’s desk sat along the opposite wall, and a petite young woman with dark-brown hair typed rapidly, her brows pulled together in concentration. Though he was just starting out with only his receptionist and a paralegal, he’d left options for expanding, including an empty office for another lawyer—perhaps a partner someday.

Steven’s door opened, and he stepped forward, all decked out in a black suit and blue tie. Did he have court later that day, or did he always dress that way? Mom had certainly instilled that we should always dress for work as if we were headed to church in our Sunday best.

“I’m glad to see you made it in one piece,” Steven said as he engulfed me in a hug.

“Both the tire and the spare were flat since no one’s driven it in six months.” I narrowed my eyes as I leaned away from him. “Nate had to tow it to the shop.”

“Sorry about that.” Steven rubbed his neck. “It never crossed my mind to drive the car.”

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