Then I think it's silly that you don't tell her because then she'll be happy again. Don't you want her to be happy?

I pause.

Little Bridget is coming to her sister’s aid the way Aisling’s always come to hers. I hate to admit it, but I do feel silly. Even an eight-year-old can see how crazy this is.

I guess I have a lot to learn, kiddo. Now, give your sister her phone back before she kills you for taking it.

Okay

I put the phone on the nightstand, and my mind flies.

Tomorrow I’ll have to be at the solicitor’s with Aisling. Since she won’t talk to me any other way, I guess it’ll have to be there that I tell her how I feel.

I just hope that she feels the same way.

22

Aisling

What in the world is he doing here?

He’s standing right outside the solicitor’s office, and I can’t even believe my eyes. How did he even know I’d be here today? Is he spying on me now?

I should turn around and walk right back out. Call the solicitor’s office from outside and reschedule. The nerve of him…

He looks over and sees me standing in the hallway. He looks back down at his phone for a second, then puts it away and faces me as I walk toward him.

I am not in the mood for this bullshit.

“How did you find out I’d be here?” I ask him directly. “Are you spying on me now?”

“Calm down,” he says, “Turning called me and asked me to come. I think he’s found something out and he wants to tell us both about it.”

I scoff.Likely story.

He opens the door, and I walk in first. His secretary, a dowdy woman with large cat-eye glasses that sit on the edge of her nose smiles brightly as we walk in.

“Mr. and Mrs. Duncan,” she says. “It’s so good to see you. You can go right in. He’s waiting for you.”

We walk past her desk and through the door next to her. In the hallway, I say, “I swear, if you do or say anything to ruin my chances of getting custody of Bridget—”

He scoffs. “Now who’s thinking the worst of whom?”

I shoot him an angry glare. He stops walking and says, “Hold on a second.”

I turn to him, and he says, “Let’s get something straight right off. I’m not here to fight with you. The last thing I want is for you to not get custody of Bridget. Despite everything, I’m in your corner.”

He sounds sincere. I guess whether he really is or not remains to be seen.

I turn and walk the rest of the way to Turning’s office. When we get there, Turning is on the phone. He lifts his head and waves us in.

“Right, right. I’m on it, Judge O’Hallory. My client and I will be there first thing. Yes, I know. All right. Thank you for your call.”

He hangs the phone up and waves us to the chairs in front of his desk. “Please, have a seat. Thank you for coming.”

“We did have an appointment,” I say stiffly. I don’t look at Grant. I’m going to try and pretend he’s not here. He shouldn’t be here anyway.

“Yes,” Turning responds. “Well, I’m very glad you both could make it in. Aisling, maybe you can tell me in your own words what the situation is with you and your sister.”