Icy disdain pulses through me at the flippant tone. I may not know much about the case yet, but it’s a tragedy. A baby girl lost her parents, hermother. And now the child is in the hospital.
Alone.
“Marlee and Travis Vernal,” I state flatly. “That’s who died. So, show a little respect, please.”
The smirk vanishes.
For a moment, he looks as if I’ve slapped him. His mouth opens, but no words come out. True pain washes across his features, so thick, so heavy and deep, it punches me right in the chest.
Why does he look like he has no idea what I’m talking about?
The urge to flip through my measly file is intense, but I’ve already studied it front to back. No one said a damn word about me being the one to tell the next of kin their loved one died. That’s not supposed to be my job.
It only gets worse when he croaks, “Marlee Vernal?” He shakes his head, throat bobbing with an audible swallow. “I don’t know who—”
Oh, shit. Maybe she’s recently married. The childisyoung. I quickly check the file and thankfully, her maiden name is listed on the death record. “Marlee Parker and her husband—”
“When?”
His broken question makes my eyes burn and my chest constrict.
“Six days ago,” I say, voice tight. “There was a car accident. Marlee and Travis succumbed to their injuries, but their daughter is still in the hospital.”
I search his storm-cloud gaze, seeing nothing but pain and devastation there. The drunken asshat from moments ago is gone, and in his place, there’s only heartbreak.
“You didn’t know.” It’s not a question when I already know the answer.
“No. I haven’t seen Marlee in ten years.”
Ten years? Why would he be listed as the guardian in the will if he’s clearly not a part of their lives? Though, I suppose he could be lying.
“I… I thought you’d been notified,” I say quietly, my mind racing.
What the hell have I walked into here? I’ve never had to notify someone that their loved one passed before.
My next words are more to myself than Kade. “Youshouldhave been notified.”
“No. Nobody told me.” He drags a rough hand down his face.
My stomach sinks, and I suddenly feel like I’m going to puke.
God, and I’m not even done.
Swallowing hard, I say softly, “I’m so sorry, Mr. Acher, but there’s more.”
His bloodshot eyes lock onto mine, his chest rising and falling like he’s bracing for impact. Like I haven’t already wrecked his world.
“You were named in the will,” I say carefully, my hands trembling. “As the guardian of her daughter.”
He flinches. “What?”
“Aurora Grace Vernal. She’s eight months old.”
Kade stares at me with a blank expression for so long, I consider checking his pulse. I can’t even imagine what’s going through his head right now.
But when he simply utters an emptyno, my sympathy wanes.
“No?” I blink up at him, flashbacks of my own twisted past, racing through me. “You can’t just say no. You’re her guardian. She has no one else.” I take a deep breath. “If you choose not to go forward with the guardianship, you’ll need to—”
