“Thanks for being here, Dan,” Jared said in a dull, flat tone. He had purple circles under his eyes and looked as tired as Kendall had ever seen him. “How’s the baby?”
“She’s great.”
Lizzie sat on the edge of her seat, as if she was afraid to get too comfortable even in her own home. “And Kara?”
“She’s feeling much better and settling into a routine of sorts with the baby. I understand that once you get used to things, they change the game.”
“That’s right,” Lizzie said with a loving glance at Violet. “They keep you guessing.” Lizzie abruptly stood and left the room.
Jared went after her.
Kendall’s heart broke for both of them as she watched Violet cheerfully eat the dry cereal from her tray, oblivious to the stakes of this day that seemed like every other one to her.
“This is unbearable,” Kendall said to Dan.
“Truly.”
“How do you think today will go?”
“I honestly don’t know. The lawyer has played it cool from the start.”
“Yeah, with me, too. He doesn’t give anything away.”
Jared and Lizzie returned a few minutes later. Her face was red and puffy from crying, and Jared looked so tense, Kendall feared for his health.
They sat in uneasy silence that was broken up only by spurts of laughter from Violet, who was amused by the way the cereal pieces jumped around on the tray when she banged her spoon on it.
The sound of a car arriving outside had them all sitting up straighter.
“I can’t do this,” Lizzie said tearfully.
“I’ll be right here,” Jared said. “We’ve got this, honey. Just stay strong.”
Kendall wanted to hug them both, but there wasn’t time for that as their guests arrived at the door.
Lizzie took Violet out of the high chair and quickly washed her hands and face.
The lawyer, Mr. Martin, came in with a young dark-haired man who was obviously Brooks, along with an older couple.
Shit. He’d brought his parents.
Kendall glanced at Dan and saw that he didn’t like that development any more than she did.
“I’m Kendall James. This is my colleague, Dan Torrington.”
Martin shook hands with both of them. “Pleasure to meet you both. I’m a big fan of your work, Mr. Torrington.”
“Thank you,” Dan said.
“This is my brother, Jared James, and his wife, Elisabeth, and their daughter, Violet.”
Brooks and his parents stared at the child, without blinking, or so it seemed, since the minute they crossed the threshold into the house.
“My client, Brooks Ward, and his parents, Denise and Hunter Ward.”
Everyone shook hands and said hello as if this were a normal social event, when nothing about this was normal.
“Can I offer you anything to drink?” Jared asked.
