comes first,” his father said.
Adam took the back route to his office, encountering Glen Bryant on the way.
“Hey, Glen, are you meeting with us?”
“No, and Tiff isn’t, either. She’s got a stomach bug. She’s better, but Aunt Cassie said it would be rotten to take a chance of exposing you. We’re safe because we got over it already. I thought I’d get something to eat, if that’s okay.”
“Sure.” Privately Adam was uncomfortable at the thought of Glen in the same room as his parents. He preferred keeping his private and professional lives separate, but it couldn’t be helped. Besides, when he’d been that age, he wouldn’t have talked to a stranger over twenty if his life depended on it. Perhaps Glen was the same.
In the office, he found Cassie standing at the window again, the sunlight burnishing her hair the way it had on her last visit. He could see the family resemblance between her and the twins, but the biggest contrast was their outgoing nature and her reserve.
She turned and gestured toward the desk where he saw two large envelopes. “Hello. I brought the signed agreements back. Sorry it took so long.”
This time, the black T-shirt she wore made her eyes appear brown again.
“I hear you’ve been ill.”
Cassie made a diffident gesture. “We had the stomach virus that’s going around. Glen and I got sick, then poor Tiff came down with it a day and a half later. She still doesn’t have much energy and I couldn’t be sure she’s no longer contagious. But she’s so anxious about getting things going on the modeling that I thought it would make her feel better if I called for an appointment.”
“It was thoughtful not to share the bug with us.”
“I hate exposing someone when I could have stayed home...though since I work out of my house, I suppose it’s easier for me than for other people.”
“Do you have any questions on the representation agreements?”
Cassie shook her head. “No, but the kids aren’t happy because I have to be there for their jobs and go-sees. It especially bothers Glen, so I thought I’d let you know. He doesn’t have to worry.” She wrinkled her nose. “Though with this added, the kids aren’t going to have the normal high school experience I’d hoped for them.”
“Normal is highly overrated.”
“But it’s nice to know what it is, at least.”
“Granted. Now, let me show you the promotional materials I’ve been putting together.”
When she sat next to him to look at the large screen, Adam smelled the faint aroma of roses. It reminded him of the time he’d done a commercial for an international florist company in Paris, having to hold an extra large bouquet under the Eiffel Tower for hours, waiting for his “girlfriend.”
He made an effort to clear his head, annoyed that he would associate a romantic image with the guardian of his newest clients.
* * *
CASSIE TRIED NOT to be aware of Adam as he clicked through pictures of her niece and nephew. They were the ones taken the first day they’d come to the agency, but cropped to look like the kind of photos she’d seen in magazines. As far as she could tell, nothing had been airbrushed or photoshopped and both Glen and Tiffany were portrayed as wholesome, healthy young teens.
“Satisfied?” he asked finally.
“Yes. It’s reassuring to see how they’ll be presented.”
“We don’t want to promote anyone in a way that makes them uncomfortable and that goes double for kids.”
“Did you start modeling as a youngster?”
“Nope. I was a junior at UCLA and saw an ad for models, so I gave it a shot. I needed the money. My mom had just gone through major surgery and I wanted to do something to help out.”
It was hard for Cassie to picture the sophisticated Adam Wilding as an anxious college student who’d fallen into modeling by accident. Still, it was an engaging image.
“Is your mother all right now?”
His expression seemed guarded. “She’s fine. In fact, my parents just arrived from New Mexico for a surprise visit.”
At a guess, there was some tension in the relationship with his folks.
“That’s nice. They must be proud of your success.”
“Actually, they wanted me to be a lawyer, so it’s complicated.”
Cassie cast another quick, sideways glance at Adam. “I can’t picture you in a three-piece suit, arguing a case in front of a judge.”
“Me, either,” he admitted. “It’s hard on kids when grown-ups try to plan their lives for them.”
His tone had grown even more intense and Cassie suspected that heavy pressure had been put on him to take a particular route. She couldn’t recall whether her own parents had encouraged specific career aspirations in their children beyond wanting them to attend college.
“Instead you happened into modeling and the rest is history,” she said to lighten the mood.
Adam’s expression changed from intense to cool detachment. “I got lucky. The photographer on that first job sent my picture around to various advertisers he worked with. Before I knew it, I was in demand. But it usually doesn’t happen that way. Albeit part of this business is luck and timing.”
“I understand. I’ve told the kids not to think they’ll suddenly become rich and famous. Glen doesn’t care, but Tiffany has stars in her eyes.”
“It’s good that you want to keep her grounded. The people who hire models seem to prefer them that way. Just don’t try coaching the kids. Let them be natural.”
“Of course. I don’t want this changing Tiff and Glen.”
“You mentioned taking responsibility once your sister was unable to care for them?”
That was a charitable way of describing Marie’s condition. She hadn’t even been sober for her meeting with the judge, and had refused an alcohol abuse treatment program as a chance of retaining custody.
Cassie cleared her throat. Sometimes she was so furious with her sister, she could hardly stand it. Raising Tiff and Glen was a privilege, but Marie had thrown it away. They had their share of problems, but they were great kids, even after everything their mother had put them through. “Yes. I didn’t want them in foster care.”
“Your parents couldn’t take them? I’m only asking because I’d like to know if a change in custody arrangements might occur.”
“It won’t. My dad has health issues and my brother’s work doesn’t lend itself to parenting. Please don’t bring this up with Tiff and Glen. They’ve dealt with enough,” Cassie added quickly. “I’d hate for them to get the
