“You and Abigail were very close. She loved you like a son. I’m sorry for your loss, as well. Are you okay?”
“I must admit I’m a little poleaxed by what’s happened, but I’ll be fine.” He drew himself to his full six-foot-two height and rolled his shoulders to relax them before giving Emma a lopsided grin. “Which reminds me, I’d better go find Charley before he gets into some mischief.”
“That’s a darling boy you have.”
Will didn’t comment. His mind was too busy digesting the fact that not only was Catherine an attorney, but that she had been at the center of a custody case as a child. Could she help him with the problem that was currently knocking at his door? And of course there was the even bigger question. Would she?
Chapter Three
Catherine gazed up at her old high-school classmate, Jerry Travers. He was a big teddy bear in a bow tie.
“Catherine, I’m so sorry about your grandmother.”
“Thanks, Jerry. I appreciate everyone’s kindness. How’s life going for you?”
“Same old, same old. Deeds, contracts, wills, estate planning and, fortunately, very few criminal cases. That’s the blessing of practicing in Pleasant. Most of the work is, well, pretty pleasant.”
She couldn’t help smiling back at him.
“I’m busier than I used to be, of course,” Jerry added.
“You are?” She studied his profile, the prominent nose, strong chin and high forehead. He looked little different than he had in high school.
“Dad is trying to retire. Emphasis on ‘trying.’ He’ll never give up practicing law altogether, but he does need to cut back. He had a minor heart attack last winter and my mother is adamant about getting him to slow down. I’m trying to carry a bigger load and make it look like it’s easy so that he’ll get the idea he can take a few days off here and there.” He took a sandwich off a tray someone brought by. “How about you? How’s the legal profession treating you?”
“I resigned from my job.”
“No kidding?” His dark brows raised with astonishment. “I thought you had some peach of a career on tap…at least that’s what your grandmother always said.”
“I suppose I did, but I needed a break,” Catherine responded vaguely. She wasn’t ready to go into detail about her life choices quite yet.
“How long will you be staying in Pleasant?”
“Probably several weeks. My time is my own right now.”
“Abigail always hoped you’d come back here, you know.”
Surprise rippled through her. “To practice law? What about the esteemed firm of Travers & Travers?”
Jerry chuckled. “Oh, them. More than once Abigail asked Dad if he’d hire you if you came home.”
“She did?” Catherine was taken aback. Her grandmother had had dreams for her she’d never voiced. What else didn’t she know?
“Dad always said yes, of course.”
“To pacify her, no doubt.”
“Not really. I believe he meant it.” Jerry turned an appraising eye on her. “He probably still would. My mother would be eternally grateful. If Dad thought he had a competent attorney in the office other than me, he might ease up finally.”
“It sounds like you’re trying to offer me a job,” Catherine said lightly. It was odd that right after she’d quit her job, other opportunities began to appear.
“Are you looking for one?”
“I’m considering doing some teaching. Of course, that was before Gram died.”
“You’d be good at it. You’d be good at anything you tried, Catherine. I know you’ve got your plate full right now. All I’m saying is that if you want to do some part-time work while you’re deciding your next step, Travers & Travers might be able to accommodate you. I saw you argue a case in the Cities, if you remember. I was very impressed by your skill and confidence. You left everyone else in the dust.”
“That’s very kind of you, Jerry…”
The big man snorted. “It’s not kind at all, Catherine. You’re one of the best. You’d be doing us a kindness by representing our firm.”
Jerry backed away when someone from the dining room called her name. “It’s great to see you again, Catherine. I’m so sorry about the circumstances. No pressure about my offer. I just wanted you to know that if time gets heavy on your hands, you have an option.”
“I appreciate the offer. I just…” She didn’t even get time to finish her sentence before another friend of Abigail took her arm and pulled her away.
When the last guest said goodbye, Catherine dropped into the nearest chair with a groan.
Emma patted her hand. “You’ve had enough for one day, dear. You’re white as a sheet. Why don’t you come back to my house tonight so you can get a good night’s sleep? I know you’d planned to stay at Hope House, but you can check out the place just as well in the morning.”
“I haven’t walked the grounds or been upstairs,” Catherine protested without much enthusiasm. “I really should…”
“Nothing will change overnight. It will all be here for you tomorrow.”
Suddenly, spending the night here felt like a very bad idea. Here at Hope House Catherine knew she would do nothing but think about what she’d lost, when all she really wanted was to fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.
“I’ll take you up on that, Emma.”
She knew she’d be asleep before her head hit the pillow.
Catherine awoke slowly, the light of the sun filtering through the thick lace curtains and across her bed. She lay on her back thinking of the remarkable ceiling in her own bedroom at Hope House, which had been decorated with plaster swirls that had been piped on like frosting on a wedding cake. She’d taken the house for granted as a child, but its remarkable features struck her now. Although Emma’s home was lovely, it was a pale comparison to Hope House. Catherine had been living in a fairy-tale house back then and hadn’t even noticed. It would be painful to go back there without Abigail, but it had to be done.
Her limbs felt heavy and it took her some time to roll to her side and put her feet on the pink-and-blue Aubusson rug on the floor beside the bed. Gently she raised and lowered her shoulders and moved her head from side to side. Once her blood was flowing, she stretched broadly and stood up. Her body felt as if it had been beaten as her tense muscles screamed in protest.
After a quick shower, Catherine grabbed clothing from her bag and padded downstairs barefoot to find Emma in the kitchen whipping up a batch of pancakes. Coffee was brewed and fresh-squeezed orange juice was already on the table.
“You have no idea how much I appreciate this,
