Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Leighton
“Why do you think lawyer’s offices are always so stuffy and old?” Callie crosses her legs next to me in the conference room that the receptionist escorted us to. We’ve been sitting here for twenty minutes now, and with every second that passes, my anxiety ratchets up a notch.
“Probably to appear more serious.”
“So, if they painted the walls lime green, people wouldn’t think they’re good at their job? All this dark wood and black leather is depressing.” She spins her chair in a circle like Monroe would.
“I’ll be sure to mention that their decorating is subpar on the comment card.” I scroll through my phone, looking for a quick dinner recipe for tonight.
Gone are the days of microwave meals and takeout every night. Of all the challenges I knew taking on three children would entail, I did not anticipate that figuring out what to make for dinner every night might be one of the most challenging.
It’s been three days since the funeral. My mom and Aunt Iris are watching the kids right now since they’re not going back to school until next week.
Even then, I have to wonder if it’s appropriate for them to go back to school one week after their entire lives blew up.
I have no idea, which is another indication that Sky may have made the wrong choice by choosing me.
“They need something cheery, like wallpaper with a flower or bird print. People are already coming to see a lawyer for a crappy reason—lawsuit, divorce, custody issues… maybe a little happiness would make the whole experience less shitty.”
“Maybe you should tell Mr. Notting that he needs a snow cone machine and a balloon artist who makes you a flower bouquet after you sign your divorce papers.”
She stops spinning in the chair and glares at me. “It was just a suggestion.”
I inhale a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I’m just nervous. This is all happening so fast.”
Her hand covers mine on the long oval table that looks as if it’s polished every morning. “I know. I’m here for you though.”
“I know you are, but you have your own life.”
“What life?”
I raise my eyebrows, and she tips her head right and left. She doesn’t need to put her life on hold for me. Callie’s going on tour for her podcast, If I’m Honest, in four weeks, and she will be going—no matter how many times she tells me she can reschedule it.
“You’re going,” I say before she can once again offer to set aside her budding career.
“We’ll see. I talked to Becca—”
“You’re going. I’ll call Becca myself.”
There’s a quick knock on the door and it opens. Mr. Notting strides in with his assistant, Peggy.
“Good morning. Sorry to keep you waiting, it’s been a little crazy,” he says.
His life has been crazy?
Okay, buddy, try being thrown into a war zone without any training.
Sure, I was at Sky’s house a lot and the kids know me and are close to me, but I never planned a dinner unless I was babysitting, and then it was anything that could be delivered.
I’m unprepared for Lake’s clothing crises, Lincoln constantly throwing a ball against the wall, and Monroe’s today I only eat this food.
Especially while we’re all in the midst of grieving and trying to make sense of the loss of their parents.
“Crazy, huh? That many lives to ruin?” Callie raises her eyebrows.
I kick her under the table, but she doesn’t flinch. She’s become immune to it. Her eyes are set on Mr. Notting. He chuckles, and Peggy gives us an awkward smile.
If I had to guess, I’d think he’s in his fifties—attractive and definitely keeps up with his health and fitness, with a trimmed salt-and-pepper beard and sparkling blue eyes.
I think it’s why he’s wearing a blue suit every time I see him.
Makes people get lost in his eyes and stop thinking about what he charges per hour.
“Good morning, Callie, nice to see you again.” There’s a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
“Morning, Mark. No coffee, huh?” She leans back, crosses her legs, and rests her forearms on the chair. “Is Leighton allowed to deduct her mileage and the cost of getting here off your bill?”
I have no idea why Patrick and Skylar chose Mr. Notting, but I do think he knows his stuff and can help me navigate this unfamiliar path.
He sets his gaze on me, ignoring Callie, and I’m sure if I looked at her, she’d have a shit-eating grin across her face.
“Now that you’ve had some time to think about the news and you’ve had the funeral and things are going to start settling down, I want to discuss how you’re feeling about taking on guardianship of the children.
If you want to move forward, we need to petition the court. ”
I glance at Peggy then back at him, looking for someone to help me understand. “Petition the court? They listed me as a guardian. It’s a done deal, isn’t it?”
Callie straightens in her chair, her alarm bells going off along with mine.
“Yes, Patrick and Skylar listed that their wish was that you would be the guardian to Lake, Lincoln, and Monroe. But now the court has to approve you.”
“Approve her?” Callie’s voice booms off the dark walls.
He gives Callie a fleeting gaze before he directs his attention back to me. “We have to say you want them—”
Panic hits, flooding my veins as if someone just pulled the fire alarm.
All this time, I wondered what would happen if I said no.
Would Aunt Iris step up? Patrick’s dad? Where would the kids go?
I felt trapped and lost, but now that Mr. Notting is implying there’s a possibility I could not be approved, I can’t imagine not doing it.
The idea of going back to my quiet, empty apartment feels like poison in my veins.
I’ve grown accustomed to the chaos. I can’t imagine how much I’d miss those kids if they were taken from me.
Besides, it was obviously important to Sky and Patrick that I be the one to raise their children, and I want to make sure to honor their wishes.
“I want them.” I turn to Callie.
A soft smile creases her lips as if she was waiting for me to be firm on my decision. Her hand wraps around mine in silent support. I really do have the best friend anyone could ask for.
Mr. Notting nods at Peggy. “Then we start by filing your Petition for Guardianship.”
“But a judge has to agree that I’m fit to be their guardian?” Fear strikes me like a small itch that spreads into a rash. Quickly, my mind is calculating my job, my salary, my savings. Will a judge think I’m fit to take care of them?
“Why does she have to prove herself? Obviously, their parents thought she was the right person to raise their kids.”
I squeeze Callie’s hand. She’s always the first to go to bat for me.
Mr. Notting raises his hand. “Let me explain what will happen moving forward. I’m sure you were a little stunned when I read the will.
So…” He glances at Peggy again, and I suddenly feel like the third wheel on a date.
They know what’s about to happen to me before I do.
“We file the petition, which tells the court that the will states you as guardian, and you do, in fact, want to take guardianship of the children. Then a notice will be issued to all other family members, and they will have the option to come forward if they wish to be the ones to raise the children.” He must notice my face drain of color because he tips his head down.
“I know, but nine times out of ten, nothing comes of this. It’s just part of the process.
If anyone should want to object, they can, and then temporary guardianship will be issued to one of the parties while the court figures out what is in the best interest of the children. ”
I spin toward Callie, and she squeezes my hand.
I’m what Skylar wanted, and Patrick clearly agreed.
I rack my brain on who might come forward.
Aunt Iris said she wishes she could, but there’s no way she could keep up with them.
Though she offered to help me as much as she can.
Sky had no other siblings. We were like sisters to each other since we were both only children.
“You’re going to get them,” Callie tries to assure me, but a haunting thought comes to mind.
“Art and Julianna,” I whisper.
Callie shakes her head, but I’m not sure we can count them out.
He’s got a great job, and she’s working now but made a point of telling me at the funeral that as soon as she gets pregnant, they can afford for her not to work.
She was up my ass the entire time about how things should go and made more than one comment about how it seems like her motherly instincts might be better than mine.
“The brother?” Mr. Notting asks. “The one who got the house up north?”
I nod. The house Patrick and Sky were staying in before they died. I wasn’t upset about that. I’d never want that house and reminder of what happened. I’m never going hiking again.
“I guess we’ll find out if he has any interest in taking on guardianship. In the meantime, we’ll file the paperwork. If no one comes forward before the hearing, then it will be easy.”
“Good,” I say. Callie and I share a look.
Art didn’t show much interest in the children at the funeral. He hasn’t been much of an uncle to them. Sure, he was upset about the news of his brother and sister-in-law’s deaths, but he never said anything to me after finding out I was listed as the guardian.
“If someone does step forward, I’ll refer you to a colleague, someone more experienced in that realm, but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
” He slides out of his chair and leans across the table, holding out his hand.
“Thanks for coming in today.” His smile shifts to Callie, and she giggles a little. “I’ll be in touch.”
I shake his hand, and when he shifts it in front of Callie, she slides her hand into his.
“Always a pleasure, Miss Carlisle.”
I look between the two of them. There’s a slight blush on her cheeks, and the way her teeth bite down on the edge of her lips… and she’s getting a lot longer handshake than I did.
I clear my throat, and they part, Mr. Notting picking up his papers. “Peggy, do you mind seeing them out?”
“Of course,” she says, unfazed by the exchange. Is he like that with all his clients’ friends?
He walks out of the office, and I give Callie a look.
She shrugs. “I’m not his client.”
“Well, I am.”
“You didn’t see me saying anything when you were holding hands with my brother the other day.” She arches an eyebrow.
I’m surprised this is the first time she’s brought it up.
I attempt to stare blankly, masking any reaction, as though I haven’t replayed that interaction several times over the last few days. “I was not holding his hand.”
“Okay, ladies, let’s get you out of here. Surely you have things to do.” Peggy smiles politely as she opens the door into the reception area. Polite but pointedly. She wants us gone.
We say our thanks then wait at the elevator.
“We weren’t holding hands,” I murmur, just to make sure she knows I’m not stepping over the line she was so adamant about when we were younger.
Which I understood. Hell, every girl in our class wanted Hayes, and she had to deal with a lot of girls pretending to be her friend just to come over to see him. I swore I’d never do that to her.
Guilt weighs heavy on my shoulders, but I push it aside.
She puts her arm around my shoulders. “I know, but it’s not my fault your lawyer has that hot-daddy energy.”
I blow out a breath. “Callie…”
She laughs. “Relax, I’ll wait until you’re done with him.”
The elevator doors slide open. “Ew, don’t say it like that.”
We step inside the small space as she laughs. “Why? Just because you’ve always had a thing for my brother, admitting that Mr. Notting is hot doesn’t make you a cheater.”
She laughs again, and I press the lobby button to be done with this conversation, pretending she’s delusional, although I think we both know she’s not.