Star-Crossed Secrets

by Kali Brixton

  Rory hides between Greta and me, coyly looking between our legs.

  “Are you going to say hi to Jarrett, Rory?” I ask, smoothing down her ruffled red hair from the car ride over.

  She peers up at me, those big brown eyes shining. I smile at her, which she returns, then give him one as well. “Hi.” Her small voice nearly twinkles, the sound of innocence and purity all wrapped up in it. She sticks her hand out and gives him a wave, earning a chuckle.

  Jarrett waves back at her. “It’s nice to meet you.” He returns his gaze from the little person to the big people. “My associate should be here at any moment now.” He gestures for us to be seated, which sends Rory crawling into my lap. “You came on a good day. Our secretary Patty always brings in sweets on Friday.” He pats his non-existent stomach. “It’s a nightmare to work off at the gym, but well worth it.”

  Although I’ve not had to deal with lawyers very much on a personal level, the warm atmosphere here makes things not feel so clinical or cut and dry.

  Jarrett chit-chats for a few minutes until a woman in her sixties comes into the room, her arms filled with a plate of baked goods and napkins. Rory’s eyes light up at the sight of the chocolate chip cookies, her hands applauding with excitement. When Greta gives me the okay, I grab us a chocolate chip to share and pinch off some small pieces for her to handle on her own. “What do we say, Rory?”

  “Tankoo.” Why is it so doggone precious when a toddler speaks?

  “Isn’t she a doll? Look at all that beautiful red hair!” Patty exclaims as she introduces herself to Rory. “My little grandbaby has hair just like yours.” After fussing over Rory for a moment, she leaves to get us some coffee while I dig out Rory’s sippy cup full of milk from the diaper bag.

  The door opens and a distinct voice calls out—one which now grates my ever-loving nerves, even though I used to love its rich timbre.

  Luca

  “Let me get that for you, Patty,” I offer as I open the door and grab the stack of paper cups she’s trying to balance with the coffee carafe and a bowl of assorted creamers and sweeteners. As soon as I enter the room, I feel her presence, but I have to keep my cool. “I’m sorry. I was just finishing up with another client,” I remark, trying to keep my voice level.

  When I told Lia yesterday about DA Skyla Redmond’s visit, we agreed for Skyla to come to Lia’s apartment and talk with us both. While Lia was tight-lipped about her visits to Giacomo, she’d let it slip that Everleigh had mentioned the firm I work for by name as the one handling her adoption case. The news of her adopting threw me for a loop, which prompted me to ask my sister for all the details she knew.

  She told me about Greta and Rory’s situation, which broke my heart for them both. As someone whose mother has an incurable disease, I can only imagine how hard this must be for Greta on top of the loss of her daughter and eldest granddaughter. They definitely need a win, which is why when Jarrett mentioned the case to me this morning over our first round of Patty’s chess bars, I offered to do all the paperwork pro bono.

  Before Lia and I hung up, she said something that made me want to spill the beans, but with this DA Redmond-Giacomo situation, I have to keep it a secret until Papi Dean and I can hatch another plan. “I know you’re engaged, and I suspect you realize what a stupid mistake it is to marry someone you don’t even love…but I’m only telling you all of this because I know you love her, Luca. I can see it in your eyes every time she’s around. But you have to decide if you're going to fight for her or let her go for good. And I don’t have to tell you which one of those she deserves the most.”

  She’s not wrong. Ev deserves the world.

  A world I want to give to her yet can’t until I know it’s safe.

  That is, if she wants me to…

  Considering I broke her heart more than six years ago and insulted the man she holds in highest esteem at the beginning of this year, I’m hoping this all won’t be in vain.

  I set down the bowl of various coffee accoutrements and take my place beside Jarrett as Patty pours the coffee. “Mrs. Thomas, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Luca Giordano.”

  The elderly woman shakes my outstretched hand. “Call me Greta.

  Beside her, Everleigh watches me with wary eyes, no doubt surprised I’m here. But the little girl tucked into her arms gnawing on one of Patty’s cookies doesn’t seem so taken aback.

  “Hi, Rory. I’m Luca.”

  She waves at me and says “Ca!” with a full mouth.

  “That’s right, honey. It’s Ca, but he likes it when you call him CaCa,” Ev tells Rory, giving her a wink.

  “Ca…Ca.”

  Jarrett laughs heartily.

  Great. I’m sure today won’t be the only time I hear that nickname at the office.

  I give her the full-dimpled smile she always loved when we were a “we” all those years ago. “Good to see you, Everleigh.”

  “Luca.” Her eyes throw daggers at me as she musters up a smile.

  Greta narrows her eyes and searches my face. “Do you two know each other?”

  “We were neighbors growing up,” I say, beating Everleigh to the punch. “She and my sister are good friends.”

  Those aged eyes light up in what looks like recognition. “I thought you looked familiar.” Her smile spreads wide. “You’re the looker in Everleigh’s picture.”

  My eyebrows shoot up. She keeps a picture of me?

  A panicked expression twists Ev’s pretty face. “What Miss Greta means is that she noticed you in a picture taken of me and Papi Dean at Aliana’s baptism.”

  My heart deflates a little at her admission, but I don’t let it show, pulling out my pen to start taking notes on my notepad. Flicking my eyes to Jarrett, I hope he can steer the conversation toward the reason they’re here.

  He appears to be amused after watching our little exchange, which I’m sure I’ll be questioned about later. His throat clears and he thankfully puts us on track, firing questions left and right. “Ms. Greene, I see that you’re single.”

  She straightens up in her seat. “That’s correct.”

  Hopefully not for that much longer.

  Jarrett glances through the paperwork. “Are you twenty-six?”

  “Almost twenty-seven.” A birthday she’ll be celebrating near the end of October.

  “Perfect.” He says as he scribbles on the pad. “Had you been a year younger, it would’ve complicated matters.” She gives him a solemn nod as he continues. “Do you have any family that would be willing to help with Aurora should you need it?”

  “My parents have agreed to help as well as my close friends.”

  Jarrett sees that my page is blank compared to his. No need to write down what I know by heart. “Oh?”

  “Yes. One is a nurse and a new mother herself.” Her mention of Lia warms my heart, especially knowing how excited Lia sounded on the phone about Ev adopting a little girl.

  “Sounds like you’ve got a good network of people to count on.”

  “The best.”

  “Mrs. Thomas, I was under the impression that this will be an open adoption with a transition period taking place. Is that still accurate?”

  Greta pats Ev’s hand that sits on Rory’s knee. “It is.”

  “Has the father been notified of your intentions?”

  They exchange a hesitant look before Greta speaks up. “He wasn’t identified on the birth certificate and my daughter didn’t give anyone a name, to the best of my knowledge.”

  I make a note of that because more than likely, they’ll want to do a DNA search. In cases where all blood relatives are unable to care for a child, the state will have the burden of exhausting all familiar connections before handing that child over to a non-relative.

  Jarrett zips through more questions before getting to the last nitty-gritty ones. “Do you have anyone who would write you a letter of recommendation?”

  She nods in agreement. “How many do you need?”

  “Three, ideally.
Preferably from community leaders. Where are you employed?”

  Rory tries to reach her toddler cup but falls short. “I teach at Hearst Elementary,” she answers as she retrieves it for Rory, who’s now sucking it down.

  Jarrett grins. “My niece Jessica goes there. Excellent school.”

  “We try our best.” The humility in her voice is endearing because I know Ev teaches her guts out every day. That’s the kind of person she is, always giving one hundred percent to her commitments—even when they don’t always return the favor.

  “Your principal Ms. Hanson would be a good choice for a letter of recommendation as well as any other ties you have to the community.”

  “Her mother runs Hope House, that non-profit domestic abuse shelter I was telling you about,” I interject, earning me a pinched stare. “And her father’s Sgt. Rian Greene with the local police department.”

  “I’ll speak with them and find a third,” she adds, her lack of enthusiasm that I spoke for her is written all over her face.

  Jarrett takes a small sip of his coffee. “The judge will want evidence to show that you’re a fit guardian for Aurora. Is there anything we should know regarding your involvement in or ties to any organization or activity which might make you appear unreliable or unfit?”

  Everleigh twists in her seat. “I’m an investor in a friend’s…business and earn extra income from that.”

  Huh? Kieran’s never mentioned her being a partial business owner, which makes me wonder what business she’s talking about.

  I go to ask her, only to have Jarrett cut me off. “We’ll need to see some tax returns to verify your employment and investments.” He clicks the top of the pen and extends a hand to Everleigh. “Have your accountant send the files to our office and we’ll look everything over,”—he takes a look at Rory whose eyes are watching him as she holds her cup to her chest—“And we’ll get this adoption rolling.”

  Jarrett asks me to hang back for a moment while Everleigh and Greta make their way to the reception area. He waits until the door closes before he gives me a huge grin. “Sister’s friend, is it?”

  I ignore him and gather my supplies. “That’s what I said.”

  “Uh-huh.” His tone tells me he knows I’m not giving him all the pieces, but he doesn’t press any further, chuckling as we make our way out. “Well, your sister’s friend is talking to Patty, probably trying to set up payment for this pro bono deal.” His elbow finds my rib, causing an Oof! to fall out of my mouth.

  We go our separate ways as I close in on Patty’s desk, overhearing the last part of Ev’s sentence.

  “Please send all the invoices to me at this address.” She lifts Rory further onto her hip and adjusts the big bag on her other shoulder. Rory rests her fiery red mane against Ev and snuggles into her as Everleigh perches her chin on the top of Rory’s head. The sight of her holding a child that’s going to be hers soon makes my chest ache. Motherhood is a good look on Ev.

  Patty was informed this morning of the pro bono status of this case, so she follows through with the steps, even though there will never be a bill sent out to Everleigh or Greta. I give her a curt nod to let her know not to disclose that information. Ev’s too proud of a person to let someone else pay her bills, and she’ll go through the roof if she knows it’s me doing it.

  Greta emerges from the front restroom, a paper towel she tosses in the wastebasket beside the bathroom door. “Mr. Giordano, thank you for helping on my Rory’s case.”

  “Pleasure’s all mine, ma’am.” I dig a business card out of my wallet and hand it to her. “My number and email in case you need to contact me.”

  Everleigh comes to join us with Rory. “All ready to go, Greta.” The fact that she doesn’t spare a glance my way doesn’t go unnoticed.

  By Greta either. “Are you free for lunch today, Luca? I’d like to discuss a few things about the case and let Rory get familiar with you since you’re going to be a voice for her.”

  Ev clears her throat. “I’m sure Luca’s swamped today, Greta.”

  My dimpled grin returns, which makes Everleigh’s expression tighten. “I’d be happy to join you. Let me gather my things and I’ll meet you there.”

  Greta gives me the name of the restaurant before they depart. I hurry back to my office to unload my stuff and snatch my car keys. There’s no sight of them in the parking as I click my key fob, a rush of energy pouring into me while I start the engine.

  Wild horses couldn’t keep me from sharing a meal with this girl.

  23

  Everleigh

  This is a four-alarm fire alert, Eden! Answer me!

  I send my third SOS text as Greta parks near the restaurant. Yes, I’m completely aware that what I’m about to do is chicken shit of the highest order. However, sitting across from Luca for lunch is making it hard to breathe. I can’t do this with him. Seeing him waltz into the meeting room and dropping the Oh, by the way, I’m helping out on your adoption case bomb on me was bad enough. Lunch, though? I’m not going to sit across from him and pretend like my knife hand isn’t itchy for some action.

  With no answer from Eden, I sigh as I get Rory unbuckled from her car seat and hurry into the restaurant because those dark clouds rolling in look ominous.

  Lunchtime stabbing it is, then.

  After the waitress seats us, I excuse myself to the restroom so I can splash some water on my face. While I’m contemplating crawling out of a window far too small for me to fit through and calling an Uber, my lash-cracking ringtone sounds off. “Hello?”

  “Where’s the body?”

  Only Eden. “Can I just say that I love you?”

  She blows a raspberry into the phone. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

  Tossing my paper towel in the trash, I peek my head out to see if Luca has arrived. I barely get my head ducked back into the restroom before his searching gaze from the hostess stand finds the restrooms. “I need you to call me in five minutes and tell me it’s an emergency.”

  “What? Why?”

  I peek out after a lady with panic in her eyes runs into the bathroom and locks herself behind a stall. Yeah, this hiding spot is officially a no-go. “Eden, I can’t explain right now, but I need you to promise me you’ll call five minutes on the nose after we hang up.”

  She exhales sharply, no doubt thinking I’ve lost my mind. “What’s the emergency?”

  “Doesn’t matter. Make one up.” Pained grunts escape from over and under the stall, prompting me to leave the former safe haven. “I have to go before they see me talking on the phone.”

  “They?”

  I watch as Luca is brought to our lunch table, where he places himself beside Greta and across from Rory, which means on his other side… “Greta invited the adoption lawyer to lunch.”

  “Shouldn’t you stay for that?”

  As the waitress brings water for everyone. Luca’s head starts moving like he’s looking around again. “Not when I don’t want to breathe the same air as him right now.”

  “Well, Hell’s bells, Ev. Who is this asshole?”

  I switch my phone to the other ear, away from where Greta now sits and chats with Luca like they’re old friends. “Five minutes. Love you, bye.”

  Concentrating on my stride because I’m too wired to walk normally at the moment, I ignore the hazel gaze of a certain someone and make my way to the table. “Sorry. You wouldn’t believe the line in there.”

  Greta winks at me, then returns to admiring Rory’s coloring skills on the activity pad the restaurant apparently provided while I was in the bathroom plotting my escape. Luca watches Rory as she sticks her tongue out of one side of her mouth, concentrating on a tree that apparently needs some purple leaves.

  I sit my phone on the table and make sure it’s facing down so no one can read the caller ID when Eden calls. Going through the motions of unloading my silverware from the white napkin, I set my utensils in the proper place before waving my napkin to get it to unfurl. Only when i
t finally does, it slips from my grasp and falls to the floor. I try to grab it before it hits the ground, but a tan hand is quicker, beating me to the punch.

  “Here you go, Evergreen.” Luca’s eyes are alight with mischief as he hands me the napkin.

  Snatching it from his grasp, I pretend those tingles where our fingers brush don’t exist and lay it across my lap. “I think you meant to say, ‘Everleigh’, didn’t you, CaCa?” My smirk grows at the sight of his furrowed brow, especially when a little voice beside me repeats the nickname, never looking up from her coloring sheet.

  He shakes his head as he addresses Rory, “Lu-ca, Rory. LU-ca.”

  She switches crayons and gives him a serious expression. “Ca. Ca.”

  His groan rumbles from deep within as I conceal my laugh behind my fist. Greta’s admonishing stare appears to be tempered with amusement as Rory repeats CaCa softly as she returns to her task. I’d change his name in my contact list to commemorate this precious moment, but then I remember that the only number I have in my phone for him is the old one he used before he went to Italy. An old number with tons of messages from years ago that I never could bring myself to delete.

  With a deep exhale, I decide the menu is a much better place to lose myself than old memories. I’m torn between fake-ordering the daily special or the Chicken Alfredo when the sound of whips cracking stirs the air. I scramble to answer, three curious stares boring into me. I mouth Sorry to them before swiping the green button. “Hello?”

  “It’s me.”

  I lower my head. “Hey there. Enjoying your day off?”

  “Yes, but apparently I’m supposed to pretend it went to Hell in a handbasket.”

  My head lifts as I school my expression. “Oh no! Is everything okay?”

  “Nope. My friend’s pants are currently on fire because of lies she’s telling to get out of a bad lunch date.”

  I grimace, trying to sell my stupid plan. “That bad, huh?” Eden doesn’t say anything, so I fill in the blanks for her. “Wait, what’s that?”