Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 132834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
“Sounds like a plan—” Hope cut off as the door to the office opened, and Harvey poked his head in, his rounded cheeks apple red.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, his eyes lighting with curiosity. “I was looking for Griffen.” Harvey’s eyes landed on Paige and stopped, his brows pulling together as if he was trying to place her in his memory.
“He’s down the hall in the library,” Hope supplied.
Harvey pulled his gaze from Paige and nodded at Hope. “I’ll find him. We’re heading out for a few hours to look at that property we were talking about. Hopefully, the weather holds off.” He glanced out the French doors to the barren gardens. The day was gray and overcast, a light drizzle falling to soak everything in damp cold. The tops of the trees swayed with sharp tugs of wind.
“Don’t take too long,” Hope said. “I don’t think we’re going to get any snow, but I don’t like the look of that wind.”
Harvey nodded again. “Agreed.” He turned to go.
With a glance at Hope, I said, “Excuse me for a moment. I need a word with Harvey.”
Harvey was already halfway down the hall. He turned at my tap on his shoulder, his face brightening with a smile when he saw me. I know what people say about lawyers, but I’d always liked Harvey. He’d worked for Prentice for years, which was not a mark in his favor, but I’d always known him to be honest and kind.
“I need your advice,” I said. “Maybe I should come to your office.”
“Savannah, what’s wrong?” he asked, his smile dissolving into concern after he scanned my face.
“I, uh . . .” I wasn’t sure how to start. “My former mother-in-law has been asking to see Nicky. I’ve been putting her off, being cautious because she doesn’t really know Nicky.”
At Harvey’s confused look, I explained, “She blamed me for my husband’s death and refused to have anything to do with Nicky or me after Oliver died.”
“Oliver overdosed on prescription drugs, correct?”
I nodded, a little surprised that Harvey knew about Oliver. But I shouldn’t have been. I’d had to pass a background check, after all. It’s just that no one ever said anything. I guess I liked to pretend that no one knew. Clearly, that was dumb, all things considered.
“Yes, that’s right,” I said. “I tried to get him to stop, but she was helping him get the pills—” I shook my head. Just saying the words filled me with fear, but I knew I had to spit it out. “I don’t know why she changed her mind about Nicky, but she’s been asking to see him. Asking me to send him to her for a visit. I met her for lunch the other day, and when I told her we’d have to start slowly, with supervised visits until Nicky is comfortable with her, she got angry and told me she had a lawyer and was going after custody.”
Harvey’s eyes sharpened. “Have you received any communication from her lawyer?” he asked, his tone suddenly all business.
“No, no, I haven’t heard from her or anyone representing her since we had lunch on the seventeenth. Since then, I’ve called almost every family lawyer in the area but haven’t made any progress. Either they aren’t taking new clients, they don’t return my call, or they want a significant retainer. I have savings, but—”
Harvey nodded again. “You don’t want to fork over thousands of dollars if this isn’t going to come to anything.”
I nodded, relieved he understood. “Exactly. It’s not that I’m not taking it seriously, but it’s a lot of money. Before I write that check, I wanted to talk to you.”
Harvey was silent for a minute. Reaching out, he took my hands in his and squeezed. “Savannah, I’ll make a few calls and see what I can do. I’m not a family lawyer, so if this goes further, we’ll need to set you up with someone who specializes, but run everything through me for now. If you receive any communication from your mother-in-law or someone representing her, come straight to me. Do not talk to her. Do not answer her texts. Do not engage in any way without discussing it with me first. Understand?”
“I understand,” I said, a weight sliding off my shoulders. I hadn’t heard from Lydia since I’d walked out of our lunch, and the silence after her threats felt more ominous by the day.
“Don’t worry,” Harvey said, giving my hands another squeeze before releasing them. “No one is taking Nicky away from you. No one.”
“Thank you, Harvey,” I said.
“Anytime,” he answered, offering me the kind smile I’d liked ever since I was a little girl. Harvey took a step away and then turned back. “Who are you and Hope talking to? Another nanny interview or help around the house?”