My first stop is at Range Communications & Consulting, where my brother works in the human resources department.
“This is an unexpected visit,” he says as I enter his office.
“You’re not going to believe what happened to me when I was at the coffee shop,” I say as I set my messenger bag on the leather couch and pull out my laptop.
“Where’s mini-you?”
“She’s at Moms. I have a class in an hour.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Why are you here?”
I grin. “I need a printer.”
He shakes his head. “You should invest in one.”
“I should, but it comes down to paying my rent or buying gadgets you already own.” I shrug.
“That’s where you’re wrong. I don’t own them. My employers here at RCC own them. If you need financial help…”
I shake my head. “I just need you to lend me your printer.”
“Maybe if you—”
Before he starts another lecture, I interrupt him, “I’m going to stop you right there, Aiden. I appreciate that you worry about me, but you don’t need to plan my life. Instead of micromanaging me, let me tell you what happened at the coffee shop.”
After I’m done with my story, he’s laughing. “Your kid is hysterical.”
“She’s going to be the death of me. It’ll be in the newspaper. Seattle woman, Autumn Wickerton, died of embarrassment. Her child is being investigated—Was it a homicide, or does the kid have special powers?”
He can’t stop laughing. Once he sobers up, he gives me a severe look. “Listen, I know you plan on dedicating your life to Matilda, but you need to have a life too. It’s been—”
“Stop!” I warn him.
“Paxton died four years ago.” Aiden’s words are like an arrow directed to my heart.
He doesn’t need to remind me how long it’s been since Pax left me. I’ve spent four years remembering his last words, replaying the moment he took his last breath, and knowing that he’ll never be back. Matilda only had a few moments with him before he left us. I hope the dismay I feel doesn’t show on my face.
I try to sound normal when I ask, “Can I use your printer?”
He narrows his brown eyes at me. “Deflecting.”
I laugh and shake my head. “No. I’m avoiding this conversation. I know when he died. I was there. I’m trying my best to be a good mother and a father to Matilda. It’s easy for everyone to say things like ‘get on with your life,’ ‘start living,’ and ‘date.’ I’m living. Life isn’t about having someone to go to bed with. It’s about enjoying every second of the day and making the best out of every situation. Even the most embarrassing ones.”
My voice rises. I don’t mean to yell, but I’m done with these interventions. “I’m sick and tired of listening to everyone’s advice. Everyone is different. Right now, I need the support of my family to raise my daughter and not unsolicited advice.” I take a deep breath and try to speak in a normal tone. “Do you think you can do that?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose and nods.
I grin and show him my laptop. “Well, let’s start the helping Autumn campaign by telling me where I can connect this so I can print. My class starts in less than an hour.”
“You’re impossible,” he says with a grumpy voice.
Aiden is the one who needs to get laid. Lucky for him, I have the solution. “You know what you should do?”
He arches both eyebrows. “Yeah?”
“You should make a move on Miranda before she finds a better man.” Aiden and Miranda have this undeniable attraction for each other that they ignore. I think they’re a perfect match, and if I don’t give them a big push, they’re going to end up alone or, worse, dating the wrong person.
“Now who’s giving unsolicited advice?”
“It’s your first warning. The next time I might say Miranda is getting engaged, getting married, or…” I shrug one shoulder.
He sits up straight. “Is she dating?”
I grin. “Maybe…but you don’t care, right?”
He glares at me. Aiden is so predictable. If I play my cards right, those two will be dating before the end of the year. They’ll be so busy with each other they won’t have time to think about my love life.
I could use a break from them. In the grand scheme of things, my happiness isn’t important when I have to think about Matilda. She’s who keeps me going.
Chapter Two
Zach
“Did you know Callie was related to Persy Brassard?” Teddy, my annoying little sister, asks as she enters the café.
All the customers turn to look at me. I’m thankful she’s here at two in the afternoon when I only have a few patrons. If it were seven in the morning, I’d be wringing her neck for creating chaos during rush hour.
“What are you doing here, squirt?”
“It seemed like a good day to visit you,” she answers.
“From Chicago?”
“Actually, I was in Silver Lake when it occurred to me that I should visit you.”
I’m racking my brain trying to figure out why she was in Silver Lake.
“Why were you at home?”
“I was with Mom. She filed for divorce.”
I stare at Teddy. I don’t know if I want to discuss Persy Brassard, the sexologist and influencer, being my sister-in-law, or continue with my mother’s news.
This is Mom’s third marriage. My parents were unhappily married for twenty-five years. The day after Teddy graduated from high school, they went their separate ways. It was a messy affair that left us scarred. My brothers were supportive of my marriage. They just couldn’t understand why I’d want to marry after living with Donovan and Florence St. James.
“So,” she says.
“So?”
“Persy Brassard,” she repeats. “She’s your sister-in-law?”
“You met her during the funeral. Do you want me to ask for an autograph?”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m pretty sure that I met Persephone Chadwick. Weren’t they the Chadwicks?”
“That’s her married name,” I say.
“Her other sister’s last name was Chadwick too.”
I roll my eyes. “Does it matter?”
“Well, it just occurred to me that I never knew Callie’s last name,” she says, frustrated.
I’m sure there’s more to her frustration. Teddy was supportive of my marriage because she loves me, but she couldn’t understand why I married someone without knowing her well. She wasn’t Callie’s biggest fan.
I smack my head with the palm of my hand. Can we leave the dead to rest? Seriously, just leave my late wife and me alone. Will she back off if I ask her? Doubtful.
I hate when Teddy takes me off guard.
“Why are we having this conversation?”
“Mom and I were at a coffee shop.” She presses her lips together and looks around the café. “You should buy the place and make it a Café Fusion.”