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“I don’t think anyone is ever ready for this.”

“It’s almost worse than the one when we told them he had cancer.”

Savannah stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Kyla’s middle. She hugged her sister-in-law as tight as she could, holding on and waiting for Kyla to be the one to let go. Savannah had no idea how long they stood like that, but it was longer than she’d first expected. Kyla sucked in a shuddering breath.

“I don’t want to have to do this.”

“I know you don’t,” Savannah whispered. “I know.”

“I do know where we’re moving though.”

“Yeah?” Savannah wiped her own tears from her eyes.

“Yeah. It’s going to make it harder, I think.”

“Where are you moving?” Savannah furrowed her brow, confused by the lack of details and the fact that Kyla was hedging, which wasn’t something she normally did.

“Next door.” Kyla bit her lip, her eyes downcast. “The neighbor and I have gotten close in the last year, and she has the house all to herself since her kids are older and moved out—well, all but one. She said she won’t charge me rent until I can afford it.”

“Well, that’s good. You could come live with me.”

“In your two-bedroom apartment? All six of us?” Kyla snorted a laugh. “That’d make for a fun sit-com show if I was writing one.”

“Yeah, it would. But it wouldn’t be the end of the world, would it?”

“No, but I think moving in next door will be easier. There’s more room, the kids don’t have to change schools, and we can start moving things over immediately.”

“Let me know when you want some help with that. I can call in a few friends to get the heavy stuff moved.” Savannah woulddo anything to help. She wouldn’t let Kyla walk this path alone, for as long as she could help it.

“Not next weekend, but the one after.”

“Sure.”

Savannah gave Kyla a weak smile, the sorrow hitting her hard. She hadn’t thought about having to leave this house either, and while she knew the focus had to be on Kyla and the kids, it hurt her too. This was the first house that Conrad had bought, and it was the place where they’d brought all the kids home, where Savannah had spent hours and hours with the family, strengthening those bonds. It held so many memories that she didn’t want to give up.

“Whatever you need.”

five

“We’ll see you next week,” Fallon said into the phone before hanging up. She immediately put the appointment into Athena’s calendar, nothing more than a simple follow-up with a client. What she was far more interested in was the fact that Savannah had been in that small conference room with Athena for nearly two hours.

They were close to the end of the allotted time Fallon had given them, and it had been obnoxiously quiet in the outer office. Just like the last time Savannah had been in there with Athena. Biting her lip, Fallon checked her email and then found the list of law journals that Athena had handed her hours ago.

She needed to find them and give them to Athena so she could properly do some research before the next time she met with Savannah. Except Fallon hadn’t had the heart to leave this room where she could see the door that enclosed the two of them together. The door she had barely managed to take her eyes off of.

What she would give to be in there taking notes, but Athena hadn’t asked her to join this time. They weren’t quite at that stage yet. Biting her lip, Fallon was just about to stand up to getthe journals for Athena when the small conference room door opened.

Savannah came out first, a forever smile on her face, one that Fallon had learned was always there, even when Savannah wasn’t having the time of her life. If only Fallon had managed to be that kind of person. What doors would it have opened? Sitting fully into her chair, Fallon waited to see what Athena would need next.

They walked side by side toward Fallon’s desk, Athena’s heels clicking on the floor, dulled by the carpet. She kept a space between them just as Fallon would expect. Thus far, the only person allowed to break that space was Monti. Sucking in a sharp breath, Fallon dropped her gaze to the short, curvy client next to her boss.

“Fallon, would you make another appointment for Savannah? We’ll meet in about three or four weeks, whichever works best.” Athena tapped the top of the desk and left the outer office.

“Absolutely.” Fallon opened the computer as Athena walked away. “When would be a good day?”

Savannah pulled out her phone and stared at the screen, squinting. Did she need reading glasses? She’d probably look rather cute with those large, wire-framed ones resting on her nose. Fallon bit the inside of her cheek. Where had that thought come from?

“A month out, that Wednesday should work. I won’t have Brinley that week so it’d be easier.”