Page 122 of A Legal Affair

“No one ‘forced’ me to do anything,” Daniela muttered. “I’m responsible for my own actions.”

“That’s not the way Noah sees it. Haven’t you noticed the way he’s been avoiding you lately—even more so than the rest of us? He feels really bad for you, Daniela. Just between you and me, I think he’s planning to do something about it.”

“God, I hope not,” Daniela groaned. “That would only make matters worse.”

Janie’s expression gentled. “How much worse can they get?”

Daniela glared at her. “You’re not helping.”

“Actually, Iamhelping. I made Noah promise me that he would give you and Caleb more time to work things out before he talks to him. And,” she continued, holding up a hand when Daniela opened her mouth to ridicule the possibility of Caleb forgiving her, “he also promised not to resort to brute force when, and if, he does decide to talk to your beloved professor.”

“Oh God,” Daniela groaned again.

“Don’t worry,” Janie said blithely. “As my mother always says, ‘Cuando se significa para ser, se significa para ser.’ When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. If you and Caleb are trulymeant for each other—which we all think you are—then youwillbe together.”

Daniela wished she could share her family’s certainty. But remembering the cold, awful finality of Caleb’s parting words, she knew there would be no reconciliation between them, not in this lifetime or the next.

When she dragged herself home that evening, there was a black executive car parked in front of her house. The windows were tinted so she couldn’t see inside. Since she wasn’t expecting company, she just assumed the owner of the vehicle was visiting one of her neighbors.

When she let herself inside the house, she was puzzled by the full set of Louis Vuitton luggage lined up by the door. Before she could start speculating about who the luggage belonged to, she heard familiar voices and laughter coming from the kitchen.

With mounting curiosity, she made her way to the kitchen to find her mother, Aunt Phyllis and Kennedi laughing and drinking bellinis around the center island.

Aunt Phyllis spotted her first and called out, “Hey! There she is!”

Daniela broke into a grin as her aunt and Kennedi hopped off their stools and rushed over to envelop her in a perfumed hug, one from each side, while her mother gave her one of her twinkling smiles. Something was definitely up.

“We started the party without you,” Kennedi said gaily.

“What party?” Daniela looked from her cousin to her aunt, who were both stylishly dressed in white linen pantsuits, makeup flawless, not a strand of hair out of place. “What’re you guys doing in town?”

“We’re here on a mercy mission.” Aunt Phyllis held her at arm’s length for inspection, her hazel eyes softening withcompassion as she took in Daniela’s messy topknot, lack of makeup and the bags under her eyes. “Aww, you poor baby.”

“For real.” Kennedi eyed Daniela up and down distastefully. “Girl, you look a hot mess. Don’t you interact with clients all day? You can’t be showing up to work looking like you just crawled out of bed.” She pinched the extra flab on her waist and gasped. “Are you gettinglove handles?”

“Leave me alone,” Daniela grumbled, batting her hand away.

“What the hell, Daniela? No man is worth ruining your snatched waist over!”

Daniela scowled at her. “I think I preferred your silent treatment.”

Kennedi sighed, a little dramatically. “I’ll admit I was upset when I found out what went down with Caleb. For one thing, I was hurt because you guys didn’t tell me about your little undercover op?—”

“That was Kenneth’s decision,” Pamela interjected. “They kept me in the dark, too.”

Kennedi snorted. “Because they knew you would’ve shut that shit down, Aunt Pam.”

“I certainly would’ve tried,” came the wry response.

“And rightfully so.” Kennedi threw Daniela a surly look. “I was also offended because you straight-up lied to me when I asked you about the night Adele saw you and Caleb leaving that restaurant together. She knew it was you, so she thought I was lying to her, which made things a little weird between us for a while. But your worst offense was depriving me of the opportunity to humblebrag about my cousin dating the city’s most eligible bachelor.Thatwas not cool.”

Daniela let out a heavy sigh. “Can we not rehash that nightmare? It’s been a long day and I’d really rather not get into all that again.”

“Of course, baby. Here, have a drink,” her mother soothed, pressing a chilled glass into Daniela’s hand.

She thanked her and took a grateful sip of the peach-infused bellini. “Whose luggage is by the door?”

“Yours,” Kennedi chirped. “You needed new suitcases to hold all the new outfits I bought you for our girls’ trip.”