Page 42 of After Anna

“Whatever works. I don’t mind spending time with her alone. I can get to know her one-on-one, like you did with Caleb.”

“Great, and guess what, I haven’t even had a chance to tell you the big news. It’s about her inheritance.” Maggie kept her eye on Anna, still out of earshot. “Try not to react because I don’t want her to know what we’re talking about.”

“Okay.” Noah nodded, his face remarkably impassive.

“Wow. You have a good poker face.”

“What’s her inheritance?”

“It’s a fortune.” Maggie leaned close to Noah’s ear. “Florian left Anna $50 million, which she’s going to get when she turns eighteen.”

“Whoa.” Noah nodded, eyebrows lifting. “Not that I’m surprised.”

Maggie felt taken aback. “How can younotbe surprised? I said,$50 million.”

“Florian sold his startup for $30 million, years ago. He should have an estate that size. I was already thinking that she should see Mike.”

“The guy who did our will?” Maggie watched Anna and Caleb, who were taking the escalator upstairs. “But she already has a lawyer. James Huntley.”

“She should have a local estates lawyer, and in my opinion, eighteen is too young for her to come into that kind of money. How good a lawyer can he be if he set it up that way?”

“He didn’t. He said the same thing. He’s changing it already and she agreed.”

“Still, we need to get her a lawyer here. Mike can change it. Pennsylvania law and Maine law may not be the same.”

“But she likes James.” Maggie felt a tug. “I already told him we wouldn’t switch.”

“So, tell him you changed your mind. We should switch her.”

“But she should have a say.”

“Fine, but how much weight can you give her opinion? She’s a teenager.”

“I’ll have to ask her. It’s her money.”

“I know that, I’m just trying to help.” Noah shrugged. “We’re responsible for her now. She’s our kid.”

“Our kid. It does have a nice ring.” Maggie put her arm around him as they walked to the escalator. “You’re amazing.”

“Do tell. I’ll pretend it’s foreplay.” Noah squeezed her closer, his arm around her shoulder.

“Mag, Dad!” Caleb scooted over. “Come take a selfie! Anna wants us!”

“Okay.” Noah let himself be tugged away, and Maggie followed him to one of the fake family rooms, where the furniture was pseudo-English Manor House, with a British tea table in front of a damask quilted couch.

“Dad, sit down!” Caleb called out, pointing.

“Caleb, settle.” Noah sat down with a chuckle. “Who wound you up?”

Anna looked at Maggie. “Come, sit with me!”

“Too cute!” Maggie sat down. “Our first family photo, huh? The Ippoliti-Desroches-Aldermans!”

“Totally, this is perfect!” Anna grinned, holding the phone out in her right hand. “Here we go.”

“Say cheese!” Caleb bounced next to Noah, jostling everyone.

“Everybody, here we go, smile!” Anna sang out, and Maggie smiled for the picture. She wasn’t sure she would ever stop smiling, given how happy she felt.