Page 27 of Traces Of You

Clay, Callum and Gale were sitting at the table at the other end of the kitchen. Brooke mashing potatoes by hand in a pot on the stove.

“Hi, Reenie,” Gale said, standing and walking toward her. “I doubt you remember me. I was eight when you used to come around.”

“I remember,” she said. The dirty blonde hair on Gale Ridgeway had more highlights in it now. From chemicals and not the sun.

Ford’s sister was in black pants, printed black and white pumps on her feet, with a peach and white sweater.

She looked every bit the attorney she was. Her hair sleek and perfectly styled, her French-manicured nails polished to professional precision, and her makeup understated yet flawlessly applied.

Gale was the type of woman who wanted to make an impression in a laid back way.

“Good,” Gale said. “After dinner you and I can talk and we’ll get as much as we can in order and get you protected from anything that might fall your way.”

“Protected from what?” Brooke asked.

“Mom. Some things will remain between us. Just Reenie and I. You have my word on that, Reenie.”

“I have to pay you to get attorney-client privileges. I want you to bill me.”

Ford pulled cash out of his pocket and handed it to Gale. “Here, now she’s your client.”

Reenie slapped Ford’s hand away before Gale could take the money. There was laughter to that, but her face flushed over the move. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you.”

“It’s fine,” he said.

She was afraid she would vomit after that move. “I meant to brush your hand away. I’m really sorry. I don’t lay my hands on people.” She was looking around the room. “Please, forgive me.”

All eyes were on her now. The smiles and laughter had died down. Clay was staring the hardest. Not in anger, but in sympathy.

That was probably the worst.

“Hey,” Ford said. “Come here.”

He ushered her into the family room away from everyone. “I’m sorry. This is a mistake. I need to leave.”

“No,” he said. “You don’t.” His voice was calm. Soothing. His hand on her arm rubbing it was more so. “Take a deep breath. What you did to me was nothing more than a playful,spontaneous act and that is all my family saw. There is a lot going on in your life and in your mind. No one is going to hold anything against you.”

She nodded. “Thank you. I’ll tell them that.”

“Dinner is ready,” his mother said, leaning her head in. “Come get it before Clay eats your share.”

“There is no need to explain,” he said. “They know. I mean it. Let it go. Ready to go back in?”

“Yes. I’ve got money and can pay for Gale. I mean it. I’m not looking for handouts.”

“It will be one of those things we’ll discuss later,” he said.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, her nose wrinkling in silent protest. He had the last word, but she wasn’t about to rock the boat. Not when her life was in his hands and she was fresh out of life vests.

“Reenie,” Brooke said when they returned to the kitchen. “You look as if you’re biting a hole in your tongue to keep from giving my son a verbal thrashing.”

She forced her jaw to relax.

“Which son?” Gale asked. “Any time spent with Clay will bring that out of someone too.”

“Brat,” Clay said, picking up the platter of sliced roast beef and dropping several on his plate, then passing it around.

“Clay is more bark than bite,” Callum said.