LITMIR.BIZ

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Kate’s voice trailed off.

      “What?” Jared asked.

      “It’s just—” she tucked her hair behind her ears “—Susan never really liked Maine.”

      “No, she didn’t,” Don agreed. “But she and Brady had their burial location put in their wills.”

      “Oh.” Kate wet her lips. “Okay, then.”

      “A situation like this is never easy, but fortunately Brady and Susan had the foresight to plan for such an occurrence.”

      Occurrence? A chill inched down Jared’s spine. Perhaps that was legalese for death. Either way, all of this was difficult for him to hear.

      “No amount of planning will make this any easier to deal with, but logistically, having wills in place will make things proceed a little smoother.” Don pulled out a thick document from the file. “I attended the same church as Brady and Susan, and I drew up their wills. Since they had no family in town, I kept the originals here in the office.”

      “Shouldn’t we wait for Brady’s parents?” Jared asked.

      “Mr. and Mrs. Lukas aren’t coming,” Don explained. “Although Mr. Lukas handled the funeral arrangements, their doctors felt the trip from the East Coast would be too much for them with their current health conditions. They received copies of both wills after they were written so they know, and agree with, what their son and daughter-in-law decided. May I proceed?”

      Jared nodded. He watched for Kate’s reaction, but she held herself together tightly. This had to be tearing her up inside, and he ignored the urge to touch her.

      “As you know, Brady was an only child and Susan had been in foster homes since she was five. They had no living relatives other than Brady’s parents.” Don’s gaze rested on Kate. “Though Susan considered you more a sister than a friend.”

      Kate’s composed façade cracked for an instant. “I felt the same way.”

      “The Lukases thought highly of you, Jared,” Don said. “Brady and Susan each named you their personal representative to handle their estates. Do you accept their nominations?”

      Jared had no idea what sort of responsibilities would be involved as Brady and Susan’s executor, but that didn’t matter. “I’m honored and happy to accept. May I retain your services? I’ve never done something like this before so I will need your expertise.”

      “I’ll gladly counsel and offer you assistance. The sooner we get started, the better. I would like to submit the wills and obtain your appointment as personal representative through informal proceedings. That way a hearing won’t be required.”

      Proceedings. Hearing. Jared’s muscles tensed. This was too weird. A few weeks ago he’d been making plans to attend a poker tournament with Brady while Kate spent the weekend with Susan. Now he was overseeing their friends’ probate.

      As Don scribbled notes on a yellow legal pad, Jared glanced at Kate. She acted like this was nothing more than another one of the endless meetings she attended, but he noticed her hands trembling. He wanted to pull her onto his lap and hold her until she felt better, until she smiled again.

      “Once you’re officially appointed their personal representative, you’ll want to call a locksmith and have the locks changed on the Lukas’s residence,” Don said. “I can provide recommendations.”

      “I’d appreciate the referrals,” Jared said.

      “Why do the locks need to be changed?” Kate asked.

      “We don’t know who might have keys to the house,” Don explained. “Baby-sitters, neighbors, housecleaners. The list goes on. You don’t want to chance a robbery. Unfortunately such break-ins have occurred.”

      Jared pictured the two-story house Brady and Susan called home. The couple had been too busy working on the nursery to fix up the rest of the house. Now that task would fall to the new owner. Jared thought of his and Kate’s home, the hours they’d spent working on the old house. Kissing on a ladder. Making love on a drop cloth. Kate obsessing over paint chips. That seemed like so long ago.

      Soon the house would be hers. He hadn’t fought Kate for it, even though he loved the home with all its creaks, foibles and bad plumbing. But his life was no longer in Portland. His life was no longer with Kate. He kept telling himself that, even though the words never seemed to make things easier. And he’d yet to fully believe them.

      “Do I have your permission to proceed?” Don asked.

      “Please do,” Jared said, grateful for the lawyer’s help.

      Don shuffled papers. “And now Cassidy.”

      Kate’s befuddlement matched Jared’s confusion. “What about Cassidy?” he asked.

      “You and Kate have been nominated for joint guardianship in both wills,” Don said, but his words made no sense. “You realize, of course, you are under no legal obligation to accept the guardian appointment.”

      Kate’s lower lip quivered. “I don’t understand.”

      Neither did Jared. Guardian? Of Cassidy? But…

      He shook his head. “There has to be some mistake.”

      “I suggest clients discuss guardianship with prospective nominees before naming them in their wills,” Don added. “Otherwise the nomination can come as a shock.”

      Shock didn’t come close to what Jared was feeling. “You don’t understand—”

      “They discussed it with us.” Kate’s voice sounded hoarse, unnatural. “But Cassidy is dead.”

      The lawyer frowned.

      Jared reached for her hand and laced his fingers with hers. “The message I received said the family had been in an accident and the Lukas’s were dead.”

      “I was told the same,” Kate said.

      “Oh, no. There’s been some sort of miscommunication.” Don’s face went grim. “Cassidy was in the accident, but she survived.”

      Kate clung to Jared’s hand. He understood how she felt, afraid to hope, afraid to believe the news could be true, because the letdown would be even worse.

      “She’s alive?” Kate whispered.

      Jared held his breath.

      “Cassidy is very much alive.” Don set his pen on the desk. “She’s at the hospital recovering from her injuries.”

      Thank God. An enormous weight lifted from Jared’s shoulders. He knew how much Brady loved his baby girl, how much Brady would have wanted her to go on with or without him.

      Kate jumped up from her chair, pulling Jared with her.

      Tears streamed down her face. She smiled at him. An almost forgotten warmth seeped into his heart. “I can’t believe it.”

      He smiled back. “Believe it.”

      She hugged him. The scent of her shampoo—grapefruit—filled his nostrils. Her mane of hair brushed against him and he remembered how much he’d miss holding her and touching her and loving her.

      “Is it wrong to feel happy?” she whispered, her warm breath caressed his neck.

      “It’s fine, Kate.” Jared held onto her. “I feel the same way.”

      They both laughed, a sound he never thought he’d hear in the near future let alone today.

      “I am so sorry.” Don removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “It was a difficult day yesterday. I thought I was clear on the phone but perhaps I wasn’t.”

      “Cassidy’s alive.” Kate sat, but didn’t let go of Jared’s hand so he sat, too. “That’s what matters. Is she okay?”

      “Cassidy

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