Gift-Wrapped Family. Lois Richer
do this. âLily lost both her parents in the car accident that took your husband two weeks ago.â
âHow dare you?â Mia Granger gasped. One hand grabbed onto the shaky wrought iron railing.
âAre you all right?â Troubled by her ashen face, Caleb reached out to steady her, but the woman backed away.
âYouâve got everything wrong,â she insisted in a tearful voice. âReba was Harlanâs secretary. They certainly didnât have a child together. Please leave.â She turned away.
âIâm so sorry to trouble you.â Calebâs instincts told him he couldnât leave now. He had to reach this womanâs heart, for Lilyâs sake.
âThen, donât.â Her pale, pinched face implored him to leave her alone. But Caleb couldnât do that.
âIâve checked the birth records,â he said softly. âLily is their child.â
Mia paled even more. She shook her head.
âItâs true. Please, may I please come inside and talk to you?â
Her distrust of him showed in the gold sparks that changed her emerald eyes to hazel. Given the deceitful husband sheâd married, Caleb didnât blame her for that. But he was also curious. Torn between trying to believe she was truly bewildered but feeling suspicious that she was trying to avoid him as she had his phone calls, Caleb pressed harder.
âI truly do not want to add to your pain.â He employed the calming tone he often used with a skittery witness on the stand. âI only want to help this little girl.â He pulled a picture from his chest pocket and held it out. âLily Jones.â
Mia looked at the photo. When her eyes widened and her trembling lips parted in a gasp, Caleb knew he was making up lost ground. But then he saw something puzzling in her gazeâyearning?
âSheâs a beautiful child, isnât she?â Caleb hated causing this gentle woman more grief, but he was determined she understand that Lilyâs future was at stake.
âThe eyesâtheyâre quite startling.â Miaâs gaze remained riveted on the picture.
âThe same color as Harlan Grangerâs.â
âMany people have dark blue eyes.â Mia finally handed him the photo with a sigh. âI suppose youâd better come in,â she said in obvious resignation. She allowed him through and then closed the door. âThis way.â
Caleb followed, noting that the interior of the house had probably once been magnificent. Though it hadnât aged gracefully, it was spotless. The Victorian-style sofa Mia indicated with the wave of one hand was as desperately uncomfortable as it looked, but Caleb sat on it anyway, keeping his face impassive.
Mia Granger stood in front of the massive bay window in a puddle of bright October sunshine. She wore a pair of shabby jeans that looked too big and a faded teal sweater that drooped from her lean curves. Her beautiful hair flowed over her shoulders like a pale copper cape. When she caught Caleb staring, she crossed her thin arms across her chest defensively.
Caleb couldnât stop staring. Backlit by the sun, the shape of Miaâs face brought memories of his mother, the mother heâd loved so dearly and lost to his murderous father.
âWhat was your name?â she prodded.
âCaleb Grant. As I said, I represent an adoption agency called Family Ties.â Caleb shook off his memories and concentrated on the delicate woman in front of him. Do your job, his brain ordered.
âLily is one of their children waiting to be adopted?â Mia sank onto an armchair that could have sat three of her and nestled against the folds of a colorful quilt draped across the back of it.
âNot exactly. I wanted to explain when I called, but your phone is always busy or no one answers.â He studied her face, surprised by the flush of red in her cheeks.
âSometimes I take it off the hook. Or I donât answer. I canât take any more calls from those to whom we owe money.â Mia stared at her hands.
Owe money? Caleb hadnât expected that. It threw him off, made him wonder if she was trying to con him. He decided to turn the conversation back to Lily because Mia had made a connection with her picture.
âLily may eventually be adopted. First we have to sort out her custody and what sheâs owed from her fatherâs estate.â Caleb decided that while Mia might look innocent, she wasnât stupid. She immediately straightened.
âMr. Grant,â she began in a regal tone.
âCaleb,â he interrupted.
âCaleb,â she agreed softly. âYou think my late husband is this childâs father. I assure you youâre wrong.â She continued, her voice growing steadily stronger. âI donât have any money to give Lily. If I did, I would certainly help the poor child.â She paused for a moment, then murmured, âI never knew Reba had a daughter, but then I didnât know Harlanâs staff well.â
âLily was his child, too,â Caleb insisted. A new stain of red flushed her cheeks, bringing his sympathy. If heâd known Mia was unaware of her husbandâs affair, heâd have handled this differently.
âI sympathize with Lily because as a child I lost my mother suddenly, too,â she said, ignoring his remark. âBut Iâm sorry, thereâs nothing I can do for her. I owe money myself.â The receding blush returned and deepened. She lowered her gaze.
âBut, Mia, your husbandâs estate must be considerable.â Caleb couldnât believe her temerity. He knew from his research that Granger was loaded. Heâd dealt with many prevaricators in his career and was oddly disappointed to realize sweet-looking Mia was one of them. But that sweetness wouldnât stop him from seeking Lilyâs rightful inheritance.
âWhy do you assume that?â Miaâs gaze made him feel guilty for poking into her private world. âMy husband was a lawyer, but weâre certainly not wealthy. You can see how we live.â She glared at him. âHarlan had to take whatever cases he was offered. In fact, he often had to go out of town to find work.â
The certainty in Mia Grangerâs voice bothered Caleb. She looked and sounded as though she genuinely believed what she was saying. But if they were so hard up, why hadnât her husband moved his office from its expensive downtown location to a less pricey area?
âWhat about the ranch? Thereâs a lot of land attached to that, valuable land.â He studied her intently, surprised when her forehead furrowed.
âWhat ranch? Harlan and I were married for six years. We never owned a ranch.â Caleb figured she saw something in his face, because the last of her words faltered before she whispered, âHave we?â
âWhat has your lawyer told you?â Caleb figured his best hope was to untie this mess without further alienating her.
âYou mean Trent Vilang? Harlanâs partner,â she explained, as if Caleb didnât already know that. âIâve been feeling unwell since Harlanâs death, so Trentâs only told me the bare bones about the estate.â
âAnd that is?â For Lilyâs sake, Caleb pressed, ignoring her frown at his inquisitiveness.
âTrent said there was barely enough money to pay off the firmâs bills and Harlanâs creââ Mia gulped. The sheen of tears washed her eyes, but she lifted her chin and finished with quiet dignity, âHis cremation.â