her this time because she’s dear friends with the owner of the new wellness center. The service is impeccable in their café and the manager comps our appetizers and smoothies, which is always helpful as this group prefers to eat out unless your mother is hosting. When Mary Kate finally paused to sip her Bellini, I mentioned that George had left me.”
Brad leaned back in his chair. Evelyn’s daily vocabulary did not include words that would stir up scandal. The Davenports were the only really honest political family Brad had ever encountered. Evelyn would never confess such a gossipy detail now and mar the Davenport reputation. “You told Mary Kate and the others about the money?”
“I told them George went off with a woman in her thirties,” she said. “I left out the part about George emptying my savings account on his way out the door.”
Brad broke his muffin in half. “How does Sophie fit into this?”
“George and I attended the theater league ball last autumn. George always spoke about his daughter with such pride, and he mentioned to Mary Kate and her husband that his daughter was putting on an event that would rival the theater ball and he was certain she’d accept more sponsors. After several martinis, Peter promised to speak to his partners about sponsoring Sophie’s gala.” Evelyn rose and opened cabinet doors until she found a plastic sports cup and filled it with water. Zack’s modern style didn’t yet extend to his kitchenware. “That was the last I’d heard of it until this morning when Mary Kate phoned to tell me she had Peter rescind the firm’s sponsorship. I’ve ruined Sophie’s event because I was tired of listening to Mary Kate prattle about her exceptionally well behaved, musically inclined, ‘ready to take the fashion world by storm and steal Disney acting parts’ grandkids. All of her grandchildren are under the age of four.”
Brad nodded, although he didn’t understand. The law firm could’ve pulled its sponsorship for any number of reasons. “I didn’t think you’d met George’s daughter?”
“I haven’t,” she said. “She’s protective of her niece and her situation.”
“Situation?” Brad repeated.
“The little girl is blind. Can you imagine? George’s daughter watches her while the child’s mother discovers herself. She needs to discover her parenting skills, if you ask me. A mother belongs with her child.”
Brad disagreed. He’d seen the love and affection between Sophie and Ella in the little girl’s clutching of Sophie’s hand to make her point. In Sophie’s gentleness as she’d freed the hairbrush. In the softness in Sophie’s gaze and the relaxing of Ella’s stiff shoulders with the knowledge that her aunt would make her world right again. He couldn’t recall going to his mother as a kid to fix his problems. Perhaps because he’d been too busy just trying to capture her attention. “The little girl might be better off with the current arrangement.”
“You won’t be better off without your mother.” Evelyn tipped her water cup at Brad. “No matter what you’ve convinced yourself.”
“We aren’t talking about my mother.” He pushed the half-eaten muffin aside. “We’re discussing the Callahans.”
“That’s settled.”
“What did I miss?”
“You’ll make it right if George’s daughter isn’t a lowlife like her father.”
“You want me to fund her gala?” he asked.
“I want you to ensure that gala doesn’t fail because of me. I won’t act as low as George. It’s possible he gave my money to his daughter for her event.” She dumped her water in the sink. “Bradley Harrington, stop frowning at me. I know that didn’t happen, but still, I like that thought.”
“Even if he did give the money to Sophie, which he didn’t, George still stole from you.”
“Yes, but at least the money would’ve gone to rescue needy animals and not to rescue George’s own pocketbook.”
“Perhaps the gala should fail. Perhaps you did Sophie a favor.” Brad pressed his fingertips to his forehead. He kept getting stuck on images of dogs in bow ties, drinking from crystal water bowls. Whoever heard of a dog ball anyway? No doubt it was another Callahan con job. Nobody could be this altruistic without exploding.
“No. Sophie has a real purpose for her event, beyond her own needs. With patience and guidance, it could become a premier fund-raiser. But with a few blows, like a lack of sponsors, it’ll be a mere afterthought. A might have been, like my relationship with George. No one deserves to feel like that.”
“You want me to have George Callahan arrested and help his daughter?” Brad asked.
“Exactly.” Evelyn wrapped her scarf around her neck before bussing his cheek and squeezing his shoulders like she’d been doing since he was four. Here there was the affection and trust and encouragement that Sophie and Ella shared. Evelyn continued, “I’ve provided you with ample snacks to fortify you. There’s nothing complicated about this.”
Brad felt irritation pushing away the comfort he usually found in Evelyn’s hugs. This wasn’t how his cases usually went. Not the protocol. Ever. There was an order. Steps to be taken. He’d labeled this a favor, not a case. Maybe he hadn’t been lying after all. Favors were unpredictable and often unwieldy and usually snowballed into something bigger, something more involved.
But he wasn’t getting any more involved with Sophie Callahan. Installing her security system was enough help. She was on her own with her dog ball.
SOPHIE YANKED HER hair into a tight braid to keep from throwing her cell phone against the wall. Unfortunately, her older sister wouldn’t feel the impact. Tessa was thousands of miles away in India and only visible on Sophie’s phone screen thanks to modern technology and phone apps.
Sophie stared at her sister’s thin, tan face filling the screen. Tessa looked rested, relaxed, pretty even. Her lips were stained red like their mother’s, her eyes were sky blue like their mother’s and her auburn hair was full of effortless curls like their mother’s. And just like their mother, Tessa was a wanderer.
“My Yogi master suggested I stay for another six weeks to make sure I’ve fully committed to my new path.” Tessa traced her finger over one naturally arched eyebrow.
“You told me the same thing eight weeks ago.” Sophie tugged on her hair.
“No, I needed the last eight weeks to embrace my new path.” Tessa leaned into the camera. Her blue eyes were wide and clear and no longer haunted. “I need the next six weeks to commit.”
“What am I supposed to tell Ella?” Sophie asked. “I told her two months ago that you’d be coming home. It’s time to come home, Tessa.”
“I left so I could become a better mother.” Tessa leaned away, but Sophie caught the white of her teeth biting into her bottom lip. Her sister always did that when she was scared. She’d chewed her lip raw on their fateful bus ride to the city.
Tessa’s voice lowered, her words tumbling out in an urgent rush. “Mom’s voice is still too loud inside me. And you promised me that you wouldn’t let me become like Mom.”
Sophie had made that promise when Tessa had come home high and clutching a pregnancy test. But Sophie had long since stopped believing in empty words and put her faith in actions. Too often people claimed to be pet lovers, then threw away newborn kittens. Too often parents promised to return to their children, then continued moving on, sending an occasional postcard or making a quick phone call. Too often her sister said she’d put her family first and then disappeared.
But Tessa had booked her healing trip to India on her own. She’d made a plan for a new life. She’d asked for Sophie’s support. Now Sophie had to trust her sister would do the right thing.
“I