Page 27 of The Redemption of Remy St. Claire

Maybe he understood. “Yes, but I’ll take work home to do once she’s gone to bed.”

“No, you won’t.”

His glower had her gulping. She wasn’t afraid of her boss per se. Just a bit intimidated. “You’re right, of course. I made a commitment to you when you hired me. I can see Calleigh on the weekend.”

Zach shook his head. “You misunderstand. I’ve been trying to get you to leave at a decent hour for three years now. You have nothing to prove—you never did. I only hire the best, and you’re the best. I never wanted you working so many hours, but you were determined. Now I have a legitimate excuse for sending you home at a decent hour. That’s not to say there may not be the odd late night.”

“Rusty has things well under control.” Now the adrenaline spike was over, she fought to keep her hands steady. “I expected there to be more problems with Calleigh, but she seems to be adapting. To be honest, I’m worried.”

“Worried?”

“Calleigh seems to have accepted him as part of her life. She’s still quiet, but not as distraught as before.”

His brow furrowed. “Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Not necessarily.”Why are you telling him this?And yet she knew the answer. Because she needed a sounding board for what was going on in her life. “I’m taking her to see Doctor Kennedy Dixon, who specializes in trauma. I’m hoping she’ll give me some guidance. I’ve read several books, but they weren’t helpful.”

“And Dr. Dixon can help?”

She nodded but hesitated before continuing. “Olivia Bater suggested to Rusty that canine companion therapy might be helpful. She said Dr. Dixon helped her, and it might be worth a try.” Remy had her doubts, but desperation was setting in. Calleigh didn’t seem to understand her parents weren’t coming back. She’d wander into the master bedroom and then toddle back, looking confused. Remy feared saying the wrong thing and causing irreparable psychological harm. Of course, her little sister’s security had been ripped away from her. Maybe she was already scarred her for life.

“Do you need to take time off work?”

Here, she could offer some assurance. “Dr. Dixon has a slot on at six o’clock on Mondays. I have enough time to get home and pickup Calleigh.”

Zach nodded. “Leave early, if you need to. Calleigh needs to be your priority, Remy. The death of a parent can devastate a child.”

Another shadow of pain and remembrance, as if he identified with what she was going through. She suppressed the desire to reach out to him. To ask him questions. It wasn’t her place to show him empathy, and if there was one thing she knew, it was her place.

“So, it’s five. Go home.” He smiled, the brief moment of sadness, apparent yet so elusive, nowhere to be seen. “I’ll help you delegate more. We have a new clerk starting next week. Smart woman, near the top of her class. She’ll be working with Fletcher, but I’ll make sure she has time to help you.”

She made to protest, but Zach held up his hand.

“You’re still my best litigator, and that’s not going to change. Are we clear?”

Her cheeks heated as relief and pride washed over her. She’d worried she might diminish in status. In retrospect, a ridiculous concern, but she needed his reassurance. “Thanks, Zach.”

“Take care, Remy. I need you on your game.”

She waved as she left the room. When she returned to her office, she judiciously selected the files to take home.

Some habits died hard.

Chapter nine

Finally.

Remy arrived home before six. Despite her promise, she’d arrived between eight and nine every night this week. Twice Calleigh’d already been in bed, asking for her sister before drifting off.

Each night, Rusty worked after the girls’ bedtime, and he’d finished his current project last night. He’d hold off taking any more contracts for now. Remy paid him well, and he didn’t want to burn out. Despite his earlier assertion that two children were as easy as one, he’d been a bit off the mark. The easygoing, happy Calleigh had disappeared—only glimpses of her visible at odd moments. The rest of the time, she rarely spoke. Even Mira sensed the difference in her friend, but being Mira, if she couldn’t do something, she moved on. If Calleigh wanted to look at a book without sharing, Mira played cars. If Calleigh didn’t want to play blocks, Mira set up a tea party.

He loved tea parties. His daughter was at her chattiest when surrounded by dolls who sipped water from little china cups.

Calleigh sat with them this afternoon but hadn’t said a word. Remy’s entrance into the kitchen pulled him from his musings.

She looks exhausted.

“Tough day?”

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