Page 5 of Worth the Want
Now I have new plans—all revolving around the little girl singing and munching happily on a blueberry pancake in the backseat. I turn the radio up slightly, and she starts singing louder with Shania. I grin, knowing she has no clue what “No One Needs To Know” is about, but damn, she’s got a set of pipes.
After kissing Hazel’s chubby cheek goodbye, I take off down my parents’ driveway, heading into my office in town.
I enjoy my job as a small-town lawyer, working small-town cases. It feels more fulfilling knowing the people I’m working for are deserving of the help I can provide them. It was an adjustment, but one I’m grateful I’ve been able to make. Smaller office, but you can’t beat the mountain view.
Looking at those mountains that I never tire of, I pull onto the side street that backs up to the office building, seeing the familiar words Holloway Family Law Offices etched into the frosted glass on the door. Wishing I had time to get a coffee but knowing I only have fifteen minutes, I get out of my truck. Forgoing the caffeine, I’m ready to get my day back on track when I see the blue SUV parked across from the office, letting me know my secretary is already here.
Not having a very strenuous workload, she only works part-time for me and another office in the next town over. She’s a nice woman—a bit forward every time I’ve seen her around town—but she’s always kept it professional in the office.
She’s pretty enough—and she knows it; funny, smart, and at one time I thought about the possibility of us going out—but then I overheard her on the phone telling someone she can’t stand kids. I haven’t entertained the idea of her again.
“Good morning, Knox. How was your weekend?”
“Morning, Cora. It was fine,” I tell her, walking down the hall to my office. I find it best to keep my answers short and not to ask her any questions. Last time I made that mistake, I was held hostage by her long-winded answer.
“Would you like a coffee this morning?” she asks, coming to stand in front of me, blocking my escape. As much as I don’t want to, I find myself taking her up on the offer, hoping it will keep her busy.
“That would be great. Thank you.”
“Of course. I was thinking of staying in town tonight. Are you gonna be around?” She looks up at me from under long, dark lashes, biting the side of her red bottom lip. Cora is a beauty, but I’m not interested in starting something with her.
“I have a few things to take care of back home tonight. Winnie and my sister have roped me into something. Sorry,” I tell her.
“That’s too bad.” She pouts. “I’ll just have to be patient,” she adds wistfully. I give her a tight smile, unsure of what response I could give her that wouldn’t be rude. Cora and I don't have a future as anything beyond friends.
Once I make it to my office, I open my briefcase and pull out the case files. Putting my glasses on to look them over once more, I can’t help thinking about how much has changed in my job.
The type of services I provide now is a stark contrast to what I was doing those years I spent in the city. Instead of corporate clients, I mostly deal with property lines. Everybody believes somebody is trying to encroach on their land.
Today is a little different. Ms. June Carter passed away last week, leaving her property, its contents, and all her holdings tothe Sorel family. The Sorels had been taking care of her and her properties for her the last six years. No one in town batted an eye when this came out. It seemed only natural. The Sorels had come to live on Ms. June's property and seeing as she hadn’t had a visit from any actual relatives in ten-plus years, they were more than just caretakers. Ms. June saw them as her family.
“Here’s your coffee, Knox. Black right?” she asks.
“Appreciate it, Cora.”
“Of course. Let me know if you need anything else,” she tells me, smiling as she backs out of my office. I don’t miss her emphasis onanything. It was about as subtle as Hazel is when she’s asking for dessert before dinner.
Opening my laptop, it’s still on the last web page I was on, looking up Ms. June’s nephew’s lawyer. The law firm representing him is a larger one based out of New York. I’m a little surprised he was able to secure their representation, seeing as they mostly work with high-profile clients who come with high-profile cases, but I have no doubt he knows someone who knows someone.
At the sound of the building's front door opening, I set my cup down before standing.
“Good morning. How can I help you?” I hear Cora say.
“I’m here to meet with Knox Holloway.” I hear a man’s voice tell her.
“Is he expecting you, Mr.…?” Cora’s voice remains polite.
“Carter. Yes, he should be expecting me.”
“Oh yes, I see your name here on his schedule.”He’s my only meeting today, but I do appreciate Cora’s professionalism.“Let me walk you to his office.”
I hear footsteps coming toward me, and then Cora popsher head around the corner. “There’s a Mr. Carter here to see you,” she announces, then she looks back to the front. “And it looks like another member of your party has just arrived as well.”
“Thanks, Cora. You can send him back.” I tell her. She smiles and heads back to the front.
A man comes into view. His chin is tipped slightly in the air and there’s an overly cordial expression on his face. I give him a tight smile, holding out my hand to him.
“Hello. Knox Holloway,” I introduce myself as another man with a suit walks in behind him, his lawyer, I presume.
