After Anna(32)

Noah smiled. ‘How are we gonna do this, with two kids in the house?’

‘Quietly.’ Maggie slid her phone from her jeans pocket and scrolled to her list. ‘Now here’s what we need to get, after the bed. A makeup mirror that lights up, makeup bag, hair dryer, rolling bath cart –’

‘This does not sound like sexy time.’

‘No, it’s Bed Bath & Beyond time. There’s one in this mall and it’s only open until 9:30.’ Maggie checked her watch. ‘8:35. That means we have to move fast, and you know the paperwork here takes forever.’

‘If you want, you can run over to Bed Bath & Beyond and I’ll stay here with Anna and Caleb.’

‘No, let’s play it by ear. Maybe we can get both done together.’ Maggie watched Anna in the background, taking a selfie with Caleb on an oversized recliner.

‘Whatever works. I don’t mind spending time with her alone. I can get to know her one-on-one, like you did with Caleb.’

‘Great, and guess what, I haven’t even had a chance to tell you the big news. It’s about her inheritance.’ Maggie kept her eye on Anna, still out of earshot. ‘Try not to react because I don’t want her to know what we’re talking about.’

‘Okay.’ Noah nodded, his face remarkably impassive.

‘Wow. You have a good poker face.’

‘What’s her inheritance?’

‘It’s a fortune.’ Maggie leaned close to Noah’s ear. ‘Florian left Anna $50 million, which she’s going to get when she turns eighteen.’

‘Whoa.’ Noah nodded, eyebrows lifting. ‘Not that I’m surprised.’

Maggie felt taken aback. ‘How can you not be surprised? I said, $50 million.’

‘Florian sold his startup for $30 million, years ago. He should have an estate that size. I was already thinking that she should see Mike.’

‘The guy who did our will?’ Maggie watched Anna and Caleb, who were taking the escalator upstairs. ‘But she already has a lawyer. James Huntley.’

‘She should have a local estates lawyer, and in my opinion, eighteen is too young for her to come into that kind of money. How good a lawyer can he be if he set it up that way?’

‘He didn’t. He said the same thing. He’s changing it already and she agreed.’

‘Still, we need to get her a lawyer here. Mike can change it. Pennsylvania law and Maine law may not be the same.’

‘But she likes James.’ Maggie felt a tug. ‘I already told him we wouldn’t switch.’

‘So, tell him you changed your mind. We should switch her.’

‘But she should have a say.’

‘Fine, but how much weight can you give her opinion? She’s a teenager.’

‘I’ll have to ask her. It’s her money.’

‘I know that, I’m just trying to help.’ Noah shrugged. ‘We’re responsible for her now. She’s our kid.’

‘Our kid. It does have a nice ring.’ Maggie put her arm around him as they walked to the escalator. ‘You’re amazing.’

‘Do tell. I’ll pretend it’s foreplay.’ Noah squeezed her closer, his arm around her shoulder.

‘Mag, Dad!’ Caleb scooted over. ‘Come take a selfie! Anna wants us!’

‘Okay.’ Noah let himself be tugged away, and Maggie followed him to one of the fake family rooms, where the furniture was pseudo-English Manor House, with a British tea table in front of a damask quilted couch.

‘Dad, sit down!’ Caleb called out, pointing.

‘Caleb, settle.’ Noah sat down with a chuckle. ‘Who wound you up?’

Anna looked at Maggie. ‘Come, sit with me!’

‘Too cute!’ Maggie sat down. ‘Our first family photo, huh? The Ippoliti-Desroches-Aldermans!’

‘Totally, this is perfect!’ Anna grinned, holding the phone out in her right hand. ‘Here we go.’

‘Say cheese!’ Caleb bounced next to Noah, jostling everyone.

‘Everybody, here we go, smile!’ Anna sang out, and Maggie smiled for the picture. She wasn’t sure she would ever stop smiling, given how happy she felt.

Caleb jumped up. ‘Anna, we gotta go upstairs. Come on!’

‘Here I come!’ Anna slipped her phone in her purse. ‘He’s fast!’

Noah rolled his eyes, standing up. ‘Caleb, please!’

‘He’s fine.’ Maggie waved him off, smiling, and Anna hustled to catch up with Caleb, who was already heading for the escalator. Noah fell into step with Maggie, and she encircled his waist with her arm. ‘How great are you?’

‘Great.’ Noah grinned crookedly. ‘But tell me why.’

‘I sprang her on you, and here you are, all in.’

‘She’s your daughter.’ Noah smiled over at her.

‘And your stepdaughter. How does it feel?’

‘Great. It’ll be fun to get to know her.’ Noah let Maggie go first on the escalator as Caleb motioned to them from the second floor.

‘Dad! Mag! Hurry!’

Maggie and Noah reached the second floor to see Anna resting on a beautiful canopy bed with a bedspread of white polished cotton with pink piping. The bed sat in the middle of a fake bedroom that contained a matching bureau, mirror, and armoire of enameled white.