Starting Now (Blossom Street #9)(68)

Libby immediately recognized this was a small test to see if she’d changed from the attorney and woman she once was. “On the contrary,” Libby said, and settled against the back of the comfortable chair. “I’d like nothing better than for you to tell me about your son. Paul or Wade?”

“Paul. Oh, that son of ours—he’s our youngest, you know—was such a rascal. He, too, was always in a rush …”

Libby relaxed and let the older woman talk. Martha Reed was proud of her family and it showed. Libby found the sound of her voice comfortable in a soothing sort of way. She’d never known her maternal grandparents—they had died when she was young. Her father’s parents had lived in Texas and Libby saw them only sporadically through the years. They both died when she was in her early twenties, and while she still had an aunt and two uncles, they weren’t part of her life. Libby mailed them each a Christmas card every year, but that was the extent of their contact.

What she loved about Mrs. Reed was the close connection she maintained with each of her children and grandchildren. How Libby envied that.

Hershel had told her she needed a life; what Libby realized now was that she needed family, too, needed that sense of connection that came from being part of a whole. In the months since she’d been let go, she’d started building one. Not a traditional family perhaps, but a family of the heart. She was closest to Robin, but there were Lydia and Sharon and Ava, too. Libby had hoped Phillip might become … She put a halt to that line of thinking. A sadness settled over her. Oh, how she missed him.

Mrs. Reed spoke animatedly for several minutes and Libby listened attentively, laughing now and again.

“I hope your children and grandchildren realize how fortunate they are to have you,” Libby said, and meant it sincerely.

Mrs. Reed smiled. “You flatter me.”

“I value family. As you may remember I lost my own mother when I was barely a teenager.” Her thoughts drifted to Ava and her heart clenched. While Libby would never replace the mother Ava had lost, she fully intended to be a friend and mentor to the young teen.

“You still miss her, don’t you, dear?”

“Yes, but …” Libby hesitated before speaking, wondering if she was doing the right thing by even mentioning Ava. “This morning I went to visit a young girl I met at the yarn store. She’s a thirteen-year-old living with her grandmother, and she’s pregnant.”

Mrs. Reed gasped. “Pregnant?”

Libby nodded. “Her biggest fear is what will happen when her grandmother finds out. She hasn’t seen a doctor yet.”

“How far along is she?”

“We don’t know. Possibly as much as eight months.”

Mrs. Reed shook her head as Libby relayed a few more of the details, being careful not to say names.

“This girl is lucky to have you helping her. You have used this time away from the firm wisely,” Martha said after several moments. “I’m proud of you, Libby, very, very proud.”

Emotion swept over Libby and a lump formed in her throat at the words of praise from this wonderful woman who’d given so much love to her family.

They chatted for a few minutes more before Mrs. Reed announced, “It’s time we got to the matter at hand, my dear. Now, tell me what you have in mind.”

Libby reached for her briefcase and brought out her notes. She had to work from memory as the files remained with the firm, but she had a good recollection of where they had left off in the estate planning. She wasn’t presumptuous enough to assume she would manage the entire account, but she hoped Martha would be willing to allow her to take over everything that she had handled previously. She also made several recommendations and suggestions for moving forward.

When she finished she realized she’d probably said too much.

“These are all very complicated legal anglings.”

“They are,” Libby agreed. “The thing is, you don’t need to understand it all but I feel obligated to explain it as best I can. I want you to see what will happen in the future to the funds you leave behind.”

“That’s why I would hire you.”

“Exactly.” Libby sincerely hoped the other woman would consider bringing this aspect of her business to Libby.

Martha set her empty teacup aside. “As you can imagine there are a number of law firms vying for my full account.”

Libby suspected there would be.

“Hershel has been in contact several times himself, looking to mend fences, but I fear it’s too late for that. I told him before that that young man didn’t suit me, but he refused to listen. I went so far as to request that you be reinstated at the firm. Hershel said he’d like nothing better himself but the matter was out of his hands.”

Libby counted Hershel as both mentor and friend and suspected he had been outvoted by the other partners.

“Naturally my inclination is to continue with you,” Mrs. Reed murmured thoughtfully.

Libby sat up straighter. “I can assure you that you would be my most important client. I would give you my undivided attention.” What she failed to add was that Mrs. Reed, for the time being, would be her only client.

“As you can imagine this is a very important decision.”

“I agree and I don’t want you to rush. Take your time and think it over carefully,” Libby advised. Bottom line, she wanted only what was best for the older woman and her family.