Twice in a Lifetime (9 page)

Lindsay stared up at her as if measuring the sincerity of her words. Finally she gave a quick little nod.

“Okay,” she said. She sighed, a very grown-up sound. “I have to go. I’m going to Bible school this morning.”

“That’ll be fun,” Miz Callie said. “You come by later and tell us all about it, okay?”

“Okay.” Lindsay looked a little brighter. “I’ll see you later.” She trudged off toward her house.

Georgia stood and watched her until she reached the deck. “I see what you mean. Poor kid. She’s lonely.”

“Hopefully she’ll make some friends at Bible school.”

Miz Callie put her arm around Georgia’s waist as they headed to the house.

“Did you arrange that?”

“I might have suggested it,” her grandmother admitted. “Let’s get something to eat, and you can go over my notes. And I thought, since you’re going to have lunch downtown, you might drop them off at Matt’s office so he can get going right away.”

“How did you hear about my lunch date?” She lifted an eyebrow at Miz Callie as they walked up the stairs. She didn’t think her grandmother had been around when her cousin Amanda had called with an invitation to meet for lunch.

Miz Callie chuckled. “Child, if you want to keep secrets, don’t belong to such a nosy family. I just happened to be talking to your brother, and he mentioned that Lucas mentioned it to him.”

Lucas was Amanda’s big brother and just as inclined to butt into everyone else’s business as the rest of them.

Her thoughts drifted to Matt and Lindsay, alone and isolated. All in all, she guessed she’d take the family she had, annoying as they could be.

Chapter Six

“M
r. Harper?” Madie Dillon, the secretary Matt shared with Rodney Porter, tapped and opened his office door a few inches. “You have a visitor. Shall I ask her to make an appointment?”

Visitors were so unusual that for a moment he couldn’t think how to answer. “Who is it?”

“Georgia Bodine.” Madie seemed surprised, too.

Clients hadn’t exactly been beating down his door. “Show her in.” He rose, buttoning the top button of his

shirt and tightening his tie.

There she was, the door closing behind her. Instead of her usual shorts and T-shirt, she wore a turquoise sundress that swirled around her slim body and emphasized her tan legs.

“I’m so sorry if I’m disturbing you.” She sent a quick, curious glance around the office. “Miz Callie insisted I stop by.”

“Not a problem.” He rounded the desk and drew one of the comfortable leather chairs around for her. “Please sit down.”

She slid onto the chair. “Nice.”

“Nothing but the best for Rodney Porter’s clients.” He took the other chair and sat facing her.

She lifted an eyebrow. “And Matthew Harper’s clients, too?”

“I’m a very small cog in the wheel right now,” he said. He swung his hand in a gesture that encompassed the whole office. “I feel like a fraud sometimes, sitting in the midst of all this Southern elegance. This was Rod’s brother-in-law’s office, before he ran off with his secretary.”

“I remember. That news traveled all the way to Atlanta.

So Rodney brought you in to replace him.”

“Not exactly.” He felt compelled to be more open with her than he’d been with most people he’d met here. “Rod was being a friend. He knew I wanted to leave Boston for a fresh start after Jennifer’s death, and he made it possible.”

Georgia’s gaze lit on something on his desk. Without turning, he felt quite sure it was the silver-framed photo of Jennifer.

“Is that Jennifer?”

Nodding, he lifted the frame and handed it to her. “That was taken on our honeymoon.”

Jennifer sat on a rock in the black-and-white photo, staring out at a foggy sea. The wind whipped her hair around her face, and her hands were clasped around her knees. They’d gone up the Maine coast, dawdling in one small town after another, with no set destination and no timetable to keep.

“She was very beautiful.” Georgia stared at the image for a moment longer, as if it would tell her something about him. Then she handed it back. “Thank you for letting me see it. Lindsay’s like her, isn’t she?”

He nodded, throat tightening. Most of the time he

ignored the resemblance, but sometimes a turn of the head or a quick, light movement brought hot tears to his eyes.

He cleared his throat. “What can I do for Miz Callie today?”

Georgia bent to pick up a folder she’d placed on the floor next to her handbag. “These are the notes she came up with last night—names, dates, addresses.” She handed him the folder.

He flipped it open, then leaned over so she could see it, too. As she’d said, names and addresses, birth dates, death dates, all in Miz Callie’s fine, spidery writing.

“Is this information you’d be familiar with?”

She traced a fingertip down the page. “Pretty much, although I’d never have come up with the dates.” She pointed to an address on King Street in Charleston. “That’s the house Miz Callie lived in before she got the idea to move out to the island full-time. I guess Granddad inherited it from his parents after Ned…” She paused. “After Ned left. Or died.” Her gaze met his. “I mean, he was older than my grandfather by several years, so he’s probably dead by now, don’t you think?”

“Hard to say. You’d think, if he were alive, he’d have gotten in touch with the family sometime in all these years.”

She shrugged, frowning. “True. But if he died, you’d think the family would have been notified.”

“Maybe, maybe not. It depends on the circumstances and how well he’d created a new life.”

Her frown deepened. “It’s not impossible, is it? To find the answers my grandmother wants?”

“Not impossible.” He wouldn’t sugarcoat it for her. “But it may be very difficult. And even if we find the answers, they may not make her happy.”

Georgia sighed deeply, running a hand through her hair.

He smiled. “I understand the frustration, believe me. It’s not the first time a client has insisted on doing something I advised against.”

“At least you’re not going up against the rest of the family, too.”

“I wouldn’t count on that. I’ve already had visits from your father and your uncle.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

She looked so distressed that he nearly laughed. “Don’t worry, Georgia. Your father was the soul of

politeness.”

“He would be. Not Uncle Brett, though, I’ll bet. It was Brett, wasn’t it, and not Harrison?”

“Yes. Do I have another one to look forward to?”

“I hope not.” She seemed relieved by his light tone. “They just want to protect Miz Callie, you know.”

“I know. It’s good that she has so many relatives who care about her. Sometimes elderly people don’t.”

“There are lots of us, that’s for sure.” She sounded as if she thought it a mixed blessing. “Lindsay was telling us about her grandparents this morning. That they live clear out in Arizona, so she doesn’t see them very often. Are they your folks?”

“Jennifer’s parents. My father-in-law’s health isn’t great, and he seems to do better out there.”

“It’s a shame they’re so far away. And your parents?” “Dead.” At least, he supposed they were. They were certainly dead to him.

“I’m sorry.” Sympathy filled her eyes, turning them that deep, velvety brown. “It must be rough, being so alone.”

He shrugged. “I’m used to it.” If he kept on looking into those eyes, he’d lean so far forward that he’d be in danger of falling off his chair.

He busied himself shuffling through the few papers in the folder. He’d felt the attraction last night, when he’d held her hand so briefly. Felt it again now.

But that was all it was. He’d already had the big love of his life. He wasn’t foolish enough to think he could replace that.

“I’ll put in some time on the search this afternoon.” He closed the folder and put it on his desk. “I’m sorry Miz Callie sent you into town on such a hot day. I’m sure you’d rather be on the beach.”

“I was coming anyway. I’m meeting my cousin Amanda for lunch.” She glanced at her watch, a slim gold bracelet on her tanned wrist. “And I’m late.”

He stood when she did and followed her toward the door. “Thanks again.”

She turned so suddenly that he nearly bumped into her. “I just—I wanted to thank you. I don’t suppose Miz Callie realizes it, but I know you’re taking valuable time away from your other business in order to do this.”

She was so close he could almost count the freckles the sun had spattered on her nose. “Don’t worry about it. I’m not exactly overwhelmed with business, believe me.”

“I see.” She gave him a wry smile. “Not easy for an outsider to break in, is it? Folks around here tend to be a little clannish.”

“I’ve noticed.” He was so distracted by Georgia’s prox-imity, he hardly knew what he was saying. “I’ll hang in. It’s too important to me not to. Just one good case could make all the difference.”

She stiffened, taking a step backward.

“I guess Miz Callie is that big case, isn’t she?” Her eyes were accusing him of something.

He clamped his lips for a moment before answering. “If Miz Callie is pleased with my services, naturally I hope

she’ll mention me to people. Word of mouth really is the best advertising.”

“Yes, of course.” Her voice was cold as she reached behind her for the doorknob. “I hope it works out for you.” Before he could come up with something else to say,

she’d slipped out the door.

Georgia parked carefully in the restaurant’s minuscule parking lot, holding her breath as she slipped between two oversized SUVs. Parking space in Charleston was at a premium. A city built centuries ago on a peninsula was bound to have that issue.

She walked toward the restaurant that backed onto the water. It was new since the last time she’d been here, oc-cupying a building that had once belonged to the navy.

The breeze off the water cooled her overheated face but not her disposition.

Matt hadn’t even realized he’d upset her. She was just part of the job. And Miz Callie was a way of making inroads into the tight mesh that was Charleston society.

What else had she expected? She’d seen enough workaholic males in her time. She just hadn’t recognized it quite soon enough in Matt.

A wall of cool air and the scent of frying hush puppies greeted her when she pushed through the door. Before the hostess could speak to her, Georgia spotted her cousin sitting at the far end of the room in front of the windows. With a quick wave, Georgia wove her way between the tables to reach her.

“Georgia Lee, it is mighty good to see you.” Amanda surged from the chair to wrap her arms around her. “It’s been way too long. Let me look at you.” She gave her a critical stare. “Well, I don’t see it.”

“See what?”

“Your mother told my mother you looked like you’d been dragged through a knothole backwards.” She grinned. “But you look pretty good to me.”

“You know my mother. She’s only pleased if I’m dressed for the cotillion.”

She slid into the seat opposite Amanda, looking at her cousin with pleasure. Amanda’s sleek brown hair dropped to her shoulders, her green eyes sparkled in a lightly tanned face and she had the polished look down to an art. Come to think of it, Mamma probably wondered why her daughter couldn’t be more like Cousin Amanda.

“Mothers.” Amanda dismissed them with a wave of a well-manicured hand. “Tell the truth now. Miz Callie’s been spoiling you since you got back, now hasn’t she?”

“Just like always,” she said lightly. She’d love to tell Amanda what was going on with their grandmother and have the benefit of Amanda’s shrewd advice. With her nimble brain and deep interest in people, Amanda seemed born for her job on the daily newspaper.

But she couldn’t tell. It wasn’t her secret to share.

“I got you a sweet tea.” Amanda shoved the glass toward her, ice tinkling with the movement. “And I went ahead and ordered our shrimp salads, so we could get on with lunch. Some of us aren’t on vacation, you know.”

“I’m sure your boss will have you drawn and quartered if you’re not back in time.” She took a sip of the tea.

“He might.” Amanda scowled at the table. She’d been complaining about her boss the last time they’d talked, and apparently things were no better.

“How is work going? You getting to cover anything bigger than the latest oyster roast?”

“I’ll have you know I graduated to the dog show last week.” Amanda grinned, affection flowing easily between them.

Cousins were special, Miz Callie had always reminded them when they fought, and she’d been right. The bonds she’d formed early with her cousins were nearly as strong as those with her brothers. And at least some of the cousins were girls.

“How’s Annabel?” Amanda’s twin sister looked like her, but the resemblance was strictly on the surface. In every other way, they were polar opposites.

Amanda made a face. “Still running that horse farm over on James Island. Go see her—she’d love it. But don’t wear your good shoes.”

“That sounds like the voice of experience talking.” “Believe me, it is.” Amanda’s eyes grew solemn

suddenly, and she reached out to grasp Georgia’s hand. “Enough chitchat. What’s this about your engagement being over, sugar? You catch him with another girl?”