As I left Madeleine’s house, I had to admit that the weight I had been carrying around like an anvil for the past week had been lifted off my shoulders.
Of course, I had been totally genuine in my offer of paying the Coopers’ legal bill, but it was also a huge relief to know that the offer was declined. I knew I would be struggling to climb out of my own debt hole for quite some time and I really hadn’t had a notion how I would pay their bills, too. But I knew I had to offer.
Driving the couple of miles across Knockroe that separated the Cooper house from my own, I realized something else was nagging me now, though.
Declan. He was on my mind constantly, and while he and I had communicated a little since the trial ended, we hadn’t talked face-to-face since he’d dropped me home from the courthouse that Monday morning.
If I was being honest, I missed him—I had grown so used to having him around that the sudden absence stung on some level. I knew he and Alison were working on getting the practice back in order after the mayhem of O’Hara v. Cooper, just as I was trying to establish a new normal in my home, but that didn’t erase him from my thoughts.
Yes, I was attracted to him, I might as well admit that. And given the few...awkward moments we’d shared, especially in recent weeks, I was pretty confident that the feeling was mutual. But was I ready for a relationship if the prospect of one was even in the offing?
I had become so used to being on my own, and with all the upheavals Rosie and I had experienced, would it even be fair to Declan if he did want to be with me? Was it right for him to be involved with, or more correctly shackled to, someone with as much baggage as I? Did I even remember how to share my life with someone?
Turning onto my road, a million different thoughts danced around my head—and none of them made clear or concrete sense. But all of them came to a grinding halt when it hit me that regardless of if I was ready or not to face those realizations, I would have to.
A car was parked in my driveway—Declan’s Volvo. And the man himself sat on the front step. He smiled broadly as he watched me approach, and my heart did a little flip.
After pulling my car up next to his, I got out of the driver’s side and shut the door behind me. “Well, this is unexpected,” I said lightly. “I figured that I wouldn’t be seeing you much, since I’m no longer a client. Although, let me guess—you have my bill, which is obviously so huge it needs to be delivered physically.”
He got up from where he sat and grinned at me. It was odd to see him so casual. I was so used to him in suits—all buttoned up, pressed and proper. Today, though, he was wearing a pair of jeans, suede boots and a dark blue sweatshirt that brought out the color of his eyes. “Well, technically, I am still your solicitor,” he said. Then his voice grew serious. “And there is another pressing legal matter we need to talk about.”
From his back pocket he extracted a brown envelope. The outside of the envelope was addressed to me, but care of Declan’s office. The seal was broken and it was clear that Declan or Alison had opened the communication. He handed it to me and my heart sank.
What now?
“This arrived at the office yesterday. I wanted to make sure it was kosher before I gave it to you.” He paused for a moment as he took in my questioning expression. “You probably should sit down.”
Furrowing my brow, I continued standing and opened the envelope, extracting a letter. “Oh, God. What?” I asked, an all-too-familiar dread seeping through me. Had the Coopers decided to sue me, after all? Maybe the judge had, in fact, decided to punish me for wasting the court’s time? Either way, I was sure it wasn’t going to be good.
“Just read it,” Declan said. “And then we should talk.”
Unfolding the letter, I was caught off guard when a piece of paper that looked like a check fluttered out. I caught it in midair and looked at what it said. My eyes grew wide when I read the figure inscribed.
“What on earth!” I exclaimed as I looked to the accompanying letter for explanation. What I found was a simple note. It read:
Dear Ms. O’Hara: It is our hope that you will accept this sum (strictly without prejudice) on behalf of the City College Biology Department. The situation that you faced is unfortunate, and we feel our laboratory is on some small level culpable for the misfortunate events that led to your daughter’s sickness and ultimately her current challenges. With a clear understanding that this sum doesn’t provide all the answers—nor is any admission of liability—we do hope that it might go some way toward alleviating the burden of what you and your daughter have faced. Very best wishes for the future and we hope that medicine, science and innovation help your daughter regain her independence in the near future.
My mouth dropped open. This check wasn’t massive by any means but at least enough to allow me to pay some of Rosie’s recent care bills while I was in court, help me make a start on Declan’s legal bill and, most important, allow me the breather I needed to pick up the pieces while I figured out what to do next.
It was an absolute gift and I knew I certainly didn’t deserve it.
But perhaps Rosie did?
“This can’t be real...” I was in a state of shock. My hands were shaking and my heart was hammering in my chest.
Declan chuckled. “It’s real, Kate. Someone from the biology department is apparently very eager to make sure their lab doesn’t receive bad press or get shut down. That, or they are just really good Samaritans.”
“This is more than just a nice gesture, though,” I said, still unable to believe it. This was the best thing, perhaps the only good thing, that had happened to me in ages. “And I already said I wasn’t taking any further action—this is just too much.” Then a thought struck me. “Declan, you can’t possibly think I should take this. Can you?”
I looked back down at the letter. No way was this really happening to me. It was just too good to be true.
“Well, it’s up to you what you do with it,” he said, slowly standing up, and I noticed his voice had changed. He shoved his hands into his pockets and looked at the ground. “However, I should tell you that I’m now no longer in a position to offer you legal advice.”
Turning my attention from the documents in my hand to the man in front of me, I met his eyes, confusion rushing through me. Was there some sort of hidden liability here that I wasn’t considering? I wondered, frowning.
“What do you mean? I trust you, Declan. I need you to tell me what you think.” He hadn’t guided me wrong since I first met him, and now I trusted him more than I’d trusted anyone in a long time—since Greg, in fact.
“Well,” he continued, meeting my gaze, his eyes twinkling now, “there is another reason for my visit—outside of this.” He motioned to the envelope. “Delivering it was officially my last professional duty to you. Kate, I can’t be your solicitor anymore.”
He took the documents out of my hands and placed them on the front step. Then, without further hesitation, he reached for me, encircling my waist in his strong arms. He pulled me close so that our bodies were touching, and my breath caught.
“I’m officially ending our professional engagement,” he said huskily when, finally, the meaning of his words hit me.
I felt an all-too-familiar blush creeping up my neck. But, this time, I didn’t fight it. “But what if I’m feeling litigious again?” I teased.
“You’re out of luck. And, for the record, I think you have experienced enough courtroom action for one lifetime.” He smiled, pulling me yet closer.
“Counsel, I thought you said we should talk.” I grinned up at him, feeling so giddy my head was spinning. “This doesn’t look like talking. And it doesn’t feel like—”
“To hell with talking,” Declan interrupted, his voice thick with emotion.
And then he kissed me.