Page 37 of Day Break

She shrugged. “If your grandfather will keep me around.”

I turned to look at the house and ran my eyes over the place. It was more home to me than my parents’ house or my townhouse in the city.

“He likes you. That is powerful enough to keep you here until something changes.”

“What about your family? George seems to think they’ll eventually show up and bully me out of the job,” she said, twisting her fingers together.

“Don’t let them,” I answered quickly. “My grandfather is in charge.” I turned to her. “I assume he’s paying you.”

She nodded. “I…” She bit her bottom lip. “I don’t have a bank account. I haven’t been able to cash my first check.”

It wasn’t too strange that she wouldn’t have a bank account. After all, I’d represented several clients that only worked on a cash basis. Most of them had been recently divorced or recent US citizens.

“Tomorrow is Sunday. I can change my schedule around and drive you into town on Monday. There’s the bank there that my grandfather uses,” I suggested.

She bit her bottom lip. “I… don’t have a driver’s license.”

“What do you have?” I asked.

She frowned.

“I can help you print whatever you need.” I turned and saw my grandfather open the back door. Byron raced out the door and to a bush. “Later tonight,” I finished.

“I’d better get dinner started,” Chloe said when they moved back over to the table.

An uncomfortable look had crossed her eyes when I’d offered to help her, and I knew that’s why she was leaving.

Whatever secrets her past held, it was obvious she hadn’t had anyone kind in her life. Much like my own childhood, with the exception of my grandmother and Sherry.

“What did you do to spook her off, boy?” my grandfather asked, slapping me on the back.

Then I realized that I did have someone new in my life who cared. Whatever had happened last year to my grandfather, his behavior towards me had done a complete one-eighty.

I smiled at him.

“I didn’t do anything. She only left when you arrived. It must have been your ugly mug that scared her away.”

My grandfather burst out laughing.

“Why don’t you head in and see if you can lend her a hand. Me and the dog… Byron”—he wiggled his eyebrows— “will toss the stick around.”

I glanced through the windows and with the lights on in the kitchen, I could see Chloe getting dinner ready.

“I don’t think she wants any help.” I turned to him. “What changed last year?” I asked suddenly.

My grandfather’s eyes went dark, and he turned away from me and tossed a stick to Byron, who was patiently waiting.

“All sorts of things changed.”

“Your attitude towards me,” I said, knowing he understood.

He took a deep breath and then motioned to the chairs. I followed him and sat beside him while he gathered his thoughts.

“I was made aware of… certain things I hadn’t known before.” He turned slightly towards me. “Things I’d been lied to about.”

“Me?” I asked.

He nodded. “My sons… kept some vital information from me.”