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Kane jerked up. “You?”
“I believe in what’s right. And putting innocent people behind bars isn’t right.”
“You hate what I do,” Kane said incredulously.
His father pressed his lips together. “I’d rather you go after the criminals . . . but sometimes the bad guys are on my side of the bench.”
“Penelope’s a lawyer. She’s twenty-one and already graduated because she’s so smart,” Kane said proudly. “I don’t think she wants to be a prosecutor, but she’s going to use her talents to help a lot of people.”
I loved that he didn’t push her in any direction . . . except toward his office. But he would never tell her what cases she should or shouldn’t take. Not without being asked.
Well, he probably would give his opinion, but whatever she chose, he’d fully support her.
The Zegases looked at Penelope.
Thebeep-beepin the background was a reminder of how fragile her life was.
“By the time you were five, you were smarter than I was,” his mother said fondly.
It was hard to envision Kane as a child. I imagined him being mischievous yet charming at the same time.
I’d often wondered if Penelope’s intelligence was hereditary. My father and grandparents were incredibly bright. Alma and our mother were smart in a different kind of way. Street smart didn’t seem to be the right phrase, but they had an ability to read people and use them for their own agenda.
It was impossible not to notice how sharp Kane was.
I’d known some highly intelligent people in college who were difficult to relate to. They functioned on a different level than most. I felt for them because it had to be frustrating not to be understood.
Kane had people skills and intellect. Penelope was the same. She was always the smartest person in the room but easily related to everyone.
My sweet girl was unique.
Her grandparents were going to fall head over heels for her. I hoped they could make up for my mother’s absence. Not that I wanted her anywhere near Penelope.
I wanted Penelope to have that special relationship like I had with Grandma Josephine.
“I haven’t been the best at expressing this, but I’m proud of you, son.” Kane’s father’s eyes got misty.
Kane appeared shell-shocked. “You are?”
“I have a competitive streak. You’re the best lawyer. No one at the office wanted to go up against you.” His lips tipped up. “I can’t take credit for your success, but I like to think I had some role in teaching you a thing or two.”
“You were so hard on me.”
His father looked down. “That’s my dad in me. Most of the time, I felt like I was in his shadow. Nothing I did was ever good enough. I didn’t mean to treat you that way . . . but a father thinks he always knows best.
His mother reached for her husband’s hand.
“Please don’t do that to Penelope,” Kane said quietly.
There was so much in that statement. Most of the meaning was in what he didn’t say.
Kane wanted them to be involved in Penelope’s life.
“If I do, you can set me straight.”
“I will,” his mother said. “You’re going to let my granddaughter do whatever she pleases.”
The woman didn’t say much but clearly had a backbone. We’d take small steps, though I hoped we’d all be closer.
