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“Like you were?” she asked.
She knew that was why he hired her. That he’d started his own firm years ago and it was just him and two paralegals and an office assistant.
But months ago, his wife, Robin, had been in the animal shelter working with her sister when Morgan mentioned Mia was looking at moving here. Robin had commented that Brian wanting to hire another attorney but was being very selective.
One thing led to another and here she was.
It was important to her to be by her sister, who she missed deeply.
Her brother too, but she and Morgan had always been close.
Her nephew had been born in June. Caden and his wife were over the moon. Her niece was born six weeks ago to Morgan and Cooper, who were on cloud nine.
She wanted to be around to spend time with the newest additions to the family.
She wanted to babysit on the weekends for them.
She wanted to cuddle with the babies when she was having a bad day.
So far living here, she hadn’t had one bad day, and she still got her cuddles in.
“I was,” Brian said. “And I knew we were trying for another baby so the timing was perfect. I’m still busy, but now I don’t feel as if I have to turn people away. I’m not working as much at night when I can enjoy time with Harper.”
“Is she excited about a new baby?” she asked.
“I don’t think she understands just yet,” Brian said. “It’s early anyway.”
“Still exciting,” she said.
“It is. Let me tell you a little about Cal.”
“You look like you’re friends,” she said.
“We are. We went to school together. Now we both live in Paradise Place. He was here before me. He’s pretty outgoing and talkative.”
“One ofthose,” she said, grinning.
“Everyone loves good old Cal,” Brian said. “So yeah. One of them. Self-made millionaire on top of it. I think people see what he made of himself after so much tragedy. It’s a feel good story.”
“Oh no,” she said. “What happened?”
“His mother was killed our senior year in high school. Out Christmas shopping and a fight broke out over a stupid video game or something. There was pushing and shoving and she was trying to calm people down. Lynn was like that. Sweet lady. I’d been to the house as a kid. She was the type of mother that wanted to feed you the whole time you were there. Anyway, one of the guys fighting had a gun on him. Not sure why, but he was waving it around and it fired.”
“Cal’s mother was shot?”
“She was. She was only trying to help calm the situation. The guy didn’t even mean to fire it. It just happened. It doesn’t change the results though.”
“No,” she said. Her heart broke for that kid losing his mother that way.
“As if that wasn’t bad enough, his father was a detective, and when Cal was twenty, his father was shot in the line of duty and killed.”
Her hands went to her mouth. “That’s horrible. Is he an only child?”
“He is. He has his grandfather. His father’s father. It was a hard time for him. He’s a great guy. You don’t look at him and see what he lost. You see what he works so hard for.”
She didn’t want to pry too much more, but had to ask, “What about his businesses?”
“There were life insurance monies paid out. Cal’s father had invested money too. Apple stock. He’d gotten in early and let it ride. Cal had been going to college and working at a liquor store. When he turned twenty-one, he bought the liquor store from the guy. His first business venture. Then he bought another. He owns an ice cream place that is seasonal. Robin loves going there. I think it closes at the end of October. Then there is a bakery, an Italian restaurant, several rental properties too. He was coming here to say he’s closing on another three-family house. I’ll give that to you to do. He’s got a meeting with a guy to be part owner in a pub and brewery too.”
