Leap of Faith (The Blake Boys Book 17)

by Laurel,Rhonda

  “No, thanks. It’s just a misunderstanding. They got all bent out of shape because I picked up my son an hour late from daycare. They had the cops there like I’d abandoned him.” Joy picked up the bucket and continued bussing tables. “Besides, I’m pretty sure I can’t afford you.”

  Cassidy tightened her grip on the bag of baked goods and the paper travel tray that held the drinks. “I’m not here for you. I’m here for your son. I believe he needs representation if he’s already part of the system. The least you can do is hear me out for his sake.”

  “Estefan, I’m taking a break!” Joy yelled toward the front of the coffeehouse.

  “You just got here!” The guy with the ponytail behind the counter yelled back.

  “Then I won’t be missed.” Joy rolled her eyes. “Let’s have a seat in that clean booth over there.”

  Cassidy followed Joy to a booth in the back corner. It wasn’t exactly clean. She put down her things on the table next to it then pulled a couple of napkins from a dispenser and gave the table and booth seat a thorough wipe down, then sat down.

  Joy gave her a once-over. “I should have known you weren’t from the management company. They’re not that polished over there, while you look like you just posed for the cover of Uptight Urban Professional Quarterly. I’d say the diamond doorknob on your finger and earrings you’re sporting cost a pretty penny. And those shoes and hand bag would cost me six month’s pay.”

  “Are you a jewelry appraiser in your spare time?” Cassidy raised an eyebrow.

  “No. I used to date a guy who used to abscond with other snooty people’s property until he got busted for it.”

  “I hope your taste in men has improved since dating him.”

  “Do you get nose bleeds up in that high castle you live in?” Joy fired back.

  Cassidy took a deep breath and ignored the comment. She wasn’t here to justify her lifestyle to this stranger. She was here to stop a child from being put back into an already cluttered system. She pulled out a small note pad out of her purse and launched into her assessment. “I know you have an issue with child services and that there’s a history there. I’m here to help. Why did you pick your son up late from daycare? Has an investigation been initiated?”

  “Yes. There’s a hearing coming up.” Joy dug into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out a crumpled letter.

  Cassidy scanned it. “OK. We have a timeline.”

  “My kid isn’t going back to no foster home. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “We’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen. I’d like to help, but you have to accept me as your counsel.”

  “Like I told you, I have no money.”

  “I didn’t ask you for a retainer. It’s a favor for the friend of the friend.”

  “Oh, so this is some kind of rich girl giving back to the community thing? That entitlement weighing heavy on you?”

  “You know, you’ve been throwing around assumptions since we sat down. I could run with the assumption that you’re an angry brat who doesn’t take responsibility for her actions. But I’m going to reserve judgment about that because I’m a professional and the best bet you have to get out of this mess and keep your son. So, do you want to keep taking cheap shots at me or do you want help keeping your son?”

  Joy’s eyes widened. She looked out the window for a few minutes before finally saying. “Fine. You can be my lawyer.”

  “Fabulous.” Cassidy went into her purse again and pulled out a business card. “I will get in touch with the contact person on the letter. If anyone else contacts you, tell them to call me.”

  “Cassidy Shaw Blake. Family law.” Joy rolled her eyes again. “Even your business card is stuck-up. Let me guess, the smoking-hot ginger outside in the Maserati is waiting for you?”

  “He’s my husband.” Cassidy stood. Joy seemed quite aware of her surroundings, but it was probably Channing’s X-ray like stare in their direction that tipped Joy off that he was waiting for her. “I need to see you in my office next Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock. Do you think you can make it?”

  “I can move some things around.”

  “Call if something comes up. It’s imperative we meet and plan a strategy. Until then I’ll do some digging. And don’t antagonize your boss. You’ve been sitting here for fifteen minutes, and he hasn’t complained, and you need the job. Steady employment makes you look responsible. You have a good evening.”

  “Thanks,” Joy mumbled.

  Cassidy exited the coffeehouse and got into the car. “Sorry I took so long, but I have some treats for you to munch on until I get dinner started.”

  “How did it go?” Channing turned on the car and pulled out of the spot.

  “I went in there looking for Joy and I found…something else.” She sipped on her coffee concoction.

  “Was that a tattoo on her neck?”

  “Yes. It looks like a hot mess from a distance, but up close it’s kind of pretty.”

  “Are you sure about this?”

  “Yes.” Cassidy caressed his arm. “Everything will be fine. Now let’s get home and grill up that halibut.”

  She knew it was going to be an uphill battle, but she wanted to take the case. She’d have to lay down some ground rules for her new client and she’d have to meet Isaiah as soon as possible. But right now she was too tired and hungry to worry about it anymore. She just wanted to spend some time with her wonderful husband and escape from the pressure for a little while…

  CHAPTER THREE

  The weekend had come for their trip to Ohio, and their first meal at the Shaw household had already taught Channing that dinner topics could wander into a minefield without any warning. He passed the peas and continued eating his meal, hoping he wouldn’t have to stop his wife from stabbing someone in the hand with her fork. The dinner table at the Shaw household was always lively and today was no exception. Being part of a big family, he was used to the hustle and bustle, but somehow it annoyed Cassidy. He knew the angst of being the youngest child of five. Siblings Anderson, Dahlia, Julian, and Megan never let her forget that she was the lowest sibling on the totem pole and that she was their parents’ favorite. Not that she saw it that way.

  The conversation started innocently enough when Hyacinth asked Cassidy’s oldest brother Anderson if moving into a bigger home meant he and his wife Shannon would be adding to their family. Anderson, a local television reporter, prattled on about how work had been chaotic lately and how his wife Shannon’s psychology practice was thriving. They had two children, Anderson Jr. and Keira, who—he added in amusement—weren’t all that anxious to have another sibling. Dahlia, the oldest sister, said she and husband Gavin were focusing on their careers right now but had been thinking about a sibling for their little girl Maya. The whole conversation put Channing on edge. Now was not the time for free-for-all discussions about conception options. Especially since he hadn’t talked them over with his wife. He didn’t want her to feel like he was pressuring her.

  Cassidy’s remaining two siblings, Julian and Megan, were single and—as far as he knew—weren’t dating anyone seriously. Julian was a happily single contractor who loved restoring old homes, while Megan, a buyer for a department store, was looking for Mr. Right Now. She wasn’t all that interested in finding a husband so much as having fun.

  “Cassidy, are you and Channing still waiting for the doctor to give you the all clear?”

  “Uh.” He glanced over at Cassidy. Apparently she hadn’t shared the news with her mother. “We got the go ahead a few months ago.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Hyacinth said. “Now you can concentrate on getting me a grandchild.”

  Cassidy shoved her peas around on her plate. “Mom, you do know there’s a more likely chance that I can’t conceive, right? Not naturally anyway.”

  The table fell quiet.

  “But there’s still a chance?” Hyacinth countered.

  “Well, yes,” Cassidy replied. “But it’s not fav
orable odds.”

  “Hope is hope. Whether it’s the size of a kernel or a football field, it’s still there. You just need a big dose of positive thinking, and prayer never hurt.” Hyacinth smiled and took a sip of her wine and looked at her son-in-law. “You do still want children, right Channing?”

  “Of course,” Channing blurted out, then glanced at his wife to see her reaction. She wasn’t aiming any cutlery at him, but she didn’t look happy either. How had this conversation gotten so out-of-hand so quickly?

  “Well, the fertility doctor said to be hopeful with some resignation,” Cassidy replied carefully. “I’ve been tested, and levels that gauge my ability to have viable eggs are borderline at best. But I’ve also been realistic about it.”

  Channing squeezed her hand. “We’d like to see if natural conception is possible but there are other options.”

  “Why would you want to have a child anyway?” her sister Megan chimed in. “You both put in pretty long hours and you travel all the time.”

  Her mother replied before Cassidy could. “It’s simple. When you have kids you make concessions.” Hyacinth dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. “Your father and I modified our schedules when you kids came along.”

  “I think you did more than Dad. Let’s be honest.” Megan took a gulp of wine.

  “We both made compromises,” her mother replied.

  “And aren’t there like a hundred kids on that fancy ranch? You’re always taking them out or hosting sleepovers. If you ask me, it’s a sweet deal. Spoil them and send home to their parents.”

  “I think it’s nice Cassidy spends time with the kids in Channing’s family,” older sister Dahlia added.

  Channing winced when Cassidy gripped his hand in response. It was better than Cassidy hurling the cutlery at Dahlia.

  Instead, she shot Dahlia a dirty look. “It’s a simple matter of proximity. I love all of my nieces and nephews equally.”

  Mason Shaw clanged his knife on his plate. “Ladies. No sword-play at the dinner table.”

  “Of course. There’s adoption.” Dahlia smiled back at her. “My friend Francine fostered an infant boy. She had him for two years, now she’s in the adoption process.”

  “And surrogacy,” Megan added. “You could get someone to carry for you. It would be less stress on your body.”

  “Megan, that’s not the only reason to use a surrogate.” Hyacinth gave her daughter a dirty look. “You’re missing the point. Half of the pregnancy journey is carrying the baby in your womb. It helps you bond.”

  “But it’s not very appealing. I don’t want this—” Megan waved her hand in an up and down motion in front of her body, “—to get wrecked by the birthing process. The way Dahlia described it to me, it’s an utter nightmare. Did you know that some women move their bowels while delivering? Tell her Dahlia.”

  Everyone dropped their forks and groaned. Leave it to Megan to drop a controversial dinner bomb. His sister-in-law loved to poke the metaphorical bear, making sure the world knew she was there.

  “Young lady, if you don’t know what to talk about at the table, maybe you should keep quiet.” Mason replied.

  Cassidy let out a snort. “I think you’ve been telling her that since we were kids.”

  “I told you that in confidence,” Dahlia seethed at Megan.

  Megan flashed a grin of satisfaction. “Thanks for the cautionary tale. The bit of information helped me become very discerning about the men I date.”

  “Finally, she has some standards.” Julian took another helping of mashed potatoes. “Too bad we had to tolerate that parade of losers she’s brought in here over the years.”

  “Really, Mr. Emotionally Unavailable?” Megan countered.

  “Hey, I’m in touch with my feelings. I just have high expectations.”

  “It would be hard to love someone as much as you love yourself.” Dahlia smirked.

  “Can we table the dirty laundry?” Mason said and turned to Channing. “Channing, I’m sorry. This is not our typical dinner conversation.”

  Channing chuckled. “I’ve heard much worse at my family dinner table.”

  Hyacinth continued. “I just want a grandbaby from you two. I don’t care how you do it. We’re going to love it all the same.”

  “No pressure, Mom,” Cassidy grumbled.

  “We appreciate your enthusiasm, Mom. It means a lot that you’re rooting for us.” Channing smiled, but he knew this time not to look over at Cassidy.

  * * *

  Cassidy felt strange getting ready for bed in her old bedroom with Channing there. Sure, they’d visited Ohio plenty of times, but this was the first time they’d stayed in her parents’ home. She preferred to stay in a hotel; it gave her a break from the family until the next round of events. But this time Channing had insisted they stay at the house. For the most part, the dinner conversation had been annoying but still entertaining. It reminded her of the good old days. Her parents had encouraged expressing opinions and it made for lively meals together. It was what had inspired her to practice law. She’d known her mother would work babies into the discussion, but she’d hoped she could steer it in another direction if that happened. But tonight she’d been distracted by how well she was getting along with her siblings, minus the barbs from Dahlia.

  “Did you like the entertainment at the table?” She buttoned her pajama top.

  “It was just like being home.” He knelt down to get a better look at the old steamer trunk at the foot of her bed and inspected the lock.

  “Your family is not that snarky with each other.”

  “Well, mama didn’t allow too much sniping when we were growing up. She said we’d thank her for it when we were all adults.” He fiddled with the lock. “What’s in here?”

  “Old mementos.”

  “Is there a combination for this thing?”

  “You are too nosey for your own good. I won’t be held responsible for anything you find in there.” She came over and opened it for him.

  “I can’t believe you kept all of this stuff.” Channing laughed as he looked through the old steamer trunk of hers that was filled with youthful keepsakes.

  “Believe it. I told my mom a long time ago she could get rid of it and redecorate this room, but she wouldn’t. This would make a great gym or a bigger office for my dad.”

  “You’re right. It is the biggest room in the house. Why did you have it exactly?” He raised an eyebrow.

  “I fed my parents some bull-crap about how, as the smartest child in the family, I needed space for books and crafts.” She flashed a cheesy grin.

  He looked around. “So this was a private world for you?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “I think maybe she just wanted to keep the memory of you in this house intact.” He smiled and picked up a journal.

  “I have tons of these books filled with misunderstood teenage angst.” She took the journal from him and flipped through it.

  “Have any juicy passages on any boys you liked?”

  “Maybe.” She tossed it back at him.

  There was a knock on the door.

  “Come in,” she yelled. It was her mom.

  “I brought you some extra blankets. You might not remember, but it gets drafty up here. I don’t want Channing to catch a cold.” Her mother placed the blankets on the bed. “Before I forget, Anderson and Shannon changed the arrival time for the housewarming from four to five.”

  “What’s with the change?” Cassidy asked.

  “I don’t know. You know how meticulous your brother can be. He’s having the installers put the finishing touches on his home theater. I think he wants to impress Channing after seeing the movie-viewing room at your house.”

  “Impress me?” Channing replied.

  “The general consensus is that my family doesn’t want to appear to be hicks in any way to you and your family.”

  “What? I’ve never thought that.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Cassidy rolled
her eyes. “Status has been drilled into our heads.”

  “Hey. You make it sound like a bad thing,” Hyacinth replied.

  She didn’t want to fight. “You’re right. I should have said that my family and extended family have always taken great pride in the elevation we’ve made since the days of our great grandparents being dirt-poor. It’s not as pretentious as it sounds.”

  “My daddy always says we’re not bound by the past of our ancestors. We should respect the way they lived and survived but be bold enough to make our own futures.”

  Her mom smiled. “That sounds exactly like something John Jacob would say. I swear that man stepped right out of an old Western movie.”

  “We have the housewarming gift. Do they need us to bring anything?” Cassidy asked.

  “No. I think we’re good.”

  “I had a case of wine shipped to his new place from my friend Marco’s vineyard in California. I hope it’s arrived,” Channing said.

  “Oh, he’ll love that,” her mom said. “Goodnight you two. I’m starting breakfast at seven.” She headed for the door and was about to close it when Megan appeared.

  “Good, you’re still up.” Megan smiled and kissed her mom. “Goodnight, Mom.”

  “Don’t stay up too late.” Hyacinth wagged a finger then left.

  “Megan, I’m surprised you spent the night here. Shouldn’t be on a hot date with that artist you’re seeing?”

  “We broke up. Besides, I started feeling nostalgic for the good old days when Mom said you would be here instead of at some fancy hotel downtown.”

  Cassidy eyed her sister. She knew that restless look. Their shared history didn’t involve braiding each other’s hair and gabbing about boys. She and Megan were never that close. “What’s up?”

  “Nothing. We haven’t caught up in a while. I was just wondering what’s been going on with you.” Megan plopped on the bed. “I love your hairdo. I’d never have the nerve to wear such a short, sleek cut, but you have the features for it. But I thought your hair would have grown back by now.”