“Emotionally taxing. I get it,” she articulated with a nod. “You’re wearing the same expression your father would wear when children were involved. What happened?”
“A school bus driver with an expired license—three children are dead and ten are injured. The injured children range from moderate to critical. There’s a potential that the death toll may rise.”
“That’s awful.”
“It is. You wanted something?”
“I planned on taking you out to lunch, but it seems you have your hands full.”
She only wants to take me to lunch to chew me out about Dad, Corgirella, or both. Try again next time, lady.
“I do. I’m sorry. Casey’s in court, but maybe Kieran will accompany you. We all know how he loves a free meal.”
Mom clucked her tongue. “I wish that little boy would get out of my house already.”
“That bad, huh?” I laughed.
“Grant, I don’t know where your brother gets his cheapskate behavior from, but it’s alarming. He acts like he’s from the trenches.”
“What do you expect from a man who wears his father’s ‘vintage’ hand-me-down suits because he doesn’t want to spend money on a wardrobe?”
“He showed me an apartment listing and nearly had a meltdown over the $1,400.00 rent.”
“Where the hell did he find $1,400.00 rent in this economy?”
“On the side of town where you don’t want to wear the wrong colors.”
“Jesus.”
“Your father permitted him to move into the guest house, but he started squealing about ghosts, so we left it at that.”
“I don’t know why he doesn’t move in with Ronan,” I huffed, slinging my bag onto my shoulder.
“Kieran’s OCD wouldn’t allow it, and you know it,” she said, following me out of the office. I paused outside Kieran’s door and knocked before opening it.
“What’s up, Big Bro? Oh, hey, Mom.”
“Hi, sweetheart.”
“Kieran, I have to take off to Houston to meet with some grieving parents. I’m 90% certain we’ll represent them in a class action lawsuit against the school district. I need you to hold down the fort while I’m gone. Casey’s not here, and Daisy is already in Honeymoon Mode, so she won’t be worth a damn.”
“She never is. Don’t tell her I said that.”
“Your secret is safe with me. I’ll bring you on to assist with this case, and Daisy will take over pro bono when she returns from her honeymoon.”
“Oh… she won’t like that,” he mumbled.
“Probably not, and I’ll pay for it. I’ll see you later.”
“Take it easy,” he said, returning to his computer monitor.
I nearly arrived at my car when I realized Mom hadn’t veered off to her vehicle.
“As I said, I’m sorry I couldn’t make lunch today. I’ll make it up to you.”
“Nonsense,” she replied, rounding the front of my Mercedes to the passenger side.
“Um…where are you going?”