This is ours.
“Me, too,” I say quietly.
We barely have time to savor the moment before there’s a buzz at the gate.
“I bet it’s Zach. He probably forgot something,” I say, heading over to the controller.
Ella’s still in the living room, pulling out her crayons now, as Jamie goes to her. “I’m gonna draw Mr. Squishy having a tea party with Princess Blanca and Mr. Nibbles.”
“That's great, baby,” I say, heading for the door. “Keep drawing, okay?”
There’s another buzz, and when I check the camera, my brows furrow. It’s not Zach, but two men in suits, talking to each other.
“Can I help you?” I ask through the speaker.
One of them looks up at the camera, and it feels like his sharp eyes pierce through me.
“Is this the residence of Ms. Tiffany Bright?”
I swear my heart stops beating for a second.
“Hello?”
My fingers curl around the controller. I already know. I don’t want to say it, but my body does before my brain catches up. The weak knees. The shallow breath. The instinctive urge to look over my shoulder, like I need to protect Ella from something she can’t see yet.
“Uh,” I manage.
The younger man adjusts his grip on the thick manila envelope he’s holding.
I’ve seen envelopes like that before.
Lawyers.
And they’re here for me.
“We need to urgently speak with you, Ms. Bright.”
I don’t think. If I think, I’ll freeze. So I press the button and open the gate, my muscle memory taking over. I’ve done this before. Too many times.
By the time I force myself to open the front door, they’re already on the porch, briefcases at their sides like this is just another stop on their morning route.
One older. One younger.
Both looking at me like they already know my fate.
“Ms. Tiffany Bright?” the older one asks, though something in his tone says he already knows exactly who I am.
My mouth goes dry. “Who are you?”
“We're here on behalf of Jonathan Nicks.” The man’s voice is so professional, he almost sounds bored.
“O-okay.”
“Can you please confirm you are Tiffany Bright?” the younger one asks.
I hesitate for half a second too long. My heart is pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears. “Yes. I am.”
He nods once, then holds out the envelope to me.