Authors: Annie Jones
“
My grandmother issued that edict. She had no use for my father from the very start. She knew about his drinking and that he didn
’
t care for her churchiness. My mother married him anyway, and my grandmother set down the ruling. My father was never to set foot in her home.
”
“
Her
home?
”
Riley sat forward.
“
My home
is
her home, Riley, just as it is for Aunt Sis and Grandpa.
”
Dixie
’
s quiet conviction hurried her words out through her tight lips.
“
Just as it will be for you and Wendy for as long as you need it.
”
“
Whatever the reason, it
’
s clear my grandmother does think of your house as
her
home and your family as...well, obviously she holds them in high esteem.
”
She didn
’
t get the impression that Fulton condemned her family for his grandmother
’
s actions or opinions, but she also sensed that he did not particularly share Miss Lettie
’
s regard.
“
My issues are not with you, Miss Fulton-Leigh—it is still Miss Fulton-Leigh? Or is it Mrs. Walker?
”
He looked to Riley, then Dixie.
“
Oh, no, we
’
re not married.
”
Riley threw both hands up as if ready to physically repel the idea.
“
We
’
re—
”
“
Mr. Walker here is the new primary shareholder and CEO of the trucking division. He bought the controlling interest from my grandfather after my father died a few weeks ago.
”
“
I hadn
’
t heard. I don
’
t get much word from Fulton
’
s Dominion anymore. I, uh, I am, of course, very sorry for your loss. Very sorry.
”
She believed he meant it. Whatever he felt toward her family, Fulton Summers seemed a kind and decent man. She saw on the wall and in the awards sitting in his bookshelves evidence of education, hard work, dedication, and charity. This was, without a doubt, just the sort of man she needed to help her and Riley untangle themselves from Greenhow. Just the kind of man Riley could use on his side in Wendy
’
s adoption case.
Dixie had to make the connection now for her and Riley
’
s sake, as much as for Lettie
’
s.
“
Mr. Summers, we really need—
”
“
Pardon me for interrupting, but it seems pointless to let you go on.
”
He held one hand up.
“
As I
’
ve said, my issues are not with you, but I
’
m afraid you
’
ve wasted your time by coming here. I only wish you had made your intentions clear when you called me. I could have saved us both the trouble.
”
“
If I had told you who I was, would you have seen us?
”
“
Would I have devoted time I might have spent counseling a genuine client about a real legal matter talking to you about lost causes?
”
He shook his head.
“
What do you think?
”
“
I think you haven
’
t heard us out.
”
Riley leaned back in his chair, as though hunkering in for the long haul.
“
I
’
ve heard all I need to.
”
Fulton stood.
“
Then at least do us the courtesy of recommending another lawyer.
”
She knew that would command his attention.
“
What for?
”
His eyes narrowed behind the thin, oval frames.
“
You want to hire one to play the part of me for my grandmother?
”
“
We need legal counsel,
”
Dixie held her seat.
“
When you say we...?
”
“
My whole family and all our business concerns.
”
He sat down again.
“
As well as a personal matter.
”
Riley
’
s face went positively grim.
“
Do you have experience with adoption?
”
“
Wait. Stop right there.
”
Fulton put his head in his hands, his voice strained when he finally spoke again.
“
I don
’
t get this. What are you saying to me?
”
“
We
’
re saying we came here today on a dual mission, to find Lettie
’
s grandson
and
a new lawyer. I know it
’
s terribly simplistic of me, but I was hoping that we might find them in the same person. If it
’
s the kind of law that interests you.
”
He blew out a long blast of air, rubbed his knuckle over his chin then adjusted his glasses.
“
Adoption? No problem, I
’
ve done my share, even foreign adoption and some fairly tricky ones.
”
“
Great.
”
Riley clapped his hands together. Under other circumstances, Dixie thought he might have actually shouted
hallelujah
! to the heavens.
“
Family legal matters, the same. No problem, if the family has no problem with me doing the work.
”
“
If they do, they
’
d have me to answer to, Mr. Summers, and that includes ornery old Miss Lettie.
”
“
This I would sell tickets to.
”
Riley gestured broadly, his good mood uncontained.
Fulton laughed that wonderful laugh of his.
“
But I do have some concerns about the business. I
’
m not a corporate lawyer.
”
“
Neither was anyone at Greenhow, Greenhow, Byson, and Pryor. It
’
s routine stuff, Mr. Summers, contracts and negotiations on a business that
’
s run almost unchanged for thirty years. And nothing is pressing right now except tidying up as we extricate ourselves from our previous lawyer. So you
’
d have time to familiarize yourself with our needs and find out for yourself if you think you want to take it on or want to simply
stay with the family side of things.
”
“
You
’
d let me do that?
”
She
’
d walk through fire for this man
’
s grandmother. Now, having met him, she would do whatever she could to mend the rift between the two of them.
“
Yes. I would. Is that awfully
frivolous? Choosing a lawyer based on a tenuous family tie like this?
”
“
A lot of my clients chose me because my name came up top of the page in a web search, others because my office is close by, some because I go to their church, coach their kid
’
s soccer team, or because someone they know recommended me.
”
He shrugged.
“
How did you choose your last lawyer?
”
“
My dad went with old Mr. Greenhow because they were Boy Scouts together.
”
“
Ahh. The boyhood connection, I
’
d forgotten that one.
”
For the first time in this meeting mirth lit his dark eyes.
“
Beats the way I got
my
last lawyer.
”
Riley crossed his stretched-out legs at the ankle.
“
Met her when someone set us up on a blind date.
”
“
There
’
s a story there, no doubt.
”
Fulton
’
s chair gave a tight little squeak as he moved in it.
“
No doubt.
”
Dixie stared at Riley.
“
I
’
d love to tell you all about it, Mr. Summers. And I will if you
’
d let me do it over a nice, hot meal.
”
He hooked one thumb under the waistband of his jeans.
“
What do you say? Lot of business is done over lunch. It
’
d give us more time to talk, answer each other
’
s questions.
”
Riley looked over at Dixie and gave her a wink.
She pretended not to notice. She was suddenly very much aware of how little she knew about Riley Walker.
“
I suppose a lunch would give me more time to consider.
”
Fulton
’
s voice pulled Dixie back to the topic at hand.
“
If you
’
re sure it wouldn
’
t be awkward for you, Miss Fulton-Leigh.
”
“
Awkward?
”
She shook her head.
“
Not at all. In fact, I
’
d welcome the chance to spend more time with you.
”
“
What she
’
s saying is that she
’
s not done with you yet, Mr. Summers.
”
Riley put his feet flat, as if ready to stand.
“
Not done with me?
”
“
She
’
s had a few years since your last run-in with her to perfect that stubborn, determined side of her sweet, genteel nature. So far you haven
’
t given in and said you
’
d go pay a call on our beguiling Miss Lettie, or officially said you
’
d come on board as our legal counsel.
”
This time Riley did stand. He looked down at Dixie, then over to Fulton, then at her again. He held his hand out to help her from her chair.
“
It ain
’
t likely that Miss Dixie Belle Fulton-Leigh is going to let you out of her sight until she has an answer.
”
She gave him a glower that her smile probably completely undermined, rose from her chair on her own, then turned to Fulton.
“
Much as I hate to admit it, Mr. Summers, he is right. I
’
ll keep after you for that answer, even if I have to resort to following you around town singing
“
The Alphabet Song
”
until you cave in.
”
* * *
“
On the one hand, I guess I could be offended that you are, in essence, throwing me a bone because of some genetic link rather than on my own merits.
”
Fulton lifted the basket of bread the waitress had just left and flipped back the napkin on top to offer Dixie first choice.
“
On the other hand, and you could not possibly know this, you are throwing me a lifeline that I don
’
t see how I can refuse.
”
“
Then don
’
t.
”
Dixie plucked a golden corn muffin from the basket and held it up like Eve proffering the apple, only without the sinful undertones.
Riley chuckled under his breath and shook his head. That was his Dixie—
His eyes widened.
His Dixie
? Where had that come from?
He fit his palm around his cold, smooth glass of water and mulled the question over. He
’
d promised himself on the drive over not to think of her that way and yet here they were, a few hours later, and she was
his
Dixie. At least for one unguarded moment in his mind.