Ean smiled at her chastising tone. “That’s not my intention at all.”
“I knew that. Your parents brought you up right.” Ms. Helen nodded as though satisfied that he’d confirmed her opinion of him. “So what are you going to do, young man?”
Ean had been wondering the same thing. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out, Ms. Helen.”
Her frown deepened the wrinkles across her brow. “What’s there to think about? You’ve got to find a job. And you should find another place to live, too. Your mother has needs, and having a grown son living at home with her probably isn’t helping her to meet those needs, if you get my meaning.”
Ean’s gaze dropped to the publication in Ms. Helen’s hands. What was in that magazine? “I’m trying to decide where to apply for work.”
Ms. Helen grunted. She settled into the teakwood chair in front of her window. “Seems to me you would’ve given some thought to that before you came home.” Her tone was dry enough to start a campfire.
“I did, ma’am. But to tell you the truth, my priority was coming home. I knew I’d figure out everything else later.”
“Later is now, Ean. What have you figured out?”
Not much. In fact, he had more questions now than before he’d come home. “A lot of the bigger companies that would have law departments are headquartered farther away than I’d want to drive.”
She snorted. “The way I’ve heard it, people in New York are used to traveling long distances to work.”
Ms. Helen had always had a way of dismissing excuses.
He nodded. “That’s true.”
“Besides, what makes you think you’d have to travel?”
“There aren’t any law firms in Trinity Falls.”
“So what?” Ms. Helen kissed her teeth. “Does that mean people in Trinity Falls don’t need lawyers? There are businesspeople here who have contracts you can charge them to read. People need wills. Are we supposed to drive into the city just to pay you to write them for us?”
“You shouldn’t have to.” The lightbulb was flickering on. He was an idiot for not realizing it sooner.
“You don’t have to work for someone. So there aren’t any law firms in Trinity Falls. Start one yourself. And we’d trust you to do a good job for us and not rip us off.”
“Ms. Helen, you’re a genius.”
She sucked her teeth again. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
Her voice was gruff, but Ean saw the blush of pleasure on her thin cheeks.
He rose from the chair. “Thanks for your help, Ms. Helen.”
“You’re welcome, baby. But don’t forget, you’ve got to move out of your mama’s house. Get your own place—the sooner, the better. I don’t mean to embarrass you, but a woman has needs.”
Ean waved as he let himself out of her house, then put his shoes back on. He didn’t want her to embarrass him, either. Ms. Helen meant well, but he didn’t want to discuss his mother’s needs. A conversation like that would scar him for life.
CHAPTER 13
Ean entered his mother’s house. He removed his running shoes before walking to the kitchen. He filled a glass with cold tap water and drained it in one long gulp. He refilled the glass and drank it more slowly as he padded up the stairs. His thoughts raced with Ms. Helen’s suggestion that he start his own law firm. There was office space for rent in the Trinity Falls Town Center. He’d contact the center’s rental office after breakfast.
Twenty minutes later, showered and dressed, Ean jogged back downstairs. In the threshold, he stopped short at the sight of his mother sitting at the small honey wood kitchen table. She was reading the paper and sipping coffee. A red velour robe was wrapped around her. Fluffy brown slippers protected her feet.
How much longer could he delay a confrontation about his father’s illness? He’d wanted to ask her last night, but couldn’t find the courage.
“Good morning. Did you sleep well?” Ean walked to the fridge and pulled out the pitcher of ice water.
Doreen lowered the newspaper. “Yes, I did. How was your run?”
“Good.” Ean refilled his water glass. Was it his imagination or did their conversation sound stilted? “Can I make you breakfast?”