streamed down her cheeks. She really loved this man. He was like the father she’d never really had. “What am I supposed to do now?”
Her baby’s well-being rushed to the forefront of her brain. She had no way to support both of them. Her parents had money, but she refused to ask them for any help. Not only that, when they found out whose baby she was having, they’d probably want nothing to do with her.
Wade picked up her hand. “Does he have a wife?” She shook her head. “Do you know if he has any other relatives in town?”
Emmaline’s thoughts were too scattered. Think. Think . “He has a daughter, but I’m not sure where she lives.”
“Would anyone know?”
Everything seemed fuzzy all of a sudden. “He spoke about a woman named Agnes, who was his friend. I think she lives in town. She might know.”
Wade stilled. “Do you know Agnes’s last name?”
“No.”
Before he could make another suggestion, sirens sounded as the ambulance raced toward them. Wade stood to meet them while she remained on the porch. The paramedics slid out of the cab, spoke with Wade, and then headed around to the side door, while she remained on the porch to grieve. She couldn’t bear to see her boss so lifeless. He might not have been young, but he still had more years left.
After what seemed like forever, the two paramedics finally rolled Mr. Francolini out on a gurney. As soon as they sped off, Wade returned to her side. “Are you going to be okay?”
Not really. “Yes, but I need to go back to the office.”
Wade pulled her to a stand and folded her in his arms. “Emmaline, no you don’t.”
She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “I have to make arrangements. I need to contact his clients. I have to be there for him.” The words came out so rushed she hiccupped. She wouldn’t get paid for her work, but she needed to do this for him.
Wade inhaled then exhaled, studying her. “Okay, but I’m coming with you.”
She wasn’t certain that was a good idea. As much as she’d appreciate the company, she had a feeling this would only make her want him more.
Chapter Seven
E mmaline sat at her desk, not really knowing where to begin, and debating whether she should call all of Mr. Francolini’s clients first, or try to locate her boss’s next of kin. She looked up at Wade. “Do you think I should find another lawyer to take over his cases?”
“If I were a client, I’d feel better knowing someone would be there to pick up the pieces. Would you like me to ask around who might be available? Or do you have someone in mind?”
She was the one who was knowledgeable about the other lawyers. Besides, this wasn’t Wade’s responsibility. “I’ll take care of it.”
“What would you like me to do then?”
She had to think. “I’m guessing I’ll have to pack up all of his things at some point.” A well of emotion bubbled, and she lowered her head into her hands. “I thought he looked paler than usual. If only I’d said something, he might have sought help sooner.” She looked up, her eyes watering. “Do you think it was a heart attack?”
Wade stepped over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sure we can find out if you want, but this wasn’t your fault, you know.”
She sniffled. “Perhaps, but it’s just not fair. He had so much more to give.”
Wade nodded then glanced away for a moment. “Would you like me to buy some boxes and start packing?”
The idea of shutting down the office seemed so final. Wade was being incredibly helpful, though she wasn’t sure why. She needed the aid, but damn, the man was worming his way into her heart, something she needed to avoid at all costs. “That would be wonderful.”
* * *
The week after her boss’s death continued to be a nightmare. Emmaline had spent every day at the office trying to sort through the files, calling the clients, and locating Mr. Francolini’s daughter—who she eventually did find,
Her baby’s well-being rushed to the forefront of her brain. She had no way to support both of them. Her parents had money, but she refused to ask them for any help. Not only that, when they found out whose baby she was having, they’d probably want nothing to do with her.
Wade picked up her hand. “Does he have a wife?” She shook her head. “Do you know if he has any other relatives in town?”
Emmaline’s thoughts were too scattered. Think. Think . “He has a daughter, but I’m not sure where she lives.”
“Would anyone know?”
Everything seemed fuzzy all of a sudden. “He spoke about a woman named Agnes, who was his friend. I think she lives in town. She might know.”
Wade stilled. “Do you know Agnes’s last name?”
“No.”
Before he could make another suggestion, sirens sounded as the ambulance raced toward them. Wade stood to meet them while she remained on the porch. The paramedics slid out of the cab, spoke with Wade, and then headed around to the side door, while she remained on the porch to grieve. She couldn’t bear to see her boss so lifeless. He might not have been young, but he still had more years left.
After what seemed like forever, the two paramedics finally rolled Mr. Francolini out on a gurney. As soon as they sped off, Wade returned to her side. “Are you going to be okay?”
Not really. “Yes, but I need to go back to the office.”
Wade pulled her to a stand and folded her in his arms. “Emmaline, no you don’t.”
She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “I have to make arrangements. I need to contact his clients. I have to be there for him.” The words came out so rushed she hiccupped. She wouldn’t get paid for her work, but she needed to do this for him.
Wade inhaled then exhaled, studying her. “Okay, but I’m coming with you.”
She wasn’t certain that was a good idea. As much as she’d appreciate the company, she had a feeling this would only make her want him more.
Chapter Seven
E mmaline sat at her desk, not really knowing where to begin, and debating whether she should call all of Mr. Francolini’s clients first, or try to locate her boss’s next of kin. She looked up at Wade. “Do you think I should find another lawyer to take over his cases?”
“If I were a client, I’d feel better knowing someone would be there to pick up the pieces. Would you like me to ask around who might be available? Or do you have someone in mind?”
She was the one who was knowledgeable about the other lawyers. Besides, this wasn’t Wade’s responsibility. “I’ll take care of it.”
“What would you like me to do then?”
She had to think. “I’m guessing I’ll have to pack up all of his things at some point.” A well of emotion bubbled, and she lowered her head into her hands. “I thought he looked paler than usual. If only I’d said something, he might have sought help sooner.” She looked up, her eyes watering. “Do you think it was a heart attack?”
Wade stepped over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sure we can find out if you want, but this wasn’t your fault, you know.”
She sniffled. “Perhaps, but it’s just not fair. He had so much more to give.”
Wade nodded then glanced away for a moment. “Would you like me to buy some boxes and start packing?”
The idea of shutting down the office seemed so final. Wade was being incredibly helpful, though she wasn’t sure why. She needed the aid, but damn, the man was worming his way into her heart, something she needed to avoid at all costs. “That would be wonderful.”
* * *
The week after her boss’s death continued to be a nightmare. Emmaline had spent every day at the office trying to sort through the files, calling the clients, and locating Mr. Francolini’s daughter—who she eventually did find,
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