Page 13 of Autumn at the Cat Cafe

Bennett nodded. “That is correct. And Via, Earl thought that making Second Chapter and Pawsitive Vibes into one shop was an excellent idea.”

Via and Leo exchanged a confused look.

“About a month before his heart attack, Earl contacted me,” Bennett explained. “He asked to set up a meeting to change his twenty-year-old will. He gave me a few particulars about what he wanted addressed.” His gaze shifted to Leo. “Notably to excise you out of it.”

Leo shifted in his chair, not looking at Via anymore.

“Earl’s wish was for Via to run Second Chapter and eventually own it outright.”

Via sat back in shock. “Own? He said that too?”

Bennett nodded. “He figured since you would be running things when he retired, you might as well have the business. But I couldn’t pin him down on another meeting date. And then...” His expression turned somber. “We all know the rest.”

“So the shop and apartment are still legally mine?” Leo leaned forward.

“Yes. Earl was sincere about changing his will. He just didn’t have the chance to.”

The words were like a brick landing on her chest. “Is there anything we can do to change it now? Since you know what he really wanted?”

“I’m afraid not.” His tone was sympathetic. “I’m sorry, Via. That’s the law.”

She stilled, her emotions tumbling inside. At least when the will was in probate, she still had a connection to Earl. She was overseeing Second Chapter, even though she couldn’t go inside. But she protected it nevertheless. His apartment had remained untouched since his death. His things were still there. His legacy remained.

That legacy was Leo’s now. A man who didn’t know Earl, didn’t appreciate his life’s work. And there was nothing she could do about it.

The lump in her throat grew. Although she didn’t want to, she looked at Leo again, his gaze on her. She couldn’t read his expression, but at least he had the grace not to rub it in. For some reason, that made everything worse.

Somehow she managed to stand up and keep her composure. “Thank you for your time, Bennett.”

He nodded. “Of course.”

She left the office, fighting to keep from breaking down. Butthe second she stepped foot into the hallway, tears filled her eyes. She had to keep it together until she got to Pawsitive Vibes. Only a three-minute walk away, but it might as well be three miles. She rushed by Marge’s desk and out the door. She couldn’t bear to listen to the woman fawn over Leo again.

The sidewalk was empty except for a couple of passersby she didn’t recognize. Good. The path to Pawsitive Vibes was clear. She zoomed past the pharmacy—

“Via!”

Leo. Maybe he was going to rub it in her face after all. She ignored him and kept walking, but his long-legged stride caught up to her.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry,” he said.

That made her stop, right in front of Needle Drop Vinyl. He even sounded like he meant it, but she didn’t believe him. She spun around. “No, you’re not.” At his surprised look she added, “You got what you wanted.”

“I didn’t know he wanted you to have it.”

She glanced away, unable to respond. Her heart squeezed.

“I’m not going to feel bad over my legal inheritance. But...” A quick, almost imperceptible flicker of emotion appeared in his eyes. Then it was gone.

Via inwardly sighed. She didn’t have time for whatever games he was playing, but she did have attention. “Earl ran Second Chapter for thirty years. All the books in that shop are his personal collection.”

“They must not have meant much to him if he was willing to sell them.”

His comment proved he didn’t know anything about Earl. “Just the opposite. He enjoyed seeing people who shared his hobby, and he was glad when his books found good homes.” It was something they had bonded over. She loved every cat that had stayedat the cat café, but she was even happier when they were adopted. “Just...”

“Just what?”

“Don’t ruin it, Leo.” Great, now she was fighting tears again. “Please.”