Page 28 of Defensive Indifference

“Because people get bored and nosy. It doesn’t change that you need to be careful. If her son gets too attached to you—”

I interrupt Spencer’s warning with another groan. “Listen, her son has talent. Even though Dad loved that I played ball, he never supported it as a career option. All I want is to ease Evalina’s hardship, which, I remind you, is the least I can do after putting her on front-page news for days in a row.”

Katie’s frown softens. “I think you turned out pretty great even without Dad supporting your choice.”

Leave it to my sister to remove all frustration and annoyance from my body with a well-placed smile and a few sweet words.

I rise, ready to change the subject and get something to eat. “I’m going to make us some—”

A knock on the door interrupts me. I’m not expecting anyone, not with Spencer and Katie already here, Andrew and Lottie busy for the day, and most of the rest of the team quietly avoiding my house for now. They don’t say it aloud, but I know they are. I don’t blame them, honestly.

I should have known from the tension in the room that the person on the other side of the door would have nothing but bad news, but I don’t, so when I open it and find Eleanor Dawson looking back at me, I’m surprised.

“Eleanor? What are you doing here?”

She releases a long, drawn-out sigh. “I take it you haven’t checked your email today?”

My body tenses. “I try to avoid it on my days off, if I can. What’s going on?” I step aside and let her inside where it’s not a sweltering ninety degrees.

Eleanor offers a curt nod to Spencer and Katie before diving right in. “Your father’s attorney was…let’s just say sleeping with the fishes has a particularly accurate meaning in this case.”

Katie gasps. “He’s dead?”

“Murdered, yes. Someone cut his brake lines. He veered off the road and crashed into the river. Unfortunately, they retrieved his body this morning.”

“What exactly does this mean?” Spencer asks, his hand seeking Katie’s. He grasps hers and tugs her a bit closer.

“It means your father’s case just got a lot scarier, and I’m back to help you two navigate what is bound to come your way.” Eleanor is rattled, seemingly very unlike herself.

I motion to the living area. “Sit, relax. You seem shaken more than—”

“I’m fine. I’m used to this, truly. My family has had their fair share of incidents over the years. You can’t have the money and influence the Dawsons have without it.” She rakes her fingers through her hair, and I notice for the first time she’s not wearing her usual attire. She’s in jeans and a tank top, which must mean she came during her personal time to alert us of the news.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Katie asks.

Eleanor frowns and shakes her head. “It hits home. I’m not going to lie about that, but I’m here for you two. Have either of you spoken to your mother?”

I urge her to sit again, and this time she accommodates. Spencer releases Katie’s hand and whispers something about getting iced tea for everyone, leaving the three of us alone.

“I called her twice, but she hasn’t responded. Should we be worried?” Katie asks.

“I wouldn’t say that, but it would be nice to have an account of what is going on. I can’t get anyone to give me any information.” Eleanor shrugs. “Not that it’s any of my business, but it would make my job easier to have some updates.”

I check my phone and find several emails from Eleanor and one from my lawyer, Mr. Peterson. I tap the email and find it’s pretty mundane. The same update on my father’s attorney, plus added assurance that our assets are safe. He recommends we lay low, stay out of the public eye as much as possible.

“I’ll try calling her now. Maybe she’ll answer.” I tap call and wait as my mother’s phone rings and rings. I can’t decide whether I’m grateful that I don’t have to dive into the drama, or disappointed that our own mother hasn’t given us any information at all. Finally, she answers.

“Koa, I’m so sorry. I’m rushing around here, losing my mind.”

“What is going on? Katie is here; I’m gonna put you on speaker.” I place my phone on the table and tap the speaker icon, meeting Katie’s worried eyes.

“First, I need you to know your father is innocent. His refusal is what got him in this mess, but the Butlers have offered their attorney. He’s well-versed in this sort of case.” Mom continues to rattle on about how Dad is innocent and she’ll hire all the lawyers necessary to ensure he is set free, but not once does she ask how we are doing. She even talks about how badly her reputation has been impacted by all of this—she lost her seat on the board of this and that, hasn’t been invited to the ladies’ teas by this society and that society, and even half of the staff has quit.

Eleanor’s gaze drifts to mine, her lips pursed into a tight scowl. Somehow, I think she gets it more than I’d wish on another person. By the time Mom is finished rambling, Spencer has returned with the tea and a bag of cookies. He sits with Katie and shakes his head, knowing very well how our family operates. Mom loves us, but she covers her stress with all manner of ostrich-like behaviors. The more she can make this seem like a minor social hiccup, the better she’ll manage.

“I must be going, darling, but rest assured that our family name will survive this incident.” She calls money laundering, murder, and all manner of other crimes an incident? That jives.

There’s no amount of discussion that could ever change my mother’s mind about our family name or its importance in society. Not even her husband sitting in a jail cell awaiting a trial can hamper her vision. Not for the first time, I remind myself that her parents raised her this way, always worried about her image, and there is little I can do to change that wiring.