“Yes, that’s me.”
“I thought I put you through to him once already. Let me tell you he wasn’t happy about it, either.”
“You did, and I appreciate it. And you’re right, he wasn’t interested in talking to me.”
The older woman made a huffing sound. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
“I was wondering,” Beth ventured carefully, “would it be possible, would you mind talking to me about a personal matter involving Mr. Hamlin?”
Her request was received with an eerie silence until Beth was convinced the line had been disconnected. “Hello?”
“I’m here. I have a question for you, missy—are you trying to get me fired?” the woman asked incredulously.
“No, never—”
“Is this a setup?” she demanded next.
“No, I swear.” This wasn’t going well, and Beth instantly regretted asking the favor.
“These young girls the firm has answering the phone these days aren’t worth near what I am. They know it and have got it out for me.”
“I’m sorry,” Beth said. “I didn’t mean to offend you. The reason I’m asking is because I know someone who knew Mr. Hamlin years ago. Someone he loved and who loved him.”
“When was this?” Sondra Reacher asked, lowering her voice.
“Nearly thirty years ago.”
“And you know this person how?” she demanded.
“I’m her niece,” Beth supplied.
After a short hesitation, Sondra whispered into the phone. “I can’t talk here. Too many ears, if you know what I mean. Give me your phone number and I’ll call you back this evening.”
Excited now, Beth quickly relayed the phone number. “There’s a two hour time difference between here and Chicago and I’m not out of school until three-thirty, so please don’t phone until after six your time.”
Her words were met with a short hesitation. “Just how old are you, child? You still in school?”
“I’m a teacher.”
“Okay, then. You’re not underage or anything?”
“No, not at all.”
Her voice dipped again. “You do realize this could get me fired.”
Beth’s hopes did a tumble. “If you’d rather not, I understand and I won’t blame you for being cautious.”
“My husband would have disapproved, but he’s been gone three years so I do what I want these days. That’s one of the compensations of being a widow.”
“You’d risk your job to talk to me?”
“You gonna tell anyone it was me?”
“No.” And she wouldn’t. Beth fully intended to keep her promise. She was willing to accept full responsibility for whatever fallout came from their conversation.
“Then I’ll talk. Mr. Hamlin needs help and if this person … your aunt, can take that gruff edge off him, then it will be worth the risk.”
“Thank you,” Beth whispered in gratitude.
“Don’t thank me yet.”
Beth kept her phone within easy reach as soon as she walked out of the school building. When it rang, Beth jumped with the anticipation of it.
“Hello,” she said excitedly, seeing that the area code was from Chicago. “This is Beth.”
“I know who it is,” Sondra Reacher said. “You’re the one who gave me this number, remember?”
Beth grinned at her brusque tone. “I remember.”
“Now, what is it you want to know about Mr. Hamlin?” the woman asked, getting straight to the point.
Too late, Beth realized she should have been better prepared. She had a number of questions but wasn’t sure where to start.
“Is Mr. Hamlin married?”
“He used to be. He’s been divorced now for nearly twenty years.”
Twenty years. That was a long time to remain single. “Children?” she asked next.
“Two. Girls, both of them pretty as a picture. One’s married and made him a grandfather last June.”
Sunshine would love knowing that. “Is he close to his daughters?”
The question was answered with a snicker. “Mr. Hamlin isn’t close to anyone. You spoke to him. After the first minute you should have been able to tell he isn’t into teddy bears and lollipops. My guess is he’d like to be closer, but his ex is having none of that.”
“That breaks my heart.”
“Don’t know what that woman fed those girls. Can’t say for certain, but now that they are older I think their relationship with their father has improved.”
“You said you’ve been with the firm nearly forty years. So you must have been there when Mr. Hamlin came on board.”
“I was hired when the senior Mr. Hamlin was part of the firm. God rest his soul. He never made a secret of the fact that he wanted his son to go into law and join the practice. He didn’t mention it to me personally, you understand. At the time the office was small and one can’t help overhearing conversations.”
“Right.” That made sense to Beth.
“The younger Mr. Hamlin was determined to attend art school, though. His father refused to finance his efforts and was unhappy when he found a way to enroll all on his own. One time the missus showed up at the office and it was clear she’d been crying. The two of them went into the office and closed the door. I don’t know what was said, but it was about the same time as the younger Mr. Hamlin left for art school. I believe the missus backed her son.”
“My aunt is an artist,” Beth murmured. “That’s where they must have met.”
“Sounds plausible.”
“I’m guessing but I think it was when my aunt and Mr. Hamlin broke up that he dropped out of art school.”
“Could be,” the older receptionist agreed. “What I can tell you is that as soon as his son switched to studying law the elder Mr. Hamlin was as happy and carefree as a kid on the last day of school. Before long the senior Mr. Hamlin was bringing the younger by and arranging for him to meet Mr. Bower’s daughter.”
“You mean the two law partners acted as matchmakers.”
“It was more than that. Both men made it clear that they expected the two to marry one day.”
“Expected?”
“Oh yes. Marriage with the daughter of one of the other senior partners would cement Peter the younger’s position as a junior partner. His daddy was all for that.”
Beth didn’t know the politics of a law office. “But what did Mr. Bower get out of this arranged marriage?”
“More than he deserved,” Sondra Reacher said with a huff. “Carolyn Bower was and still is a heartless soul.”
Beth could only guess what that implied. From the sound of it, Peter had gotten the short end of the deal. Right away her romantic heart kicked in, making it all the more important for her aunt to set matters straight with the man she loved. Like the plot of a book, she suspected that because he was broken-hearted he’d fallen victim to his father’s schemes, given up studying art, and married the woman he didn’t love. Fanciful for sure but plausible.
“Forgive me for asking this, but is Mr. Hamlin easily … swayed by outside forces?” Beth asked, afraid if he betrayed her aunt he might well do it to someone else.
“What?” the receptionist demanded. “No, you have it all wrong. Mr. Hamlin isn’t like that at all.”
Beth was glad to hear it.
The receptionist asked a question. “Tell me about your aunt?”
“Her name is Sunshine.”
Sondra Reacher laughed. “She one of those hippies who doesn’t realize the sixties are long over?”
“No, it’s a nickname from her childhood. Her real name is Louise.”
“There’s a famous artist with that same name. Only reason I know is because Mr. Hamlin has a painting in his office by her.”
Beth grinned, greatly encouraged by learning this. “That’s my aunt.”
Another pause. “Are you telling me that Mr. Hamlin was once in love with the artist Sunshine?”