I look down at my watch, realizing it’s almost 4:00 p.m. I’ve asked my dog-loving neighbor if she could take Molly for a walk during lunchtime while I’m here, but I still need to get going soon if I don’t want her to be going out of her mind by the time I get home. “Actually, if you don’t mind, I was thinking we could continue this tomorrow?”

“Oh, of course, honey,” Martina says.

I almost jump at the sound of the pet name rolling over me. I don’t remember the last time someone called me by anything other than my name. Even when my mom was alive, it never happened. She wasn’t the affectionate type, which is the total opposite of Martina. When she opened the door for me this morning, the first thing she did was hug me as if we were old-time friends. I froze for a second before patting her back in return.

I don’t know what to think of it. It’s not a bad thing to be this open and caring, just a little jarring.

“Okay, well, I’ll see you then.”

I get up to pack my stuff, and just then, we hear the sound of the front door opening, followed by a pair of feet running around and another walking behind.

“Hey, hey, hey,” comes Aaron’s voice from somewhere I still can’t see. “Shoes off! You know this.”

“They’re clean,” a high-pitched voice answers. Then, a head full of thick black curls pops through the door. The girl looks to be around nine or ten, with large brown eyes and thick lashes. “¿Mami, puedo ir a la casa de Zoe esta noche? Aarón me dijo que no.” She’s pouting, only looking at Martina, as if asking her for something.

“Callie!” Aaron bellows as he enters the room. His gaze finds mine first, and he does a double take before saying, “Sorry, guys. Callie, come on.”

Huh. So not a girlfriend, after all.

“Hola, mija,” Martina says before pressing a kiss on Callie’s head. The young girl rolls her eyes, but at the same time, sinks deeper into Martina’s embrace. “It’s okay, Aarón,” she tells him before tipping her head toward my packed work bag. “Ms. Lawson was just finishing.”

He stares at me in question, so I tip my head in agreement. His gaze doesn’t go anywhere, though, which makes my cheeks burn. Being under someone’s spotlight has never been something I enjoy. Ironic for an attorney, I guess, but it’s different when I receive attention while I work. Here, I feel more vulnerable.

With a small wave, I tell Martina and Dennis, “Okay, well, I’ll see you both tomorrow.” I give Aaron and Callie a tight-lipped dip of the head, then walk outside.