Griffin was silent until I glanced up from the paperwork.
“I am. Yes.” His lips were pressed together in a slight grimace.
Was he struggling to come to terms with the sudden acquisition of a child? He didn’t seem like a man who took unexpected developments in stride. “This document indicates you’re the custodian for his life insurance. Were you named his financial guardian in the will?”
“I was.”
“Were you named his physical guardian?”
“Yes.” He shifted in his chair, his gaze sliding from mine to the wall behind me.
His body language was conflicted. I’d only known him for a few minutes, but I knew he was out of his element. “You don’t want to be his guardian?”
“I can handle the financial matters, but I can’t be the one—” His eyes were filled with anguish.
In the scenarios I dreamed of meeting Griffin Locke, this wasn’t it. One where he needed me. One where he was at a loss.
My heart sunk a little when he’d admitted he couldn’t care for his nephew. Why had he come to me? Surely he had attorneys on speed dial with the way he handled business transactions. When we’d researched, we discovered he was a successful business owner of a software start-up company.
“Declan’s in my care, but I’m exploring every option. His mother, Erin Whesker, left when he was a baby. As far as I know, she hasn’t contacted him since. He has grandparents who may be able to care for him. They don’t live nearby but they’re a better choice.”
Any respect I had for him diminished. Was he reluctant to take in his nephew because he didn’t like children or because he was too busy to care for him? “Yet your brother chose you. He didn’t discuss his designation with you when he wrote the will?”
His expression was pensive. “No. I was unaware of his decision or the contents of his will.”
I advised clients to get permission before naming guardians for this very reason. Not everyone was willing and able to care for children.
He cleared his throat. “Julian took out this insurance policy to protect Declan. I want to make sure he gets what my brother wanted for him.”
“Okay. We’ll focus on that. Can you tell me what happened?” It was my job to ask questions, to pry, but it didn’t make it any easier. This would be difficult for him.
Griffin leaned his elbows on the table, shifting closer to me, but his gaze was on the wall across from him. “I was supposed to go out with him that day. Something came up and I couldn’t be there. He shouldn’t have gone out by himself.”
My pen hovered over my legal pad but I couldn’t take my gaze from him. “Had he gone out by himself on other occasions?”
“A few times. I always told him not to, but he wanted to go out on the water more than I was able to join him. Sometimes he went out with friends.”
“Would you say he was an experienced sailor?”
“He went out frequently. He knew his way around a boat.”
I’d need to determine what kind of boat he owned, if he’d taken sailing lessons, safety courses, the weather conditions that day, any craft warnings. “Okay. I’ll need to research the conditions on the bay that day.”
“A small craft advisory came up while he was out. He should have known that. There’s a radio on the boat.” Griffin’s jaw clenched.
It sounded like he disapproved of Julian’s actions that day. If Griffin was experienced with boating, he might have some insight as to protocol. It’s what the insurance company would be investigating. “If you were with him and a small craft advisory came up, what would you have done?”
“I would have made every effort to return to dock, drop sails, motor back, as would he.”
“Was there a police investigation?” I struggled to keep things professional, not allow feelings of sympathy to overwhelm me.
“There was a police report.” He pulled the report out of a folder, pushing it across the table toward me.
I reviewed it quickly to make sure there was no new information included. Satisfied there wasn’t, I took a deep breath, preparing myself to ask the tougher question. “Would you say your brother was suicidal? Did he have any mental health issues?”
Griffin rested his elbows on the table, shaking his head. “No. None at all. He worked as a financial advisor at a firm in Baltimore. He kept his boat at a marina in Middle River. He cared for his son when Declan’s mother left. It must have been tough but he never said he couldn’t handle it. He wouldn’t leave his son.”
Griffin was adamant Julian hadn’t taken his own life, but he lived in California. If Julian had mental health issues, he might not have known. I hoped Griffin was right. I wanted Declan to get whatever his father wanted for him. “The payout hasn’t officially been denied. They’re conducting an investigation into his death. I can contact the adjuster if you’d like me to handle this for you.”
He sighed. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” There wasn’t much for me to do except take this one task off his hands. I’d be the conduit between him and the insurance company.
Griffin’s face was open, not how I’d ever imagined him. In my dreams, he was strong, dark, and broody. He didn’t ask for help. He demanded it. The evidence that he could be vulnerable felt like a tiny pinprick in my heart.
He stood, heading for the door.
I wasn’t ready for him to leave. I wanted to understand his motives when we’d been adversaries from the beginning. “Griffin. Why did you ask me for help?”
He faced me with a pained expression. “I moved to Maryland before Julian died.”
“Okay.” Had he sold his business in California? Why had he moved back?
“I live in the upstairs apartment. Since Julian died, I’m living in his house to keep Declan’s routine. I came this morning to get my mail. I saw the insurance letter and needed to talk to someone, your firm was here.”
“You live upstairs?” Griffin Locke had lived in the same building for months. We’d thought the apartment was empty. It was always quiet. The stairs to the apartment were in the back of the building, so we wouldn’t necessarily have noticed if someone moved in.
“Yes.”
“I hadn’t realized.”
“I only lived there a month before he died. I have a child to care for and now this.” He ran his fingers through his hair, gesturing at the paperwork resting on the table.
“I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry.” I never thought I’d be the one comforting Griffin. I’d worried if he ever showed up in the office, he’d have a problem with the improvements we’d made but he didn’t seem to notice his surroundings.
“Thank you.”
“You might have other needs as well, the handling of the estate, guardianship, financial issues, property. If you need help with anything else, please let me know.”
“I will.” His jaw was tight.
The way he described things, he’d opened the mail, got upset, and needed help. Without thinking things through, he ended up at my office asking for me. I was convenient. Possibly the only local attorney he’d had contact with.
Would he come to his senses and change his mind? I pressed a hand to my chest to ease the ache at the thought of not seeing him again. I felt invested in his case, in getting Declan what he deserved.