Claudia Hodgins tried to be impartial as well as respectful to all his employees at the CH Postal Company.
That was what his father had taught him to do since he was a young boy.
Impartial.
Respectful.
Smart.
Taking Violet as his ward, picking her up from the hospital and recovery rooms, setting up her adoption, papers and all, and bringing her to the Evergarden home was meant to be her new start. Not to give into her large and sad eyes when she refused to leave his side. He had a problem imaging how Gilbert had dealt with it. Not because he felt annoyed, but he felt like he was an intruder. An outsider to the real person she wanted to follow and be led by.
"You like her," Cattleya remarked at dinner, her intuitive nature always getting the better of him. "Should I introduce her to the girls? See if she wants to work with the Dolls?"
"I don't want to command her." That was the truth of it, he was upset how easily she gave into orders. Her obedience could be so easily manipulated, other would take advantage of her, and he couldn't have that.
"You really like her then," there was a hint of something in Cattleya's voice, something that made him gloat.
"Not like that Cat, are you jealous?"
She sniffed.
He laughed. "You really shouldn't be, are you blind?" It was obvious that he didn't feel like that for Violet, that was the farthest thing from his mind. "I am protecting her, that is what she deserves after everything she went through in the War."
"You went through it too," Cattleya reached between us, our hands touching. "You don't have to do it alone."
"Thank you."
"Anytime Claudia."