Juniper nodded thoughtfully, her mind drifting to memories of her father. “I remember him telling me that appearances matter in life, that everything counts. That having a job like his garnered respect, and could open doors that would otherwise be closed.”

Evelyn sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly under the weight of the years. “I think he also knew that my father looked at him highly because of it. As it was a field Poppop didn’t know anything about but knew enough as it tied into the legal space of what he did, that he could learn something from him… he respected it.”

Juniper frowned slightly, her gaze dropping to the worn rug beneath her feet, its once vibrant colors faded like old memories. “And because of this, he’s going to live another life doing the same thing again? Nobody does that…”

Evelyn gave her a pointed look, a hint of amusement sparkling in her eyes, even as concern lurked beneath the surface. “Well, hey, look at you. You do the same thing as him now.”