“I agree,” Bane said, looking critically at his daughter. “What’s going on, baby?”
“Hellen!” Daisy exclaimed.
“Don’t look at me. Brandt said he could stay. I told him to leave. Talk to your brother. And your Aunt Delilah, and your daddy. I’m going to find some peace and quiet,” Hellen said as she reached in her back pocket, took out her keys and marched right out the front door.
Chapter 8
“What you doing out here walking around all by yourself?” Avaleigh asked as she saw Cristie walking up from behind her house.
“Hi, Aunt Avaleigh. I told Mom I was coming to visit with you, but really, I just went for a walk. I needed some time to try to clear my head,” Cristie said, smiling at her. She’d always known Avaleigh to be the calming force in the clan.
“Which is why you’re keeping behind my place so they don’t see you.”
“Yep.”
“And did you?” Avaleigh asked.
“What? Clear my head? Not likely.”
“Want to come in and have some coffee and talk about it?”
“I can’t possibly have anymore coffee. I’m about to start vibrating any minute now.”
“How about just sitting and talking then? I’m guessing whatever you’re struggling with is about Remi.”
Cristie nodded, and stood there with her hands tucked in her pockets, as she looked at Avaleigh.
“Come on in, honey.”
“Isn’t that a conflict of interest?” Cristie asked, with a slight smile.
Avaleigh laughed. “Could be. But really, what I see is a situation that isn’t quite as convoluted as you both seem to think it is.”
“I feel really bad about it,” Cristie said.
“It’s not your fault. Fate happens. You had no idea you and he were going to trigger the mating instinct. He didn’t either.”
“I know. But after he left this morning, I went into town to get some more coffee and donuts and pastries. I didn’t know she’d be there.”
“Oh, no. Yeah. I guess that was a surprise. But you didn’t know it was her shop. Was it bad?”
“No, she’s very nice. And I just pretended that nothing was going on, same as I did at the wedding. It wasn’t her fault. None of it.”
“That was probably the best choice. What did she do?”
“She was tense, and nervous, and I could scent her pain. But she was very nice and professional. I was impressed, actually. I just wish someone had told me before I went in there and upset her more.”
“They probably didn’t even think of it.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Think of it this way. What should you have done differently when you walked in and saw her there? Turn around and run? That would have been worse. You did the best you could. You were friendly and I bet you bought all kinds of goodies,” Avaleigh said.
“I know. But she was trying so hard not to let me see that she was upset. I could scent it, and I felt horrible that she’s hurting like that. I didn’t do anything. I swear, I didn’t. I even made sure to keep my distance from Remi at the wedding. If anybody let her know something was up, it was him.”
“Yes, he wasn’t the most subtle male that night, was he?”
Cristie laughed and shook her head. “No, he was not. But in his defense, I was as shocked as he obviously was. I just hid it better.”
