“We’re women, honey. We’re better at handling the emotional things.”
“I suppose. Still, somebody could have warned me before sending me off to get more coffee and donuts this morning.”
“Who sent you?”
“Aunt Delilah, and Poppy! You know they both have to know that it’s Bailey’s place.”
“They both do. But they’re also both notorious for ‘helping’ fix things. They probably thought they were helping somehow.”
“I don’t see how.”
“Me, either. But giving them the benefit of the doubt, they were most likely helping. Neither is malicious, well, as long as they’re unprovoked anyway,” Avaleigh said.
They heard an engine start outside, and Avaleigh got up to go see who it was. “I was thinking that maybe Remi was back, but it’s Hellen.”
“I should make an escape with her. Everybody just keeps looking expectantly at me. Like, ‘what do you people want me to do?’” Cristie said.
“Well, you are always welcome to hide out over here with me, or you can run catch Hellen if you’d prefer.”
“You know what? I think I will.”
“You better hurry!” Avaleigh said.
Cristie jumped up and ran toward the door Avaleigh was already holding open. Cristie kissed her cheek quickly, then sprinted toward Hellen’s jeep.
Just as Hellen put the jeep in drive, Cristie was standing beside the vehicle, tapping on the window.
Hellen rolled down the window, still wearing her scowl. “Hey.”
“Hey. You look as happy as me.”
“I’m getting the hell out of here,” Hellen said.
“Want some company? Please?” Cristie asked.
“Sure, but hurry up. I don’t want anybody else joining us.”
Cristie ran around to the passenger side and got in, closing the door securely as Hellen was already tearing down the drive, spewing gravel behind the jeep.
~~~
“I just don’t get why you didn’t tell us!” Janie said, just short of pouting.
“This! Look around. Do you see anybody here just simply congratulating us and moving on? No. Everybody’s acting like it’s their right to know every damn thing. We have our reasons. Not the least of which is that we deserve the right to spend some time just being in our happy little bubble without all of y’all jumping in and turning it into a side-show to be attended by everybody!” Brandt exclaimed.
“You know this family rallies round everyone in it, be it good or bad circumstances,” Kaid said. “We really prefer rallying around the good. That does not create a side show.”
“I understand that. But we have our reasons,” Brandt said patiently. “But as long as we’re on the subject, no one will be attending this birth. Just Tempest and I, and possibly her mother, and that’s it.”
“Unless Lore decides to come. Nobody can stop him from anything he wants to do,” Tempest said thoughtfully.
“Seriously? He really freaks me out,” Brandt whispered.
“Just be glad he doesn’t eat souls to survive anymore.”
Brandt widened his eyes and looked a little horrified.
“But, no, I don’t think he’ll come. He gets upset when my mother or I, or my Uncle Boon, is hurting. So, he’ll likely come after.”
