Page 150 of When Love Takes Root

“I know, but you’re always busy.”

“Never too busy for you.”

He kissed the top of her head, then pulled back and studied her face.

Whatever joke he’d been ready to make disappeared. His eyes moved over her smile, the color in her cheeks, the way she kept glancing toward me, even while standing close to him.

Then Camden looked at me.

I straightened without meaning to.

He let Celeste go and walked over with his hand extended. “You Josiah?”

“Yes, sir.”

His grip was firm. Not performative. Not a man trying to outmuscle another man for sport. It was the grip of someone checking substance before he offered trust.

He said, “Camden Black. Celeste’s brother.”

“It’s good to meet you.”

“I’ve heard your name a few times.”

Celeste’s mouth dropped open. “Camden.”

He looked at her. “What? You say it like I’m supposed to pretend you haven’t been smiling at your phone.”

Starr coughed into her fist.

Celeste pointed toward the styling chairs. “Everybody, mind their business.”

Nobody did.

Camden looked back at me, and the teasing eased from his face. “You finished the work?”

“Yes, sir. Passed inspection. I’ll email her the warranty documents and keep the paper copies with the invoice.”

He nodded. “Good.”

Then he looked at Celeste again.

My eyes followed his.

She stood near the front desk with one hand at her chest, inspection paper curled slightly in her fingers, smiling at nothing and everything. Her shoulders sat lower than I’d seen them all week. Her eyes carried grief, but grief wasn’t the only thing sitting there. Something else had slipped in beside it and made room. Not healed. Not whole. Present enough for her brother to see it from across the room.

Camden’s voice lowered. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that look on my baby sister’s face.” I said nothing. He kept his eyes on her. “Long time since she looked like she wasn’t bracing for the next thing to hurt.” The words hit me in the chest. Camden looked back at me. “Keep it up.”

I held his gaze. “I’ll keep a smile on her face as long as I’ve got breath in my body.”

Camden studied me for a moment, then he nodded once, slow and serious. “Then keep breath in your body for years to come.”

Everything in me went quiet.

Camden’s jaw tightened. “I’m not sure she’ll make it back the same if she has to bury another love too soon.”

Celeste was laughing with Starr near the desk and didn’t hear him.

I did.