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“Today,” Trenton answered, glancing at Celia.
She frowned, releasing her hand from his to reach for a rubber band she wore on the other wrist. “She said I can’t come back to work. I’m sorry, Malcolm.”
“Nothing to be sorry for. I’m just glad you’re listening.” He nodded toward one of the tables. “Reggie’s cousin Tanya started filling in today. The tavern will be fine.”
“With Katie, too, you know it’s not enough,” Celia said, glancing up at him.
“Hey, I ran this tavern long before you came back to town. Let me worry about it.” His eyes softened even as he crossed his arms over his chest. “You’ve got other things to worry about. Like keeping this guy sane.” He nodded toward the fiancé.
“This isn’t about me, Malcolm,” Trenton protested.
Malcolm’s eyebrow rose. “You’re one hundred percent responsible for this.”
Trenton flushed.
Celia nudged him with her shoulder as she glared at Malcolm. “It’s nothing for him to feel guilty about, and you know it.”
Malcolm grinned back at her. “There’s that expression I saw you have with Nicholas a few weeks ago. Is that your inner momma bear coming out?” He winked at Celia.
“Oh,” Jami said, finally catching on. “You’re pregnant? Congratulations.”
Celia froze, surprising Jami. When her smile bloomed, it was full of joy. “Thank you.”
Trenton placed a kiss on the top of Celia’s head. When she looked back at him, her smile grew. Jami thought they seemed sweet together. Nothing like her and Andrew whenever he did the same thing and she wished he hadn’t.
“So the doctor is putting you on bed rest after all?” Malcolm asked.
“Yeah, sort of,” Celia said, her happiness dimming. Her eyes squeezed shut. “My risk of this blood pressure thing morphing into preeclampsia is high.”
Tanya approached the bar, waving some tickets. “You got me, girl?”
Jami nodded, standing to scoot her stool back to the register. She watched Malcolm lean toward his cousin across the bar and tried her best not to listen to their murmured conversation, even after she rang up the customers.
She’d heard the worst of Celia’s story. If anyone deserved a happy ending, it was her.
So of course the world took something that should be rainbows and sunshine and made it dark instead.
Chapter 11
Jamifeltridiculousinher giant cast at the cemetery. There was no helping it, and she’d found a black skirt in Celia’s box of clothes at least. It wasn’t like anyone would see her anyway. Kevin Reece hadn’t had many friends before the accident, and if there had been any family, none had appeared to help.
She paused on the pavement as she stared at the grassy area ahead. Her father was to be put to rest beside his wife. Her mother would have been content with that.
Andrew stood near the grave site, staring at her with that patient look in his eyes.
Malcolm’s hand moved to the small of her back. He held the crutch in his other hand. “Are you all right?”
He’d been less than thrilled when she’d insisted she wanted Andrew there. Andrew had been the only friend her father had before the accident, though ‘friend’ might be stretching it a little. Still, Andrew had respected her father as an employee. Kevin Reece had been brilliant at what he did.
Celia wondered if Andrew ever felt guilty for having sex with her. He was younger than her father had been, but not by many years. And she’d been nineteen the first time.
She reached for the crutch, but Malcolm held on to it, searching her expression.
“I’m fine,” she told him, her hand tightening on the top of the crutch. “We talked about this. Andrew helped with the funeral arrangements. I want him here.”
“I have no issues, Jami,” Malcolm said. He helped to maneuver the crutch just so under her arm. “I was worried about your leg. You haven’t been using this enough.”
“I’m okay.” Jami preferred not to use the stupid thing. It made her more unbalanced. The rubber on the bottom dug into the grass as she took a step, and Malcolm’s hands fell away.
