At least the heroine was attracted to the CIA agent.
He kind of wanted the CIA dude to murder the nature guy, and then he would show the heroine the joys of anal sex.
“And then he told the man he would kill him,” Nell was saying as she and Holly walked by. “He’s entirely too invested in murder. I blame that Taggart man. He’s a bad influence.”
“You know what happens when boys play with their friends,” Holly said with a sigh. “I’m glad Alexei’s old mob friends don’t come visit.”
Alexei stood and frowned. “I have no mafia friends. They all assholes.”
“All my CIA friends left the Agency, so it’s pretty much the same,” Henry admitted. “I figure she’s going to be at least an hour. You got a place where I can take a quick nap? I’ve got another sageing scheduled for this evening. I don’t care what they say. Sage is not soothing.”
“Sure. Couch in library is comfortable,” Alexei replied. “Come along. I will watch over our women while you get rest. If you want my nonexpert opinion, the two of you seem to be better. I cannot imagine she will hold this in her heart for too much longer.”
Henry hoped so.
October
“Are you sure?” Nell leaned in, not wanting to let anyone else in on this secret of Holly’s.
All around her Caleb’s birthday party went on. Holly and Alexei had surprised Caleb with a party, and by “surprise” they’d told him they were having it, he’d said no, and they’d done it anyway.
Caleb Burke actually looked relaxed and happy, a beer in his hand as he talked with Henry, Rafe, and James Glen.
Nell and Laura had joined Holly in the kitchen. From here they could see the whole of the great room where most of the party was taking place. The big windows that led to the patio and the outdoor living space were open, and Nell could hear music and chatter.
Life had gone back to normal, and she felt okay with that. She rather thought this was what Mel had been talking about, allowing the rhythm of the days to flow and bring them back together.
So why did she still feel so far from him? There was an odd distance between them she couldn’t seem to get past.
“You took a test, right?” Laura had an expectant look on her face.
Holly nodded. “I took three, and then Caleb ran the blood work. It’s so stupid. I’m too old to do this. I have a grown son.”
Joy spilled through Nell, bringing a warmth she hadn’t felt in months. Holly was pregnant. Laura had a baby and now her other bestie would join them and they would be able to have playdates and a mom’s group and she would have support.
Her mom hadn’t had support. When her mom reached out to people they’d thought she was crazy, and she’d learned to stop talking, to stop relying on other people. Until they’d come to Bliss.
Her mom had met Callie’s mom and it had been the first time she’d been able to open up to another person in years.
They’d come to Bliss and suddenly she’d been surrounded by people who made the world a warmer place, who somehow had become family.
“Nell, sweetie, are you okay?” Holly put a hand on her shoulder.
“I think this is one of those pregnancy things,” Laura said. “She cries a lot. I usually hold her hand and fix a cup of tea.”
She did. Laura fixed her a cup of tea and asked if she wanted to talk, and then listened to her for hours with no judgment.
Henry was already on his way over, as though he’d felt her emotion.
She wasn’t her mom. She wasn’t alone. Her mother had done her best. Her mom had loved her and tried her hardest. In the end her mom had given her the greatest gift of all, the one that came naturally to so many, but as in all things in her mother’s life, she’d had to work for this gift, had to seek it out.
Her mom had found a way to give her a family, one that lasted long after she was gone.
She sniffled and wrapped her arms around Holly. “I’m so happy we get to go through this together. You’re one of the best moms I know and I love you.”
She felt Holly gasp and hug her close. “I love you, too. I don’t know where I would be if I hadn’t had you and Laura.”
“Hey, I want in.” Laura completed their circle. “I love you, too. I didn’t know how good friendship could be until I met you two.”
“You are going to be a wonderful mom,” Holly whispered. “You and me and Laura, we’re going to get through all of it together.”
“And you two are having girls,” Laura said. “I just know it. So Sierra can have her two best friends.”
She looked up and Henry was standing there, staring at them. He wasn’t alone. Caleb stood beside him.
“This is a woman thing,” Caleb said with a nod. “It’s one of those things where they’re crying, but it’s a good thing. I think they’re bonding over babies. Did I mention Holly’s knocked up?”
Henry turned and held out a hand. “Congrats, man.”
Caleb shook it. “We’re excited. I’m going to grab another beer.”
Holly started to laugh. “Men.”
Men, indeed. She noticed that Henry was still staring at her, the softest look on his face.
* * * *
Henry looked down at the saw, trying to go over all the steps in his head before he actually started that sucker up. He had the perfect wood and he didn’t want to waste it with ten tries before
