Page 159 of Embracing the Change

“We got interrupted. Are you good?” Jamie asked.

Nico blinked at him before he said, “I’m sorry, did we just watch your childhood home burning on the TV, they don’t know where your dad and brother are, and you’re worried about me?”

“I’m not close with my family,” Jamie explained.

Nico started laughing softly. “No, man. You’re just…you.” He cuffed Jamie on the arm and went on, “I’m sick to my stomach my marriage is over. What comes next is gonna suck. But right now, I mean, Ma is pretty damned rad, so I understand how she earned you in this life, and I’m glad she did.”

That felt really damned good.

Jamie nodded and clapped him on the back.

They returned to the hearth room.

Nora sought his gaze, and he did his best to communicate It’s going to be okay with it.

He must have succeeded, because her face softened, her brown eyes warmed, and he returned to sit between her and Dru.

Mika and Cadence came in with trays of individual strawberry trifles, conversation sprang up, and although he weathered some concerned looks, and Nora nor Dru left his side, it was all good.

But Jamie couldn’t keep his eyes from straying to the TV every so often to see if more news of the fire had come on.

This being more news about his father who had never been his father, or his dad. His brother, who fortunately was only half-blood to him, but he didn’t want him dead. More news about a misguided woman who took a certain path in life and wanted others to pay for it.

No more news came on.

So he waited until everyone had left, outside Nico and Dru, before he went to the study to make his calls.

Jeff didn’t pick up.

And neither did AJ.

The ranch house and all the outbuildings were burning to the ground. They might be busy.

No answer could mean anything.

And neither of them would think to call Jamie and tell him they were okay.

So he had to wait.

And to his surprise, the wait was excruciating.

It was after dinner.

Dru was gone.

Jamie and Nico were in the hearth room watching a baseball game, something which Nora had no interest in, so she said she was going to give herself a facial.

But just then, Nora came in.

Jamie looked to her.

He was flat out on one couch, Nico the same on the other, and she came to Jamie and sat by his hip.

Jamie didn’t like the look on her face one bit.

“Elsa phoned.” She drew in breath. “Darling, Jeff was in the fire. Paloma and AJ were in Dallas.”

He felt his chest get tight. “He was in the fire? He died?”

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