Page 22 of Cannon

“Okay, good.”

Jesse stared at him and Beth.

“So do you two have everything figured out, or I don’t know, do you want to actually ask the person who is pregnant what she thinks?”

“Ewww, I’m heading to the bathroom. Cannon, fix her attitude. I’m too tired to trade smack talk with preggo.”

Beth refilled her cup and headed toward the bathroom.

“I love my sister. I love my sister,” Jesse whispered under her breath.

“Why are you whispering?” Cannon asked.

“I’m reminding myself that I love her and taking her out back and throwing her in the dirt would be frowned on.”

Cannon chuckled. Since he didn’t have siblings, he’d never had someone who he loved and who obviously got on his nerves. The dynamics between the Franks sisters had fascinated him prior to Jesse and him ending up together in the house. They couldfight like cats and dogs, but if anyone threatened their sibling, the wrath of all the sisters would come down on the perpetrator.

“I’m going to go see what the kids want for breakfast and not go throw cold water over the shower curtain on Beth. I get bonus points for restraint.”

Cannon didn’t dare let Jesse know he adored seeing the fire in her eyes. It’s one of the reasons he sniped at her when they were around each other. He enjoyed how she fired up, but he darn well wasn’t telling her that this morning and have her turn her irritation toward him.

Jesse sat on the couch while Flick took her blood pressure. The kids had wanted to know what was happening. Phoebe and Blake had offered to be Flick’s nurses, so he had them handing stuff to him and was explaining what he was doing.

“Your blood pressure is normal. I’d say the swelling looks normal for growing a human. Do my nurse assistants agree?”

Phoebe and Blake looked at the blood pressure cuff and then crouched down by her ankles. They were the cutest.

“We do. Should she rest?”

Flick smiled at the girls. “Yes, I was going to suggest she sits on the couch or the recliner with her feet up. You ladies have a gift for helping people.”

Phoebe reached over and got an extra pillow and slid it behind Jesse’s back. Then Blake pulled the coffee table over and put a pillow on it. Then she lifted Jesse’s legs up on it.

“Do you want a drink?” Blake asked.

Jesse wasn’t really thirsty, but she wasn’t telling Blake no. “I’d love some apple juice.”

Blake nodded, then she and Phoebe went to the kitchen.

“Any questions while the girls are out of the room?”

“No, I figured it was normal swelling, but I appreciate you coming by.”

Flick’s partner nodded. “Anytime.”

Jesse waited until they’d gathered their stuff up. The boys were playing outside with Beth in the backyard. Bear was bringing breakfast by from the diner. She’d planned on maybe baking today, but it seemed like she’d be relaxing. She had a book she wanted to read so it wasn’t an imposition.

She glanced at Cannon in the recliner beside her. “Do you feel better about it?”

He nodded. “Yes. I didn’t realize all the things you’d be going through. I know I’m useless, but will you let me know if there is something I can do?”

Jesse shook her head and leaned closer to pat his uninjured leg. “You’re not useless. You saw there was a problem and then worked to fix it. It was nice to talk it through with you. I know Dad put us here together without giving us a choice, but I am glad we’re getting to know each other better.”

Cannon stared at her and she wondered what he was thinking.

“You know, at some point, we’re going to need to address the elephant in the room.”

Jesse nodded. “Yep, but not today.”

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