Page 47 of Loving Justice

Lanah didn’t seem to care.

She slurped up more of her coffee and then stood. “I’ll be around. I’m sure you and Jinx will have some questions at some point.” And then she flounced away as if nothing had happened.

Sitting there longer, Justice stared down at the lid of her cup.

Lanah is pregnant. Jinx is the father.

The thought was so foreign.

Justice and Jinx had only been married for a week. Seven days of starting to build a routine. Seven days of making love each night. She’d been so wrapped up in making Ilene feel at home that her life had been blissful. Now things would change.

Numbly, she stood, grabbed her coffee, and started heading back toward…where?

She knew there was something else that she needed to do.

She walked quickly, trying to gather her thoughts, when she crashed into Rigs Fletcher. Her cup collapsed, spilling coffee all over his T-shirt and jeans. “Oh, no. I’m so sorry. I wasn’t even watching where I was going.” She barely registered that he had his hand on her waist. She took a step back.

“It’s okay, ma’am,” he assured her, flashing a wide smile.

“You have coffee all over you.” She picked up the crushed cup and dropped it into the nearest trashcan. She looked at the stain on his shirt and shook her head. “I hope you weren’t heading off anywhere important. I mean, I’m sure you were…” She slumped her shoulders. “I’m sorry. It has been a rough day.”

“It’s no problem.” Concern filled his gaze. “You seem a bit frazzled.”

“I…y-yes, I am.” Suddenly, she couldn’t think straight as emotion bubbled up and overflowed within her. Tears fell down her cheeks and she couldn’t control them. Humiliated, she wanted to run but her feet were frozen.

Rigs looked concerned. “Here. Have a seat.” He led her to the bench.

She sat down before she fell. “I don’t know what’s come over me.” She dabbed at her tears, not wanting to draw any attention to herself.

“I’ll be right back,” Rigs told her, but she barely heard him. When he returned, he had a fresh cup of coffee. “I thought you could use another cup. Cream and sugar. I hope that’s okay.”

She accepted the cup. “Thank you.”

“Is it okay?” He pointed at the bench.

“Sure, of course.” What could she say? He’d been nice to her.

He sat down next to her. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“Please, call me Justice. Ma’am is so formal.” She took a sip of the coffee and hoped it would calm her nerves. “I’m usually not this emotional.”

“I’m guessing you have your reasons.” He swiped off his hat and hooked it on his knee. “I guess we don’t know each other very well, do we?”

“No, I guess we don’t.” She cupped the takeout cup in her palms, absorbing the heat.

He laid back on the bench. “Jinx Weathersby. Wow. I didn’t realize.”

The turn of the conversation gave her a little startle. “When you know you know.”

“That’s the truth. He’s a lucky man.” Rigs chuckled.

She nodded, feeling slightly uncomfortable. “I’ve kept you long enough. I remember I have to pick up some paint samples.” She pushed up from the seat, feeling a little less frazzled. “Thank you for the coffee. Again, I apologize for the stain.”

“These clothes have seen much worse trust me.” He laughed it off.

“See you around.” She hurried across the street toward the hardware store.

*****

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