Page 78 of Spiritwarrior

“I’m sure they heard you yelling last night. You made a hell of a ruckus.”

“Please tell me you’re joking?”

“Maybe not all of them heard, but Jacob and Isaac did. And, knowing them, they told the rest of the family.”

Sophie wanted to lie down and die.

She started looking around.

“What are you looking for?”

“My pillow.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Sophie took a bite of the roast beef on her plate as she listened to the conversation at the table. She shot a sharp glance at Jody when he placed an arm on the back of her chair, but he only scooted his chair closer to her. He was making it plain to his family they were a couple before she was ready to admit it to herself.

He was pushing every boundary she had for herself. He wouldn’t stop until she got in the hot tub this morning, nor would he take no for an answer when he wanted her to close the restaurant early so they could have dinner with his family.

What made her more wary was she had given in both instances.

“Have you heard anything from the school yet?” Silas asked as he passed the rolls.

“No,” Alanna answered, pulling her hair from her toddler’s sticky grasp. “They probably won’t contact me until they start filling vacant teaching positions.”

Matthew’s wife was pretty and had made her feel comfortable when they first met. She had the same friendly attitude Ginny had shown her.

Alanna caught her staring at her. “Feeling overwhelmed?”

“No,” she admitted. “I was just thinking how kind everyone has been to me. I would have left Treepoint if not for your family. I’m very grateful to all of you.”

Alanna gave her a sweet smile. “I haven’t done anything.”

Sophie shook her head. “You babysat Ginny’s children so she could help me at the restaurant. The good news is my parents should be here tomorrow, and you all can get back to your normal lives.” Seeing the way Ginny looked at her, she added, “At least not so often. Ginny is determined to keep working full-time.”

“At least until she gets pregnant again. Then she won’t be able to. She gets terrible morning sickness,” Fynn said matter-of-factly as he buttered his roll.

Sophie looked at Ginny questioningly.

“Don’t worry; that won’t be happening anytime soon.”

“October.”

Sophie turned her eyes back to Fynn, catching the warning glances his family was giving him.

“Am I missing something?” she came out and asked, getting a weird feeling.

“No, Fynn is a budding astrologer,” Silas explained, cutting the tension in the room. “It’s a hobby of his.”

“That’s interesting. What brought about your interest in astrology?” she asked, taking another bite of the beef.

“Our father had a deep interest in astrology and passed it along to all of us,” Silas answered for Fynn.

“Is that why you all believe in soul mates?”

Despite Jody telling her that she was his soul mate, she still believed it was a bunch of malarky.

“Yes.” Silas placed his fork down on his plate. “I take it you don’t?”

---