Page 50 of High Velocity

“No, I haven’t. Hi.”

“You’re the FBI agent.”

Her tone is a bit abrupt, but perhaps I interrupted something.

“Yes, at least for now; I’m technically on leave.”

“So you’re just visiting,” she concludes with a bit of a snark.

“Lucy…” Janey gently cautions.

I’m not getting friendly vibes from this woman and I’m not sure why, until I catch her dart a concerned glance over my head in Jackson’s direction. That’s when I make the connection. This is the woman who taught him to cook. His mother’s friend. She’s worried about him, which is why I decide to give her honesty.

“For the moment. Right now, my future is in flux but I’m starting to get a clearer picture.”

She nods, but then her eyes narrow and her voice lowers to a near whisper.

“This is going to be hard on him. He loved Thomas and he’s had enough loss in his life. Don’t know how much more he can handle, so if you?—”

“Lucy?” I hear Jackson coming up behind me. The next moment his hand drops on my shoulder. “I see you two have met.”

“Yes, we have,” the petite woman is quick to answer, darting him a warm smile.

It’s clear she cares about him deeply and is concerned for his well-being, which I can understand. But Jackson is a grown man, and I’m not so sure he’d appreciate her meddling, which is why I change the subject back to refreshments and turn to Janey.

“Sure I can’t get you something else?”

“You know what? Maybe I’ll have some tea after all,” she returns, giving me the escape I was looking for. “I’ll come in with you.”

As Janey gets to her feet, I notice Lucy scrutinizing her closely.

“Wait a minute… Tea? Since when do you drink tea?” My friend looks like a deer caught in headlights as Lucy’s face morphs into one of shock. “Are you pregnant?”

“Pregnant?” The echo comes from Ama, who walks over, drawing everyone’s attention to our little group.

I feel guilty when Janey shoots me a pleading look, but her mother-in-law is already locked in on her.

“Janey?” she prompts.

“I’m so sorry,” I mumble under my breath, recognizing my innocent question may have caused this situation.

Jackson must’ve heard me and gives my shoulder a squeeze, as JD enters the picture, stepping up beside his wife and pulling her close to his side. He’s the one who answers his mother.

“We just found out. We were gonna wait for a better time, Ma.”

“Actually,” Jonas pipes up, setting his wife on his feet before getting up himself. “This is a perfect time. I’m gonna grab a bottle of the good bourbon and a box of Cubans I’ve been saving for a special occasion. I’m sure Pops would be tickled he gets to be part of a celebration of new life.”

Ama already has her arms around Janey and her son, smiling big through her tears.

It’s coming up on midnight when everyone is standing in front of the house, like some kind of honor guard, watching as the funeral home van disappears down the driveway, carrying Thomas inside.

“Come on,” Jackson whispers in my hair. “Time to turn in.”

There are goodbyes and hugs, as everyone disperses to their respective homes.

This was both the weirdest and most heartwarming experience I’ve ever been part of. These past few hours have given me a deeper sense of family than I’ve had with my own.

“How are you doing?” I ask Jackson later, when I crawl into bed with him.

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