Page 21 of Surly Sheriff
Lorena. “I met her yesterday. She seemed friendly enough.”
“She is. Until you” — he cleared his throat — “undate her daughter.”
“Undate?” She couldn’t help the spurt of laughter and welcomed the diversion from their serious discussion. It was best not to go down that path again. Beau was far too perceptive. “How do youundate someone?”
“Morgan and I went on a couple of dates in our senior year, and then we just didn’t anymore. We had no official ‘will you be my girlfriend?’ moment, nor a breakup. There were no tears. No drama. We just …” He shrugged and gave her a sheepish grin.
She laughed again. “Undated.”
“Yeah.” He placed a hand on the door handle and grabbed the takeout bag from her lap. “Best get this over with. Can you manage the coffees?”
She nodded. He pushed the door open and clambered to his feet.
Rae collected her thoughts, watching Lorena Brady embrace the man her daughter had dated with a pang of envy toward the unknown Morgan. The lucky girl had dated Beau. Had they kissed? She bet Beau was a wonderful kisser.
Urgh! Get over yourself. There will be no kissing.
She joined the group on the sidewalk.
“Rae, Nate’s mom called Mrs. Brady,” Beau said as she stopped beside him, “and told her about Bella. She and Mrs. Hudson” — he indicated the lady on Lorena’s right — “and Mrs. Jacobs are here to help us today.”
“In whatever capacity you need, Rae dear,” Lorena interjected.
She thought about the volume of office work still outstanding and gave the women a hopeful look. “Any of you proficient with a computer?”
Both Lorena and Mrs. Jacobs prodded Mrs. Hudson forward. “Thea.”
The woman blushed bright red. Rae hooked her arm through Thea’s. “You’re my new best friend.”
With Beau doing the heavy work — Nate’s crew were out on an emergency repair — and Thea ensconced in the office, Rae tackled the rest of the unpacking with Lorena and Nancy — Mrs. Jacobs — the local realtor. As the morning progressed, she learned the meaning of living in a small town. Multiple people popped in. This time it was not out of curiosity, but to help. Lorena took over supervising, much to Rae’s relief, and the shop was buzzing with activity when Nate walked in with Bella in his arms.
The folk in the shop swarmed them, all calling out variations of “What did the doctor say?”
Beau cleared a path, and Nate deposited his wife on the couch. “Bella needs to stay off her feet,” Nate said. “And rest. It’s not Braxton-Hicks. Nor early labor. But her blood pressure is elevated, and we need to get that under control. But Bella being Bella, she insisted on coming here before going home.”
“I amnotgoing home,” she snapped, giving her husband a quelling look.
He ignored her, turning to Beau. “Do you have a handle on things here?”
“We do.”
“Good.” He turned back to his wife. “We’re going home,” he said, and scooped her up.
“Nathaniel Edward Fisher,” Bella yelled, struggling against his hold. “Put me down. This minute.”
“Your welfare, and that of our children, comes before this blasted store,” Nate replied, striding to the door.
But Rae noted the panic on Bella’s face. “Wait.” She rounded the couple, stopping Nate’s exit, and grabbed the woman’s hand, holding it tight between her own. “Nate needs you to look after the little aliens growing inside you. Remember, you’re the only one who can do that. Trust us” — she glanced around at the group of helpers — “to look afterthisbaby of yours.”
“But the catering—”
Rae placed a finger over Bella’s lips. “I gave Lorena your notes. She has it under control.”
“But—”
“Uh-uh. We’ve got this.” Rae rested her hand on Bella’s rounded midriff. “You take care of them.”
Bella bit her lip, looking about, indecision clouding her features.
