After he pulled into the garage, Jude closed the overhead door, then led Angela into the cabin. She didn’t even look around as he took her through the kitchen to the living room.
“Sit here,” he said, guiding her to his overstuffed couch.
He took a minute to check on the bacon, then returned to where Angela sat staring dully into the darkened fireplace.
“Are you cold?”
She looked up at him, then down at her hands. “I’m okay.”
“Here.” He pulled the throw blanket off his recliner and draped it over her shoulders.
Her hands came up to grip it together at the front. “Thank you.”
He sat down on the rustic coffee table in front of her. When he held out his hands, she loosened her hold on the blanket to take them.
“Tell me what’s going on.”
“Kiara’s pregnant.”
Of all the things that Angela might have said, that was completely unexpected.
“Pregnant?” he asked. “Really?”
She nodded. “And Duncan is going to be so mad.”
“I don’t think he will be,” Jude said. “After all, her personal life isn’t really his responsibility.”
“Oh, he’ll be mad about this,” Angela said, conviction strong in her voice.
“Why?”
“Because it’s Julian’s.”
Jude sat back in shock, staring at Angela with wide eyes. “Julian’s?”
Angela nodded. “Kiara said it’s his.”
“What on earth?” Jude shook his head. “I had no idea there was something going on between them.”
“I don’t think they’re dating or in a relationship or anything,” Angela said. “From what Kiara said it happened one night when they’d both been drinking.”
“I didn’t know that Kiara drank.”
“She doesn’t, but she’s been depressed and frustrated lately. I guess maybe she and Julian got drunk together, and things just… happened.” Angela’s shoulders slumped as her head dipped. “It’s all my fault.”
“What?” Jude leaned forward, keeping her hands firmly in his. “There’s no way this is your fault.”
“I knew that she was struggling, but I just didn’t know how to help her.”
“Which means it’s not your fault,” Jude told her. “Kiara and Julian are adults, and this decision and its ramifications are their responsibility. Not yours.”
“Duncan is going to be so mad at them,” Angela said.
Now that he knew the details, Jude couldn’t exactly argue against that. “Not at Kiara, though.”
“Why not?” Angela asked.
“Because Julian should have known better,” Jude said. “And if he was going to make such a bad decision, he didn’t need to compound it by being irresponsible and not making sure they were protected.”
