She wanted to come to the diner with Jude and sit inside at a booth with him. However, Duncan didn’t feel it was safe yet.
Mainly because of Jim…
Last she’d heard, he was still on the loose, and no one knew where he was.
When Jude returned, he handed her the bag with the food, which she put down by her feet. He removed their hot drinks from the tray and put them in the drink holders in the center console.
“Was it busy?” Angela asked.
“Fairly. Lots of older people since they have the early bird special on for them.”
Since the sun set at around five-thirty, they were also eating early that night. Angela didn’t care, though. She just wanted to spend the time with Jude.
As they drove to the spot Jude had chosen, he updated her on the progress of her and Kiara’s home. A home that would now include a baby, Angela realized.
She and Kiara didn’t know much about the physical construction of the house, but an interior designer had been in contact with them about their choices for things like the cabinets, appliances, and paint colors.
“Oh, this is beautiful,” Angela said as Jude pulled into a small parking area off the side of the road that gave them an amazing view of the snow-covered mountains to the west.
She was just so grateful that Jude was willing to figure out dates like this one that fit within the restrictions that existed because of the security needs of her life. He could have decided it was too much of a hassle or too boring, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
They sorted out their food, encompassed in the warmth of the cab of the truck with jazz playing softly from the speakers.
Jude said a prayer of thanks for the food, holding her hand as he did. She was reluctant to let go after he said amen, but eating with one hand didn’t work when burgers were on the menu.
She’d ordered a chicken burger, and her first bite confirmed it was as good as the last time she’d had it.
“Duncan is concerned about Kiara,” Jude said as they ate.
Angela stared at him, eyes wide. “Really?”
“Yes. He called me this morning to see if I knew what might be wrong.”
“Oh, boy. What did you say?”
“Just that you had mentioned she was struggling with not having a purpose, and that she hadn’t been feeling well.”
“I’m sorry that you’re not able to be honest with him,” she said, lowering her burger to the takeout container in her lap.
Jude shook his head. “Don’t be sorry. In asking you to leave the situation in Kiara and Julian’s hands, I have to do the same.”
Angela so appreciated how Jude handled things, and the maturity he had when it came to situations that seemed overwhelming to her. Like Kiara’s pregnancy.
“I hope she tells Julian soon.”
Jude’s gaze turned out the front window for a moment before he looked back at her. “Duncan has asked me to look into treatment centers for Julian.”
“Treatment centers? Is he sick?”
“It’s to get him some help with his drinking. It has gone way beyond what’s safe. The situation with Kiara just goes to prove that.”
“Do you think it would be bad for his mental state to find out she’s pregnant?”
“I don’t know,” Jude said. “It might give him the incentive he needs to get cleaned up.”
Angela hoped that was the case, for Julian’s sake, as well as for Kiara and their unborn child.
Jude had just leaned forward to pick up his drink when the window beside him exploded. Blood and glass went flying, and Angela screamed as she realized Jude had been hit by something.
