That should probably make Holden like the guy more than he did.
“I’ll get that coffee.” Mrs. Gerald turned back to the machine.
Someone suddenly tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to see Helen behind him, her face pale.
He frowned. “Hey. How are you doing today?”
“Um…not too good.” She sniffed. “I didn’t really get a chance to thank you last night. Thank you. You really saved me and Clara.”
“I’m glad I was there. Next time, be careful who you befriend, especially while drinking.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I don’t plan to drink for a very long time.”
Helen went to turn away, but he grabbed her arm. “Is there something other than last night that’s upsetting you?” He glanced behind her at Malcolm, who was already crossing toward them. “You looked like you were arguing over there.”
Her eyes flared, and she opened her mouth, but then Malcolm stepped up to them and put a hand on her shoulder. “We should get going, Helen.”
She nodded and turned. Malcolm gave Holden a tight smile before they both walked out of The Tea House.
What was going on with them?
He shifted his attention back as Mrs. Gerald set his coffee on the counter. “Here you go.”
He paid and thanked the tea house owner. He was just stepping outside when he ran into Pam Hayes.
The older woman smiled at him. The same wide, welcoming smile she always offered. “Holden.”
“Hi, Pam.”
She welcomed him into one of those tight, familiar hugs.
When she moved back, her features were harder. She gripped his upper arms. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to—”
“I do. Jesse told me everything that happened last night. If it wasn’t for you…”
Holden was glad she didn’t finish her sentence. He didn’t want to think about what those assholes would have done either.
“You know I’d do anything to protect Clara,” he said, voice lower now…harder.
“I know. It’s just one of the reasons I love you.” Then she tilted her head and studied him, something he couldn’t place flickering over her features.
He wanted to squirm. She was the only person in the world who could make him feel uncomfortable with a single look. And he only felt like that because she saw too much.
“You’re coming to dinner Sunday night, aren’t you?” Pam finally asked.
Family dinner. Shit. He’d forgotten about that. It had been hard enough to be around Clara this morning. How could he go to a dinner with her family?
“I actually—”
“Don’t you tell me you’re busy, Holden Forbes. It’s called family dinner for a reason, and you’re family, which means you’re required every week.”
His gut gave a hard kick. Because before he’d met Jesse, he hadn’t had a family. “I’ll be there.”
She squeezed his arm. “Good. I’ll see you later, honey.”
Then she walked into The Tea House, and he was left wondering what the hell he was going to do about Clara.
