While Keegan and Jacquelyn were in the kitchen and Gabby was with her grandfather in the living room, Jacob took a seat in the chair beside me where I was positioned so that I could still see Jacquelyn without invading her privacy. “Do you ever stop working?”
I chuckled. “You already know the answer to that.”
“I spoke with the estate attorney earlier this week. As of yesterday, you are technically working for me, not my mother,” he said quietly. “That may or may not change anything in your eyes, but I wanted to let you know.”
“What about Seth and Ian?” I asked. Technically, they worked for me, even though my security firm’s only client was Jacquelyn Marks.
“The only thing that changed was who was paying your company.”
“Thanks, I appreciate you doing that for—” my words were cut off when Keegan bolted from the kitchen and sprinted to the bathroom with her hand over her mouth.
I was on my feet and moving to the kitchen when Jacquelyn came out and ran right into me. “What happened?” I demanded.
“I think she’s sick,” Jacquelyn said worriedly.
Jacob returned, sans Keegan, a few moments later. “She’s okay,” he said and laughed lightly. “She has a weak stomach and touched something that looked like ‘turkey guts.’”
“There are no turkey guts in my kitchen,” Jacquelyn huffed.
Jacob doubled over laughing. “No one said there was, Mom. I said looked like.”
“There’s nothing that even resembles turkey guts in my kitchen. I ordered the turkey because I didn’t have time to cook one this year. And I probably will do that from now on because I didn’t for one second miss dealing with necks, gizzards, and giblets,” she said and shook her hands as if she had actually just touched them herself.
“What’d you do to my grandbaby, boy?” Ranger rumbled from behind Jacob.
“The baby makes her sick,” Gabby said as if everyone should already know this.
Jacquelyn was still so close to me that I felt her body stiffen immediately. Jacob sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Ranger’s eyes widened comically as he glanced from Jacob to the bathroom door that opened as if on cue.
Keegan’s steps faltered when she took in the sight of us all standing frozen in the hallway. “Um, if this is about me, I’m fine.” Then, after one look at her husband, her eyes shot to her little sister. “Gabby,” she groaned in exasperation.
Gabby slapped her hand over her mouth and started to cry. “I didn’t mean to, Sissy. I’m sorry,” she wailed.
“You’re pregnant?” Jacquelyn all but screeched and took a flying leap for Keegan.
Ranger scooped Gabby into his arms and tried to soothe her, but she wasn’t having any of it unless it came from Keegan. I walked over and placed my hands on Jacquelyn’s shoulders to carefully pry her away from her daughter-in-law.
“Gabby,” I whispered.
“Oh, no,” Jacquelyn murmured as Keegan took her little sister into her arms. Within a few minutes of whispered words and reassurances, Gabby’s tears had run dry. “They’re great parents,” she said proudly.
Keegan looked up and grinned. “Surprise!” she exclaimed, which cued the hugs and cheers all over again.
“I can’t believe I’m going to have another grandchild,” Jacquelyn beamed.
“I can’t believe you’ve gone and made me a great-grandfather. Didn’t we talk about this? I don’t want people thinking I’m old enough to have a great-grandkid.” He grinned and turned his attention to Jacob. “I ought to whoop your ass for this.”
“Papa!” Gabby scolded. “You promised to be nice to Shaky Jakey.”
Ranger rubbed his chin and looked to the sky. “I did? I don’t remember that.”
Gabby giggled. “You say that every time.”
“Bet it has something to do with your age,” Jacob added.
“When we’re not in the presence of ladies, you better run, boy,” Ranger said, but he was smiling from ear-to-ear.
Jacquelyn clapped her hands together. “Well, I have a surprise of my own, and I think now is the perfect time to share it. Get your coats and gloves and meet me in the garage.”
