“Never bring up that pervert in my presence.” Mo could hear the bitterness and anger in his voice, and he tried to smile through it. “Please.”
“I’m so sorry, Mo. I won’t.”
Mo didn’t want to get into it, so he turned his gaze back to the window. Bronwyn’s expression had shifted from one of thinly veiled frustration to one of dismay. Something had happened. He couldn’t look away as her mother walked by and Bronwyn returned to her seat in the coffee shop. She clutched at her coffee.
“What’s the matter?” Meredith had obviously seen the same shift in Bronwyn’s demeanor that he had.
“My grandmother is dying.”
“Oh, Bronwyn. I’m so sorry.” Meredith wrapped an arm around her.
Mo ran a fingertip along the rim of his mug as Bronwyn filled them in.
“Will this change anything for tonight?” Meredith asked the question Mo needed to have answered.
“No.” Bronwyn’s voice was firm. “I’ll go see her this afternoon, but I’ll be home by six.”
Mo stayed put as Bronwyn and Meredith made small talk for another ten minutes. Then he stood. “I have to go. There are a few things I need to pick up before tonight. I’ll see you later.” He nodded in the general direction of both women and escaped outside.
He walked to Cal’s office. Carla was on the phone when he entered, and she waved him back. When he got to the office, he filled Cal in on what had happened. “Could you have Landry call Bronwyn? Her relationship with her grandmother has always been unique. She was staying strong, but I’m sure she’s reeling.”
Cal called Landry immediately. Mo flopped down into a chair as they talked.
“Okay, baby, thanks. I love you. Yes. You’re the best. Kiss Eliza for me. Yeah. I love you.” A low chuckle. Another. Then, “Landry, Mo’s sitting here waiting for me. Okay. Tonight.”
He ended the call, and Mo did his best not to vomit all over the rug. “You’re disgusting.”
“What?”
“The mushiness. It’s intense, man.”
“I love my wife and our girls.”
“I know you do, but I don’t need to hear it.”
“Hear what?”
“I can read between the lines. That chuckle? Please.”
“I’m a married man.”
“And we’re all thankful. But keep your pillow talk away from me.”
Cal threw a pen at his head. “You’re jealous.”
He was so jealous, it was a miracle his skin didn’t have a green tint. But he didn’t want to talk about it.
When he didn’t respond to Cal’s teasing, Cal sobered quickly. “Sorry. How can I help?”
“You’re already helping. Keep making it possible for me to be in the same space with her. I don’t know how to do this without the buffer of someone else around to keep the conversation going.”
“I can do that. I’ll tell Landry. She’ll help.”
“Thanks.”
The silence stretched.
“Landry’s been talking to Bronwyn. Encouraging her to open up. She’s...”
