Kate stood by the door next to Luke but whispered something in Evan’s ear.
He laughed then pulled on his ball cap. “Have fun. We’ll see you in a few hours.”
Luke kissed Kate, then he and Evan left out the door.
“Where are they headed?” Evan hadn’t mentioned going anywhere.
“Picking up food and decorations for tonight’s party.” Kate grimaced. “I was supposed to do it yesterday, but all the smells in the grocery store made me sick, and I had to leave.”
“Morning sickness?”
Kate nodded. “That was my first experience with it, and hopefully the last.”
“I had a friend who claimed Kool-Aid and toaster pastries helped her.”
“In all I’ve read, I’ve not seen that mentioned, but I’d be willing to try if it hits again.” Kate rubbed her stomach.
Was she conscious of the gesture? All the pregnant women she’d ever known rubbed their bellies that way. Would she ever have that opportunity?
“Uh-oh.” Kate frowned. “I’ve not been a good friend, have I?”
“You’ve been wonderful.”
“I saw your look just now.” Kate’s expression clouded over. “My talk of the baby isn’t easy, is it?”
“Don’t ever try to hide your joy over concern for me.” Janie gave her a sideways hug. “I’m excited for you. It almost feels as though my own sister is pregnant.”
A light flashed in Kate’s eyes. “You could be my sister if you and Evan married.”
“Let’s not go there.” Her warning didn’t sound as fierce as she’d meant it.
In a futile effort to avoid further questioning, she hurried outside and stood by the passenger door of Kate’s car, a sporty model she’d probably have to trade in before the baby came.
“You’re not getting off that easy.” Kate grinned and slid into the driver’s seat.
Janie got in, praying Kate wouldn’t say anything else.
No such luck.
“If you absolutely don’t want to say anything, you can tell me to shut up, but I’m curious about you and my brother.” With the car in reverse, Kate backed out of the driveway. “I bought the ‘we’re just friends’ line the first few days, but something changed after Christmas.”
Her heart rate picked up speed faster than an anvil dropped from a hundred-story building. “What do you mean?”
“You steal glances at each other when you think no one is looking, including each other.” Braking for a four-way stop, Kate continued. “But it’s a lost look, like you don’t know what you want, or are afraid to reach for it.”
She’d hit the nail on the head. On both accounts. Perhaps confiding in someone could help her sort out the jumbled nest of emotions lodged in her heart. “The honest answer is, I don’t know what’s going on between us, and something changed on Christmas night.”
“What was it?” The tone of her question implied a desire to help more than curiosity.
It convinced Janie to confide. “Since I met the guys, they’ve been like brothers to me. After Mike’s death, that bond deepened. In the last few months, Evan and I have grown closer, I guess because we both had more spare time than the others.”
“Understandable.”
“Even so, we were only friends. Very good friends, but that was it.” She subconsciously twisted her wedding band. “Christmas night, I don’t know how it happened.”
“How what happened?” Kate pressed gently when she didn’t continue.
“We were in the kitchen, about to take cups of hot chocolate outside and enjoy the remnants of Christmas, when we kissed.”
