“I’ll deal with you later.” She glared at him, then Anna. “We’ve been friends for twenty years, and we’ve never once lied to each other. Or have you, and I never knew until now? I trusted you when you told me there was nothing between you and Jack.”
“There wasn’t, not when we had that conversation.” Anna’s voice began to tremble.
Jack went to her side and wrapped an arm around her waist then addressed his sister. “I understand you’re upset and believe we deceived you, but Anna’s telling the truth. I won’t let you speak to her like this.”
Kelly scoffed. “This is rich. Big brother Jack who’s left a string of broken heart suddenly wants to play the romantic hero. How many dates before you leave Anna sobbing in your wake?”
“That’s enough,” Anna snapped. “How about you have more faith in your brother? Do you even know him? I don’t think you do.”
“And you do?” A vicious laugh erupted from Kelly. “Don’t fool yourself,friend.”
Seething fury coiled in every part of Jack. He’d never, in all his years, seen Kelly act this way. He bit his tongue before he said words he’d regret. Instead, he pulled Anna to the side and ignored anything else Kelly had to say. “I’m so sorry.”
She broke down in sobs after Kelly went inside. He wrapped her tightly and held her until the tears stopped.
“Would you like to go home?”
“It’s probably for the best.” She sniffled. “I’m sure it was the pregnancy hormones talking, but I’ve never seen her like that.”
“Me either.” He grabbed a tissue from his truck and handed one to her.
“Thank you.”
“This is my fault. Had I been upfront from the beginning, you’d never be in this situation.”
Anna shook her head. “You should have told her, but you were going to today. She’s responsible for her own actions.”
The front door opened, and Owen walked outside. “Are you both okay?”
“If Kelly was you, I’d have punched her,” Jack said without thinking.
“We could hear it all inside. The window is open.” Owen came closer. “For what it’s worth, everybody but Kelly is happy the two of you finally got together, and she’ll come around. I’m not saying what she did was right, but pregnancy mixed with exhaustion from caring for sick ones all week isn’t her best look.”
“You think?” he growled under his breath. He wasn’t ready to give Kelly a pass for her behavior pregnant and exhausted or not.
Owen clasped his shoulder. “I understand if you leave, but I wish you wouldn’t. If Kelly has a problem, she can be the one to go home. You, both of you, are welcome here.”
“That’s Anna’s call. I can handle myself, but I’m not going to subject her to another tirade from Kelly.” He looked at Anna, whose eyes were red from crying.
“I don’t know.” Her voice remained shaky. “Maybe we should stay and give the full story. Kelly needs to know the truth.”
“If you want to stay, I’ll support that.” Still angry, he’d rather leave, but Anna made a point. They had to share the story they originally planned to tell. “But she better not say another word unless it’s an apology.”
“Mom and Dad are taking care of that,” Owen told them. “They made it clear no one will be disrespected in their home.”
“How’d this go so wrong?” Anna’s bottom lip trembled.
Owen gave her a brotherly hug. “You and Kelly will work this out in time. To be honest, I’m surprised you all haven’t had a fight in all your years of friendship. It was long overdue, though I’m sorry it had to happen like this.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a fragile smile.
“I’ll leave you alone now, but I hope we’ll see you inside.” Owen gave a quick wave and returned to the house.
Jack faced Anna. “What do you think?”
“Running from a problem has never solved the issue. Let’s go back inside.”
He squeezed her hand. “You’re amazing.”
