“Agreed,” Ian said.
“And Kate,” my mother went on without missing a beat. “Why is she throwing Josh out of her shop?”
“She did?” I asked, as if I hadn’t heard it myself.
“Oh yes,” Mom said. “Word travels fast. Faster than rain clouds.” She glanced between us. “So, what happened?”
Before either of us could answer, the door opened again.
Josh walked in, looking so angry that it got Mo’s attention and he got up and parked himself next to my leg, staring at Josh, none to friendly.
“I should’ve never listened to you,” Josh said, pointing at me. “Telling me to talk with her.”
My mother turned. “Listened to her about what?”
“Kate,” Josh snapped.
Ian and my mother both looked at me.
I focused on my brother. “We talked barely a couple of hours ago and the last I remember was that I was going to speak to Kate.”
“You said, ‘Here’s an idea, talk to her.’ And with the mess you got yourself into on Main Street, I figured you wouldn’t get around to speaking with Kate today?—”
“And you were too impatient to wait, so you went and interrogated her,” I said, laying out exactly what no doubt happened.
He bristled. “I didn’t interrogate her.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Josh, I know you. Your idea of ‘talking’ sounds an awful lot like questioning a suspect. Badge or no badge.”
He opened his mouth, then closed it.
Mom folded her arms. “So, you accused her.”
“I asked questions,” he muttered.
“That’s a yes,” my mom said.
“So, you came here to blame me for what was your own fault,” I said.
Of all things, Josh looked to Ian.
“It’s not easy, mate, when you find the one,” Ian said and tugged me a bit closer to him.
My mom rested her hand on Josh’s arm. “Oh, Josh, when are you going to realize you’ve fallen in love with Kate?”
Anger sparked in Josh’s eyes, and he looked ready to argue, then as quickly as the anger flared, it vanished, and his shoulders slumped. Then he turned and walked out without saying another word.
“You need to help him, Pepper,” my mom said and hurried after him, forgetting me and my situation completely.
Of which I should be grateful, my mom, having reminded me on more than one occasion, that I was far more capable of handling problematic situations than my brothers.
So, my mom left me with no choice, I had to help Josh.
Later that evening,the house had settled into a hush broken only by the soft patter of rain lingering outside. Ian was in the library, door closed, his voice low and focused as he handled what sounded like an unexpected business call. From the rhythm of it, I knew it wasn’t something he could step away from.
Mo lay at my feet, his big head resting on one paw, eyes half-lidded but never truly asleep. He always knew when something wasn’t right, even before I admitted it to myself.
I sat on the couch with my phone in hand, trying not to stare at it.
