“Always thought you two would make a lovely couple,” Dr. Hannah said.
Jay watched them closely, wondering if the news of Blue’s pregnancy was out yet. It didn’t appear so, as none of them seemed any different than they were on any day—which was to say, nosey, loud, and determined.
“You’re due for a checkup, Jay. You, too, Blue. I haven’t had either of you in my rooms for a few years,” Dr. Hannah said. “Now I know you’ve likely seen other medical professionals outside the Lyntacky borders, but I was the one who brought you into this world, Blue, and tended you since you were little, Jay, so I have a say in that kind of thing.”
“So, what have you got for me, Jay?” Mrs. C. said, hopeful. “We’ll deal with the dress design another day, Blue,” she added, “as I don’t have my material with me.”
“You all head round to the office then, and I’ll meet you there. I just need to grab my laptop,” Jay said. When the world turned crazy, it was best to embrace it.
“If you’re making some, dear, I’ll take tea. White with honey, if Jay has it,” Dr. Hannah added.
The others gave their orders, and then they were moving, a small group of crazy, toward his office, disappearing around the side of the house.
“There are no words” was all Blue said before she headed back to the kitchen.
“Lyntacky—am I right?” Jay said.
“So right,” she agreed. “We’ll talk more about the DNA results later.” Blue whispered the last part, knowing well there were ears everywhere.
I have a half sister, he thought, following her to the kitchen. He wondered what else could turn his well-ordered world into disarray and hoped that whatever it was, it held off for a while, because he wasn’t sure he could take any more shocks.
Chapter 23
For four days, Blue did little. She watched TV and read. Exercised in Jay’s gym and cooked. He worked—boy, did that man put in long hours. He seemed to have an inexhaustible well of energy, whereas she felt drained most of the time. But if she was honest, that was easing now.
He was also caring without being overbearing. He didn’t push or demand, just handed her crackers, water, or whatever else he thought she needed.
Jay Haddon wasn’t like any other man she’d dated—not that they were dating.
Blue was sure he could be an asshole, everyone had that capability in them, including her, but for the most part, he seemed to be a good guy.
One thing he wouldn’t discuss was his half sister. In fact, he shut down when she mentioned contacting Hazel. Blue had even offered to do it for him. He’d refused her help and said he didn’t want to discuss it further.
She really believed it was important that Jay met his sister, but she didn’t know how to make that happen, so she left it alone… for now.
They’d fallen into a routine during the day and usually settled in to watch something on the TV after a meal. It was strangely easy to live here in his house. But there was also something else simmering between them. It had started with that kiss in his kitchen and grown from there.
Blue would catch him looking at her, or he’d catch her doing the same to him. Neither of them commented on it, but the tension between them was growing.
Looking at her phone screen as it rang, she saw it was Phoebe.
“Hey.”
“Hey. I’m swinging by in about ten minutes to pick you up. We’re doing a spa day. JD relented when Zoe pushed him on it, and he’s closing the Gnat just for us.”
“I don’t?—”
“You do. So be ready.” Phoebe cut the call after that.
She could text back, but then, she knew her friend, and the woman would just turn up, as would the others who were no doubt part of spa day.
“I don’t wanna face everyone yet.”
“Everyone who?” Jay had come in through the back door and heard her words. “And don’t go if you don’t wanna.”
His hair hadn’t seen a brush, he wore faded jeans ripped at the knee and an old gray T-shirt. He looked too good, and that only added to her awareness of him. The guy was hot.
“Apparently I’m going to a spa day at the Gnat. Zoe forced JD to close early and then pay his staff to pamper us.”
