Sly wanted his moneynow. He didn’t hide his impatience. “I wait while my attorney and his go round and round.”
“It’s taking forever, and you need that new drainage system.”
“You said it.”
“At least the weather’s been dry lately. It could stay this way for months. Maybe you can put off spending the money for a while.”
“I don’t have much choice.”
She gave him a worried look. “Can’t you try talking to Tim Carpenter again?”
“And get shot? He’s just mean enough to make good on that threat. No, thanks.”
“This is how long-term feuds start. I’m thinking the Hatfields and the McCoys.”
Sly shrugged. “It is what it is.”
His sister examined him closely, then fixed him with her pit-bull stare. “Something else is bothering you, brother mine. Spill.”
Just a little thing. Lana was pregnant with his baby. Holding his glass by the stem he swirled the remains. “Is that mac-and-cheese about ready? I’m dying of starvation here.”
“You won’t talk. Message received, but only because I’m starving, too.”
The next few minutes were filled with setting the table, serving up, and eating.
Wanting to get in on the meal, Fluff jumped onto Sly’s lap again and butted his hand, begging shamelessly. He gave the cat a hunk of ground beef, then pushed the beggar off his lap.
“Have you talked to Lana lately?” Dani asked a while later, when they’d both taken the edge off.
Here we go.Sly swallowed a mouthful of food and chased it with wine before replying, “Saw her Saturday.”
His sister’s expression brightened. “You went out?”
He shook his head.
“Dang, I wish that lawsuit was over so you two could date. But you saw her?”
“I went over to her place because Sophie was supposed to come over. Then at the last minute, she bailed. Again.”
His sister made a sympathetic sound. “Lana must have been so upset. She’s dying for a baby of her own. I wonder why Sophie keeps flaking out.”
One thing was certain—Lana hadn’t told his sister about the pregnancy yet. This was a relief. He wanted to be the one to give his sister the news. But first he needed more time to come togrips with the whole thing and figure out what to do about it. Right now, he didn’t want to talk about Sophie or babies.
“How’s work?” he asked.
“Tourist season is revving up and we’re busier than ever. Which reminds me—guess who showed up for Sunday brunch with a big announcement?”
Sly didn’t even try to guess and didn’t have to wait long for the answer. Lit up with excitement, Dani blurted the news. “Rayna and Troy Madison. After five years of marriage, they’re finally expecting!”
Sly knew the couple. They owned a local real estate company. Dani launched into the particulars and said something about a baby shower.
Pregnancy and babies. They seemed to be everywhere. “Must be in the air,” Sly muttered.
“Pardon me?”
“I said, if they’re happy, that’s good news.”
“Of course they’re happy. Like Lana, Rayna’s been wanting a baby for a while now. I sure hope that Lana will?—”
