Fragile Hearts (Poplar Falls #4) - Amber Kelly Page 0,30
friends. You know that.”
“Would you feel the same if he were taking a female friend to lunch?” I ask.
“Of course. He takes Sonia to lunch all the time, so they can discuss his mother’s care. What’s going on with you?”
“Ugh, I don’t know. I’ve had a rough couple of days, and I haven’t had a chance to fill you in,” I confess.
“Why didn’t you just say that? Do you want me to cancel with Brandt? We can go grab a bite and talk if you need to.”
“No, don’t do that. I don’t want to ruin your plans. I’m sorry. I have to run out to the house anyway.”
“Walker wants to go out tonight. Some band he likes is playing at Butch’s Tavern. Why don’t you come too? I’ll call Sonia and get her and Ricky to come. We’ll have drinks, and you can tell us all about it.”
“That sounds good.” I give in.
“We’ll pick you up, and that way, Walker can drive, so we can drink.”
I give her a doubtful look.
“Don’t worry. If I’m with him, he makes sure not to have more than two beers.”
“What have you done to him, witch?” I tease.
Brandt remerges.
“Ready?” he asks Elle.
“I am.”
“I’ll see you guys later. Enjoy lunch,” I tell them before I walk out and to my car.
I turn the ignition and watch while the two of them chat as he locks the office. Then, she takes his arm, and they walk off toward the café.
I don’t like it. And it pisses me off because I have no idea why it bothers me.
I pull up at the house, and Momma is on the porch, holding Faith in her arms.
“What do you have there?” I ask.
“My favorite granddaughter,” she coos at the baby. “Beau is out, following Myer around while he works, and Dallas is inside on the couch, napping.”
“Good. I’m glad she came over, so she could get some rest.”
“Oh, she didn’t. She came to drop Beau off, and while she was waiting for Myer to come get him, she sat down with the baby in her arms and fell right off to sleep. I gently took Faith from her, turned off the television, and threw a blanket over her, and Beau and I snuck out as quietly as we could. Faith and I have been sitting here ever since, swinging and enjoying the cool afternoon.”
“Bless her heart, I’ll just sit here with you two, then, so I don’t disturb her.”
I take a seat on the swing and open my arms.
Momma reluctantly gives up the sleeping baby.
“That boy has called the house a dozen times today,” she tells me.
I roll my eyes. “Ignore him,” I tell her.
“Bellamy, you can’t avoid him forever.”
“Sure I can.”
“An adult would call him back and end things properly,” she scolds.
“An adult would have told me he decided to steal the job right out from under me. No, actually, an adult wouldn’t have taken the job in the first place.”
She sighs.
“That’s true enough,” she agrees.
“He’ll figure it out and stop calling soon, Momma. I have no desire to hash anything out with him.”
“Okay, sweetheart. But I can’t promise that your father won’t have an earful for him if he answers and Derrick is on the line.”
I shrug. That’s a chance he takes.
The baby shifts in my arms, opens her eyes, and lets out a loud cry. I shush her and try to rock her back to sleep, but she is not having it.
“Faith!”
We hear the panicked call from inside.
“She’s out here, Dallas,” Momma calls to her.
A disheveled Dallas emerges from the house.
“Is she okay?” she asks.
“Just fine. Apparently, it’s lunchtime though,” I say as I nod to her.
Dallas looks down at her T-shirt. The telltale signs of a leaky boob show.
“Yep, the milk factory is full. Give me,” she says as she reaches for the baby.
“I wish I could feed her for you,” I say as I pass her off.
“I’ll switch her to a bottle when I go back to work in a few weeks, but I want to breastfeed her for as long as I can. I know I look a hot mess, but I really enjoy it.”
“You look wonderful,” Momma insists.
Dallas shakes her head.
“You do, Dal. You are glowing,” I agree.
“Thank you. And thanks for the power nap. I feel much better.”
“You can come here to nap anytime,” Momma says before standing. “I’m getting hungry myself. I think I’ll go rustle up some lunch for the three of us too,” she announces before walking inside.