29. Work In Mysterious Ways

29

WORK IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS

I t'd been a few weeks since he learned about Andi's history.

Jarrett had to admit he was thrilled that nothing seemed damaged in their relationship, but he was trying to figure out what her good mood was about.

"I know you're confused," she said. "What did you bring for lunch?"

"Sandwiches," he said. "You told me to pick up anything so I got you a turkey club. I got a roast beef. A large order of fries we can split too."

"Yum," she said. "I'm starving and this is going to hold me over." She opened the container and saw the massive layered sandwich. "I won't need to eat dinner if I put this whole thing away."

"Don't skip meals," he said. "It's not good for you."

"I won't," she said. She liked having someone in her life worried about the little things and not the scary ones. "I'll only eat half of this. I'll have the other half later.SorryI'm here so long today."

"Don't worry about it," he said. "I've got a ton of work to do and catch up on. Tomorrow I've got to go to Boston all day for training."

"Oh," she said.

"I just found out. Itwas one that filledup fast and I didn't get in for it when I signed up a few months ago. They had an opening and I had my name on the list. It starts at eight so I'll have to go over tonight on the ferry. OtherwiseI'd never make it in time in the morning."

He hated to do that, but it was the way things went. The first ferry this time of year wouldn't get him there on time let alone driving through Boston traffic.

"Then I'm glad we were able to have lunch together today. What time do you think you'll be back tomorrow?"

"Probably not until late. I might not get out until the last ferry."

Between the ferry rideandgetting off with his SUV and coming home, it'd be close to eight.

The downside to living on the island. Nothing was fast and easy.

"I have a light day on Thursday," she said. "Friday I'll be done around six. I know we normally plan on Friday night together."

"I hope to get out early enough on Thursday," he said. "I wouldn't mind a few nights in a row."

It bothered him to leave her alone on the island. He wasn't sure why, but now that he knew the truth of her past he didn't want to be that far away from her.

"We normally have Friday and Saturday," she said, taking a huge bite of her sandwich.

"We do," he said. "And we can do that too."

He wasn't going to push anymore. He'd let Mac know that he'd be gone. His brother moved into his new house last weekend. He and Alex helped put some sweat into it for them before they moved in. He'd feel better if Andi was at his house around the corner from Mac but knew mentioning that might cause a fight he didn't want to have.

"I'm sure you're going to hear the news soon, but Amanda told us all she's pregnant. She's due in four months."

"Wow. She kept that quiet," he said. He'd heard that Amanda had lost a pregnancy a year ago. He wasn't sure it was public knowledge, but Sidney told Mac and that was how it got to him.

"She did," she said. "I'm sure you know why."

He only grinned at her. "Does she know what she's having?"

"A little girl," she said. "I didn't ask if they had a name picked out or anything."

He shrugged. Those details didn't excite him like they did women.

The only thing that went through his brain was the fact that he could see himself having a family soon.

Between both of his brothers having kids coming and several more in his family having babies or just having had them.

Hailey Bond would be having her daughter any day now. Roark and his wife, Chelsea, were having a girl in early February. Ava and her husband, Seth,adaughter in March. Then Duke and Mac both in April. Now Amanda in May and his brother Alex in June.

"It's raining babies," he said.

"So I've heard. Lots of girls so far."

"We know Mac is having one of each," he said. "And I think I heard my cousin Duke was having a boy. Can't wait to see what Alex and Jennie are having. I'd say boy, but it'd serve Alex well to have a daughter."

She smiled. "Because he might not have treated women so well in his past?"

"I wouldn't say he treated them poorly," he said. "My mother would have kicked his ass. But he'll have a better understanding of it from a father's point of view having a daughter."

"I'm so glad I was an only child," she said. "I'm positive my father would have been the same way. This way I don't know any differently."

"I think as a parent you always want to watch out for your kids," he said.

He noticed the sadness creep into her eyes and wished this hadn't come up. He was positive she had some bad moments or memory flashes and rarely shared them. How could she not think of so much that had changed?

"Yeah."

They ate in silence for a few minutes. He needed the time to change his train of thought.

The last thing he was going to admit was that he'd done some general internet searches on the Dustin Family and human trafficking.

He didn't like what he read.

Tohimthis wasn't alerting anyone to him or Andi. An Eskimo in Alaska could be searching and finding the same things he did.

"I know you're working on Saturday," he said. "How late?"

She pulled her phone out of her pocket and looked. "I'll be done at three."

"Why don't we get dinner and a movie," he said. "We haven't done much. It's going to be a long winter too. I know you like to do things outside, but on the island, there isn't a lot."

"That sounds like fun," she said. "I haven't been to the movies in a long time."

"Me neither," he said. "I'm sure there are only two options this time of year. Maybe three. I know they did expand the theater years ago."

"I don't care," she said. "I'm just thinking of being a kid and getting popcorn and candy and my shoes sticking to the floor."

He laughed. "Did you ever make out with a guy at the movies when you were a kid?"

"I did," she said. "Did you make out with a girl in the movies?"

"Yep," he said. And more but he wouldn't have said that. It's not like he had sex but might have had his hands moving in places he wouldn't do now as an adult in a public place.

"Those smell good," Amanda said, coming back. She reached into the container with the fries and snagged one. "I might have to order some. Good lord, cravings are a horrible thing. I wouldn't have thought greasy fries would be on the list."

"Congrats," Jarrett said, standing up and hugging her. "Feed your little girl all you want."

"I figured that Andi would tell you. I texted Sidney last night and said we were letting everyone know. It was getting harder to hide it from those who saw me out. Easier to hide here."

He looked at the baggiesmock-typejacket she had on that was almost hanging on her.

"No reason to hide it now," he said. "I'm sure Drew is thrilled."

"He is," Amanda said. "He's got a soft spot for Gemma. I think he was more excited than me to find out it was a girl."

Gemma was Bode and Sam's daughter.

"Gemma is going to be a year?" he asked.

"In March," Amanda said.

"So Coy is the only one without a kid?" she asked. "Is he married?"

"Dating someone," Amanda said. "I'll fill you in more on the fate of this island when you're not busy with your boyfriend."

"I guess this island does work in mysterious ways," Andi said, looking at Jarrett and reaching for his hand. "Even for a klutz like me."

"Best day of my life the fish weren't biting and you tripped," Jarrett said.