17. Sunshine And Roses

17

SUNSHINE AND ROSES

“ H i, Kelly.”

Kelly looked up from her computer and turned her head to see Jolene Fierce standing in her doorway. “Hi, Jolene. How are you?”

“I’m good,” Jolene said. “I stopped in to get some lunch for Gavin and me and check up on things. Gavin is at the brewery meeting with Mason and dropped me off.”

She knew Gavin still played a big role at the brewery, but most of the restaurant and pub were run by Aiden and Brody. From a corporate level, Ella and Cade did the rest. She found it funny that Cade was so good at his job, being the jokester of the family. But when push came to shove, he had what it took and could be serious.

“Are you getting anything yummy for lunch?” she asked. One thing about working upstairs, you could smell the scent of food daily.

“Liam has some good specials on the lunch menu so I closed my eyes and picked at random. I find that fun and then if Gavin isn’t happy he can’t say that I made a conscious decision.”

“But you made a conscious decision to pick that way,” she said, giggling.

“Look at you all sunshine and roses,” Jolene said, moving in. “You look lighter.”

“Huh?” she asked.

“There is a sparkle in your eye. It wasn’t there the last time we talked. Are you dating someone?” Jolene asked, angling her head.

Oh boy. No way Jolene could actually sniff this out, but maybe she could.

She’d have to be careful what she said.

They weren’t letting coworkers know, but she didn’t want Jolene to start to set her up either because right now she felt she found the man for her.

What a predicament to be in!

“I am,” she said quietly.

“Oh,” Jolene said. “Is it a secret? You’re talking low.”

“It’s not a secret but new. Just keeping it low-key while I figure it out.”

“That’s the best way to do it,” Jolene said. “Slow and steady wins the race.”

“Not if my mother has anything to say about it,” Ella said. “Mom, were you looking for me?”

“Nope,” Jolene said. “Just decided to come up and visit while I wait for our lunch. Dad is at the brewery.”

“You don’t have to bug the staff while you do it.”

“She’s not bugging me,” Kelly said. She’d never insult Jolene.

“She pays people to say that,” Ella said. “Go bug Cade when he gets off the phone.”

“I suppose I could,” Jolene said. “I know it will be any day now with Alex and I should see what they need from me. I’m sure Alex has everything set with Michael. What a great asset he’s been to her. So glad he moved back home when he had years ago. She’d be lost without him.”

Nothing Kelly hadn’t heard before. “I’m sure you’re excited about your new granddaughter,” she said.

“I am,” Jolene said, moving out of the office quickly.

Phew. Saved by Ella once again without her even knowing it.

But Ella moved to the door and shut it. “So you’re dating someone?” Ella asked.

“You heard me tell your mother that?” she asked. She thought she was quiet.

“Nope. I’ve noticed what everyone else has in the past few days. You’re smiling. You’re whistling and you’re giggling. That means only one thing.”

“What’s that?” she asked. She’d have to be more careful. “I’ve always been upbeat and happy. People love that about me.”

“We do,” Ella said. “But this is something more. An extra sparkle that got shot with steroids.”

“You think so?” she asked, grinning.

“You did just say you were dating someone. So all those extra little smiles and giggles mean you’re in love.”

“I don’t know I’d go that far,” she said.

Good lord, the last thing she needed was anyone to find out that she was in love with Michael and she hadn’t even told him. It wasn’t on her radar to have that conversation any time soon either.

He’d just told her this weekend that his parents knew and she thought that was a good first step, but she had worried that his parents would tell Alex or Alex’s mother.

Michael assured her that wouldn’t happen.

“Maybe you aren’t ready to admit it to yourself yet. Or Michael.”

“What?” she asked in a panic.

“Damn,” Ella said. “My mother is so clueless.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

“Come on, Kelly. My mother is throwing names at you looking for a reaction. She wasn’t paying enough attention, but I did when she said his name. I saw the quick rise of your eyes and your shoulders tense.”

“That is because she was watching you while she talked to me,” Kelly said. “She always thinks you know something and is hiding it from her so she was looking for clues.”

“That’s right. You’re welcome. I covered for you. But in the process, I figured out it was Michael. Right?”

No reason to lie. It wouldn’t sit well with her anyway.

“We don’t want anyone to know.”

“I understand that. Do you think my mother has had a hand in this?” Ella asked. “I’m pretty sure she hasn’t. As I said, just last week she was talking to me about a few guys and your name came up.”

“She was?” Kelly asked. Oh no. This was what she got for opening her big mouth and asking for help.

“I shot them all down. Some you don’t know and wouldn’t get along with. I’ll keep stringing her along as long as you want me to.”

“Yes, please. I’ll owe you. It’s new and we are feeling things out. It’s a little tricky.”

“It’s always tricky if my mother gets involved,” Ella said, smiling. “She’ll start to pester Cade about it and he’s always clueless. More now with the baby coming. He’ll be a good shield for you. Especially with Alex out, so you’ve got some freedom to go there to get stuff with no one watching.”

“That thought crossed my mind. Is that horrible of me?”

“Never,” Ella said, standing up. “But if you want to keep me in the loop some, I’ll make sure to not overstep.”

“I appreciate that. Also if you want to let me know if she’s getting close or not. I’ll have to figure out how to say no if she tries to set me up with someone. I mean, I just said I’m dating someone.”

“Which means she’s going to give you some space while she tries to guess who it is. Then she’ll want to know how serious it is and decide if he’s a good match. She’ll think anyone she hasn’t paired you with won’t be a good fit.”

“Which is why I asked her a few times. I’ve had such bad luck and thought if she had a hand in it, I’d have a better shot.”

“But here you are doing it on your own,” Ella said. “Just remember that.”

“Thanks.”

Jolene went downstairs to check on lunch and returned hoping that Cade was finally off the phone.

When she turned the corner, he picked his phone up quickly. “Don’t even think about it,” she said. “I know you’re not talking to anyone. I was standing outside your door for ten seconds and there was silence.”

Her youngest son all but growled at her. “You’re sneaky that way.”

“And you love it,” she said. She came in and sat down across from him. “How is Alex feeling?”

“Ready to burst,” he said. “And I know you talked to her so you know those things.”

“I’m just checking on her. You let me know when you’re ready for me to take the kids.”

“She has her appointment tomorrow. I’m pretty sure they are going to tell her she needs a C-section like she had with the twins. She’s torn. She really wanted to try to do a natural birth because the recovery would be easier, but she isn’t sure she wants to experience labor and contractions.”

“Neither is fun,” his mother said. “But it’s so worth it in the end. If you have a C-section then you’ll know and can plan with the twins. Sometimes it’s easier.”

“It is,” he said. “I just don’t want to watch it again. I almost passed out last time, but I can’t let her do it alone.”

“You’ll be fine,” she said. Cade had such a weak stomach. “Just slide down in the chair like you did last time and look into your beautiful wife’s eyes. If you pass out, you’re already sitting, no biggie.”

“I’ll probably do that. Slide down and close my eyes. I got thinking that it’d be faster than watching her in pain and pushing the baby out.” Cade started to turn a little green and grabbed a bottle of water to take a sip.

“I think you might do better with the C-section.”

“Me too, but it’s not my decision. Alex has to be the one to go through it.”

“Since this conversation is turning your stomach a little, let’s change the subject. Who is Kelly dating?”

“How would I know that?” he asked. “I didn’t know that she was.”

“The girls all talk in the office,” she said. “You haven’t heard a word?”

“Nope,” he said. “I’m a little busy at the moment and it’s not like they talk to me about it. Why does it matter who she is dating?”

“She asked me to set her up with someone a while ago. I just figured that she had poor luck with men to ask that. She’s been single for a long time. My guess is this one won’t work either.”

“You don’t know that,” Cade said. “I don’t know why you think if it’s not you picking a mate, then it’s a bad decision.”

Jolene brushed her knuckles on her chest and laughed. “Because I’m always right. Just remember that when you’re holding your new daughter soon.”

“You won’t let me forget,” he said, smirking. His phone rang and he reached for it. “Now I’ve got a call.”

“I’ll go bug Ella,” she said. She knew for a fact Ella knew what was going on and she’d get some information there.

“Hi, Mom,” Ella said before she even got her foot in the door. “I know you’re standing out there listening.”

She turned and came in. “How did you know that?”

“I felt that annoyance vibrating off of you by not getting any answers from Cade.”

Ella was smirking at her. “Who is Kelly dating?”

“Why would you think I’d know that?” Ella asked.

“Because I saw it on your face when you came in. You know.”

“I know the same things you do,” Ella said. “She’s been happier and laughing more. I took a guess just like you but haven’t heard anything from anyone.”

“You’re not lying to me?” she asked.

“Would I do that to you?”

“Yes,” she said. “You would.”

“Then why ask me that?” Ella asked.

“Whoever it is, do you think it will last?”

“Since it’s new like she’d said, I have no way of knowing that any more than you,” Ella said.

“I’ve got a few men I think will work for her. Top of the list is Michael, but they’ve known each other for years and don’t seem to react much other than as coworkers when their names come up.”

“There you go,” Ella said. “You got your answer there.”

Not even a flinch of her daughter’s face or change in her eyes over Michael’s name.

“Not good enough,” she said. She was staring at her daughter to see if she could figure out the truth, but Ella had always been a tough nut to crack when she wanted to be loyal.

“Trying to out-stare me isn’t going to work,” Ella said, laughing. “I learned from the best. And I’ve got work to do.”

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll let it go.”

“You never let it go,” Ella said. “But your lunch is most likely done and Dad texted to say he’s five minutes away.”

“Why are you telling me that now?” she asked. “He hates when I keep him waiting.”

“Maybe I wanted my mother to get a lecture for being nosy,” Ella said.

Jolene walked out shaking her head.

When she got downstairs, Gavin was picking up their food and leaning on the counter talking to Liam.

“There you are,” Gavin said. “Struck out upstairs, didn’t you?”

“How do you know?” she asked.

“Because your kids all talk to me,” her husband said. “You don’t know the right way to play things.”

“Do you know what is going on?” she asked, hopeful.

“Not a clue other than you’re being a nuisance,” Gavin said, smiling. There were a lot of laughs around the kitchen over that. Even a few coughs.

She turned to her nephew Liam who was working by his wife, Margo. “Hey, you two should be thanking me too.”

“Remember, we knew each other before you got involved,” Margo said.

She was reminded of that a few times. “But I lent a hand and you both know it.”

“Fine, Aunt Jolene,” Liam said. “We thank you every night before we go to sleep.”

“Do you?” she asked.

“Let’s go, Jolene,” Gavin said. “Everyone is just yanking your chain.”

She turned to her husband. “I know that. I’m just playing back with them. They know that too.”

Sometimes her husband was so slow!