“No, Amelia comes first. I’m fine. Things are fine. I’ve been a little nauseous the last week, and I wonder if I’m not coming down with what Melia had.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

I hate that she’s not feeling well. “Did you call the doctor?”

“Grayson, it’s fine. I promise.” Jessica’s voice turns to laughter at the end.

“Speaking of the doctor, when is your next appointment?”

She smiles, but it looks a little forced. “Soon.”

“How soon? If you want me to go with you, I will.”

“No. You don’t need to.”

It’s clear that she doesn’t want me there and I try not to let that bother me. “Jess, I want to be there with you.”

“I appreciate that,” Jessica says, but her tone says otherwise. “I don’t have an appointment for a bit. I’ll let you know, though.”

“Okay. What about things at work?”

Jessica fills me in on everything that’s been going on at the Park Inn. My receptionist apparently had sex with the gardener in the shed, which was a big scandal because he was dating the cook. She found out and threatened to cleaver him. Stella and Jess were able to get her to calm down, but the gardener demanded she be fired. My sister, being all about girl power, fired him. The guests in the cottage were unhappy about the distance they had to walk, so she was able to “upgrade” another couple into switching. Mostly, it was a lot of nothing, but I listened, smiling as she told me all about it.

“And then your father came in today . . .”

The smile is gone.

“He did?”

She nods. “He was actually really nice. He asked if we’d spoken because I guess there is a dinner next weekend that you didn’t tell me about.”

“There is, and they’d like you to come.”

“Why?”

“I have no idea, but they’re evil, so I don’t think we should go.”

“Gray,” Jess says with exasperation. “I don’t know why they hate me, but if we’re really going to be together, then . . . I need to deal with them. I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“No, love, you haven’t.”

“Then, we’ll go, and we’ll endure.”

I laugh because it’s the same words Stella used a few months ago.

“What?” Jess asks.

“Nothing. I just love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Let’s hope you still feel that way after dinner.”

Chapter 28

Jessica

“You’re cleared!” Winnie says with a huge smile.

“Please don’t tell anyone.”

My sister’s head tilts to the side and stares at me as though I’m a zoo animal she’s never seen before. “What? Why the hell are you keeping it a secret?”

“Because I am.”