The Magician's Secret (Nancy Drew Diaries #8)(29)

“This is our son, Jack, and his wife, Julie,” Abby explained. “They’re from Chicago, but they’ve been visiting us while they house-hunt in the area.”

“Hi,” said Jack, stopping a few feet away and looking from face to face with a quizzical look.

Julie stopped right behind him. “Hi, everyone,” she said. Now that she was closer, I could see that she looked a little pale. “Oh, gosh, I need to sit down.”

Jack looked at her with concern. “Go have a seat!” he said urgently. “In fact, go grab something to eat in the kitchen.”

Sam nodded. “That’s right, dear,” he said. “You’re eating for two, remember.”

Julie shot a small smile at my friends and me. “Sorry to be rude,” she said, “but I think I might take Sam up on that. I’ve been so hungry lately!”

“When are you due?” Bess asked warmly.

“One more month,” Julie said, patting her round belly.

She waved and walked toward the kitchen. I followed her with my eyes, and was surprised when I heard harsh voices coming from nearby.

“. . . should’ve planned for her to eat first,” Jack was saying to his father, a sharp edge in his voice. “She’s eight months pregnant!”

Sam looked hurt. “And nobody minds her sitting down, or eating early.”

“Are you sure?” Jack asked in a lower voice, sneering. “You don’t want us out here shaking hands to sell your stupid vegetables?”

Sam’s face drooped even further. Abby shot Jack a warning look. “Now, Jack. . . .”

Holly cleared her throat. She was staring straight ahead and I couldn’t tell whether she’d heard the argument and was ignoring it, or had really missed the whole thing.