Anything for You (Blue Heron #5)(47)

Ned walked Davey up front, and Jessica got out of her chair, then stood there, looking around the table. “Thank you all so much for tonight.” She paused. “For everything.” Thank you for giving me my first real job. Thank you for your faith in me. Thank you for accepting my brother. Thank you for making me feel normal.

For a second, she almost thought she might cry.

“We’re lucky to have you, Jessica,” the younger Mr. Holland said.

“I can’t believe I ever managed without you,” Honor added, and Jack agreed, and before Clan Holland could stand up and start hugging, which they did a lot, Jessica gave a quick wave and made her way to the front of the bar.

Marcy didn’t acknowledge her, just leaned back in her chair and laughed at something she said, then laid a hand on Faith’s shoulder and laughed again.

The Hollands liked Jess, she knew that. But she couldn’t help feeling a little uncomfortable that Marcy would be staying when she would not.

Near the front door, Ned was checking his phone. Davey was talking to someone. Jess pulled on her jacket—it was still chilly at night, April or not—then froze.

Davey was hugging the person he was talking to. And Davey didn’t hug many people.

Someone short. Someone skinny. Someone with reddish-blond hair.

“Jess, look!” Davey said, turning. “He’s here!”

The floor dropped out beneath her, and she took an involuntary step back.

There he was, his nose crooked from so many fights, hair shaggy as ever, half his face taken up by his big blue eyes, same as Davey.

Keith Dunn. Their father.

He smiled hugely. “Jessica,” he said, and those eyes filled up with tears. “How’s my baby girl?”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“ABSOLUTELY NOT.”

“Connor! You said you’d do whatever I ordered.” Colleen huffed mightily and folded her arms on her watermelon of a belly. “You said you’d go out with her!”

“I was being polite. Now move, because I have to cook.”

“Give me five minutes, for God’s sake.” She turned to the sous-chef. “Rafe, tell him to listen to me.”

“What’s the harm?” Rafe asked, leaning against the stainless-steel counter. “Expand your horizons. Get laid. Smile a little.”

“She’s really not my type.”

“We talked about this,” Colleen said. “You have to be willing to try or you’ll just be at home, brooding and sulking. Like always.”

Connor sighed.

“Don’t you Catholic sigh at me,” Colleen added.

They were talking about what’s-her-name. The new person at Blue Heron who’d been in the other night. Marie or Marsha or whatever.

“You said you’d listen to me,” Colleen reminded him. “I’m pregnant, and if you upset me, Lucas will stab you.” She folded her arms on her stomach. “Besides, you’ll never get—”

“Fine. I’ll do it.”

Because she was just about to say You’ll never get over Jess if you don’t start trying.

Jessica had made herself crystal clear. And maybe Colleen was right. There was a first time for everything.

“Good,” Colleen said. “I texted Marcy from your phone and told her you’d meet her for a drink. Of course, I pretended to be you and was very charming, so don’t be surprised if she expects a little fun.”

He closed his eyes. “You’re such a hemorrhoid.”

“You want to be godfather to this baby or what? I can always ask Rafe here.”

“I think it’s clear who’d buy the best presents, especially if it’s a girl,” Rafe said. “A gay faux uncle versus your hetero brother. No contest.”

“It’s a girl,” Connor said. Colleen and Lucas had decided not to find out, but Connor knew already.

Colleen raised an eyebrow, one of her better tricks. “That’s a good point, Rafe. Connor, can’t you just stop whining and man up and go on this date, damn it?” She burped. “Do you have any Tums? God, this heartburn is murder.”

“When will this baby be born? Seems like you’ve been pregnant for two years.”

“Oh, is it hard on you? Do you think you should say stuff like that when we’re in a room full of sharp objects? Huh?” Rafe handed her a roll of antacids, and she scarfed down two.

Okay, so she was really uncomfortable. Her back hurt; he knew that without her saying anything. Irritatingly, he had a sympathy backache. And she was scared. Lots of things could go wrong. He felt a flash of fear himself, and before he could stop himself, he found that he had his arm around her shoulders. “You’ll be fine, Dog-Face. And hopefully the baby will look like me.”

“Will you please go out with Marcy? Have I ever been wrong in my entire life?”

“Yes, and yes. I’ll go, but only because you threatened me with a knife.”

“Now see? Was that so hard? I can already see the write-up in the Vows section. ‘They went on a date after Connor’s beloved twin threatened to stab him.’ Oh, and I’m interviewing a temporary bartender, so don’t growl and scare her away.”

“Get out of my kitchen, both of you,” Rafe said, flapping his hands. Connor gave him a look but obeyed. It was Rafe’s kitchen on Tuesdays and on Friday nights, when Connor and Colleen had dinner with Savannah.