Waiting On You (Blue Heron #3)(114)

“Yeah.” Paulie sighed. She looked nice, if a little stiff, in her black dress. “It’s just my heart is breaking, looking at that.” Her eyes filled as she looked at Bryce.

“He’ll be glad to see you. Come on.”

They went up to Joe’s casket, and Colleen swallowed the lump in her throat at the sight of Smiling Joe Campbell, who would never again sit at the end of the bar, nursing his Empire Cream Ale. Paulie put her hand on Joe’s shoulder and wiped her eyes.

“Paulie,” Bryce said. “Hey.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” she said, and offered her hand. Bryce enveloped her in a hug, bending down since Paulie was so short, and burying his face on her shoulder. “Aw, buddy,” she said. “You were a great son.”

Bryce’s shoulders shook with a sob.

Dang it. Colleen seemed to be crying, too.

Bryce straightened up. “Sorry,” he said, wiping his eyes. “It’s so good to see you.” He turned to his mother. “Mom, you remember Paulie Petrosinsky.”

“I’m sorry for your loss, Mrs. Campbell,” Paulie said.

“Thanks.” Didi looked over Paulie’s head and shot Mr. and Mrs. Forbes a smile. “Bryce, would you get me some water, please?”

“I’ll do it, Mrs. Campbell,” Colleen said. “Bryce, you must be tired. Why don’t you sit down for a few minutes, catch up with Paulie?”

“Cool,” Bryce said. “If you don’t mind, Paulie, that is.”

“Hell, no, not at all,” Paulie said.

She wasn’t blushing. No, she looked entirely normal.

“How about that water, Kathleen?” Didi said.

“It’s Colleen, Mrs. Campbell, and you bet.” Far be it from her to be impolite at a wake.

She went to the watercooler in the back, filled a cup and turned to see Stephanie Campbell standing in front of her. “Hey,” she said.

“Hi, Steph.”

“Nice seeing you and Lucas back together, and that’s all I’m gonna say. See you tomorrow.” She smiled, gave Colleen’s shoulder a squeeze, then herded her children out the front door.

A sisterly blessing. She’d take it.

When Colleen returned to the front of the room, the Forbeses were gathered around, and Colleen stood there awkwardly with the water. Didi wouldn’t make eye contact, as she was too busy ass-kissing. Colleen waited. Lucas was talking to Ellen and her fiancé, Steve, and damned if Colleen didn’t feel like the waitress once again.

“Excuse me, please,” she said pleasantly, and Mr. Forbes leaped back.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, my dear,” he said.

“No, not at all,” Colleen said. “Here’s your water, Mrs. Campbell.” She forced a smile, then drifted toward Lucas. Or maybe she shouldn’t. Maybe she should go. Crap, this was awkward.

“So I’ll see you at the benefit next week, right?” she overheard Ellen say.

“I think so,” Lucas said.

“Great. I’m so sorry we can’t stay for the funeral,” Ellen said. “But you know I’m thinking of you.”

“I appreciate that,” he said, shaking Steve’s hand. “You guys have a safe trip back. Make sure you get enough rest, Ell.”

“You should talk,” she said. “Don’t think I missed the fact that you were limping. Get some ice on that knee.”

Knee? Which knee? Lucas had a problem with his knee?

“She has eyes like a hawk,” Steve said, pushing some hair behind Ellen’s ear. “But he’s right, baby. You should get your feet up.”

Not just one, but two men, basking in Ellen’s pregnant glow.

Bryce and Paulie were still in a tête-à-tête. The Hollands had left; most people had, and she didn’t want to stand around like a lump, watching Lucas kiss Ellen on the cheek (but bugger and damn, she did catch that out of the corner of her eye). She went to the back of the room and texted Savannah. How’s everything? I’m at a wake. What are you doing?

A few seconds later, she had her answer. Mom & I r doing pedis. Fun!!!

That was nice. Mother-daughter time. Great! she texted back. Have fun, sweets! Tell your mom I said hi.

Oddly enough, she and Gail were becoming...well, not friends. Allies, maybe. They’d had a glass of wine the other night at O’Rourke’s, the first time Gail had come in alone. Gail had asked for her opinion on letting Savannah do the travel league for baseball in the fall (which Colleen had been all for).

They hadn’t talked about Dad. If Gail suspected he was dating his ex-wife, she didn’t say anything, and Colleen appreciated it.

“Mía.”

Colleen jumped. “Spaniard. How are you holding up?”

“Good. Things seem to be winding down here.” He picked up her hand and kissed it. Twice.

He looked so amazing in his suit, a dark gray with a white shirt and dark red tie. He needed to shave. Colleen reminded herself to stop lusting in a funeral home, but he made it hard, that gorgeous mouth, those tragic eyes, so dark and deep...and maybe, there was a little glow of happiness in there, too. Maybe, just maybe, she had something to do with that.

“Hey, you two,” said Bryce, approaching with Paulie.

“Paulie,” Lucas said. “Nice to see you again.”