“Anyone else know?” Graham asked.
Breck gave a humorless laugh. “The fiance. Chef.”
“So, probably Magnolia,” Graham surmised. “That all?”
“As far as I know,” Breck said. “Saina knows I have a mate, but doesn’t know who.”
“Good,” Graham said. “Less that know the better.” He turned on his heel and Breck realized that he meant to leave.
“Wait,” Breck said desperately. “What do I do?”
Graham gave a dark, rusty laugh as he stalked away into the darkness. “How would I know?”
Breck let him go, knowing that as desperately as he wanted to, there really was nothing he could do but treasure the short time that they had.
Chapter 27
“Hello?” Darla called quietly as she came to the entrance of the spa.
It was quiet, with most of the wedding party occupied approving the flower arrangements with Scarlet and the surly gardener, and Darla liked it much better this way. It was cool inside, and she was glad to see only Laura standing at the far window.
“One of my nails chipped,” she started to say, then belatedly she recognized the miserable roll to the dark-skinned woman’s shoulders, and the ineffective wipe she gave to her face as she turned and tried to pull herself together; she had been crying.
Darla was across the room in a moment, automatically gathering the woman into her arms. “It’s okay,” she said comfortingly. “Can I help?”
For a moment, she was afraid she had overstepped and been too forward; Laura was stiff and surprised in her impulsive embrace. Then she gave a shuddering sigh and softened into Darla’s hug with gratitude.
They sat together on the bench by the window, and Darla put an arm around her shoulder and patted her hand kindly as Laura wiped her face on a cosmetic towel and her sobs gradually subsided.
“I’m sorry,” Laura said shakily.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Darla assured her. “Do you want to tell me about it?”
Laura laughed weakly. “It’s probably just… hormones. I’m… I’m…” She couldn’t quite finish.
“You’re pregnant?” Darla guessed, her mother’s uncomfortable conversations fresh in her mind. “You just found out?”
Laura took a shaky breath. “I thought I might be for a couple of weeks now, but yeah, just confirmed it.”
“Is he going to be unhappy about it?” Darla asked, knowing there must be some conflict to cause her so much grief.
Laura exhaled in a rush, and gave a crooked smile. “He’s going to be over the moon… except…” She bit her lip.
Darla let her continue at her own pace.
“There are no kids allowed at Shifting Sands. I… I don’t know what we’ll do. He’s so happy here. I am, too. I can’t imagine leaving.”
It occurred to Darla suddenly that Breck could be the father to Laura’s child, and jealousy threatened to rise up and choke her. Almost as suddenly, she realized that they hadn’t used any protection the night before, and that she could get pregnant herself.
“Who is he?” she couldn’t help asking, heart hammering in her throat.
The love that bloomed in Laura’s face was so brilliant and unabashed that Darla’s jealousy and worry felt foolish. “Tex, the bartender,” she said almost shyly. “He’s my mate.” She showed Darla the simple gold band on her left hand. “We got married a few months ago — a double wedding with my twin sister.”
Darla had to fight back her own wave of misery, sudden tears welling in her eyes. This is Laura’s moment, she reminded herself, willing them away and smoothing her face before she looked up from the ring. “It’s beautiful,” she said sincerely. “You’re very lucky, and I’m sure the three of you will figure out something wonderful.”
Tears filled Laura’s eyes, but these were happier. “The… three of us,” she repeated.
Darla smiled at her and nodded. “The three of you,” she said, squeezing Laura’s hand.