“You going to answer me?” Talon pressed.
“Just getting a smoothie.”
“With my sister?”
“It’s a free country,” he said. “She happened to be here, so I joined her. We used to be friends in another lifetime.”
“Tal…” I hedged, looking away. My brother knew well what had happened to Colin. He of all people should take a bit of pity on him.
He seemed to understand, thank goodness. “I’ll get Jade her smoothie.” He walked to the counter.
“Still want me to try to arrange for you to talk to Jade?” I asked sarcastically once Talon was out of earshot.
“Well…yeah.”
“My brother is shooting at you with his eyes,” I said. “Don’t forget what you did to his wife.” Though honestly, it all seemed insignificant given what both Talon and Colin had been through. Still, I had no great love for the man across from me. Pity, yes. Love? No way.
“Jade’s a big girl. Isn’t it her decision who she talks to? Or does she let that animal control her?”
Now I was angry. He’d definitely crossed a line. “Look. I know you’ve been through hell, but Talon is my brother. If you want my cooperation, you’ll stop the name calling. He treats Jade like a queen. Much better than you ever did.”
“I doubt that.”
“Yeah? He showed up to their wedding.”
That shut him up.
He stood and handed me a business card. “Please. You can reach me here. Let Jade know I really do need to talk to her.” Then he walked out the door.
Talon returned holding his smoothie. “Good riddance.”
I said nothing. I was having a push me-pull you ambivalence about Colin. He’d been a jerk, no doubt, but he hadn’t deserved what Tom Simpson put him through.
“You need a ride home?” he asked.
“I’ve got my car. How’s Jade? I didn?
??t want to ask in front of Colin. I’m not sure he knows she’s pregnant.”
“She’s okay. Still nauseated, but that’s nothing new.”
“What did the doctor say about the bleeding and cramping?”
“Apparently it can be normal in the first trimester, but if it happens again, I have to take her right back in. In fact, he wants to see her every week now instead of every four weeks, which is fine with me.”
“I’ll be able to drive her to Grand Junction.”
“No way. I’ll be taking her myself,” Talon said.
I nodded.
“They did an ultrasound, and the baby is growing normally and the heartbeat was fine, so we’re out of the woods. For now, at least.”
“Thank God.”
“I know,” Talon agreed. “After all Jade’s been through with this pregnancy so far while Melanie’s has been nearly symptom-free. If she’d lost this child…”
“Don’t go there,” I said. “She’s fine.”