Page 25 of The Hermit on the Hill

"Calves," I muttered.

Brittany stuck her tongue out at me and turned back to her captive audience. "Anyway, he's my best friend, and he told me all about Jenna coming to visit my dear brother. According to Jared, Sammy had a one-night stand with his sister Jenna and then bailed with her research and ID in his back pocket. Jared won't tell me any more than that, but he implied there was something big about to go down. Something I'd want to be in town for."

I groaned. I was an asshole and a grump and an evil beast planning to destroy a town, but one thing I never did was lie to my sister. Also, she needed to know she was going to be an aunt. Or maybe I just needed her to know. "You think we could have this conversation somewhere private?"

She batted her eyelashes. "What you tell me, you can tell Marcus and Damian. We are all family, aren't we?"

I didn't know Damian all that well, but Brittany wasn't wrong. She and Marcus were my family.

"Fine, but what I'm about to say doesn't leave this room."

CHAPTER SEVEN

Jenna

Iflung open my front door to my favorite brother and wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug. "I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow."

"Had a few cancellations and decided to come in early." Jared walked in and dropped his duffel on the floor.

He had a swipe of mud across one cheek, his shoulder-length hair was in a tight bun on his head, like it always was when he worked, there was a burr in his hair near his hairline, and mud flecked his scruffy beard.

"Looks like you had at least one job today."

"This morning. A horse with colic."

"Do you want something to drink? Something to eat? Have you had lunch?"

"What I want to know," he said in his familiar, gentle voice, "is how you're doing? Really. Without all the bullshit you feed me over the phone to keep me from worrying."

To calm my racing heart, I pressed a hand to my chest. I opened my mouth to tell him I was fine, but I couldn't lie to my brother. "I'm terrified. My savings are only going to get me through two more months here. I don't even know where to start looking for a job. On top of that, Sam actually wants to be a part of our baby's life, and I have no idea what to do with that."

"I know. Brittany told me."

"Brittany?" The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it.

"Sam's sister. Brittany Oakley. She's a good friend of mine."

My knees were shaky, so I sat on the couch. "So she knows about the baby. Do you know if Sam told anyone else? Would his sister tell anyone? Who else knows?"

Jared sat on the couch next to me and pulled me into a hug. "I already told you, no one else knows. Brittany didn't tell anyone but me, and Sam swore her to secrecy, so I doubt he's telling anyone else."

I pulled in a deep breath. "Okay. That's okay then."

Jared rubbed my back and let me go. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and looked at me. "You should tell Mom and May, at least, Jenna. They're going to notice soon. How far along are you?"

"About five months. Nineteen weeks. My jeans are getting tight."

"You're lucky you aren't showing more already." He looked me over the way I imagined he studied pregnant cows. "Mom's going to be hurt if she finds out before you tell her."

I stood and shook out my hands. As much as I loved my brother, I wished he'd go away and let me return to my world of pretend where my secret was my own to keep and I didn't owe anything to anyone.

"I need to get things straight with Sam first. Once I know where we stand and what he expects, I can tell…" I stopped pacing and stared at Jared. He was like the calm in my storm, his expression placid. He was the most accepting person I knew and one of the most sensitive. "Thank you for keeping my secret, Jared. I've put you in a tough position."

He stared at the floor, taking his time to say what he needed to say.

I knew him well, and I didn't interrupt.

He looked up at me, his expression open. "You're my sister, Jenna, and I'd do anything for you, but I don't understand what you're so afraid of. Do you think Mom won't understand? That she won't be thrilled to have another grandbaby on the way?"

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