Page 24 of In Step

Fox obliged. “Better?”

“For now. But you owe me big time, and I intend to collect.”

Fox waggled his eyebrows. “I can’t wait.”

Oh boy. I grinned at Judah. “I’m not sure the old house foundations had these two in mind.”

Judah rolled his eyes. “Tell me about it.”

“Can we change the subject please?” Cora interrupted. “I’m too old for this.”

I reached to pour myself a coffee and thought,fuck it.“Did you guys know it was Kane’s thirtieth birthday Thursday?”

Silence filled the room and all eyes turned to me.

“No.” Leroy’s gaze darted to Judah who sat ominously still, staring at the coffee table. “He never mentioned it. But then, of course, he didn’t. He says fuck-all about anything personal.”

Fox nodded. “He’s a secret squirrel, for sure, but I wish we’d known. We should’ve donesomethingfor him. He works hard, damn hard, and he’s a good employee.” He glanced at Judah, then back to me. “And he’s a friend. How did you find out?”

“I happened to see a birthday card in his kitchen when I took Prue up to play with Bossy yesterday.”

“So is that why you were there?” Judah shot me a cool look.

I shrugged dismissively. “Partly. And I enjoy talking with him.”

Judah’s gaze narrowed and Leroy gave me a stunned look. “Talking?” He shook his head. “This is our Kane you’re talking about, right?” He glanced at Fox who seemed equally flabbergasted.

“We should have a barbecue or go to the pub for him,” Cora blurted. “You can’t let a thirtieth birthday pass without doingsomething. He’s had a tough year.”

“No,” Judah shot his mother a glare. “No more interfering. If Kane didn’t say anything, then he likely doesn’t want a big deal made of it.”

“It’s not interfering to wish someone happy birthday,” she huffed, equally pissy. “It costs nothing, and he works for Leroy.”

“And we all know how he got that job,” Judah said pointedly, and I guessed there was a story there. “Just leave it, Mum.” His gaze flicked to me and then back to Cora. “It’s not the time.”

Definitely a story there, and it was clearly time to make myself scarce. I was about to get up when Martha’s calm voice broke through the tension.

“I’ll make him a cake, say it’s from all the kittens, and Leroy can drop it up to him.”

Cora bristled. “I still think—”

“Stop, Mum. Please.” Judah’s voice went quiet, and Morgan grabbed one of his hands and settled it in his lap. “I’m trying, okay?”

Leroy sat forward and eyeballed his mother. “You can’t force this thing between Kane and Judah, Mum. You need to step back and give them space. They’re big boys. Let them sort it out.” He shot a glance to Fox, who took his hand. “And since we’re talking about giving people space...” He swallowed hard. “Since the paperwork is done on the property sale, Fox and I are getting all the locks updated... tomorrow.”

He looked more than a little nervous, and I wondered if I should try to sneak out—

“They’ve never been changed, and there are a zillion different keys. Not to mention, a couple of the locks are so ancient, they may as well have ‘come inside and make yourself at home’written on them, and half the town has keys or knows where they are. It needs to be done, you know that, but it also means your key won’t work anymore. Or yours.” He turned to me. “I’ll leave you a new one tomorrow.”

I glanced at Cora sitting stiff in her seat, the pink in her cheeks deepening to crimson.

“And we’re doing the same,” Judah quickly added, glancing Leroy’s way while steadfastly holding on to Morgan’s hand. “Saves the locksmith making two trips.” Then he sighed. “It’s time, Mum.”

Having heard numerous tales of Cora’s impeccable and embarrassing timing from Judah, I totally understood where her sons were coming from.

“You’re changing the locks... on me?” She blinked rapidly, her eyes glittering with emotion.

“Notonyou, Mum,” Leroy hurriedly explained. “We’re just changing the locks, period, to get some control back. Fox and I need to know we have privacy when we want it, since we’re together now. You understand that, right?”

---