Page 26 of Her Billionaire's Baby Secret

Chapter 8

Sariah talked with several guests about the plight of Hickory Ridge. Several of them wanted to go to the town meeting to show their support.

“We’re running out of paper plates,” her grandma said. “Can you run next door and grab some? I have them in the cabinet over the fridge.”

“Sure.” Sariah pushed open the side door and stepped outside. She could hear a man’s voice from around the corner.

“Orchid, you’re kidding right?”

It was Kane, and clearly, he was talking to his ex on the phone. She didn’t want to intrude, so she kept walking. She figured he’d want some privacy.

“Ok… Yes… I understand. No. I’m not upset. I guess I’m just a little in shock. I didn’t know what to expect.”

Sariah kept walking. She didn’t need to know Kane’s business, but he didn’t sound very happy about whatever news he’d just gotten.

She went into the house and located the paper plates. They were right where her grandmother had said they’d be. She brought the entire stack and returned to Mrs. Edwards home. She considered going through the side door again, but she didn’t hear Kane on the phone anymore so she decided to see if he was still on the porch. He hadn’t sounded very happy. He’d had enough on his plate with the funeral. He didn’t need extra drama from Orchid too.

She rounded the corner and saw Kane sitting in a rocking chair, gazing out into the distance, like he was somewhere far away instead of on his grandma’s porch.

“Are you okay, Kane?”

He started at her voice. “Oh, hi, Sariah.” He rubbed a hand over his jaw.

She stared at him, waiting for him to answer her question, and he cleared his throat like he’d just realized he still hadn’t answered her.

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?” She didn’t want to tell him she’d overheard his conversation with Orchid because she didn’t want him to think she’d been eavesdropping. Sariah couldn’t push the issue too hard if he wasn’t willing to share with her.

He stood up. “Yeah. It’s just been a hard day.”

“You know, if you ever feel like you need to talk, I’m here.”

“Thanks. I appreciate that,” Kane said.

She walked up the porch steps, and he opened the front door for her. “We ran out of plates, and I went next door to get more,” she explained.

He grunted a response. He was definitely still in another universe.

She went into the kitchen and set the plates out on the table. She turned to look for Kane. He was sitting in an armchair in the living room, staring out into space. Something was definitely wrong with him, and she had a feeling it had to do with whatever Orchid had just told him.

It was his right to keep his business private, but she couldn’t shake off the feeling of sadness that was hitting her. He hadn’t wanted to confide in her. That meant he didn’t trust her. She’d thought that they’d gotten closer. They’d had a few good conversations, and she felt like she was the kind of person others tended to confide in.

She grabbed a plate and filled it with stuffed jalapeños. She hoped the fried food would help her get her mind off of whatever Kane was going through. She hated seeing him like this, especially on the day of the funeral. She spent the rest of the gathering making small talk, but she couldn’t get her mind off of Kane and whatever he was going through.

“Is everything okay?” her grandma asked her.

“I’m worried about Kane.” Her gaze flicked to the living room where he sat.

Her grandma followed her gaze. “He was close to his grandfather.”

“There’s something else going on though,” Sariah said.

Her grandma frowned. “What makes you say that?”

“I overheard him on the phone with his ex. He sounded upset.”

“Did you talk to him about it?” her grandma asked.

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