Page 7 of Hargrave Flame Out
“That escalated quickly,” Veronica grumbled as she rolled Celeste out into the balmy evening air still heavy with humidity.
“What are you talking about?”
“He accused you—us—of arson. Isn’t it weird to have a friend one minute and an enemy the next?”
“He’s just doing his job,” Celeste countered. “I was right there when it happened. He’s still a friend.” She hoped.
“Well, he’s not in my inner circle anymore,” Veronica declared.
“Maybe I’ll be offended tomorrow.” She suspected the painkillers were making it easier for her to cope with all of this.
Reed chuckled at them as he opened the door for Celeste and helped her get situated in the passenger seat of Veronica’s Jeep Wrangler, even buckling her seatbelt when she struggled.
“Thank you,” she said. “We do appreciate you keeping an eye out for us.”
“What are friends for?”
“See,” Veronica said, pointing at Reed. “That’s what a friend looks like.”
Reed tipped his head. “I’ll send some food over for tonight. And if you two feel up to it, come by the pub tomorrow afternoon. We’ve got corn chowder on the menu.”
“Veronica will lecture me about carbs,” Celeste grumbled. Her sister was a personal trainer with a degree in nutrition and a passion for all things healthy.
“I am not about to lecture you on your food intake when you’re trying to heal. We’re going to listen to what your body asks for.” Veronica was the voice of authority. “And if your body asks for corn chowder tomorrow, then we know where to find some.” She beamed at Reed. “Thanks for everything.”
He stepped back, rolling the wheelchair toward the clinic as Veronica drove away.
Chapter Three
The next day,Celeste’s body remembered the corn chowder offer and Veronica was kind enough to drive them over to satisfy her craving. Even better, Natalie met them at the Pelican for lunch.
Their younger sister came through the door in a rush and wrapped Celeste in a gentle hug.
The results of her only attempt at fire-fighting showed more today with bruising on her arms, legs, and one side of her jaw, though she couldn’t recall when that had happened. “I’m okay. The house is okay,” she reminded Natalie.
“Let her sit,” Veronica chided. “She’s sore and achy.”
“You’re not wrong.” Celeste shouldn’t have been startled by the observation. Her sister was all about fitness and function. “Have I been complaining?”
“Not nearly enough,” Veronica said. “You’re pushing.”
“Of course she is.” Natalie shooed Celeste back into the seat. “I’m so sorry this happened. How are you feeling?”
“Better.”
Her sisters exchanged their mutual doubt with a look. “At least you look somewhat better than you sounded last night,” Natalie said.
Celeste glanced between them. “We talked last night?”
“You were pretty out of it,” Veronica said. “I told her not to rush back. Her last class was this morning.” Her brow flexed into a frown over her slender nose. “Did I make a mistake?”
“No, of course not.” She didn’t want either of them fussing over her, making a mountain out of a mishap. “I’m a big girl. And you obviously took great care of me last night.” She tried to smile it all away. “This will be something we laugh about next week.”
Veronica and Natalie both raised eyebrows at her.
“Come on,” Celeste pleaded. “Be nice. I’m injured here.”
Her sisters made cooing sounds of sympathy that were not at all convincing.
