Page 223 of A Curse On Black Lake
“You need muscles for this ham, don’t you?” I ask her, flexing my arms, simply to get her to snap at me.
She purses her lips. “I’m sorry, who’s carrying this baby?” she asks.
“Someone isfrustrated,” I grin.
She tongues her teeth and crosses her arms, pushing up her growing breasts. I stare at her chest and catch myself, bringing my eyes up to hers.
“You’re right, I am, but you’re definitely not going to get some now,” she says.
There’s a knock at the door, and I lift the ham out of the oven.
“That’s not fair!” I yell.
“Hey, Killian,” Wyatt says, holding a dish and a bouquet of flowers.
“These are for you.” He gives the flowers to her and hands me the dish.
“Thank you,” she smiles.
I stare at Wyatt, and he stares back.
Eliana clears her throat.
“I—” we both say at the same time.
“You first,” I tell Wyatt.
“I know it’s been a while, but I’m sorry. I know you understand, but I’m still sorry.”
I nod, and he holds out his hand. I take it, pulling him in for a hug.
“Alright, the last batch of biscuits is in the oven, so we can go ahead and get started,” Eliana says.
“Thanks for having me,” Wyatt says.
Eliana looks up from the counter. “You’re family, Wyatt, and family can have some bumps in the road. Plus, we want our kids to know their uncle,” she says.
He rocks back on his heels. “I’d like that.”
We get everything on the table and sit down. I say grace, and we fill our plates with food.
“Have things stayed calm lately?” I ask Wyatt.
He finishes chewing. “Yeah, ever since Edw — he was killed it’s like the rest of the murderers stayed away for the most part. It’s a strange reprieve, but I’m not holding my breath.”
I glance at Eliana, and she reaches to her side, grabbing my hand. It was her sacrifice that changed everything here, and we’re the only ones who know it. She wanted to keep it that way, knowing people in this town wouldn’t understand, and it wouldn’t help the way they see her, but I don’t think she cares either way. Her focus has been growing that baby, us, and her apothecary. I don’t want her to worry about anything else.
“Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?” Wyatt asks.
Eliana grins at me, and I sigh. “She doesn’t want to know. I do. So I lost that fight, obviously. I don’t care either way, but I want to know.”
Wyatt chuckles. “I would too if it makes you feel better.”
I look at Eliana. “See? I’m not crazy for wanting to know.”
“You’ll find out when you catch this baby I have to push out.”
I wince, still not sure about that. It’s not unusual for women to have home births around here, but usually they have a midwife to help them. Elianaisthe midwife, so she’s been training me on how to handle some things because she’ll be preoccupied.
