It wasn’t just that she’d lost weight or her skin was pale. Dark circles shadowed beneath her eyes and she lacked the vibrancy he usually associated with Cara. “You still don’t feel well?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No.” She gestured to the tea in a cup in front of her, a decaffeinated wrapper lying beside it.
Sam gestured to the waitress. “Coffee, please,” he said, before refocusing on Cara.
This illness had been going on too long, reminding him of when his sister had had a never-ending stomach bug before discovering she was pregnant. He wondered if the problem was that basic.
He leaned in close. “You know, the last woman who didn’t feel well for so long was Erin, and she turned out to be—”
“Don’t say it!” Cara said, cutting him off with a wave of her hand.
Sam narrowed his gaze. “Is that it? Are you pregnant?”
She shrugged. “I’m afraid to find out,” she admitted in a half-whisper.
“That’s not like you. And it makes no sense. You’re married. You’re happy. In love, yes?”
She nodded, blue eyes wide . . . but not happy.
Which was crazy. Of all the women he knew, she’d make the best mother. She worked with abused women at a shelter and had a huge heart. Not to mention, Cara faced life and problems head-on.
“What?
?s going on?” he asked.
She opened and closed her mouth, as if building up the courage to explain. “I’m worried about your brother.”
“What about him? He loves you.” Hell, Mike had fallen so hard for Cara, even Sam had been envious of the intensity between them, knowing he’d never have that for himself. “Not to mention he’s worried about you. He asked me to pump you for information, and that’s wrong. You need to talk to him.”
She sighed, her eyes sad. “But he took so long to come around to the idea of settling in Serendipity—with me—and when we talked about kids, it was in the future. A baby now wasn’t part of our plan.”
Sam shook his head at her attitude. “Mike wasn’t part of the plan for my mother. Angel wasn’t part of Erin and Cole’s plan. Life happens. You of all people know that. If you’re pregnant and he’s going to be a father? He’ll be thrilled because it’s with you.”
“You really think so?” she asked, her hand already cupping her belly in a protective gesture he’d seen with his sister.
“I may not be an expert on love, but I know my brother. It’s going to be okay.”
She swallowed hard, eyes glistening. “You’re right. I don’t know why I’m so emotional.” She wiped at her damp eyes.
Sam rolled his eyes. “Do you really need me to explain?”
That earned him a smile. “I probably don’t need to take that test,” she muttered. “But I will. I’ve been carrying two of them around with me for a week.”
He squeezed her hand. “That’s more like the Cara I know. Always prepared and ready for anything.”
“Well, I’d better be, right?” She glanced down at her stomach, hidden beneath baggy sweats, and her expression softened.
“Better?” he asked, hoping he’d helped her come to terms with things.
“Yeah. I’m glad we didn’t lose our friendship when I married your brother.”
“No chance of that happening.”
She smiled, seeming more at peace. “So I think I’m going to go home and do this before I lose my nerve,” she said.
He rose, as she stood. “Good luck.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek, watching as she made her way to the front door of the restaurant.
Sam headed out after her, arriving at work in time to discover there had been an assault downtown, and the case took over the rest of his week, including most nights. His hours were erratic, which meant he didn’t see Nicole despite living next door. She hadn’t called him in the time they’d been back, and he gave her the distance he assumed they both needed.