Treasure on Lilac Lane (Jewell Cove 2)

“Shit, Jess.” Josh blew out a breath and sat down on a nearby bar stool.

“I know,” she answered meaningfully.

“What are you going to do if you are?” he asked. “Does Rick know?”

“No, he doesn’t know. I just realized I’m late and there’s no sense saying anything until I know for sure. So are you going to help me or what? If I walk into the drugstore and buy a pregnancy test … well, nothing stays a secret for long in this town.” That she’d managed to keep her share of secrets was tantamount to a miracle. She really didn’t want to tempt fate.

She looked up at him hopefully.

Tenderness softened his features. “You know I will always help you. Always. Give me five minutes to run to the office.”

“Thanks, Josh,” she answered, thankful once again for her big brother.

“There’s coffee on if you want some,” he suggested, grabbing a jacket from a small closet.

“No, no coffee. Definitely no coffee.”

His gaze settled on her once more, and it seemed like they both knew what the test was going to say. It was just a matter of physical proof.

Jess looked around Josh’s place while he was gone. It was messy but not dirty, with clean dishes piled in a drying rack, a stack of laundered clothes sitting on a chair in the living room, a week’s worth of mail strewn across the counter. There were no pictures of people—and particularly none of Josh with Erin. Either he was in the middle of one serious case of denial, or he really meant it when he said he was moving on.

He came back, handed over a small box, and pointed her to the bathroom. “The sooner you know, the better,” he suggested. “Waiting sucks.”

So on a bitter Sunday afternoon she found herself peeing on a stick in her brother’s bathroom, waiting to see if the line turned to a plus or stayed a minus.

Rick might not be ready for fatherhood. They might

not make it as a couple. But she knew, deep down, that he would love his child. It would be okay. It had to be.

She emerged from the bathroom holding the stick and met Josh’s gaze. “Looks like you’re going to be an uncle again,” she said quietly.

CHAPTER 20

Jess paced the carpet in front of her sofa. She knew she should tell Rick right away. There had been enough secrets lately and he deserved to know. And yet she couldn’t make herself drive over to his house and throw his world into more upheaval. Maybe it would be okay to keep the news to herself—well, between herself and Josh—for a little while. She could get used to the idea and then decide how to tell him.

She sank down on the cushions. Their relationship was so new. They had said repeatedly that they were going to take their time. Oh, what a mess.

She put her hand on her still-flat tummy, the warmth of her palm soaking through the skin. Still. She’d always wanted a family. While the idea of having a baby scared her to death, there was a little bit of her that was pleased … excited, even. A little life, growing inside of her. A miracle.

Her cell rang in the stillness and she jumped before reaching for it and pressing the button to accept the call.

“Jess, it’s Abby. Are you and Rick busy this afternoon?”

“I haven’t seen him today. Why?”

“I have some news about the necklace. I was going to call Rick, but I thought that since you were the one who brought it to me…” There was a little hesitation in her voice. “Plus Rick could use some moral support.”

“Oh, God. Is it bad?”

“I’d rather talk to you both in person. But no, not really bad. Just … surprising.”

“I’ll give him a call.” Jess forgot all about her news momentarily. “Unless you hear otherwise, we’ll be over this afternoon.”

“Okay. Thanks, Jess.”

Abby clicked off, and Jess sat a moment on the sofa. Not bad but interesting. She wondered what Abby had managed to dig up. But first she had to tell Rick what she’d done. And hope that he’d be happy about it.

She toyed with the phone but figured this was better done in person.