“Negative, and I doubt there will be.”
“I warned her,” I said as much to myself as to him.
“About that.”
I raised my head. “What?”
“Evidently, she’s agreed to go back to California.”
“Who told you that?”
“Doc told me, but he heard it from Messick.”
I remembered seeing something pass between the two of them when he brought her to the house from the airport. “Her and Ranger, huh?”
Halo shrugged. “No idea, but it kinda sounded like it.”
“If so, he knows what he’s getting into. It’s none of my business anymore.”
When Halo and I walked back into what I now thought of as Baby Landry’s room, Tara was sitting cross-legged on the floor and both women were laughing so hard tears ran down their cheeks.
“I don’t think I want to know,” said Halo.
“What they’re laughing about? Me either.”
When she saw me, Sloane held out her hand.
“Need to go lie down?”
“I do. I’m sorry, Tara.”
“Don’t be. Goodness. All of my best friends are expecting, except for one. The point is, I’m around pregnant women all day, so I get it.”
“All day?”
“Tara has a gallery in the city. They spend a lot of time there,” said Halo.
“When you’re ready, I’d love to paint a mural on that wall.” Tara pointed to the one farthest from the front of the house. “I didn’t do it now because there will be fumes.”
“You’ve already done so much,” said Sloane, yawning when I lifted her into my arms.
“She really wants to do it, sis,” said Halo, putting his arm around Tara’s shoulders.
“Then, I’d really love it.”
“We’ll let ourselves out.” Halo walked over and kissed Sloane’s cheek. “Sorry about your face, dude.”
I caught Tara’s grimace, and so did he.
“I warned her.”
Tara shuddered. “I thought you were exaggerating.”
I eased Sloane onto the bed and pulled the blanket we kept at the end of it over her. “Can I get you anything?”
“No, but you can lie beside me.”
“Gladly.”