Feels Like Home (Southern Bride 5)

“The Hat Society will be here at four sharp. I’m going to start making up the tiers,” I stated as I walked into the kitchen.

I heard my mother say to Terry, “You know, I do like that new song of his.”

I rolled my eyes and tried not to curse out loud.

The afternoon tea was underway when Mindy walked in through the front door. She hardly ever came in through the front. We had a small side yard that also housed some tables for those who wanted the fresh air, but more privacy than our front area offered. The side yard led to the back entrance, and Mindy always used it. The moment she walked in, I knew something was wrong. She looked flushed.

I walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek. “You okay?”

She nodded. “I decided to walk. I guess it’s a bit hotter out than I thought.”

Her smile was forced, but I decided not to push her, at least not when the tea room was filled with fifteen women, all wearing giant red hats that had nests in the front, holding what looked like very real birds. I admit, I had to look twice when the ladies started walking in.

Mindy took a look around and whispered, “Tell me those are not real birds they glued to their hats.”

I squinted to get a better look at Elise Kirchhoff’s hat and giggled. “If they are, I’m pretty sure they’re dead.”

Mindy made a gagging noise next to me, before she quickly walked through the tea room and into the kitchen.

“How is everything, ladies?” I asked as I walked up to the table where Elise was currently chattering away.

“Oh, Bristol, as usual, everything is amazing. What is this tea called again?” Tillie Flach asked.

“Darjeeling.”

“Goodness, it is so good.”

“It’s one of my favorites. I especially like it with a slice of lemon in there.”

“Oh!” all the ladies at the table said.

About that time, the front door opened and my brother, Drake, walked in.

He stopped short when he saw the hat society. Immediately, they all started to say hello and asked him to sit with them, and I was positive I heard Elise say something about her daughter being single and needing a man.

Drake smiled and nodded politely to all the women before glancing at me for a rescue.

“Drake, why don’t you follow me, and I’ll show you what I need fixed!” I quickly said as I wrapped my arm around him and motioned for Terry to take over the hosting. It was usually Mindy who helped with that, but since she had been late and had already made a beeline straight for the kitchen, Terry was still on duty. I knew she would rather be in the kitchen, but she was a trooper.

“What are you doing here?” I whispered as we walked toward the hallway that led to my office.

“I needed to talk to you.”

His voice sounded so serious.

“Okay, alone?”

“Is Mindy here?”

“Yes,” I replied as I opened the door to my office and then shut it behind us.

Drake pushed his hands through his hair and groaned. “I’ve got a fucking problem.”

My heart started to race. What did this have to do with Mindy?

“Okay, well, first let me ask, is Mindy okay?”

He looked at me, and I saw a familiar pain in his eyes. One I hadn’t seen in awhile.

“Drake?” I prodded.

“Yes. But she won’t be when she finds out what I know.”

I slowly sat down in my chair, and Drake sat in one of the other chairs.

“What’s going on?”

Drake blew out a long deep breath. “I had to run into Kerrville today to pick up some stuff for the firehouse at Lowe’s and run a few other errands. One of those errands was to inspect the fire system at the Inn of the Hills. I saw Jim there.”

I frowned. “Okay. Was he in a meeting?”

He glanced away and then slowly shook his head before he looked back at me. “He didn’t see me, but he walked out of a room with Jeni, his assistant. I then followed them to the parking lot. Jim kissed her, pretty passionately, then they got into their cars and drove off separately.”

My heart felt like it had dropped into the pit of my stomach.

“Oh, no,” I whispered. Then anger hit me as I remembered seeing the way he’d flirted with her at an office party. “I knew he had a thing for her! I knew it!”

“I wanted to follow the fucker and kick his ass. Bri, he’s cheating on his pregnant wife, for fuck’s sake.”

Standing, I went to speak, but nothing came out. Then I paced the small area behind my desk.

“We have to tell her,” Drake said. “I can’t not tell her. She needs to leave the fucker.”

I turned to face him. “She’s pregnant with his kid!”