Page 40 of Eye on the Ball

“He hit you,” she said indignantly. “Nobody hits my husband.”

Alejandro’s smile was incandescent, and he kissed his wife with the kind of passion that wasn’t usually seen in Dead End eating establishments. I looked away from their private moment and saw Jack talking to Brenda.

When I caught his eye, I gave him a signal that it was time to go, and he nodded.

“Let’s head home,” I said to Alejandro and Rose.

Connor stopped us near the door. “Thanks, Jack. I sure didn’t need a fight in my new place on the first night.”

“No worries,” Jack told him. “And you should thank Rose. She did the heavy lifting.”

Connor thanked Rose warmly, and she smiled at him. “You’re very welcome. I wish you lots of success with this place. It’s wonderful.”

Alejandro clapped Connor on the back. “You really should consider investing in a?—”

“Bouncer, I know,” Connor said grimly. “Top of my list now.”

By the time we said goodbyes and made our way out, I noticed Brenda wasn’t standing with her group anymore. When we hit the street, the first thing we saw was Probie and Brenda having a heated discussion.

“Brenda? Are you okay?”

She waved me away. “Fine. We’re just talking. See you soon, Tess.”

“No problem here,” Probie told Jack, holding his hands up. “Nothing for you to worry about.”

“Are you sure?” Jack asked her.

Brenda nodded emphatically, so we headed home. Rose and the babies needed to rest.

* * *

Unfortunately, this was Dead End. We found out the next day that there absolutely had been something to worry about.

19

Tess

Sunday morning dawned sunny and beautiful. A cool, clear February day in Florida that would warm up in the afternoon; one of those days that entices so many northerners to come visit us this time of year.

Well, not us. We didn’t get a lot of tourists in Dead End.

Jack and I were cooking an enormous breakfast for our guests. We’d already had coffee out by the pool, sitting on a swing (with an outdoor space heater on for me) and talking quietly. Now it was nearly nine, and I figured the scent of ham and bacon would entice Rose and Alejandro to join us.

Sure enough, five minutes later, I heard running water. When they came out to the kitchen, I held up the coffeepot.

“I will love you forever if that’s for me,” Alejandro said fervently. “The babies were kicking all night.”

Rose punched his arm. “Youwere up all night? Do you remember who’s carrying these little soccer players?”

She sank into a chair. “They stayed awake and active until just an hour ago.”

“I’m so sorry,” I told her. “I have some really nice herbal tea and local honey. Would that help, or are you allowed anything stronger?”

“No coffee, sadly. The tea would be wonderful. Thanks.” Her smile was tired.

Alejandro rubbed his arm. “Ouch. Also, that bed isn’t wide enough for me not to feel the babies kicking me in the back and side all night.”

She laughed. “He fell out of the bed once.”