Free Somebody's Wife: The Jackson Brothers, Book 3 by Jasmine Haynes, Jennifer Skully Page B

away.
    “Connie, can I ask you a question?”
    “Sure.”
    Randi was almost family, or she soon would be if the way David looked at her meant anything. Connie figured the girl had the right to ask whatever she wanted. As long as it wasn’t about Mitch and the awkward state of their marriage.
    Could she really leave him? Or was it a threat to get him to toe the line? Connie wasn’t sure. The only thing she did know with any amount of certainty was that life without Mitch would lose its joy, except for the kids.
    “David told me about Lou. And I don’t want to say the wrong thing. He said I couldn’t possibly say the wrong thing, that after three years, all of you had worked out your issues over Lou’s passing.” Randi dipped her blond head, concentrating on bite-sizing the cauliflower. “I really don’t want to upset Evelyn or Taylor by making some stupid remark tomorrow.”
    Connie smiled, trying her best to bury her own inner turmoil. Yep, this girl was meant for David, sweet and caring and worried about other people’s feelings.
    “I have to admit that things were a bit dicey for a while.” She started another rose. “Gosh, even as recently as a couple of months when Taylor and Jace first started...” She hesitated. How did one describe what Taylor and Jace had started doing? “When they started dating.” Which wasn’t really correct because they’d never dated. They started sleeping together. Well, not sleeping. She sighed. “David was a little upset about the whole thing.”
    Randi laughed. “The way David tells it, he went ballistic and said a lot of really hurtful things.”
    Connie raised a brow. David had come a long way if he was admitting that aloud. But then, he’d been a different man since meeting Randi. He’d lost that somber, angry façade he’d worn since Lou died.
    “You could say he was upset.” Freaked and ballistic described it, though Connie hadn’t actually witnessed the event, only heard about it from Evelyn. “But you know, that seemed to fix everything for everyone.” She shrugged. “Well, not fix exactly. But it was like the turning point where everyone could finally put him to rest and move on, if you know what I mean.” Except for Mitch.
    “Oh. That’s good to hear. David seemed to think Mitch was still having problems, what with popping all those antacids and downing heavy-duty aspirin like it was candy.”
    Connie just stared at her, the icing tube still in her hand. “He’s a worry wart. He’s always been like that.”
    “Oh.” Randi sliced another carrot. “David seemed to think it had gotten a lot worse lately.”
    David. He’d been telling everyone how they’d screwed up since Lou died. Where did he get off talking about them to Randi? Connie sucked in a breath, willing herself to calm down.
    “I’m sorry, Connie. This isn’t any of my business. I really just wanted to ask your advice to make sure I didn’t say the wrong thing. And now I’ve said the wrong thing.”
    “It’s all right.” But nothing was right. Mitch had always managed their money closely, but after Lou died, he’d gotten downright maniacal about her spending. A few times, she’d risen in the night to find him sitting at the kitchen table pouring over bills and statements. Antacids and extra-strength aspirin had become a regular on the grocery list. That’s when he’d started squawking about not being ready for another baby, too.
    And she’d answered his fears with anger.
    “I’m glad everything’s better. It was a terrible tragedy. I don’t have any brothers or sisters, but I can imagine how that would devastate a family, especially the way it happened. But your family,” Randi spread her hands, “well, I’m totally amazed at how you’ve all helped each other through the grief. Most families would have fallen apart. But you guys”—she shrugged helplessly, as if she couldn’t find the right words—“wow.”
    Randi’s little speech said a lot about her own