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“It’s better for you to take it orally than for me to pump it into your veins. And you are much better. I don’t want you to overdo it, that’s all. Come on. They’re probably waiting on us with breathless anticipation.”

Blythe’s hand stayed in mine as we walked up the sidewalk to the front door. I didn’t give her a choice unless she tugged it away, which she didn’t. The door opened, and Austin stood there smiling. Behind him was Micah.

“Welcome, and thanks for doing this, Blythe. I warn you. Tessa loved her furniture and knick-knacks. This house is full. I don’t expect us to get through it today, but if you can take a general look and tell me if anything might be valuable and needs a deeper look, I’d appreciate it,” Austin said as we entered.

As soon as you entered Tessa’s house, the furniture and decor started.

She was a packrat, but in a more organized way.

She showed off her possessions, which were kept clean and pristine.

She had the walls and rooms packed with them, but you could walk through the house and admire them.

Immediately, Blythe slowly walked further in, her head swinging from side to side. I shut the door.

“Can we get you something to drink?” Micah asked, being a good host.

Blythe shook her head as she kept ambling.

I shook mine. Maybe later. As we wandered, they stayed with us or would go into the kitchen and come back.

The only thing Blythe said was that I didn’t need to stay with her, but if I did, she needed silence.

I told her I understood and stayed. She had a notebook in her hand, and it seemed she was scratching away at it a mile a second.

She didn’t linger long on the items, though she paused to look closer at some. After two hours, I had to stop her.

“Blythe, you need to take a break. Have something to drink. It’s been two hours.”

“What? Two hours? No, it hasn’t,” she said in disbelief. I showed her my watch. She chuckled. “I’m sorry, Bones. I get lost and forget the time. There’s so much to see. I don’t want to miss anything,” she said as I led her to the kitchen.

“No need to apologize, Lovely. It’s fascinating to watch you work. I swear I can hear your brain working. I don’t want you to tire yourself out. A short rest, then you can continue unless you’re ready, or they have to leave,” I said, pointing to Micah and Austin.

“We’re here for as long as Blythe needs us, but Bones is right. We don’t want you to exhaust yourself. What can I get you? I have water, sweet, iced tea as any good Southerner does, or lemonade,” Austin offered.

“I’d love the tea. I’ve had so much water, I feel like I’ll burst,” she said, smirking at me.

I grinned. “I guess I’ll allow it,” I teased.

“Get between me and my sweet tea, and I’ll have to get ugly, Bones. I’m a true Southerner. And before you ask, I don’t drink it all the time. I keep my caffeine and sugar intake to a minimum. I don’t want complications.”

I chuckled.

“Bones, what can I get you?” Austin asked.

“I’ll have the tea since I must show I’m also a true Southerner.”

In no time, we had our glasses and sat at the table, sipping from them.

“I don’t want to pressure you, but what do you think so far? Is there a possibility some of the things you’ve seen are antiques?” Austin asked. He was almost vibrating with enthusiasm.

“From what I saw, there aren’t a few antiques,” she started.

Austin’s shoulders drooped. Blythe continued, “There are a bunch! Oh my God, Austin, this house is a treasure trove. Of course, I need to investigate them further to accurately price the value, but my preliminary opinion is that your Aunt Tessa knew her stuff. I wonder if I ever met her at the shop?” she mused.

“What shop?” Micah asked.

“Oh, the one I used to work at. It’s here in Bryson City. It’s called Treasures Down South. Mr. Pennington owns it.”

“Christ, yes, she did! She loved that place and often talked about it and Alfred. And she raved about a young woman who worked there. She said her name was Sunny,” Austin said.

Blythe gasped. “Your aunt was Contessa!”

“Contessa was her full name. The family always called her Tessa, although she preferred Contessa. So you met her,” Austin said.

“I did several times, and we’d talked for hours.

I’m Sunny. She called me that because she said I was like the sun and always made her smile.

I knew she’d stopped coming in right after I quit, but I had no idea she passed away.

That makes me so sad. I thought I recognized some of the pieces but hadn’t checked the backs to see if they were from Alfred’s store,” she said.

They went on to talk about Tessa for several minutes.

I didn’t mind. It allowed Blythe to rest, and I enjoyed seeing her so animated and hearing stories of Tessa.

Finally, after fifteen minutes, she asked to use the bathroom, and then she’d start again.

While she was in the bathroom, I stayed with the guys.

“I can’t believe Blythe is Sunny. Tessa adored her.

She was crushed when she quit. She had no idea why, and neither did Alfred.

They knew she had a boyfriend. Blythe talked about him, but never said she was forced to stop working.

I’d like to get my hands on that bastard and teach him a lesson,” Austin growled.

I made sure Blythe wasn’t back before I shared. “He’s getting a late-night visit tonight. I’ll make sure he knows you detest him, too,” I whispered.

Both guys perked up and smiled. “Damn, we love you guys and how you care for people. Great. We won’t say a word. His ass needs a trip to the hospital, and not for just a day,” Micah muttered.

“I wouldn’t be shocked if that’s in his very near future,” I said.

We quieted as Blythe entered the room. We spent another two hours before we called it quits. I knew she would’ve kept going, but Austin and Micah told her it was enough. They arranged it so we could come whenever we wanted. They gave her a key and the alarm code.

“Are you sure? I mean, you don’t know me,” she said in astonishment when they suggested it.

“You’re Sunny. That’s all I need to know. Plus, you’re with the Pagans. Tessa would love to know you’re getting to appreciate her house and helping us achieve our dream,” Austin told her.

“What dream is that?” I asked. Austin’s comment was the first I’d heard of a dream.

“We want to have a family. Clearly, neither of us can carry a baby. We’re hoping to do it either through adoption or surrogacy, which both cost a lot of money. We’re praying that selling some of these antiques and the house will make it possible,” Micah explained.

“From what I’ve seen, you’ll achieve that goal.

I took pictures of the items I wanted to research first. I have to do online comps to see what they’ve been selling for.

Once I have those done, I’ll let you know, and then we can do more.

I’m in heaven. Thank you. I will keep this key safe and not tell a soul the code,” Blythe vowed.

Hugs were given. I shook hands with the men, and we got on the road. It was late afternoon, and dinner time was soon approaching. I had to make sure she was fed.

“How are you feeling?” I asked her.

“I feel good. No need to worry, Bones.”

“It’s an occupational hazard. I asked because I wondered if you’d be up for us grabbing dinner before we head back to the compound. We can do it here or back in Cherokee.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am if you feel up to it.”

“Then I’d like that. I think going back to Cherokee is the best option. We run the risk of running into Deon here. He likes to come here often.”

“There is that, though you have to know, I’d protect you, Blythe.”

“I know you will, but I don’t want to put you in the spot to have to. The less I see and have to do with him, the better.”

“Then, Cherokee it is. Let’s run through options, and you tell me which one appeals to you the most. Pregnant ladies get to pick.”

The ride back was spent talking over the options and what they had. By the time we got there, we had chosen our place.

???

Blythe and I had a wonderful dinner. We laughed, talked, and enjoyed good food.

I hated to see it end, but I knew she had to be tired.

She was barely out of her first trimester and carrying twins.

As if that wasn’t enough, she was still recovering.

Although she would deny it, those four hours at Tessa’s house were not only enjoyable for her but also tiring.

After we returned to the house, I had church.

We had it every Thursday unless an emergency one was called, like the night Blythe showed up.

While I was in church, Blythe hung out in the common room with the other women.

Afterward, she and I went to my house and watched television.

Around nine o’clock, I caught her nodding off and insisted she bathe and go to bed.

She didn’t argue with me, which told me she was tired.

After Blythe was tucked in, I tried to stay busy.

We weren’t headed to Deon’s house until midnight, so there was less of a chance neighbors would see us entering.

When it was almost time to go, I texted Dimitri.

Not everyone was going to the beatdown party, even out of the members, but I wanted someone to be here in case Blythe needed anything.

If it were a medical issue, Eliana would be nearby.

He would hang out in the living room. He had promised to smooth things over if she woke up and asked where I was.

Since he initially helped her, Blythe was comfortable with Dimitri, so I chose him.

“If she wakes up and gets upset, call one of the old ladies, preferably Eliana. She’ll come to calm her.

The old ladies know what we’re doing, even if Blythe doesn’t.

The guys staying here said in church they’d be a phone call away.

As tired as she was, I don’t think she’ll wake up.

We’ll be back by three at the latest, though probably before. ”