62

I stood stunned at the counter and held Mandy around her waist, who was sitting on the stool in front of me and had rested her head on my shoulder.

I had no idea if she was asleep or just exhausted, but I couldn't ask her about it anyway. I was far too captivated by the image of Jake sitting on the pedestal with a guitar and playing calm, rhythmic music while the others all seemed to be slowly calming down from his soft tones.

Some had already called taxis. Others slept on the chairs at the sides and then there were Jule, Chiara and Odran standing in the middle of the room holding up lighters to wave their hands gently from left to right. A truly captivating image...

"What is it-"

"Shhh," I interrupted Keeva, who was just walking in the door with a black dress and Esme on her arm, looking around in here with a confused look. There was no way I wanted Mandy to wake up. I certainly wouldn't get her off the counter again.

"So you found the muffins, I see," Keeva whispered with a raised eyebrow and gave me a fleeting look, before walking with Esme to the picture of Cathan.

The others paid no attention to her, only I watched her as she stood in front of the picture for a while and then took one of the shot glasses. She held it out briefly in the direction of the portrait and drank it down in one gulp to pay her last respects.

Then she came back to me at the bar with slow steps.

"That's why we burn the dead. This is the purest monkey circus here," she explained quietly and then looked thoughtfully down at Mandy, who was snoring, half drooling. "They don't tolerate anything at all."

She grinned stupidly and looked back at the others, just like me.

"You should make Odran a cheeseboard for dinner," I smiled, noticing how she seemed to be eyeing me sideways.

"They'll sleep through the night at home until tomorrow. I can save myself dinner. At least something good on this black day," she said dryly and then nodded down to Mandy. "Put her in your car and drive home. I'll take care of Odran and Chiara."

"All right, boss," I replied and lifted Mandy in my arms to leave the crash site with her.

Again and again she mumbled something incomprehensible to herself, but I concentrated on getting safely across the little-used road in order to get to the car and carefully move her to the back seat.

"Home," I murmured to her and gently stroked her sweet face once before closing the door and looking at the pub again.

Just then the others came out as well and I just shook my head laughing as I watched how Odran seemed to lean on little Keeva. That she withstood him showed me once again what a strength this woman had.

They also arrived safely at the car and got in, while Jake and Jule walked over to me holding hands.

"I guess there's no partying tonight," Jake laughed, glancing through the window at the back seat.

"Yes, that will probably be canceled," I smiled and shortly afterwards grabbed his shoulder to demand his full attention. "First of all, thank you so much for helping me," I said and after both nodded smiling, I returned Jake's look again. "Please bring the Porsche to us by tomorrow evening at the latest. We can go to the beach at our place or something. If Odran doesn't get the part back soon, hemp muffins won't help anymore."

"I will. Count on it," Jake said, and yes, no matter how bad he was around women, he really was always countable. That's why I hugged him and then Jule too, to make my way home together with my snoring nose.

The radio played soft music while driving. The leather was warmed up, as was the rest of the car, and it looked beautiful watching the sun slowly set, which gave me hope that somehow the day seemed to be ending nicely after all.

The houses passed me and the louder Mandy snored, the louder I turned the radio on. It didn't bother me, but I was so exhausted myself that I was afraid my eyes would close at any moment.

When I got home, I saw Keeva's car and parked right next to it, where I immediately noticed that Odran and Chiara seemed to be sleeping shoulder to shoulder in the back seat.

"She really left them in the car," I grinned stupidly, unbuckling my seat belt to quickly get out and open the back door. "So sleepy head. Off to bed."

I grabbed Mandy by her feet and slowly pulled her towards me, little by little, before carefully lifting her onto my arms, which was easier said than done.

Unfortunately, I didn't pay attention to the side and Mandy banged her head directly on the hard metal, which made my eyes widen in shock.

"Shit! Sorry!" I apologized to her, knowing she didn't notice anyway.

Especially not after this impact.

"Are you going to kill her?!"

I turned to Keeva, Mandy in my arms, who was standing in the front door, shaking her head, eating a banana and watching me curiously.

"No! And you? Do you just want to look stupid or can you help too?"

"I've helped enough," she grinned stupidly, but then came over to me to shut the door of the car. "Are you going to tell her you almost smashed her head in?"

"No, neither do you," I replied, staring at Keeva as seriously as I could, but when she wagged her eyebrows triumphantly while biting into the banana, I had to run away laughing.

She provoked me again and yes, it felt good because by the time Rian was asleep, Keeva was like a ghost. Now there was life again in this force of nature and I was more than just grateful for it. After all, she had become like a sister and was carrying my brother's child.

They were just lucky. Who would have thought that when she walked down the aisle in the rented villa. I was still sure that Rian would destroy this poor creature. In the meantime she had the say and that was a good thing.

When I got to the house, I immediately took the stairs up, opened the door to my room with my elbow and carefully let Mandy slip into bed.

Of course I took off her high heels and tried to get her out of the tight dress somehow, but the zipper was on her back and I really didn't want to wake her up, so I covered her with a smile and gave her another kiss on the forehead and made my way down again.

At least I could try to get Odran out of the car, because I didn't want to see his mood if he woke up with a sore neck and back.