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“Okay.”
“Let’s go now and get it over with. If you’re not comfortable, you can tell me and we’ll go straight home, okay?”
Ava shook her head. “I can’t tell you. He’ll know.”
“How about if you want to leave, you can give me a secret sign? You can scratch your ear or rub your nose or something and we’ll go.”
“Would that be okay?”
“Absolutely.”
“But he’s your brother.”
“Yes, but you’re my … my …” She didn’t know what to call her. “You’re my Ava. And I take care of you. I don’t care if we hurt his feelings; he’ll get over it. You’re more important to me, and I want you to feel safe. You’re only agreeing to go see him because you trust me, and I won’t let you down.”
Ava finally smiled, and Hannah’s heart melted when she said, “I know. I wish you were my mommy.”
She hugged the little girl closer and kissed the top of her head. “I do, too, sweetie.”
Chapter Fifteen
When she brought the car to a stop in front of the house, Hannah took her phone out and shot her brother a quick text.
Hannah: Whatever you’re doing, drop it! I’m outside with Ava.
She’s heard some stories about you, and she’s scared to death.
I need you to be the warmest, kindest, sweetest, funnest uncle
you can be – please?
She stared at the screen, hoping that he’d see it and get right back to her. The last thing she needed was to go in there and for Ava to hear him on the phone. He wouldn’t be yelling, that wasn’t his way. But Jacob could be cold and harsh when he needed to be – and sometimes, in the business, he needed to be.
She smiled when his reply came back.
Jacob: Okay. Message received. You can explain why later.
But I get it. I shall be sweet, kind, fun Uncle Jacob. Poor kid!
“Is everything okay?” Ava was watching her with a wary gaze.
“Everything’s great. I was just making sure that he’s here. He is. And he’s looking forward to meeting you.”
“Okay.”
Hannah took her hand as they walked up the steps to the front door. She wished for Ava’s sake that their family home was a little less formal and imposing. She wouldn’t blame the kid if she wanted to run away. Which reminded her. “What’s our signal going to be? Do you want to scratch you ear when you’re ready to leave?”
“Okay.”
The huge front door opened just as they reached it. Hannah wanted to hug Jacob when she saw him standing there wearing a huge smile. She’d bet that was the first time he’d opened the door to visitors in years. He had people for that kind of thing – one of the many reasons she hadn’t wanted to move back in.
“Hi, Hannah.” He greeted her with a hug, before squatting down in front of Ava and holding his hand out to shake with her. “And you must be Miss Ava.”
She nodded and held out a trembling hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Jacob.”
To Hannah’s amazement, he plopped himself down on his butt on the floor – she doubted he’d done that since they were kids. She watched with interest as he treated Ava to a smile that she knew left plenty of women swooning in his wake. She wasn’t sure it would help him with Ava though.
“Do you think you could help me out with something?”
