AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ava nodded.
“I know it’s probably cheeky of me, because I’m not your uncle – and you already have the best uncle in the world. But how would you feel about calling me Uncle Jacob?”
She shrugged.
“I get it if you don’t want to. We just met. I should probably have waited before I asked you. But I was excited to meet you. And I don’t have any nieces or nephews.” He glanced up at Hannah and she nodded encouragingly. “But everyone calls me Mr. Jacobs.”
Ava looked the tiniest bit interested in that.
“I know I have the silliest name.”
“Jacob’s not a silly name. It’s a nice name.”
“Why, thank you. I think Ava’s a pretty name.”
“My mommy gave it to me. We all have A sounds.”
Jacob cocked an eyebrow, and Hannah decided to join him on the floor. It was better than leaning down to try to be part of the conversation, and she wanted to hear this.
“You do?” Jacob asked.
Ava nodded and sat down in front of him and crossed her legs. “My mommy’s name was Kayla, and then there’s Uncle Grady and I have Uncle Braydon, too.”
Jacob grinned at her. “That’s awesome. So, if you decide you want me to be your uncle, I’ll fit right in since I also have an A sound.”
Ava gave him a small smile. “You do. But Jacob isn’t a silly name.”
“No. You’re right. Not by itself it isn’t. But did you know that I’m Jacob Jacobs?”
Ava looked up at Hannah as if she wanted reassurance. Hannah laughed. “It’s okay to laugh. I think it’s silly. I’m glad that I got the name Hannah, but I wouldn’t want to be Hannah Hannahs.”
Ava laughed. “No. I wouldn’t want to be Ava Avas.”
Jacob laughed with her. “So can you see why I’d like to be Uncle Jacob? Everyone calls me Mr. Jacobs. But I hope that we might become friends, so I don’t think you need to call me the same thing everyone else does. “
“Okay.” Ava’s smile had faded again.
“What’s wrong, sweetie?” asked Hannah.
“I don’t want you to be left out.”
“How do you mean?”
“You don’t have an A sound. And I don’t call you Auntie like I do with Auntie Molly and Auntie Chelsea.”
Before Hannah could think of an answer, Jacob tapped Ava on the shoulder. She didn’t seem scared of him when she turned to see what he wanted.
“Hannah’s my sister, and I know something that makes her name very special. You don’t need to call her Auntie and she doesn’t even need an A sound. Her name is the most special of anyone I’ve ever known. Until I met you. Now, you’re the only other person I know who is as special as Hannah.”
“How?”
“Do you know how Hannah is spelled?”
“H-A-N-N-A-H.”
“That’s right.” He grinned. “Do you know how to spell it backwards?”
Ava frowned as she thought about it. Then she smiled. “H-A-N-N-A-H. It’s the same backwards! That is special!”
