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She grabbed her phone out of her purse. She wanted to tell Jacob. But she had no signal. She let out a shaky breath, and even if she had one, it wouldn’t be fair. There was nothing whatsoever that he could do for her right now. He was in San Diego. He was there for the funeral. Elliott needed him for something way more important than she did. She had to take care of this herself – she could tell him all about it when he arrived in Kansas on Sunday.
~ ~ ~
Jacob nodded and smiled at people as he made his way to where Slade was standing at the bar. He was glad that Will had been able to get them a block booking. The hotel wasn’t far from the cemetery, and Will had also arranged cars for everyone tomorrow, for the funeral.
Jacob had been over to the house when he first got here this afternoon and had spent some time with Elliott and his mom. The heavy cloud of grief that hung over them felt as though it had seeped into his bones. He felt bad for them, but he knew there was nothing he could do. He wished there were. And of course, he’d done everything that he could in practical terms, but that was all he could offer. All anyone could offer.
Slade held a glass of Cognac out to him when he reached him. “I thought you’d be ready for this.”
“Thanks, I am.”
“No need to thank me. I’d buy you a drink if I could, but the bartender told me you’re covering the bar tab as well as everything else.”
Jacob shrugged. “It’s the least I can do.”
“Have you heard from Becca yet?”
“No.” He checked his watch. “Do you think she’ll have landed by now?”
“I would have thought so, but maybe not. I asked her to call me when she did. I was just wondering if maybe she forgot.” Slade smiled. “I know she won’t forget to call you.”
That put the smile back on Jacob’s face. “I wish she’d come.”
“No. She made the right call, and you know it.”
He blew out a sigh. “Yeah. I do. This crowd,” he looked around at the large group from the Jacobs Estate team, “would no doubt be more curious about her than anything else.”
“She knew that. And she didn’t want to be a distraction from what’s important – Elliott and the funeral.”
“I know. She’s awesome.” He gave Slade a rueful smile. “I still wish she was here, though.”
Slade laughed. “You only have to wait until Sunday.”
“I know. I’d rather go straight to her after the funeral tomorrow, but it wouldn’t be fair to ask Trick. He’s going to be ferrying people back to Napa all day. And I want to stick around until the last group. Hang out with Elliott and his mom after it quiets down a bit.”
‘Yeah. I asked Trick to include me on the last flight out of here tomorrow night as well.”
Jacob raised his glass to him. “Want to come back to the house with me when we land and drink a few of these?”
Slade chuckled. “Sure. I’ll keep you company while your lady’s away.”
Jacob lifted a shoulder. “I’m not going to deny it. Tomorrow night will be the first night I’ve spent alone in the house since she moved in. I’m not looking forward to it.”
“I get it. She’s made the place feel more like home than it ever has to me, too. And I’m just the help.”
Jacob scowled at him.
He laughed. “I’m just yanking your chain. I should warn you, though, that she plans on having your kids call me Uncle Slade. I hope you’re going to be okay with that.”
Jacob had to laugh. “I love it. I can’t believe how lucky I am.”
“Yeah. You are. She’s awesome. I hope you’re going to lock her down soon? Ask her to marry you? You don’t want to let her get away. You’ll never find anyone like her again if you do.”
“Don’t I know it. That’s why I’m still going to Kansas on Sunday. It probably would have made more sense to have just delayed – for us both to go next weekend, but I couldn’t wait.”
“For?”
Jacob grinned. “I’d want to meet her parents anyway, but I don’t want to wait because I need to ask her dad to give me his blessing.”
