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“Hey, baby girl. Come to see how a real kitchen works?”
Shane left off kneading some dough at the pastry station to hug her. He worked at Sarriette the days he wasn’t baking drop-dead gorgeous creations for DeLuca Doyle Special Events.
“You’re getting flour all over my clothes, you Irish clod.”
He continued to rub powdered hands in circles on her back. “It’s how pastry chefs show affection, sis.”
Her heart cranked a couple of extra beats at the endearment. Shane had never called her that before.
Jack sauntered over, wiping his hands dry on a towel. “Everything okay, love?”
“I was hoping I could have a word with you. With both of you.”
The boys shared a concerned glance.
“It’s good news. Well, you might not see it that way, but I think it is.”
“Now you’ve really got me worried,” Jack said. He tossed off an order to one of his team to keep an eye on the bouillabaisse and jerked a chin in the direction of the dining room. “Let’s have a seat.”
Once they had settled in, she told them about her meeting with Simon. To keep it all above board, they had decided to set up a family custody agreement. Jules would visit London twice a year and Simon could come whenever he wanted as long as he gave sufficient notice. There would be FaceTiming and regular updates as well as discussion about the important decisions: schooling, child support, health care. It would take some time to ease into a routine but she was confident they could do it and the support of the men in front of her would be crucial.
Silence reigned for a few moments after her explanation.
“I wish you had come to us about this first, Juliet,” Jack said sternly.Juliet.Uh oh.
“You would have tried to browbeat me into submission, Jack. I needed to make this decision myself.”
“Did Tad help?” His disgust was so palpable it felt like another person at the table.
“Jack, hear her out,” Shane said, ever the voice of reason. In the past year, he had umpired several brouhahas between the two of them.
“I haven’t spoken to Tad about this but he did help me realize that this was my decision and mine alone. In the past, I’ve never been good at that. It was always easiernotto make a decision, let events act on me instead of the other way around. With my reading, I covered it up instead of taking control and asking for help. Even with Simon, I didn’t make a decision to be in a relationship, I just let it happen. Getting pregnant with Evan was the first time I had to face the consequences of my actions and act for my future and the future of my child.”
She reached for Jack’s hand and squeezed it.
“For the future of us, Jack. But in coming here to Chicago, I was running away from what I’d done and I risked falling into that pattern again, of letting other people decide the big stuff. Moving into my own place, deciding to date, getting a job—these are all ways I’ve taken control of my life these last few months.”
Falling in love with Tad was part of that, too. She had lowered the fence around her heart and let Tad in, and though it had spiraled out of control quickly, she had no regrets, only precious memories.
Jack squeezed her hand back. “This is what you want? Simon to be in Evan’s life?”
She shrugged. “Not really, but I have to take responsibility for what happened, Jack. I had unprotected sex with an unreliable guy and had a baby. That baby has a father with rights.” She divided a look between her brothers. “If it had happened to either of you, how would you feel if Tony went all Vito Corleone and ran you out of town?”
“You know she’s right,” Shane said out of the corner of his mouth.
“Of course I know that,” Jack snapped. “I just hate that she is.”
“Shane, you’re my witness. Jack just said I’m right.”
On Jack’s grunt, Shane threw back his head and laughed. “Wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t heard it with my own ears. Next, he’ll be saying you can date whomever you want.” Shane gave her a conspiratorial wink.
“Hold your horses, Shane. I’m just getting used to my baby sister acting more maturely than me.” Jack leaned in and kissed her forehead. “I’m not going to be nice to St. James, Jules. You might be an adult capable of making your own decisions but there’s a code here and he broke it. I definitely won’t be extending an invitation for him to join us on the family vacay to Tuscany.”
“Tuscany, bro?” Shane’s face lit up. “Hypothetical or for real?”
“I’m looking into it,” Jack said with a grin. “Thought we should buy a villa for the girls.”
“Suh-weet.”
