Page 39 of Family Bonds- Jarrett & Andi

“It is,” she said. No reason to bring up her two dates with Jarrett. She was positive Jack wasn’t going to have anything good to say about it and she wasn’t in the mood for a lecture.

Not to mention it was only two dates. And though she wanted more, they hadn’t made plans for a third yet. Work was keeping them both busy, but they did have contact each day. If not a few texts then a call.

Jarrett knew she had her appointment today, so she expected he might call later. Or maybe she’d call him. They kind of took turns.

“That’s good,” Jack said. “Feeling fine too? No problems from the accident?”

“None,” she said. “I’ve been enjoying the nice weather we’ve had, but now it’s turning colder.”

“If you stayed here you wouldn’t have that problem as much,” Jack said.

“I’m happy here,” she said earnestly. “Isn’t that what you want?”

There was silence on the other end. “Yes. Always. Listen, about Boston.”

“No,” she said firmly.

“You just said you’re happy there,” Jack argued.

“I am, but it’s been a few months. I haven’t even gone through the weather for a full year. Give me some space to figure it out. Please. I know where you are. I know you’ve got marshals in Boston keeping an eye on things and I’ve got their numbers too.”

She didn’t get regularcheck-inslike she thought she would here. That surprised her and also told her that maybe she was being watched without knowing.

Something to think about.

She could just be paranoid too. She had Jack checking in on her here often so maybe they didn’t need someone local doing it. That was why he’d moved with her at first. Or her with him. Jack wanted to be the one that was watching her.

Said he owed it to her father.

Andi didn’t like being an obligation to anyone.

“As long as I know you’ll reach out if you need anything. And that you do it right away.”

“You know I will,” she said. “Now can I go and try to find some food to eat?”

“Sure,” Jack said. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“Bye,” she said and hung up the phone, then sat on the couch to stew.

Why did life have to be so complicated?

13

PERFECT MATE

“Happy Thanksgiving,” Jarrett’s mother said two weeks later.

“The same,” he said. “Am I the first one here?”

“You are,” Alice Bond said. “I’m just putting snacks together. Alex had to work last night so I think he’s sleeping. He’ll be going in later tonight too. Mac and Sidney should be here soon. She wanted to get Jace down for his nap here and then he’d be up for dinner.”

It was almost noon and they’d be eating at two. If Alex worked last night he was home a little after eight and would sleep for four or five hours. All of them were used to not getting a lot of sleep.

Since Jarrett had a scanner at his house, he didn’t remember anything going off, at least on this side of the island where his brother worked. He only had the scanner set for that area anyway. He wanted to know what his brothers were doing as much as Mac and Alex did. It was the family protectiveness in their blood to know if they were needed.

“Jace will be ready to go by then,” he said. “Can I help you?”

“Nope,” his mother said. “You can watch football with Dad. All you kids work so hard and you don’t get a break. I’m almost done.”

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