Page 19 of From the Moment We Met

“They said she’s progressing beautifully. She’ll be out of bed tomorrow.”

Tears filled Audrey’s eyes, and she wrapped her arms around Jacob. “Thank God.”

“She’s going to get through this, Audrey. I promise you. She has too much to live for with you and Elizabeth.”

Audrey pulled back, her cheeks wet with tears, a smile playing on her mouth. “And a pain in the ass big brother.”

“That too. Come on, I got you bangers and mash.”

“Whiskey too?”

“I knew I forgot something.”

Audrey laughed, calling Elizabeth to the table. “I should send you back for it.”

“Good thing I remembered before I left the pub.”

“Oh, good man. I knew we kept you around for a reason.”

Elizabeth hopped onto Jacob’s lap, her excitement boundless. “Do you know there’s a whirlpool tub here just like your house?”

Jacob stroked his niece’s hair. “Is that a fact?”

Elizabeth nodded, chewing her chip thoughtfully.

Audrey offered Jacob a strange smile. “You’re a natural with children; perhaps you should consider finding a good woman and settling down. Or is that too bourgeoisie for you?”

Jacob chuckled, he was surprised how much Audrey’s attitude changed when he brought good news about Janie. But he opted not to look a gift horse in the mouth, choosing to enjoy a civil dinner with his sister-in-law.

Jacob dropped a kiss on Elizabeth’s head as she scrambled into her own seat. “Finding a good woman is the trick. I’m fabulous at finding one-night stands and serpents disguised as women. You and Janie are lucky.”

“We are lucky. But we were willing to take a chance on each other. That’s where you and I differ.”

“We both like beautiful women,” Jacob joked, earning a guffaw from Audrey.

“Truer words have never been spoken.”

“How did you know Janie was the one?” Jacob had never inquired about their relationship. Hell, he was usually too busy worrying about himself.

“It wasn’t just one moment, it was a collection of moments that equaled her being the one woman I couldn’t live without. And your sister threw a lot of obstacles at me, for kicks, I think. But I bashed through them with a battering ram. Nothing she could throw at me would deter my quest to make her mine.”

Jacob poured them both a glass of whiskey and sat back, listening to Audrey regale him with the tale of her courtship with Janie. “You knew right away, then.”

Audrey nodded. “I did. Another woman was interested in her and asked me to back off. Any other time, I would have done just that. But with Janie, I told that woman to kiss off. She was mine.”

Jacob choked on his whiskey, realizing his sister-in-law’s tale echoed his own spat over Lilly.

“You okay?”

Jacob nodded. “Went down the wrong pipe.”

“Why the sudden interest in mine and Janie’s romance?”

Jacob stroked his beard, recalling his earlier kiss with Lilly. “They say the best way to achieve anything in life is to find someone successful in that arena and mimic their behavior. You and Janie are a prime example.”

“Since when are you looking for a successful relationship? I thought you had a four-week timeline with any of your ladies.”

“They’re lucky to make it that far. Damn, I sound like a cad.”

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