“I’m sorry. That’s got to be awful.”

“It sucks so bad.” He looked down at the table and then at her. “I acted like an ass with my brother earlier.”

“How so?”

“I…um, well… I was pissed off about what I witnessed when I came into the store after work.”

Genuinely baffled, Jenny said, “What did you witness?”

“You, him, the beers, the nearness.”

Her mouth fell open in shock.

“Before you can assure me there was nothing to be pissed off about, I already know that.”

“But still, that you even thought it…”

“I know. I was way out of line, and the only reason I’m even telling you is because I thought you might like to know that you have the power to make me insanely jealous.”

She stared at him, incredulous. “Because I was talking to your brother and having a beer with him after a long and extremely awful day?”

“Uh-huh. Pretty sad, huh?”

“It’s actually rather adorable, if I can get past the fact that you thought you needed to worry about me messing around with your own brother.”

“I know I don’t need to worry about that with either of you, so let’s get back to the adorable part.”

Jenny laughed and shook her head in amazement. “You were really jealous?”

“Insanely.”

“Huh.”

“What does that mean? Huh.”

“Nothing. I’m just enjoying this for a minute.”

“I never should’ve told you.”

Jenny reached for his hand across the table. “I’m glad you did. I like knowing how you feel.”

“If that’s the case, I’ve got other stuff to tell you.”

“Good stuff?”

“I hope you’ll think so. It feels good to me.”

Jenny wondered if he was hinting at what she thought he was and tried to determine how she felt about that. It didn’t take long for her to decide she felt very good about it, because she was definitely on the same page.

Without exchanging words, they decided to table that discussion for later, and Jenny told him about her day at the store.

“I feel bad that you had to deal with all our irate customers.”

“Someone had to do it, and I think I smoothed some ruffled feathers.”

“Again, that’s above and beyond the call of duty.”

“I don’t mind, Alex. It makes me feel good to think there’s something I can do to help you and Paul.”

“Do you think maybe…” He shook his head. “Never mind.”

“Tell me. Do I think what?”

He blew out a ragged deep breath. “Paul, David and I are interviewing a nurse tomorrow, hoping she’ll agree to move out here to help us manage Mom’s care. I was wondering if you might have time to sit in on the meeting. I’d love to get your take on her.”

“I’d be happy to.”