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taking care of a kid?”
    Unfortunately, for both their sakes, Jake knew jack about children , a fact that had been consistently rammed down his throat over the past twenty-four hours by Olly.
    “Hate’s a strong word, pal. And it’s not very nice to use it.” He glanced in the rearview mirror in time to catch another scowl.
    “Mom uses it,” Olly said, his defiance admirable and so reminiscent of himself as a kid that Jake had to stifle a smile. “S he hat es her job. She hates our small apartment. She hates not being rich.” He spoke so solemnly it broke Jake’s heart. “She thinks I don’t hear her when she says it softly but I do.” Olly’s bottom lip wobbled a little. “So if Mom says hate , I can too.”
    Hell, the last thing Jake needed was a tear-fest, but he understood where Olly’s attitude was coming from. The kid must be petrified , being dumped on an uncle he’d rarely seen over the last six months. Olly needed reassurance, something Jake was ill-qualified to give considering the mess he’d made of his own life lately, but he’d give it a damn good shot.
    “Your mom’s great, isn’t she?”
    “She’s the best.” Olly nodded, so solemn Jake’s chest ached. “I wi sh she didn’t have to go away.”
    Olly’s slight hiccup and muffled sob almost undid Jake’s intentions to reassure his nephew by talking about Rose, but he persisted . “Sometimes when grownups don’t feel well, they need to spend time in a place away from home to get better.”
    Olly perked up. “Like a hospital, you mean?”
    “Yeah, though the place your mom’s in is more like a hotel than a hospital.”
    Jake had done a thorough search on the rehab facility Rose had chosen and had been suitably impressed. It made him feel better, knowing his sis was in reputable hands.
    “Mom told me she’s been getting headaches . . .” Olly frowned. “And she’s been really sleepy lately. Sad, too. And forgetful. I notice stuff like that.” He brightened. “So maybe it’s a good thing she’s going away to this hotel hospital for a while.”
    “Sure is, buddy,” Jake said, relieved they’d had this conversation and that Olly seemed okay with opening up to him a little. Progress at last. “And guess what? You can tell your mom all about this trip to the country.”
    “Will there be cows and horses and stuff?”
    Annoyed with himself that he’d have to disappoint his nephew again, Jake shook his head. “Not at Aunt Cilla’s, but I’m sure some of her neighbors have animals, so we can go exploring.”
    Olly’s momentary enthusiasm faded. “Don’t go making promises you can’t keep. That’s another thing Mom says, because apparently people keep disappointing her.”
    Wow, this kid was observant. He’d have to let Rose know that Olly’s perception exceeded his years.
    “We’ll ask Aunt Cilla about it.” It was the best he could come up with, and it sounded lame, even to Jake’s ears.
    Thankfully, Olly shrugged and remained silent as Jake followed the winding road, slumping in relief when Cilla’s cottage came in to sight.
    It had been a long time since he’d been back here but Jake could’ve sworn an invisible weight lifted off his shoulders now and floated away.
    Cilla would welcome them, like she’d done for him and Rose all those years ago. She’d envelop Olly in her warmth and care for him like he deserved, doing a damn sight better job than Jake ever could.
    Yeah, everything would be okay once they reached his aunt’s.
    It had to be.

8.
    C illa glanced around the kitchen, hoping it looked welcoming.
    She’d laid out plates piled high with oatmeal cookies, banana cake and brownies. All Jake’s favorites.
    A vase of roses clipped from her garden took pride of place on the table, their velvety soft crimson petals catching the rays of sun spilling in from the windows, their fragrance battling with the freshly baked cookies, lacing the air with homeliness.
    Jake had been a good kid and he’d once