Marie Ferrarella - Mr. Hall Takes A Bride

Once again, the Children’s Connection, just recovering from a series of unfortunate events, was cast in a bad light.

But all that was temporary and would pass in time. He didn’t see the need to give up his vacation for either organization. “And if Advocate Aid, Inc., has to close its doors for a couple of weeks or three, would that really be such a big deal? Would it make that much of a difference?”

Jenny stared at him. Was he serious? “You know how important time is in a trial. A person’s life can be permanently altered in the space of an hour. In the space of two minutes,” she emphasized with feeling, thinking about cases where the death penalty was involved. It was organizations such as her own that saw to it that justice was not only served, but equally distributed, even to those who couldn’t afford the price of a lawyer.

“Jenny,” Jordan began patiently, “you’re talking about penny-ante cases. The ones I take all involve high stakes—”

“Name me higher stakes than people’s dreams,” she challenged. When he didn’t answer immediately, she came in for the kill. “Jordy, you’re the smartest man I’ve ever known—no offense, honey,” she added, turning to look at Eric.

Broad shoulders rose and fell nonchalantly, accompanied by an amused expression. “None taken.”

“Speaking of whom,” Jordan’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Eric and nodded toward his brother-in-law. “Why can’t your illustrious husband get one of his lawyer buddies to take your place until you find someone else?”

Eric looked at him pointedly. “I am.”

“Besides me,” Jordan amended.

“Everyone else I know with a law degree is wrapped up in some trial or other,” Eric told him.

Jordan frowned at him. “How convenient.”

“You’re the only one with time to spare, buddy,” Eric concluded.

“Please, Jordan?” Jenny made another sincere entreaty. “Maybe you won’t wind up on the six o’clock news, but who’s to say these cases aren’t just as important to the people who are involved? Sure, there are cases involving criminal charges, but there are also cases that involve stopping foreclosures. The cases I see also deal with unfair lawsuits that steal everything from the accused, even when they’re innocent. Then there’s—”

Jordan rolled his eyes and looked at his best friend. He could literally feel his vacation slipping away from him. “She really isn’t going to stop until I say yes, is she?”

Eric’s amused expression only deepened. “She’s your little sister, Jordy. You should know that about her by now.”

Yes, he did. He also knew Jenny was a walking heart with legs. He’d never seen anyone who cared so much about her fellow man—and woman—even if they didn’t deserve it.

The last glimmer of his vacation faded off into the sunset. Since he was going first-class and had paid top dollar, he could easily exchange his ticket or get a refund. Nothing was being wasted—except for his time, he thought darkly.

But this meant a lot to Jenny.

Okay, how hard could it be? After all, he’d never lost a case yet and he was willing to bet every last one of his cases were far more complicated than anything he was going to face at Advocate Aid.

“Okay,” he said with resignation. “I’ll do it.”

“Jordy, you’re the best!” Leaning forward on the sofa, Jenny threw her arms around his neck.

“Yes, I am.” Extricating himself, he rose to his feet. There were things he had to take care of first if he was going to do this for her. “And you’d better name this baby after me.”

Cole picked this time to abandon his fighting figures and join them, throwing his arms around his favorite uncle’s waist.

“I’ve got to go, sport,” he told the boy, petting Cole’s silky hair.

“Even if it’s a girl?” Jenny wanted to know, referring to his request.

Jordan nodded, keeping a straight face. “Even if it’s a girl. ‘Jordan’ works both ways these days, remember?”

Jenny smiled for the first time since her brother had arrived at the house. For the first time since the doctor had knocked the air out of her lungs with his newest edict.

“Just as long as you do, that’s all that counts.” She beckoned him to lean down and when he complied, she brushed her lips against his cheek. “Thanks, big brother, I owe you one.”

He straightened, laughing. “You bet you do.”

She knew that tone. Somehow, her big brother meant to collect. Jenny looked at her husband. “I kind of feel as if I’ve just made a deal with Rumpelstiltskin.”

“Jordan’s taller,” Eric deadpanned.

“Also faster,” Jordan interjected, making his way to the front door, Cole shadowing his every move. After Eric, he worshipped Jordan most. Neither man could do any wrong in his young eyes. “At least fast enough to beat you at racquetball last week.”

Eric bit back a choice colorful word since Cole was in the room. “That was a fluke.”

Jordan looked at him smugly. “Would you care for a rematch?”

“Love one,” Eric countered. “Meet you at the court at one on Friday?” They had a standing reservation at the racquetball courts every Friday at lunchtime.

Jordan looked at his sister. “Brace yourself for a shattered husband.” He pulled opened the front door. “Okay, I’ve gotta fly.”

“Can I watch?” Cole asked eagerly.

“Maybe next time,” Jordan laughed, ruffling his hair. “See you, Jen,” he called back into the room. “Remember—” he winked when she looked up at him “—you name the baby after me.”

As he closed the door behind Jordan, Eric put his arm around Cole and walked back to where Jenny was lying on the sofa. A bemused expression played across his lips. “Don’t you think that was a little over the top, threatening to go in despite the doctor’s orders?”

She thought she’d been particularly passionate in her declaration. And she’d known Jordan wouldn’t allow her to take the risk, no matter how blasé he attempted to be about the matter.

Jenny smiled, satisfied. “It worked, didn’t it?”

Eric sat down on the sofa’s arm again and kissed the top of his wife’s head. “You know, Jordan and I have been friends just about forever and I never knew he was this malleable.”

Cole curled up in the space next to Jenny. She tucked her arm around the boy, so grateful for the way her life had turned out. And Jordan was right, she did owe a great deal of it to him. But that admission was for another time.

“You have to know what buttons to press,” she told Eric. “Beneath that devil-may-care, playboy exterior there really is a good guy.”

Eric laughed under his breath. In his experience, Jordan could stand his ground with the best of them. This was a side he was unaccustomed to. “Lucky for you.”

It wasn’t herself she was thinking of. “No, lucky for Advocate Aid.”

From what Jenny had told Eric about what went on in the small office, it sounded like five times the work for none of the pay. And there were no law clerks to pick up the slack or do any of the research. Something, he knew, Jordan took completely for granted. “Think he can handle it?”

She smiled fondly, thinking of the dynamo who ran the office and oversaw every detail with a keen, discerning eye. “Sarajane will make him handle it.”

Eric was acquainted with the office assistant only by reputation, secondhand information he’d gleaned from what his wife had told him in passing. Still, what he knew was impressive. And might have been intimidating to a man of lesser confidence than Jordan. Maybe even intimidating to Jordan.

“I kind of feel sorry for him.”

Jenny didn’t see it that way. “Jordan survived our mother.” Although loving, there was no denying that Elaine Winthrop Hall was a very opinionated woman who saw life only in her own terms. “After that, he can handle anything,” she replied with certainty.