“Alternatives? You didn’t intend to keep him?”

“I’m willing, but I’m far too old for the boy. He won’t be happy here for long.” She set down her teacup and looked into Delia’s eyes. “He’s practically a baby, and I don’t take this responsibility lightly. I had to make sure you would take care of him the way he deserves to be taken care of. The way he hasn’t been taken care of until now.”

Delia’s heart all but stopped. “He was abused?”

“Not physically, no. But both his parents are dead, and even though they apparently didn’t do much more than feed and clothe him, they were his parents. They were all he knew.”

Delia thought she’d gladly go after each and every person who’d ever hurt him. She had so much to give him, so much she wanted to tell him-

“You don’t look anything like me.”

Delia turned toward the small voice. Standing there, glaring at her with all his eight-year-old hurting self, as if she’d personally caused all his misery, was her brother. Jacob.

He was right, they didn’t look alike. She had light blue eyes and his were so dark they looked black. Her facial features were narrow and his were round, though his body was all bony angles. Her hair was blond and his was dark and disheveled. In direct contrast to that, and the scowl on his face, his clothes were neat and clean, as if he’d dressed for her visit.

She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “No, we don’t look alike, do we,” she agreed quietly. “But I am your sister, and I’m very happy to meet you.”

His narrow shoulders hunched. “Why?”

Stunned, Delia glanced at Edna, who merely lifted a brow and remained silent. “I’m happy,” she said, turning back to the sullen little boy, “because I’ve always wanted more family.”

“I don’t know you. You’re not my family.”

As he spoke, his voice broke, and something inside Delia broke, as well. Rising, she moved close to the boy and hunkered down before him, not daring to touch him, though she wanted to so badly her hands shook. “I know it’s scary, but we are family. I want to get to know you.”

He backed up a step, coming in contact with the doorjamb. Delia reached out a hand, but with his eyes suspiciously bright, he whirled and ran off. She watched him go, her chest tight and aching.

She’d failed.

“It’ll get easier,” Edna said softly after a moment. “Each time it will get easier.”

Delia stared at the empty doorway, willing her spinning emotions into check, fiercely blinking against the tears she adamantly refused to shed. Nothing had ever come easy for her. Nothing. It seemed this wouldn’t, either. But she could do it. She could reach him.

Delia tried everything, but Jacob refused to come out of his room. As kind and patient as Edna was, she refused to make him.

Scott arrived, and he was everything his voice had promised on the phone: reserved, confident and direct. Delia was as tall as he was, something she sensed irked him. He had sun-kissed blond hair, cool assessing eyes and a definite opinion on Jacob. “He’s been through a lot,” he said after listening to how the meeting had gone. “We need to let him adjust slowly.”

Delia bit her tongue because she knew this man was her link to the courts. He had influence there, as well as with Jacob, since the two of them had developed a friendship.

“Jacob, buddy,” Scott called through the door, knocking twice.

“You came!”

The joy in the little boy’s voice was clear to all, and Scott beamed. He leaned closer to the door. “Ready for that pizza I promised you?”

“Yeah!” A hesitation. “We’re going alone, right?”

Scott glanced at Delia. “How about we invite your sister?”

“Why?”

“Because she came a long way just to see you.”

“She never wanted to see me before.”

“We talked about this, Jacob,” Scott said gently, still through the door. “She didn’t know about you before.”

“Well, I don’t want to know her now.”

Scott gestured for Delia to move with him away from the door so they couldn’t be overheard. “He’s scared,” he murmured.

Delia stared longingly at the closed door. Frustration filled her. “I was hoping to spend some time with him today and tomorrow morning. I can only stay until tomorrow afternoon-I have to get back for the grand opening of our guest ranch.”

Scott was silent at that, but she felt his disapproval. Isn’t Jacob more important than your guest ranch? his eyes seemed to ask.

Of course Jacob was, but without the guest ranch, Delia would have no way to support herself, much less her brother. It was their security, their future, and she had to protect that, as well. “I’m not giving up,” she told Scott, determined. “I’m coming for pizza.”

“That’s fine, but I’m not sure it’s wise to push right now.”

Well, right now was all she had. “I’ll meet you there to give him a few minutes, if you’ll just tell me where.”

As she said her goodbyes to Edna, the older woman grasped her hand and looked deeply into her eyes. “Time,” she said softly. “It’ll all work out in time.”

Delia wanted to point out that she didn’t have much time. She’d set the wheels in motion for a custody hearing, and while she was thankful Edna didn’t seem resentful but willing to go along with whatever the court decided, Delia knew the entire thing hinged on Jacob and his needs.

If only he needed her. It was pathetic to think of it that way, but Delia was nothing if not brutally honest, especially with herself.

In her entire life, not once had she ever been truly needed.

Well, too bad, she told herself. She’d survived this long-she’d be fine. It was Jacob she had to worry about, not herself.

Scott stopped her in the hallway. “You’re disappointed.”

“Yes,” she admitted. “I knew it would be difficult, but…”

His smile was sympathetic. “But not this difficult. Jacob’s got some things to work out. I think I can help him.”

“You’re good with him.”

His eyes warmed. “Yes. I…I’m very attached to him. I shouldn’t say this, but he’s my favorite. I care about him very much.”

“And?” Delia paused. “I’m sure I heard one at the end of that sentence.”

“And-” his smile faded “-I know you don’t want to hear this, but I think it’s wrong to rush him. To rush this reunion.”

“It’s not a reunion, since we’ve never met before today, and you’re right, I don’t want to hear it.”

Although she’d said it in a light tone, Scott stiffened. His eyes hardened. “I take my job very seriously, Ms. Scanlon. If I don’t like what I see between you and Jacob, I’ll make sure it’s in my report. And that report goes to the judge to be evaluated before his final decision.”

Maybe it was the lack of sleep or the skipping of meals, or maybe it was the undeniable threat in Scott’s voice, but the blood pounded in her ears. Her vision shimmered. And as it had all her life, the threat of confrontation put her chin up and temper out.

Cool as a cucumber, she smiled. “Jacob’s my brother. We’re related by blood. Yes, he’s upset and frightened, but once I get past that, he’ll come around. And you’ll see between us exactly what should be between family members. Affection. Warmth. Love.”

“I’m not the enemy here,” Scott said. “But if there has to be sides, I’m on Jacob’s.”

“That makes two of us.” Head high, she went out the front door. She was hurt, scared and furious. None of these showed.

She blinked in the bright California sunshine and took a deep, shaky breath.

What was she going to do? She had a brother who wouldn’t acknowledge her and a social worker with an attitude. She glanced back at the huge house. Had she really thought the monetary difference between Edna and her would be her biggest obstacle?

Money had nothing to do with it.

Jacob was just scared, she told herself. And thought himself alone in that. He wasn’t, whether he knew it or not.