Sunshine on Silver Lake: Includes a bonus novella (Sweetwater Springs Book 5)

by Annie Rains

  A waitress stepped up to the table and laid out three menus.

  Emma looked up at her. “Ruby Jean.”

  Ruby had been working at Bear’s since Emma came here as a teenager. She still wore her hair back in a tight bun at her nape, although the color had faded from blond to silver over the years. “It’s been a while since you’ve been in,” Ruby told Emma. She looked over at Jack. “You too. Even longer since you came together.”

  Emma and Jack had come here first with their moms and later, when Jack got his license, just the two of them. They’d always ordered a large bottomless plate of fries to split.

  “And who is this handsome young fellow?” Ruby asked, looking at Sam.

  Sam shifted in the booth across from Emma, offering an awkward grin at the older waitress. “I’m Sam.”

  “Sam is my nephew. Amanda’s son. He’ll be staying with me this summer,” Jack said.

  “Oh, how nice.” Ruby gave a warm smile. “And where is Amanda? I haven’t seen her in ages either.”

  Emma looked over at Jack, noticing the corners of his mouth dip subtly.

  “She’s taking some time to herself,” he told Ruby.

  Ruby seemed to wait for a moment as if thinking he’d say more. When he didn’t, she pulled her notepad out of her apron pocket and reached for the pen tucked away in her bun. “Well, every woman deserves time to herself once in a while.”

  “She’s not by herself. She’s with her boyfriend,” Sam pointed out.

  Ruby Jean smiled. “Having the time of their lives, I’m sure. And I’m sure you’ll have a great summer staying with your uncle Jack.”

  Sam heaved a sigh. “So far he’s only had me working at the park with him.”

  “I’d hardly call what you’ve been doing work,” Jack said, making everyone laugh, including Sam. Then they ordered three sodas, along with burgers and fries.

  “We need a birthday burger,” Jack told Ruby.

  Emma let her face fall into her open palm. “Remind me to avoid you for all my birthdays for the rest of my life,” she muttered, sweeping her gaze sideward to meet Jack’s. Her heart stalled like an old car engine. Remind herself not to look over at him anymore tonight too.

  “A birthday burger for the birthday girl, it is.” Ruby tucked her pen back into her hair, like a knitting needle in a ball of thick yarn. “And how many candles should this burger have?”

  “Thirty,” Jack said, making Emma drop her face into her palm again.

  “Aww, you’re still a baby.” Ruby patted a hand on Emma’s back. “Thirty is just when things start getting good in life, darlin’.”

  Emma swallowed thickly. Her mom had missed that part of her own life. Thirty was when things had come to a sudden halt.

  “Thanks, Ruby,” Jack said before Ruby Jean walked away.

  “Is she actually going to put thirty candles on my burger?” Emma asked Jack.

  He chuckled softly, the sound a low rumble like thunder beyond the mountains. “I doubt Bear wants to light this place on fire tonight.”

  Emma drove her elbow into Jack’s side, making him groan and chuckle harder. The touch made her body ache for more. What was wrong with her? Did thirty also come with soaring, out-of-control hormones?

  “So you’re a skateboarder, huh?” Emma asked Sam as they waited, needing to redirect her attention.

  Sam had long hair that fell into his eyes. He seemed to hide behind it when he was nervous. She didn’t think he’d be nervous now, but he peered across the table at her behind his overgrown bangs, a wide awkward smile sweeping across his cheeks. “When there’s nothing else to do, I guess?”

  “What do you do when you’re home?” Emma asked.

  “Video games mostly.” Sam looked at Jack. “But Uncle Jack doesn’t have any game systems.”

  Jack huffed. “When I was your age, I was outdoors anytime the weather was nice. Even when it wasn’t nice, I was outside.”

  Emma nodded. “I can vouch for that.”

  “They probably didn’t even make video games back then,” Sam said.

  Jack’s mouth fell open. “Hey!” he said in a teasing tone.

  Sam looked at Emma again. “I also hang out with my friends, who aren’t here obviously.”

  “What about a girlfriend?” Emma asked as Ruby Jean set their sodas in front of them.

  “Be back with the burgers in just a sec,” she said, stepping away again.

  Sam shook his head. “Not really.”

  Emma reached for her Dr Pepper and took a sip. “Your uncle Jack always had a new girlfriend every time I turned around.”

  Jack was the one who bumped her this time. “I wasn’t that bad.” His voice dropped to a note that resonated through her body.

  “Oh, you were.” She met his gaze, forgetting that she’d promised herself to stop doing that. He was close enough that she could see the variations of blue in his irises. Close enough to lean in and press her lips to his. Close enough to know better.

  She looked away, searching the diner for Ruby Jean. Where are those burgers and fries? Emma sat up a little straighter as she noticed a couple push through the restaurant’s doors.

  “What’s wrong?” Jack followed her gaze. From Emma’s peripheral, she saw him straighten a little as well.

  Here came her father and Angel, heading straight toward them. Her father had never hidden his disapproval for Jack since her last year of high school. Judging by the grim line on his mouth as he approached their table, his feelings hadn’t changed. How was Emma going to explain sitting here with Jack and Sam for dinner?

  * * *

  Jack’s knee-jerk reaction was to tell Edward St. James, “This isn’t what it looks like.” His next reaction was to look down at his hands and hope to disappear.

  Edward didn’t like him very much, and that was putting it mildly.

  “Dad.” Emma stood and wrapped her arms around her father’s neck as he reached their table. “Hi, Angel,” she said to her stepmom next, her enthusiasm dropping a noticeable notch. Jack didn’t think that was intentional, but he knew that Emma was a little bitter over the way Angel and Edward had met. Emma’s mom had still been alive, which made for an awkward situation.

  “Dad and Angel, you know Jack.” Emma gestured at Jack sitting in the booth.

  Jack offered his hand to Edward, noting the iron grip. Then he shook Angel’s hand. “Nice to see you.”

  Edward nodded, his blue eyes steely. Edward had made it clear to Jack that he should never cross that friendship line with Emma. That was in Jack’s college days when he’d started to drink too much, following a path that was all too similar to his dad’s. Jack had done things he was ashamed of, like driving after one too many beers. Then there was that time he’d shown up at the St. James house drunk on the night of Emma’s prom. Edward had met him at the door, frowned, and stepped out onto the porch with him.

  “I’m here for Emma,” Jack had said, probably slurring his words all over the place.

  “No, you’re not. If you think you’re taking my daughter anywhere in your condition, you’re mistaken. You’re lucky I’m not calling the police,” Edward said. Then he took Jack’s keys and drove him home. The entire drive to Jack’s house, Edward had lectured him. On drinking and driving, and dating his daughter. In no uncertain terms, he’d told Jack that anything romantic with Emma was off the table. “Your mom deserved better than the town drunk, and so does my Emma.”

  Jack met Edward’s gaze now. It was pretty clear that he still thought Emma deserved better.

  “And this is Jack’s nephew, Sam.” Emma gestured at Sam seated across the booth from Jack.

  “Amanda’s son,” Edward said. “How is she?” he asked Jack directly.

  Jack felt his body tense to a whole new level. She was in a facility for addiction this summer. Amanda couldn’t even take care of her own son. Yeah, Jack guessed his family was a bit dysfunctional in Edward’s eyes. “She’s great, sir.”

  “She’s taking a vacat
ion from me,” Sam pointed out, the same way he had multiple times already since he’d arrived in Sweetwater Springs.

  The group of them went silent.

  “Not true,” Jack muttered, giving Sam a stern look.

  Emma cleared her throat and smiled. “Dad, Angel, we just ordered. Would you like to join us? I’m sure Ruby Jean can get your orders out at the same time as ours.”

  Jack inwardly groaned, once again wanting to look at her dad and say “This isn’t what it looks like.” Jack wasn’t innocent though. He was enjoying sitting close to Emma, and he was enjoying spending time with her lately.

  “Sure. That’d be great,” Edward said, sliding into the booth next to Sam. Angel slid in as well, leaving Emma and Jack on the other side.

  “At least now I’m not the third wheel,” Sam quipped.

  Jack’s heart dropped in his chest. He wanted to give Sam another stern look, but the boy wasn’t looking at him.

  “I’m always the third wheel with my mom and her boyfriend. Then I come here, and I’m the same with Jack and Emma,” Sam went on, oblivious to Jack’s dirty looks.

  “Oh?” Edward looked across the table. “Spending a lot of time together?” he asked Jack directly.

  From the corner of Jack’s eye, he saw Emma shift nervously. “Just a little,” she admitted. “Jack has been helping me with the 5K I was telling you about. Since I’m having it at Evergreen Park.”

  “Oh,” he said, seeming to relax a bit. “That’s right.”

  “Edward told me about that,” Angel said. “Emma, I think that’s such a lovely idea. And I would really like to help you in any way I can.”

  Jack had to admit he liked Angel St. James. Angel seemed sweet and kindhearted, and she really seemed to make an effort to be friends with Emma.

  “Thank you.” Emma sighed softly next to him. “There’s been a slight hitch in the plans though. There’s no room on this summer’s calendar for my event.” Emma looked over at Jack.

  “Well, no single slots,” he said. “But I was thinking that maybe Emma could join her event with another one that’s going on at the park this summer.”

  “Sometimes joining forces makes things stronger,” Angel commented. “Right now, you just want to plan a 5K. But more people might come if there’s another attraction. I just love an arts and craft fair,” she added.

  “But arts and crafts has nothing to do with wellness,” Emma pointed out, her tone a little clipped.

  Ruby Jean took that moment to return to the table. “Looks like I need to take a few more orders.” She took the two new orders and promised to be back soon.

  Jack looked over at Emma. “The Women’s Wellness Fair is a great match.”

  Emma met his gaze, and he suspected, if she were to talk right now, her tone with him would be clipped too.

  “Oh yes,” Angel said. “A wellness walk for women. That name just rolls off your tongue, don’t you think, Eddie?” She looked over at Emma’s dad.

  “Yeah. Sounds like a great teaming for your mom’s event,” he agreed. “Jenny really loved that center. They took great care of her,” he said, his expression sentimental for a moment. “She even told me once that she wished there was a way to give back where they were concerned. To help them as much as they had helped her.”

  Jack could practically feel the tension rolling off Emma as she sat stiffly beside him.

  “Really?” she finally asked. “I didn’t know that.”

  Angel continued to carry the conversation, which thankfully turned to her new bicycling hobby.

  Finally, Ruby Jean returned with a cart full of plates. She took them one by one and slid them in front of her customers. “There you go…This one is for you…And you. A growing boy needs his nourishment. Don’t be afraid to ask for seconds,” she added when talking to Sam. “I always give the kids seconds.”

  Sam’s mouth fell open. “I’m not really…a kid.”

  Ruby Jean smiled widely. “Of course you are. When you’re old like me, even your uncle here is a kid.”

  “I wouldn’t turn down someone calling me a kid or giving me seconds,” Jack advised Sam.

  “And the birthday burger is for the birthday girl,” Ruby Jean said proudly, sliding a burger twice the size of the other burgers in front of Emma. Thankfully, there was only one candle burning in the middle instead of thirty.

  “Wow. That is a sight to behold,” Emma said. “I’m not sure I can eat all of that.”

  Ruby Jean grinned. “You have to if you want a slice of birthday cake. That’s the prize for eating the whole thing.”

  Emma laughed. “If I eat all of this, I definitely won’t have room for cake.”

  Ruby Jean shrugged. “You only get one birthday a year. Eat your burger and have your cake too.” She winked under her thick mascara. “And don’t let that one steal a bite,” she said, pointing a finger at Jack.

  Jack’s jaw dropped. “I would never try to steal a bite of Emma’s birthday burger.”

  “Just a kiss, huh?” Ruby Jean winked again. “I know how lovebirds do.” She laughed and then left them to their meals. The conversation fell quiet for a moment while everyone prepared to eat and took their first bites.

  “So tell me again what brings the three of you together?” Edward asked. “Jack is helping you find a spot on the calendar, but that doesn’t explain why you’re seated at a restaurant with him.”

  Emma reached for her drink, appearing to have difficulty washing down her bite of burger. “Well, Dad, Jack and Sam were kind enough to invite me out tonight. It was this or cold cereal alone at my place.”

  “Oh, you’re always welcome for dinner with us,” Angel said. “I’ve been telling Eddie to invite you over for your birthday. At least we can celebrate tonight.”

  Edward looked at Jack, his blue eyes hard and calculating. Jack didn’t blame him one bit for thinking poorly of him. He was holding a grudge over just that one night, but that one night could’ve put Emma’s life in danger. It was stupid, foolish, irresponsible, and unforgivable.

  “Why wouldn’t Emma be with us tonight?” Sam asked. “I mean, she is Uncle Jack’s girlfriend.”

  Jack didn’t breathe for a long moment. He looked at Sam and then Emma, but he didn’t look at Edward. No, that was the last face he wanted to look at right now.

  * * *

  Emma coughed. She reached for her soda again, trying to wash down her bite of food, but her throat was so tight it wouldn’t budge.

  Jack patted her back, which was probably the last thing that needed to happen right now. Her father looked murderous at the moment. He’d loved Jack once upon a time. What had changed between them?

  “You okay?” Jack asked.

  No. No, she was nowhere in the vicinity of okay. She nodded. “My food just went down the wrong pipe.”

  “So you two are dating?” Angel asked, her expression light and happy. Her eyes were even twinkling under the low-hanging lighting at their table. She was a hard woman to dislike, and Emma had really tried to do just that. She couldn’t though. Angel was in fact angelic.

  “Well, um…” Emma picked up her burger, needing something to do with her hands. Taking another bite right now was risky business; she might choke on it. “Jack asked me out tonight so I guess technically this is a date,” she admitted, not wanting to go back on her deal with Jack. She looked at him for help.

  He looked like he was walking to the edge of a cliff with a hurricane-force wind at his back. “Uh, well, Emma and I have been out a few times.”

  That was the truth. They’d met at the home improvement store and then had gone to her café and back to her house the other night. And he’d been to her house on her birthday to keep her from celebrating alone.

  “It’s a recent relationship,” Emma added, looking between her father and Sam. “It’s not really common knowledge yet.”

  “When I stopped in your café, you didn’t say a word about Jack,” her father said.

  “I guess it didn’t c
ome up.” Emma took a bite of her burger now just to give herself an excuse not to talk for a few seconds. She was never going to finish this thing, but she would probably need to eat her feelings with cake after this dinner was over.

  “I see.” Her father nodded the way he did when he disapproved of something. The way he used to when she had done something that disappointed him.

  Well, she could straighten this out later when Sam wasn’t around and let him in on the little arrangement. Not that she needed to explain anything. She was a grown woman. Why should she care about his opinion on who she dated? He certainly hadn’t asked her opinion on dating her mother’s former hospice nurse.

  She sat a little straighter and scooted closer to Jack. Then she put on her best smile and looked between her father and Angel. “I guess the secret is out now.”

  Jack coughed beside her.

  “Well, I couldn’t be happier,” Angel said. “You haven’t dated anyone in a while, Emma.”

  That was true. “I’ve been busy with the café,” Emma justified. “But there was the delivery guy who brought me supplies once a week.”

  “Oh yes, I remember him.” Angel reached for her napkin and wiped a smear of ketchup off her lips. “I liked him, but he was a bit rude.”

  Emma nodded. She and the guy in question had gone to dinner at her dad and stepmom’s house. And her date had eaten like a caveman and belched once without excusing himself. That had been the end of that. “He was,” Emma agreed.

  “Then there was the fireman,” Angel said.

  Jack groaned. “I’m glad she stopped seeing that guy,” he muttered under his breath.

  “Well, one day soon, you and Jack will have to come over to our house and have dinner with Eddie and me. Sam too, of course. We can all get to know each other a little better. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” Angel asked.

  By the looks on everyone’s faces at the table, Angel was the only one excited by the prospect.

  “Maybe so. But I’ll be busy planning my mom’s event, assuming I can find a date to make it happen.”

  “I think blending with the Women’s Wellness Fair is an amazing idea,” Angel said, her voice still full of cheer.