by Annie Rains
Amanda turned her gaze to the crowd in the distance. “I don’t know, Jack. That’s a lot for me to ask of you. You just started dating Emma. I don’t want to intrude—”
“You won’t. Emma has her own place. I can go there if I want to be alone with her.” He tugged her hand until she looked at him again. “I know you wanted a fresh slate when you moved away from Sweetwater Springs and that you never intended to move back home.”
Amanda choked out a laugh. “I took the things I was running from with me, it seems.”
“That’s what happens. Sam wants to stay too. He likes it here. And he has a job. Two actually,” Jack said with a growing smile. “He’s a big help around the park. I need him. I think we all need each other.”
Amanda narrowed her eyes. “Are you just saying all this because you need a running buddy to train for next year’s event?”
Jack chuckled. “That would be an added perk. So what do you say?”
Amanda hesitated. “I work from home so I can do my job anywhere, I guess.” She shook her head. “I can’t live with you forever though. We’d probably drive each other insane.”
“It’d be just like the old days,” Jack said with a small chuckle, waiting and hoping she’d agree.
“But a little while might be okay,” Amanda finally said.
Jack grinned at her. “I’m taking that as a yes.”
* * *
It’d taken a short hike to get to Blue Sky Point. Emma remembered coming here with her mom once upon a time. It was like looking down on Sweetwater Springs from heaven, her mom used to say.
This is what the angels must see.
Emma could hear her mom’s voice so clearly in her head. Being here was better than sitting at her mom’s grave, which had never made her feel close to her. Emma had been holding back tears, but now they streamed freely down her cheeks. She futilely wiped them away, but they kept falling.
Ashley hadn’t said she was sick, but the genetic mutation meant she could get sick, right? Just like her mom and grandmother. The mutation was a dark cloud hanging overhead, threatening her future.
Emma choked on a sob, suddenly flooded with images of her sick mother. She tried to remember her mom as healthy and vibrant, but now all she could think of was the other version. She didn’t want to become like that version. And the last thing she wanted was to leave her family and friends all broken by her absence. She couldn’t spare her father pain if she got sick.
But Jack. She could spare him. There was no way she could continue down the path they were on when she knew how this story, her story, would end. Jack had told her he loved her today. And she was falling in love with him too. She couldn’t leave Jack the way her mom had left them. The way her grandmother had left her mom’s family.
Emma wiped at another tear, struggling to breathe, and not because of the high elevation. She had to give Jack up. There was no other choice. His childhood had been less than perfect. He’d been through so much, and loving her and losing her could send him spiraling down a path he’d worked so hard to avoid.
He was resisting his genetics in the same way she’d always resisted hers. Except she didn’t really get a choice. Jack did. She knew to her core that the right thing to do was to end things between them, sooner rather than later, so that he could get on with his life. And so she could figure out what to do in order to keep living hers.
Her phone dinged. Emma glanced at the screen, surprised that she even had reception here. It was a text from Nina.
Where are you?
Emma blew out a breath and started typing. Blue Sky Point.
What for?
She and Nina were close, but she didn’t think her friend would understand. It doesn’t matter. Is everything okay?
The dots on the screen started bouncing as Nina typed her reply. Not really.
Emma stood and started heading down the trail. What’s going on?
Our weekend employee called in sick. Big surprise, Nina typed. It’s busy here and I can’t make the coffees fast enough.
Great. Just great. That old saying “When it rains, it pours” was definitely true. As if to prove that point, the sky rumbled, promising afternoon showers ahead.
I’ll be there asap, Emma texted as she headed away from Blue Sky Point with more thunder on her heels.
* * *
Twenty minutes later, Emma walked into the Sweetwater Café and headed straight behind the counter where Nina seemed to be extra busy this afternoon.
“I got here as fast as I could,” Emma said, pulling on an apron.
“I had no idea it’d be this busy today. It’s never this busy, even on the weekends. It must have something to do with your event,” Nina said.
Emma nodded. “Looks like it’s time to hire someone new for the weekend schedule.”
“And fire the current employee. What’s her name again?” Nina tapped a finger to her chin as she pretended to think. “She’s only shown up once or twice in the last several months. I’m not even sure I’d recognize her.”
“Yeah, she’s overdue to be let go.” They’d only managed to do without her because Sam had been here to help this summer.
Emma headed to the counter, took the next customer’s order, and started preparing the drink. When she turned to carry it to the register, she anxiously looked out on the growing line and saw a familiar face. “Diana!” she said as her next customer approached.
Diana stepped up to the counter. “It’s a busy day, huh?”
“I have more work than I can handle,” Emma said. She couldn’t even offer her usual customer service smile. “What can I get you?”
“Maybe I should be asking you that question. Want a hand?” Diana asked.
Emma straightened. “Really?”
“I’ve worked at a coffee shop before,” Diana said. “I can help out, and I don’t mind.”
Diana had been a great server at Tammy’s Log Cabin. And desperate times demanded forgoing the résumé right now.
A smile swept over Emma’s face. “Absolutely.”
“Great.” Diana headed behind the counter.
A few minutes later, Sam arrived and started cleaning the tables as customers came and went.
They worked steadily until the crowd died down and everyone had their caffeinated drink of choice. Diana learned quickly and had amazing people skills. She was exactly the kind of employee that Emma needed at the café.
“Want me to stay a little longer just in case?” Diana asked, turning to Emma after serving the last customer.
Emma knew Diana meant for the rest of the afternoon, but Emma wanted more. “Yes, actually. You’re hired.”
Diana blinked and then shook her head. “I’m sorry?”
“I mean, if you want another job. If you don’t, I’ll be disappointed but I’ll survive.” Emma grimaced. “I might not survive many more days like this though.”
Diana nodded excitedly. “Of course I want the job.”
“Great. Can you work tonight?”
“I’ll stay until close,” Diana said. “Thank you so much, Emma.”
“I should be the one thanking you. You were a big help to us this afternoon. The line would still be out the door if you hadn’t stepped in.”
“Just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.” Diana went to greet the next person in line.
Nina stepped up beside Emma. “Well, that worked out perfectly. It was almost like fate.”
Emma side-eyed her. She’d had enough talk of fate and fortunes with Dawanda and her cappuccino reading.
“Oh, come on.” Nina leaned a hip against the counter. “You have to believe in fate after the way you and Jack got together this summer.”
Emma didn’t want to talk about Jack right now either. Or think about him.
“Anyway, I know you’re tired after today. I’ve got Diana to help me close tonight,” Nina said.
Emma nodded. “Thank you.”
“And there’s something else.” Nina w
asn’t smiling anymore. She gave Emma a hesitant look. “You told me to tell you if another bad review popped up on the A-List site.”
Emma didn’t like the way this conversation was going.
“But maybe you shouldn’t look,” Nina suggested.
Emma’s heart dropped in her belly. “That bad, huh?” She started toward the back room where her laptop was waiting for her. Then she sat down and quickly pulled up the A-List site, clicking on the Sweetwater Café. She scrolled down, seeing a two-star rating and review:
The two women who run that counter chat constantly as they work. It makes me wonder if they’re spitting into my coffee as they laugh over the cups.
Emma gasped. “Spit into the coffee?”
“I told you that you might prefer not to read it,” Nina said. “And now that you’ve read it, it can’t be unread.”
“I would never spit into the coffee. Is this the same reviewer? Am I being trolled?” Emma felt like strangling the reviewer through her computer screen. “If people read this, they’ll never come to my café. This is awful. I can’t even fix this complaint unless we start wearing masks as we work.”
Nina frowned. “Sorry, but I’m not wearing a mask. Besides, you can’t please this person. They’d just complain about something else. Some people are just so unhappy that they want to spread it around,” Nina said. “It’s sad, really.”
It was sad, and Nina was right. They couldn’t wear masks. Emma was done catering to a few bad reviews that were possibly all coming from the same person. “I’m not going to stop laughing with you up there either. Life is too short not to laugh whenever possible.” She pressed a hand to her heart as emotion surfaced. “My mom used to say that.”
Nina tilted her head as she looked at Emma. “Smart lady.”
“She was,” Emma agreed.
Nina nudged her softly. “I was talking about you.”
Now Emma’s eyes were burning. Today was one big roller-coaster ride. “You know, I think I should create my own Life List. Just like my mom did. Number one on the list, laugh even more.”
Nina grinned. “I like the sound of that.”
Also on the list, keep the 5K she’d started in her mom’s name going. Never miss another annual checkup—her health was too important. Be her own best friend just like her mom had put on her list. Emma could start by not letting a little criticism take her down.
They were both alerted by the bell on the door, signaling a new customer up front. Emma’s Spidey sense went off. “I’m not here,” she told Nina quickly. “Whoever it is, tell him I’m not here.”
“Him, huh?” Nina grinned. “Okay. I’ll lie to Jack for you, but you have some explaining to do once he’s gone.”
Emma smiled gratefully and stayed in the back while Nina walked up front.
Her mom was right. Life could be short, especially for the women in the St. James family. And the men who loved these women were left picking up the pieces after they were gone. Emma wasn’t going to let that be Jack.
* * *
Jack’s mood lifted as he walked into the Sweetwater Café. It’d been several hours since he’d seen Emma. Since he’d told her he loved her.
Nina offered a wobbly smile. “Hi, Jack. How was the run?”
“I’ll be sore for a week, at least. It was a good reminder that I should get back to daily jogging.”
“Yeah, I take a run every morning when I wake up. On the mornings that I have to be here, I’m out and running before the sun is even up yet.”
“Is that safe?” Jack asked, looking past Nina for Emma, who he didn’t see anywhere. He’d have sworn this was where she’d be right now.
“It’s safe when you have a hundred-fifty-pound guard dog running alongside you,” Nina said on a laugh. “And when my new puppy gets bigger, I’ll have two. Wanna coffee?”
“No, actually, I was looking for Emma. Is she here?” he asked.
“Nope, haven’t seen her. I’m not sure where she is,” Nina said as she stood on the other side of the counter from him. She shifted back and forth on her feet, no longer making eye contact. Instead, she was looking past him at the tables in the café, all of which were occupied. It was a busy afternoon here.
“I see. Well, she’s not answering her phone either,” Jack said. “I’m starting to get a little worried about her.”
“She’s probably wiped out after the event. I’m sure she’s fine. Her phone’s probably just turned off. She’s probably resting somewhere.” Nina spoke quickly, her sentences jumbling together as if she’d drank one too many caffeinated beverages. She also wore an exaggerated smile, which made Jack wonder if she was hiding something.
“Uncle Jack, can I catch a ride with you?”
Jack looked at Sam. “I don’t know, bud. It’s pretty busy in here.”
“It’s okay. I can spare him,” Nina said. “Our newest employee, Diana, has offered to stay tonight.”
“Diana? That’s great to hear,” Jack said.
“It is.” Nina looked at Sam. “So you are free to go be a teenager.”
Jack turned to his nephew. “All right then. I’ll drive you back to the house.”
Sam grabbed his skateboard from under the counter and hurried to catch up to Jack as he headed to the door.
“Did you talk to Mom?” Sam wanted to know as soon as they were on the sidewalk.
“I did.” Jack clicked his key fob as they reached the parking lot, and his truck honked in response.
They climbed in, and Jack pulled onto Main Street.
“And?” Sam asked, his voice a little shaky on the end.
“And she said staying in Sweetwater Springs awhile sounded like a good idea. If you still want to stay, that is.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I really do.”
“Anything to do with that girl I saw you watching at the event?” Jack asked, teasing him.
Sam flushed a little. “I just like it here, that’s all. And the girls are prettier in Sweetwater Springs.”
“Yeah?” Jack asked on a chuckle. “I always thought so too. It’s a good place to grow up.”
“I’m practically grown already,” Sam claimed.
“Yeah, but you’re still a kid too. Enjoy it while you can. Being a grown-up isn’t easy,” Jack warned.
“Neither is being a teenager,” Sam said.
Jack looked over and laughed. “Well, everything is easier when you have your family around. I’m glad you and your mom are going to stay. Whatever comes, we can tackle it together.”
Sam frowned a touch. “Are you and Emma fighting?”
Jack looked over at him. “No, why?”
“Well, she was in the back room when we were just there. I overheard her talking to Nina. She didn’t want to see you for some reason.”
“She was there?” Jack asked.
Sam nodded. “I’m not sure why, but she didn’t seem happy to see you.” Sam frowned. “What’d you do, Uncle Jack?”
Jack focused on the road. “I don’t know,” he told his nephew, even though he had a sneaking suspicion. Last time he’d seen Emma, he’d accidentally told her he loved her. And now she was avoiding him. That spoke volumes. When you told a woman you loved her and she suddenly disappeared, that could only mean one thing: She didn’t love him back.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Emma stared at the text on her phone later that night.
Can we talk?
She didn’t know what to say. It was time to break up with him. What choice did she have? If she told him the truth, he’d just minimize her fears, but they were big and they were real. She had a dead grandmother and mother to prove it.
I’m tired, she texted back. Let’s talk tomorrow.
And maybe by then she’d have figured out what to say to him to end things.
I’m not leaving until we speak face to face and I know you’re okay. I guess I’ll just sleep in my truck tonight.
Emma sat up in bed. Was he in her driveway? She hurried to the window, careful not
to wake her sleeping dog, and peeked out. Jack must have seen her because he flashed the truck lights at her.
Emma stepped back from the window, her heart suddenly racing. She wasn’t ready to face him tonight. All she wanted to do was step into his arms and beg him to tell her again that he loved her. She wanted to say those words back.
Her phone buzzed with an incoming text. She looked at the screen. Then the phone started ringing in her hand. Seeing no other way, she tapped the screen and accepted the call.
“Hi, Jack,” she said, hearing the shakiness of her own voice.
“What’s going on, Emma? It’s pretty obvious that you’re avoiding me. Why? What’d I do?”
“Jack…I…” She closed her eyes, holding back her tears. “I just realized that we were moving too fast. And I really don’t think it’s going to work between us.”
“Emma? Tell me the truth.”
“I am. You and I aren’t working out. Not for me.”
There was a long silence. So long that Emma almost wondered if he’d hung up.
“If you’re going to break up with me, open the door, look me in the eye, and tell me. That’s the least you can do for a friend.”
Emma turned and walked to the door. She paused behind it, steeling her emotions. When she opened it, Jack was standing on her porch. All she wanted to do was step into his arms and let him hold her. Instead, she reminded herself of how hard life had been for her father after her mother died. She reached for her mom’s bandana that she’d tied around her ponytail for the event. Where is it? Did it fall off?
“Emma?” Jack’s eyes were pools of sadness. “Is this because I told you I loved you earlier?” he asked. “Because if it is, I take it back, Emma. If that’s what I need to do to make you stay. I take it all back.” His jaw clenched. “I don’t love you.”
Emma felt her eyes sting against the tears she was holding back. “What?”