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 come 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.
Pressure built fast and suddenly inside of Emma just as if she were a bottle of soda and someone had shaken her up. She felt like she might explode in this one second if she didn’t spew the words that she regretted before they’d even come out of her mouth. “Well, I didn’t ask you, and you didn’t even care enough about her to stay away from my dad.”
“Emma Grace,” her father said. “Apologize.”
“You first,” Emma said.
Chapter Eight
Sometimes things couldn’t be taken back with a quick apology. Not that Emma had apologized yet. Instead she’d eaten her birthday burger, brooding and marinating in the guilt she felt every time she looked at Angel, who was no longer smiling. Her eyes were no longer twinkling either, thanks to Emma’s little explosion.
Ruby Jean came with the check and laid it at the edge of the table. “Here you go. Unless I can get you some type of dessert.” She eyed Emma’s burger. “No birthday cake for you. Maybe next year, hon.”
Emma shook her head. “I tried. It was too big.” Add the heavy guilt to her full stomach and she might not be able to walk out of this diner tonight.
“Can I get you all something sweet? Maybe a slice of pie?” Ruby asked.
Everyone shook their head. There was no need to extend this awkward meal. Even Sam looked like this was some form