the driveway and glanced across the seat at Emma. She didn’t move. As Jack stepped out of the truck, the front door of his sister’s house opened, and Amanda headed down the steps to meet him. He could tell she was exhausted just by the way she carried herself, hands hanging at her sides and her feet dragging as she walked slowly toward him.
“Thanks for coming,” she said in a barely audible voice.
Jack gave her a once-over. “You okay?”
She nodded, although she looked pale and shaky. Her eyes were bloodshot, and there were dark shadows underscoring and competing with their blue color. “I will be. Sam thinks I have the flu and that I don’t want him to catch it.”
Jack frowned. “It’s not flu season.”
“He’s fifteen years old. His brain is too busy thinking about girls than whether his mother is telling the truth.” She laughed softly. “I told him I’m going away with my boyfriend once I’m feeling better.”
“Boyfriend?” Jack asked.
She held up a hand. “It’s not the time for the overprotective brother act,” she said wearily. “Sam is looking forward to staying with you on the lake.”
Jack was looking forward to that as well, even though he wasn’t thrilled about the reason. “Are you sure you’ll be okay tonight?”
Amanda nodded. “My friend is inside. As soon as the doors open at the addiction facility tomorrow, she’ll drive me there and I’ll check myself in. I don’t want to be like this. I want to be a good mom for my son.”
“I have no doubt that you are.”
“Thank you, Jackie.” Amanda gave him a hug and then gasped softly as she looked past him at the passenger seat of his truck. She pulled back to look at him. “Is that Emma St. James?”
“The one and only.”
She covered her mouth with one hand, her eyes gone wide as she looked at him again. “I always knew you two would get together. It’s about time.”
“Actually, Emma just came along to make sure I didn’t fall asleep at the wheel.” He chuckled. “Good thing she wasn’t driving.”
Amanda’s color seemed to improve. Even her posture was more upright. “This is awesome. I honestly felt kind of bad putting Sam on your plate. I mean, I don’t want to cramp your bachelor’s lifestyle.”
He scoffed at that idea. “Oh, yeah. I’ll have to cut back on the nightly parties I throw at the cabin,” he said sarcastically.
She laughed quietly. “I am so proud of you, Jack. You have your life together, and you’re finally with someone who will make you happy. That’s incredible considering where we came from.”
Had she not heard him when he told her he and Emma weren’t a couple? “Emma and I were having dinner when you called. She wanted to come along and help,” he said, trying to paint a clearer picture.
Amanda gestured at the passenger seat. “This gives me hope that you and I can be more than our pasts. That history isn’t destined to repeat itself.”
Jack frowned as he pulled back to get a better look at his sister. “Of course it isn’t. Is that what you thought? That what’s happening to you is because of Dad? You’re not like him, Amanda. The doctors prescribed you pain medication that you needed at the time. Things may have gotten a little out of hand, but it’s not your fault and you’re getting help. So, no, history isn’t destined to repeat itself.”
Her eyes grew shiny as she listened. Then she looked down at her feet for a long moment. He hoped she wasn’t crying. “Sam’s not easy,” she finally said, looking up again. Her eyes were dry. “He’ll try to get away with things.”
“I don’t want you worrying about anything except feeling better, okay? Sam will be fine with me.”
“With you and Emma,” she said. Then her smile fell away, and she looked like she might get sick.
“Amanda? You okay?”
She waved off his concern with a hand. “Not really. I’ll just tell Sam that you’re here.” She turned and headed back toward the house, leaving Jack standing at his truck. He glanced back at Emma, sleeping peacefully with her face pressed against the window. His heart squeezed, almost painfully.
“Hey, Uncle Jack.” Sam came out of the house, carrying an overnight bag on each shoulder.
“Hey, bud. Where’s your mom?” Jack asked.
Sam shrugged lanky shoulders. “Tossing cookies in the toilet. She’s got the flu.”
Jack looked down at his feet. “Yeah, she told me.” He took Sam’s bags and put them in the back