lullabies on the porch. Then Jack had gone through a stage where he loathed the very sight of his dad. He’d understood his father a little more when he’d battled his own demons.
“Is this pimento cheese?” he asked, inspecting the filling between the bread.
“It is. It’s my secret recipe. You’ll love it, I promise.” She looked a little nervous as she watched him.
Jack had never been a fan of pimento, but he didn’t want to disappoint Emma. He bit into his sandwich and chewed. “Mmm. That’s good,” he said honestly. “Is that bacon in there?”
She nodded. “Bacon makes everything better.”
Jack looked at her. “A woman after my own heart.”
Emma held his gaze for a moment and then turned away. She pulled a dog biscuit from the basket and gave it to Barnaby.
After they finished off their sandwiches, Jack leaned back on his elbows. He scanned the crowd as he listened to the music. Nearly everyone in town seemed to have come out to celebrate. His gaze landed on Edward and Angel St. James. They were pretty far away and hopefully wouldn’t even see him and Emma tonight.
He also spotted Mitch Hargrove and his new wife, Kaitlyn, who owned the Sweetwater Bed and Breakfast. Tuck Locklear and Josie Kellum sat on a blanket next to them. And beside them were chief of police Alex Baker and his fiancée, Halona Locklear. So many couples in love. When would it be his turn?
“Jack?” Emma asked.
He looked over at her. “Yeah?”
“Tell me the truth. If I don’t join with the Women’s Wellness Fair, will I be able to do the event for my mom this summer?” Emma’s hair fluttered around her face as a breeze seemed to dance with the music from the bluegrass band.
He blew out a breath as he resisted reaching up and swiping the locks away from her face. “Well, there’s always a chance that one of the booked events will be canceled. But it’s slim. You could plan your event on a weeknight evening, but the turnout won’t be as good. If you want your event to be bigger and better, something you can really be proud of, and if you want it to happen this summer, then yeah. I think joining efforts with the Women’s Wellness Center is your best bet.”
Emma looked forward, seemingly lost in her decision.
“But they might not even agree. I haven’t run it by Dr. Rivers yet.”
She nodded her understanding.
“My turn to ask a question. Tell me the truth.” He waited for her to look at him again. “Why are you hesitating on combining events with the WWC?”
Emma looked shocked by the question. She shifted and began to fidget, her gaze bouncing around the field. Then he reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Is there a reason bringing up the WWC makes you nervous?”
Chapter Ten
Emma gulped in a breath, her heart beating out of its normal rhythm for multiple reasons. Her gaze moved to Jack’s hand around hers. It was warm, also rough and calloused. It felt good to her frazzled nerves.
“I guess some part of me is terrified of the Women’s Wellness Center right now,” she admitted, looking away. She laughed softly at herself, but there wasn’t any humor in this situation. “I feel foolish for even saying so.” Jack’s thumb traced over the back of her hand, distracting her in a pleasant way. “The WWC diagnosed my mom. They’re the ones who gave her a death sentence.”
“The Wellness Center also helped her,” he pointed out.
Emma nodded. “I know. I guess some part of me has always feared that I’ll be just like her. Everyone tells me I look like her. I act like her. Everyone says I’m the spitting image of her.”
“You’re afraid of getting sick like her?” he asked.
She could hear the surprise threading through his voice. He wouldn’t understand. No one would. She didn’t have any sisters, but if she did, they’d likely get it. “Breast cancer can be hereditary. It runs in families.” Just thinking about it made her heart start to race. Fear gripped her. “My grandmother had breast cancer. My mom got it too.”
“But you’re fine, right?” he asked. She heard the worry now. “I mean, everything is checking out okay?”
Emma usually kept her appointments, and she performed her own self-checks religiously. Except this year, she couldn’t bring herself to go. There were too many what-ifs playing in her mind. Too many fears lining up for attack.
She knew there were just as many reasons to