together. We’d try on a ton of clothes with the rule that we’d only pick out one outfit each. It kept things real and made it extra fun.”
Ashley popped a piece of croissant into her mouth. “You should do that, then.”
“Maybe so.”
“It’s a good excuse to go shopping, if nothing else,” Ashley teased.
The conversation returned to the Women’s Wellness Fair, and Ashley reviewed the agenda. Most of the activities she had planned were taking place in the morning. “A midmorning run along the trails and through the Evergreen Park side of Silver Lake would be a great addition. We can put up a banner with your mom’s picture too. Or a poster telling her story. I think it’s an important one. She was a fighter, and if we’d caught her cancer sooner, maybe we could’ve helped her more.” Ashley gave Emma a meaningful look.
Emma looked down at her half-eaten croissant.
“People can learn from your mom’s story. Maybe those who have been putting off health checkups and screenings will take your mom’s story to heart and make an appointment.”
Was Ashley talking about her now? Did she keep tabs on the schedule at the clinic and know that Emma had canceled her appointment earlier this week?
“I’m so thrilled about this fair and now your 5K as well. I really believe it could save a life.”
Goose bumps popped over Emma’s arms. “Save a life,” she repeated. “That was one of the items on my mom’s Life List too.”
Chapter Eleven
Jack didn’t mind silence. It was one of the reasons he loved his job. But Sam was with him today, and he was the kind of quiet that rang all kinds of warning bells in Jack’s gut.
Was I too hard on him for coming in past curfew?
Rules were healthy, right? And if Sam got away with breaking one, he’d break them all. Right?
The whole morning had been filled with pushing paper and making phone calls, one of which was to Dr. Rivers about her upcoming event. He’d also given a brief lesson on how to identify poison ivy to a group of Boy Scouts.
Sam had been quiet through it all so Jack had suggested a hike, thinking his nephew was bored out of his mind. The hike was proving to be more of the same. “You okay?” Jack finally asked as they walked along one of the trails.
“Yeah,” Sam said, his voice so low it was barely audible over the noisy wildlife surrounding them.
“You haven’t said much today. Is this about last night? Because if it is, I didn’t even yell. I barely reprimanded you. If you ask me, you got off easy.”
“I don’t care about last night,” Sam said. “You were right.”
Jack glanced over. “Okay. Then what?” His breathing was heavier now as they walked up a steep hill in the woods, making him wish he’d taken the ATV out. But that wouldn’t have been conducive to talking.
“Nothing,” Sam said.
“You’d rather be working with Emma today?” Jack asked.
Sam laughed a little. “No. I mean, yesterday was cool, but I like it here too.” He stopped walking and shoved his hands in his pockets. “It’s just, Mom didn’t call yesterday.”
Jack folded his arms over his chest. “She was probably just busy, but I’m sure she misses you.”
“Busy doing what?” Sam asked.
“You know,” Jack said, as if that answered anything.
“No, I don’t.” Sam shifted back and forth on his sneakered feet. “She can never talk long when she calls, and she doesn’t tell me anything about what she’s doing. She just wants to hear about how I’m doing. And about you and Emma.”
Jack straightened. “She asks about me and Emma?”
Sam looked down, letting his overgrown hair fall in his face. “She’s kind of obsessed. I think she’s really happy to see you two hooking up.”
Jack frowned. “Hooking up” had a very different meaning in his mind, and he and Emma definitely weren’t doing that.
“She said you were alone for a very long time, and she thought you’d always be alone. Mom says that seeing you and Emma together makes her think that things can change for the better.” Sam swiped at his hair and faced Jack. “See? If she was on vacation and having the time of her life, she wouldn’t be wanting a change. She’d sound happier.”
Jack nodded. He’d have a talk with Amanda about Sam’s concerns. Maybe it was time to tell Sam the truth. There would only be more questions as time went on.
A hiker came up on the path, carrying a long