grabbed her purse from her cubby and pulled it over her shoulder. “I think tables in front of the café would be a nice touch. Do you need a permit for that or something?”
Emma shook her head. “I got it approved when I first opened the café. I just haven’t done it. Halona might even let me put one in front of her shop next door. Coffee lovers can sit and drink while peering inside at her flowers.”
“The reviewer was rude,” Nina said, “but I’m glad you can take that negativity and turn it into something constructive. That is so like you. Well, that and your need to make sure everyone is happy.”
Emma grabbed her purse as well. Then she reluctantly grabbed the box of her mom’s things.
Nina tilted her head as she watched her. “And, while I’m a rip-the-Band-Aid-off kind of girl, it’s so like you to put off something that might not be pleasant.” She looked down at the box in Emma’s hand. “Like procrastinating on finding out what’s in that box. That’s the real reason you’re going shopping before you go home.”
Emma nibbled on her lower lip. Nina had no idea how right she was. Emma had delayed a lot more than opening the box that Jack had left her today. She’d also put off her annual checkup at the Women’s Wellness Center, canceling at the last minute.
That was unlike Emma. With her family history, she was extra cautious with her health. But turning the same age her mom had been when she’d died had really freaked her out. She’d started having heart palpitations and sweaty palms after lunch. She couldn’t bring herself to go. At least not today.
It was just a minor delay, though. She’d reschedule tomorrow.
* * *
Half an hour later, Emma perused the aisles of Home Décor and More and found the perfect wrought iron tables to put outside her business. She would start with two at first, until she talked to Halona about putting an additional one in front of the Little Shop of Flowers.
Emma plopped down in one of the iron chairs on display and sighed. How was she going to get these tables and chairs to the café? She drove a compact car. She’d intended to get them ASAP, but that wasn’t going to be the case. She could have them delivered to the café, but that was likely to take a week. In that time, the sourpuss reviewer might come back and leave another bad comment. Or worse, another customer might go without seating and do the same.
“Fancy meeting you here,” a man said behind Emma.
She turned toward the deep voice, and her entire body sizzled in response. “I just can’t seem to get away from you this week, can I?”
Jack shoved his hands in his jeans pockets as he stepped in front of her. “I’m doing a little home improvement this week.” He pulled out the chair opposite her and sat at the display table.
“What kind of home improvement?” she asked.
“The kind that allows me to have a guest stay with me for an extended period,” he said as he looked around the store. “Amanda called this morning and asked me to take Sam for a few weeks. Maybe a month.”
Emma’s mouth dropped open. “That’s unexpected, I guess.”
“She wouldn’t tell me why, but I’m a little worried about her.” Jack’s gaze slid back to Emma at the table. “She’s had a few rough patches over the last year. She got injured on the job last summer.”
“I remember you telling me that.”
He ran his hand through his hair. A trademark move of his. One that made her ache for some reason. “She was taking some heavy-duty painkillers for a while, but last I saw her, she seemed to be doing better.”
Emma knew that Jack’s father was an alcoholic, and his sister had struggled with her own substance abuse issues when she was younger. “Is she drinking?”
“I hope not.” He blew out a breath. “But she asked me to help give Sam the summer of his life. If things were okay, she’d come too.”
“The summer of his life,” Emma repeated. “That’s a pretty tall request.”
“What am I supposed to do with him when I’m at work? He’s a fifteen-year-old boy. I guess he can be an intern of sorts at the park, but that’s not exactly giving him his best summer.”
Emma grinned. “If I remember correctly, that would’ve been the summer of your dreams when you were that age. All you