the counter as Emma pushed through the door. “Emma!” she called excitedly. Dawanda wasn’t one who would ever need a Vibe coffee. She was already as lively as her red, spiky hair. “Did you come for another piece of maple nut fudge?”
“I just had one, Dawanda. You saw a rose, remember?”
Dawanda nodded. “Blooming beautifully this summer. That prediction is already coming true. All I’ve heard about lately is you and Jack. You’re causing such a buzz around town. And this event of yours too.”
Emma glanced around the fudge shop to make sure she wasn’t taking up too much of Dawanda’s time. There weren’t any other customers so she went ahead and asked the questions that were weighing on her mind since the LDO get-together at the B&B. “Explain my fortune to me. You said the rose blooms and then the petals fall off.”
Dawanda pulled out a chair along the wall, gesturing for Emma to do the same. She waited to talk until Emma took a seat. “We all have periods of blooming and then dying back. Blooming and dying back. That’s the rhythm of life.”
“So that fortune could’ve been told to anyone?” Emma asked. “It wasn’t specific to me?”
Dawanda straightened. “No. That fortune was definitely yours. But you shouldn’t worry about what I saw. Dying back just means that you’re getting rid of the old stuff to make room for the new. We all need that pruning season to get rid of our junk.”
Dawanda was starting to sound like a therapist more than a fudge store owner now. “The thing to focus on, Emma, is the moment that you’re in. And the cappuccino says you’re in a season of bloom. Enjoy it.”
* * *
Jack was driving five miles an hour under the speed limit to get to Tammy’s Log Cabin. He’d had a surge of determination when he’d planned this dinner with Emma and her family, but now he was wishing he was home with Amanda and Sam.
Emma reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze as he drove. “My dad’s harmless.”
Jack nodded. “I don’t think he’s going to take me outside and take a swing at me. That’s not it.”
She giggled in the passenger seat. “I should hope not. Maybe he’s still upset about something that happened a decade ago, but once he gets to know you more, he’ll see that there’s no reason to worry about you and me being together.”
Jack looked over. “Wow. I really like the sound of that. You and me together.”
She smiled back at him. “Eyes on the road, Hershey. If you get us in a wreck tonight, it might take longer to win over my dad.”
Jack returned to facing forward. “I don’t know Angel that well. Is she easy to win over?”
Emma sighed. “Angel loves everyone. And she participates in every charity event in town, so if you’re interested in hearing about one of those or volunteering to help, you’ll earn brownie points.”
Jack turned onto Main Street and followed it down to the restaurant. “She’s not helping with Jenny’s Wellness Walk for Women, is she?” From the corner of Jack’s eye, he saw Emma turn to look out the side window.
“I don’t really need any extra help. I’ve got it covered.”
Jack nodded. “I see.”
“What?” Emma looked in his direction again.
“It’s okay that you don’t want her helping you on this event. I mean, it’s to honor your mom and she’s your stepmom. It might feel kind of weird.”
Emma grew quiet.
He reached for her hand. “I’m sure she understands.”
“I don’t even understand,” Emma said. “If it were anyone other than her that my dad married. My dad waited a year to search out Angel, but still.” Emma shook her head. “It’s my problem, not theirs, and I’m working on it.”
“You don’t need to justify how you feel to me.” Jack parked and sucked in a deep breath. Then he blew it out and looked over. “If your dad still hates me after tonight, is that the end of us?”
Emma’s lips parted. “Do you seriously think I’d stop seeing you based on my dad’s opinion?”
“I’m hoping not.” Jack leaned in and kissed her, drawing courage from the feel of her lips against his.
“But he’s going to love you just as much as I do,” she said.
Had she just said what he thought he’d heard?
Emma’s eyes widened. “I didn’t mean it that way,” she said quickly. “I don’t love you.”