should’ve awoken half an hour ago. Had she slept through her alarm? She needed to dress and get over to Evergreen Park before everyone else.
Jack.
Emma looked at the empty side of her bed. One of these nights, Jack would stay until morning. Maybe this one.
Focus, Emma. The event.
She changed into a pair of running shorts and one of the T-shirts that the rest of the registered walkers and runners would get once they arrived. Then she pulled her hair back into a ponytail and brushed her teeth. She slowed down when she grabbed the bandana off her dresser, carrying it back to the long mirror.
The bandana was her mother’s. Her mom had worn it when she was going through chemotherapy so long ago and was losing her hair. It was colorful and vibrant, just like Jenny St. James herself.
Emma tied the bandana over her ponytail. This bandana didn’t represent sickness. It represented strength. “I love you, Mom,” Emma said out loud. Then she turned and started quickly buzzing around again, jogging out of the house ten minutes later to drive to the park.
Excitement and nerves bubbled through her. In a couple hours, it would all be over and then she could relax, but until then, she needed to hustle.
Emma stopped at the café on the way to the park. Nina was already opening and working the counter.
Nina smiled as Emma headed in. “Dressed for success. You look great. Love the do.”
“Thanks. I need a coffee,” Emma said, walking around the counter to prepare herself one. “And I wanted to make sure you were okay this morning.”
“I’m fine. Enjoy your big day and don’t worry about me. The part-time help has been called in, remember? I’ll have a second body working the counter in about an hour.”
Emma nodded. “Good.” She poured some cream into her coffee and took a sip. “Mmm. I need this so much.”
“Jack’s already been in here,” Nina commented.
Emma snapped to attention. “Really?”
Nina laughed. “You are so obvious, you know that?”
Emma shook her head. “So we like each other.”
“Like or love?” Nina asked.
Emma held up a hand. “I’m in a hurry, remember?” She lifted her coffee. “I’ll drink this on the way. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck. Don’t break a leg out there,” Nina called, making Emma laugh as she headed outside and back to her car. A short drive later, she pulled into the parking lot for Evergreen Park and cut the engine. The sun was just creeping over the mountain skyline, promising a beautiful day.
There were other cars in the parking lot, and she spotted Jack’s truck on the far side. Emma assumed the other cars belonged to people manning the tables for the Woman’s Wellness Fair. She recognized one as Dr. Rivers’s vehicle.
Emma froze as her nerves began to fray, these unrelated to the event. Her genetic testing results were in, and all the what-ifs circled around in Emma’s mind. She pushed them away and kept walking.
“Good morning, beautiful,” Jack said, walking toward her.
She stopped briefly and inspected him before he dipped to kiss her. “What are you wearing?”
Jack looked down. “I’m running today, remember?”
Her mouth fell open. “I thought you were joking about running with my dad.”
“No. I’m running for women’s wellness, of course. And for you.”
“And he’ll approve of you based on your athletic skills?” she asked on a laugh.
“Something like that. This is my running attire.” Jack gestured down at his sweatpants and T-shirt.
“It’s the beginning of August. You’ll burn up in that, Jack.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Well, let’s trade that shirt of yours for one of the event shirts. I have the boxes in my trunk. Will you help me carry them to the registration table?”
“Sure.”
They dropped the boxes under the registration table, and Emma pulled out the registration forms for last-minute walkers and runners. She’d already met her goal for this event. It was already a success in her mind but the more the merrier.
“I missed you when I woke up this morning,” she told Jack, once she’d gotten her table all set up.
“I know. I missed you too.”
“Is Amanda coming today?” Emma asked.
“She is. I’m hoping she’ll visit all the tables too. She needs to take care of herself. For her own sake and Sam’s.” He looked down at his feet for a moment, and Emma could tell he was worried about his sister. “I need to go. Granger and Luke are headed over to volunteer this morning. Mitch and Alex are working the event in their professional duties as police officers.”