“Is he different from when you were married?”
“I don’t know. He seems more settled, but I’m the last person who should be judging his behavior. Before he left, I knew our relationship had a few problems, but I didn’t think he would leave.”
Kylie chopped a tomato into quarters and added it to the salad. “Dylan is more relaxed now that he’s met Mark.”
“Dylan has missed having his dad around. I think that’s why he likes Mr. Jessop’s company so much.”
“And Jack’s.”
Emma glanced at her friend. “This morning, Dylan asked when Jack is going home. He wants him to stay in Sapphire Bay.”
“I’m not surprised. They get along really well.”
A loud cheer rang out from the backyard. Molly had scored another goal.
Emma enjoyed spending time with Jack and she knew the twins did, too. After being on her own for so long, she never thought she’d meet another person who made her feel so alive.
She’d fallen in love with Jack, but finding Mark had changed everything.
Jack had said he was here for them all and that, no matter what, he would make sure they were okay. But she didn’t want him looking after them. She’d worked hard to provide for Dylan and Molly. Allowing someone to take care of them was as alien to her as meeting her ex-husband at the airport.
“I know finding Mark is a big deal,” Kylie said. “But you’re still the same person you were before he came here. You’re strong, brave, and courageous. You’re raising two beautiful children who know what it’s like to be loved. You don’t need to feel overwhelmed by what’s happening.”
Emma took a deep breath. If she weren’t careful, she’d start crying all over again. “I’m happy Dylan and Molly have met their dad, but I’m worried about what will happen next.”
“Have you talked to Mark about the future?”
“Not yet. Mom and Dad want me to contact my lawyer, but I don’t want to scare Mark away.”
Kylie wrapped her arm around Emma’s shoulders. “Don’t worry about him. He made the decision to stay out of your life. Your parents only want to protect the twins and make sure whatever happens is in everyone’s best interest.”
“You think I should call my lawyer?”
“I think you should do what’s best for you and your children. If that means talking to lawyers, counselors, or anyone else who has been in the same situation, then do it.”
Emma looked through the kitchen window.
Dylan high-fived Mark before throwing the basketball through the hoop.
Her worst fear was that Mark would become part of their children’s lives, then leave. If that happened, she’d need all the help she could get to make sure Molly and Dylan didn’t feel abandoned.
Kylie took an oven mitt off the counter. “Why don’t you play basketball with Mark and the twins? I can make sure everything’s ready for dinner.”
“Are you sure?”
Kylie grinned. “That’s what friends are for. Besides, you won’t know if Mark has changed unless you get to know him.”
Emma squeezed Kylie’s hand. “Thank you. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“Don’t speak too soon. I might burn the garlic bread.”
“I have complete faith in you.”
Kylie smiled. “I could say the same about you. Now go and enjoy some fresh air.”
Emma wiped her hands on a dishtowel and headed outside. Today was the first day of a new relationship with her ex-husband. And, for everyone’s sake, she hoped it wasn’t the last.
Jack screwed another sheet of drywall onto the frame of a tiny home. After working alongside his brother for most of yesterday, he needed a change of scenery. And the workshop was the perfect distraction.
An hour ago, he’d joined his grandfather in the old steamboat museum, helping to finish the walls of two houses before the painters arrived.
“When we’re ready to plaster the walls, don’t be surprised if it looks as though we don’t have enough compound,” Patrick Devlin said from the front doorway. “Bob has ordered more from the suppliers but it hasn’t arrived.”
“Does that mean I can finish work early?”
Jack’s grandfather laughed. “You’ll be lucky. We’ve got a lot more work to do on the houses before Monday.”
Working in the old steamboat museum wasn’t as calming as Jack thought it would be. Screwing the drywall into place kept his hands busy, but it hadn’t stopped his brain from thinking about Emma and the twins. Even after speaking to her last night, he was still uneasy about her ex-husband.
“You’re not usually this quiet,” Patrick said. “What’s on your mind?”
Jack grabbed a handful of screws out of the bucket. “Emma is showing Mark around Sapphire Bay today.”
“And that worries you?”
It worried him more than he wanted to admit. “I care about Emma and the twins. I don’t want them to get hurt.”
Patrick looked around the tiny home. “We all get hurt. I can guarantee the person who lives here will have had their fair share of knocks and bruises. But, somehow, they found their way to Sapphire Bay and the beginning of a new life. Emma is no different. She rebuilt her life once. If inviting Mark back into her life doesn’t work out, it won’t be the end of the world.”
Jack thought about what his granddad had said. When he was growing up, his grandma had told him not to worry about the things he couldn’t change. He guessed this was one of those times.
“Before you give yourself ulcers,” Patrick said with a smile. “You can help me drywall the second story of this home before lunch.”
“Has anyone told you you’re bossy?”
Patrick laughed. “Your grandmother told me that all the time. But, even at my best, I wasn’t a match for her. Did I tell you about the time we flew to Vancouver for a friend’s wedding?”
Jack had heard the story many times, but he never got tired of it. His grandma was a sweet and kind woman. But if anyone upset her grandsons, she turned into a ferocious lion. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”
As Patrick retold the story of how an airline staff member thought he was abducting his grandsons, Jack smiled. Everyone needed someone to love them, and Jack and his brother had struck gold with their grandparents.
All he had to do was let Emma know that he was there for her, no matter what she decided to do. Or what Mark did.
Chapter 10
Half an hour later, Jack was fastening the last sheet of drywall into place when a little girl giggled behind him.
He looked over his shoulder and smiled. “What’s my favorite girl doing here?”
“I’m looking for Mom. Pastor John was showing us around and they got lost.”
Considering this was a construction site, Molly was lucky she hadn’t hurt herself. Jack stood and held out his hand. “We’d better find your mom, then. She might not like being lost.”
Molly slipped her small hand into his. “Did you know my dad is visiting us? He’s really big and he’s got red hair, just like Dylan and me. And guess what.”
“What?”
“He makes things out of wood. He made me a pretty ballerina and Dylan got a star. I like the star ’cos it turns around in circles, just like me.”
Before Jack could stop her, Molly held her arms either side of her and turned around like a spinning top. He waited a couple of seconds, then caught her hand gently in his. “We’d better find your mom before you spin away.”
“Like a tornado,” Molly said dramatically. “Dylan told me all about tornadoes. Did you know Mr. Jessop had lots of tornadoes on his ranch? I got scared when he told me his cows blew away.”
Jack’s eyebrows rose. “That would scare me, too.” And probably, if he were six years old, it would give him nightmares for the rest of his life.
“He doesn’t know where they went, but Dylan said they probably went to Oz. Do you know about Oz, Jack? It’s where Dorothy went with her little dog. I like dogs. Do
you like dogs?”
“I do. When Noah and I lived with our grandparents, we had a Golden Labrador called Carrot.”
Molly giggled. “That’s a funny name for a dog.”
Jack smiled. “He liked to eat lots and lots of carrots. Sometimes, he would dig them out of my granddad’s garden and run through the house with them.”
He looked around the building for any sign of Pastor John and Emma. “Is Dylan with your mom?”
“Yep. He’s lost, too.”
If John was showing Emma around, he would probably take her outside to the two homes that were ready to leave the yard.
As they passed the other volunteers, Jack told them where they were going in case Emma came in another entrance.
When they stepped outside, Molly hesitated. “It’s real bright out here.”
Jack held his hand above his eyes. “If you squint it makes it easier to see.”
Molly looked up at him, then squeezed her eyes tight until they were almost closed.
His mouth tilted into a smile. “Better?”
“Yep. How do you know about squints?”
“Granddad showed me.” He glanced across the yard and saw John stepping out of a tiny home. “I can see Pastor John. Hopefully, your mom and Dylan are with him.”
As they walked across the yard, Molly’s arm swung between them. “I like you, Jack.”
His heart squeezed tight. “I like you, too.”
“Is it okay to have two daddies?”
He almost tripped over his feet. “Umm…what made you ask that question?”
“Dylan said we can’t have two daddies, but I want you and my real daddy. Why can’t I have two daddies?”
Jack thought carefully before he said anything. “Some people have more than one father. But becoming a dad is a big deal.”
“Bigger than getting a kitten?”
“Much bigger.”
Molly looked up at him and frowned. “I still want two daddies.”
Jack squeezed her hand. “I know you do.”
They’d only taken a few steps when Molly pointed at the tiny home. “There’s Mom.”
And, if Jack’s eyes weren’t playing tricks on him, Mark and Dylan were right behind her.
Emma rushed across to Molly. “Why are you with Jack? You were supposed to stay with Mr. Devlin in the cafeteria.”
“Jack’s granddad had to answer the phone. I looked for you, but you’d gone. Did you get lost?”
“No, we weren’t lost. It’s good you found us, though. Thanks for looking after her, Jack.”
He searched Emma’s face, wanting to know if she was all right. When she smiled, his shoulders relaxed. “I don’t think Molly was wandering around the workshop for too long.” He held out his hand to Mark. “Welcome to Sapphire Bay.”
“Thanks. Emma and the twins have been giving me a guided tour. Sapphire Bay is a lot like Evergreen.”
“Except we have better ice cream,” Emma said half-jokingly.
Mark smiled and Jack’s stomach clenched.
“Emma wanted me to see the tiny homes before I left. John has been showing us around. I’m impressed with what everyone has achieved.”
“They’re important community projects,” Jack said. “Have you visited The Welcome Center?”
Mark nodded. “I wish we had something similar back home. It would make a big difference to a lot of people.”
Pastor John took his cell phone out of his pocket. “We’re working on ways we can share our service model with other communities. If you’ll excuse me, I need to answer this call.”
Emma held Molly’s hand. “We’ve also taken Mark to the general store, Kylie’s flower shop, and bought him some of Brooke’s fudge.”
“You’ve had a busy day.”
“What have you been doing?” Dylan asked Jack.
“I’m helping Granddad drywall the two tiny homes inside the workshop.”
Emma held her hand above her eyes, shielding her face from the bright sunshine. “We were about to go to the cafeteria for something to drink. Would you like to join us?”
“Say yes,” Molly begged. “You can have some of the fudge we bought from Brooke’s store. It’s your favorite.”
“Caramel deluxe?”
Molly giggled. “No, silly. It’s chocolate with little nuts in it. You told us it’s your most favorite fudge in the world.”
“In that case,” Jack said with a smile. “How can I say no? But before I go to the cafeteria, I have to tell the site foreman where I’ve gone.”
Dylan’s hand wrapped around Jack’s fingers. “Can I come with you?”
“Me, too,” Molly said. “I’ll be real good.”
Everyone looked at Emma. “Okay, but stay with Jack.”
Molly nodded vigorously. “We will, won’t we Dylan?”
Her brother frowned.
Jack gave Dylan’s fingers a gentle squeeze. “Let’s go, then. We’ll meet your mom and dad in the cafeteria in a few minutes.”
As they walked across the yard, Jack thought about the question Molly had asked him. It was hard enough referring to Mark as her dad. It was worse realizing he might never be her other daddy.
Later that night, Jack sat on a chair on the veranda of Acorn Cottage, staring across Flathead Lake. For someone who’d started the day wanting to take his mind off Emma and her ex-husband, he hadn’t done a good job.
Meeting them at the old steamboat museum was fate’s way of telling him he needed to get his priorities straight. He’d seen firsthand how Mark interacted with his children, the genuine interest he had in their lives and, more importantly, the love that had never gone away.
It would have been easier to dislike Mark if he had issues that went against everything Jack knew to be right. But he didn’t. Mark was as sane and rational as Jack. He wanted what was best for the twins and for Emma. He’d also found a career that gave him a deep sense of satisfaction as well as financial security.
The sculptures he’d made for Molly and Dylan were only the beginning of his talent. Mark regularly exhibited his work at some of Colorado’s finest galleries. He’d told them that learning his craft from one of the most respected sculptors in America had not only improved his skills, it had opened the door to networking opportunities that didn’t come along every day.
When Jack arrived home, he found Mark’s website and looked at the other sculptures he’d created. What impressed him the most was the way Mark imagined each piece in its setting. Whether the sculpture was five feet tall and made of bronze, or a small, hand-sized ornament, each piece was perfect.
He hoped Mark used the same skill to grow his relationship with his children. It was obvious to anyone seeing Molly and Dylan that they were curious about their dad. Only time would tell if that curiosity turned into anything else.
“Do you want company or are you happy on your own?” Noah stood on the edge of the veranda holding two cans of beer. “It’s a warm evening. I thought you might like something cold to drink.”
“You must have read my mind. Did you have a good day with Cassie?”
Noah handed Jack one of the cans and sat down. “The regatta at Bigfork was bigger than anything we’ve had here. We enjoyed it, but it took more than two hours to drive home. How was your day?”
“Interesting. I spent nearly an hour with Mark, Emma, and the twins.”
“By choice?”
“What do you mean?”
“You told me you were staying away from Emma and her children so they could spend time with Mark. What happened?”
“Granddad happened. He asked me to help drywall the tiny homes. While I was there, John was showing them around the houses. One thing led to another and I ended up in the cafeteria with them.”
Noah leaned back in his chair. “And?”
“And nothing. Mark is all right. I still think what he did was wrong, but it doesn’t change the fact that he wants to get to know Dylan and Molly.”
“How do the twins feel about
him?”
“I’m not sure. Molly will talk to anyone. Dylan is still considering his options.”
“At six years old?”
Despite being worried, Jack smiled. “Dylan isn’t like any boy I’ve ever met. His mind is as sharp as a pin. He knows things I hadn’t heard of until I was twice his age.”
Noah grinned. “I don’t mean to state the obvious, but you weren’t exactly Einstein.”
“I did better than you at school.”
“Only because you sweet-talked your way through each class.” Noah’s smile disappeared. “Where does all this leave Emma?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t get a chance to speak to her on her own.” He waited a heartbeat before telling his brother what worried him the most. “Molly asked me if she can have two daddies.”
Noah choked on his beer. “What did you say?”
“That being a father is a big deal.”
“You need to be careful.”
Jack took a deep breath. “From the first time I met Emma, I knew her children would be an important part of any relationship with her. I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
“If your relationship with Emma doesn’t work out, everyone will get hurt. When does Mark leave?”
“Tomorrow afternoon. On Monday, I’m flying to Manhattan for a few days. When I get back, I’ll see how Emma feels about everything.”
“Sounds sensible.”
Jack left his beer on the table. “I don’t want to be sensible. Emma has never held a grudge against Mark. For some reason, she forgives him for what he did. What if she wants them to be a family again?”
Noah frowned as a flock of birds flew overhead. “Do you want me to answer your question or leave you to ponder the meaning of life?”
“It isn’t funny.”
“I didn’t say it was.”
In frustration, Jack ran his hands through his hair. “I know what you’ll say. Emma loved Mark. She can forgive him because she knows him better than anyone else. Then you’ll tell me that a love like that never goes away. It might change but, fundamentally, it will always be there.”
And, in a best-case scenario, any relationship with Emma and her children would include Mark. Whether Jack liked it or not.
Christmas On Main Street Page 10
