“They were happy to see me. I don’t know what your problem is.”
She felt like saying her problem was him. For some reason, Mark couldn’t understand how confusing it was for the twins when he was here. “For five years, Molly and Dylan haven’t had a father figure in their lives. Now they know who you are and where you live, everything has changed.”
“Children are adaptable. I think you’re underestimating how quickly they’ll get used to having me around.”
Emma’s heart pounded. “What do you mean?” Mark was only supposed to see the twins once a month for the first six months. After that, they would renegotiate the time he spent with them.
“I’m thinking of moving to Sapphire Bay.”
A few years ago, Emma would have been thrilled to hear those words. But a lot had changed since then. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”
Mark’s gaze sharpened. “I thought you would be happy to see more of me.”
Did he think she’d been waiting for him? “I’m happy Jack found you for the twins’ sake. But if you’re implying there could be anything more than friendship between us, you’re wrong. You left me with two babies, no income, and a mortgage I couldn’t repay. I know you were going through a difficult time, but you never bothered to tell me where you’d gone or even if you were all right. That’s not the type of person I want in my life.”
“Perhaps I’ve changed, too.”
“It’s too late. You’ll always be Molly and Dylan’s father and my ex-husband. But I don’t want anything more from you.” She saw the disappointment on Mark’s face and knew her words had hurt him. “I’m sorry if that’s not what you wanted to hear, but it’s how I feel.”
“After what I did, I’m lucky you still want me to be part of the twins’ lives.” He took a sip of coffee, then carefully placed his mug on the table. “Molly and Dylan like Jack.”
Emma studied her ex-husband’s face. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear he was jealous. “We’re both fortunate he came to Sapphire Bay. Without him, you wouldn’t have met your children again.”
Mark rubbed his hand around the back of his neck. “I’m sorry if I sound ungrateful, because I’m not. But I would like to spend more time with Molly and Dylan.”
“They need time to adjust to having you back in their lives, and I need to know I can trust you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t want the twins to get used to having you in their lives, then you leave again.”
Mark flinched. “Do you really think I would do that?”
“You’ve done it before. If you’ve changed, that’s great. But saying you’ll be there for them doesn’t mean it will happen.”
“I want to be a good father.”
“And you can be, just don’t expect too much from Dylan and Molly. When are you going back to Evergreen?”
“My flight leaves at ten o’clock tomorrow morning. I was hoping I could stay here for the night.”
Emma frowned. “I don’t—”
“I know what you’re going to say, but think about Molly and Dylan. It will give them a chance to get to know me. We could have dinner together by the lake, throw a ball around.”
“You aren’t supposed to be here.”
A resigned look crossed Mark’s face. “Next time I’ll call first. I promise.”
Emma looked him in the eyes and said, “You have to follow the guidelines we agreed on or this won’t work.” She took a deep, steadying breath. There weren’t many places to stay in Sapphire Bay, but sleeping in her cottage would have to be a last resort. “I’ve got the phone number of the nearest hotel and a couple of bed and breakfasts friends have used. If they don’t have any rooms available, you can sleep here.”
“Thank you.”
“This is new for all of us,” Emma said firmly. “The reason we set ground rules was to make sure Dylan and Molly adjusted to having you in their lives. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize their relationship with you, but I also want to make sure they’re okay.”
“That’s what I want, too.”
Emma hoped so. Otherwise, she would be calling her lawyer.
Chapter 16
Half an hour later, Emma walked into Kylie’s flower shop. The rainbow-colored walls of Blooming Lovely were a wonderful backdrop to shelves full of sweet-smelling flowers. It was a plant lover’s paradise, the kind of store Emma could have stayed in for hours.
Kylie walked out of the workroom and smiled. “Hello. How are Molly and Dylan?”
“Enjoying every moment of first grade, I imagine.”
“And how were you when you said goodbye?”
“I was okay. My bottom lip quivered, but I didn’t cry.”
“Thank goodness for that.” Kylie added a bouquet of pale pink roses to a vase. “If you’d started, everyone would have shed a tear or two. Did Jack enjoy being there?”
“He would have enjoyed it more if Mark hadn’t been there.”
“Your ex-husband?”
Emma nodded. “He flew into Polson this morning.”
“From your expression, I’m guessing he didn’t tell you he was coming.”
She pulled out a stool and sat down. “I don’t know why he thought he could change the visitation rules in our agreement.”
Kylie frowned. “I could tell you, but I won’t.”
“He apologized.”
“I’m sure he did. How long is he staying?”
“Mark goes home tomorrow.”
Kylie stuck her hands on her hips. “Tell me you’re not letting him stay with you.”
“What was I supposed to do? He wouldn’t have found anywhere else to go.”
“It’s summer. He could have slept under the stars.”
“Now I know you’re crazy.” Emma pulled her laptop out of its case. “There’s no way you would let anyone sleep outside.”
“True, but the people I know wouldn’t abandon their wife and babies.”
“He said he was sorry and I believe him. Come and look at the new and improved Blooming Lovely website. I can guarantee your online orders will increase.”
Kylie walked around the front counter and peered over Emma’s shoulder. “That’s incredible. Are they the photos Willow took?”
Emma nodded. Last month, Willow had spent a few hours taking photographs of the store, the flowers, and some of the arrangements Kylie was creating. The end result was a collection of images that were colorful, engaging, and almost whimsical. After Emma saw them, it gave her another idea for the website.
Emma moved her laptop to the right, giving Kylie easy access to the keyboard. “Move the mouse over the page.”
“It’s not going to zap me is it?”
“Not today.”
Kylie ran her finger over the trackpad. As soon as she moved the cursor, it changed from a blinking line to a fairy, flapping its wings as she moved around the page. “Oh, my gosh. How did you do that?”
“I made a special code that recreates a butterfly’s movements as it flies from one plant to another. Then all I had to do was use my imagination and lots of Molly’s favorite stories to create an animated fairy. When a customer visits the Blooming Lovely website, the fairy helps them choose what flowers they’d like. After that, she guides the customer through the ordering, delivery, and feedback processes. What do you think?”
Kylie wiggled the mouse and grinned. “It’s fabulous. Everyone will want to visit my website.”
“As long as they buy your flowers, I’ll be happy.” Emma pulled a report out of her case. “I’ve based my marketing suggestions around your new website branding. You could leverage off the fun element of the fairy. We could focus your campaigns on engaging new customers who want an interactive, streamlined experience when ordering flowers.”
“Does the fairy have a name?”
“Not yet. If you don’t have one in mind, we could have a competition to name the fairy.”
Kylie smiled. “You’re incredible.�
��
“I’m glad you like what I’ve done.”
“I love what you’ve done.” Kylie opened another page and laughed. “The fairy smiled at me.”
“That’s because your mouse hovered over the purple bouquet for more than ten seconds. Usually when that happens, customers are considering a purchase. I’m hoping a smile from the fairy will encourage them to go to the checkout.”
“How did you learn to do this?”
Emma shrugged. “My professors taught me the basics. The rest is by trial and error.”
“Do you know how amazing you are?”
“I just hope your customers like what I’ve done.”
“Are you kidding? I’ll have to employ more staff to keep up with the online orders.” Kylie tilted her head sideways and smiled at the screen. “It’s no wonder Pastor John is getting more requests to make people’s Christmas wishes come true. You’re a genius at what you do.”
Emma’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know that.”
“He said he’d call you tonight. But right now, I’m going to make you the biggest cup of hot chocolate you’ve ever seen.”
Emma leaned her elbows on the counter. “You know the way to my heart.”
A deep voice cleared his throat behind her. “If I’d known it was that easy, I would have made you a hot chocolate at my brother’s wedding.”
Emma’s heart leapt in her chest. She turned and smiled at Jack. “You would have scared me away.” His grin made her tummy do cartwheels.
“I’m glad you survived this morning.”
Jack’s gentle kiss made Emma sigh.
“Excuse me,” Kylie said loudly. “There’s a single woman in the room. Please keep your lips to yourselves.”
Emma laughed. “I can’t help it. I’m addicted to my boyfriend’s kisses.”
“I wish I could say the same,” Kylie murmured. “Where have all the single, sexy men gone?”
Jack rested his arm on Emma’s shoulders. “They’re probably in the steamboat museum building the tiny homes. Pastor John is welcoming a new group of building apprentices onto the site.”
Kylie checked her watch. “How long will they be there?” When Emma groaned, Kylie laughed. “I’m joking. But when you speak with John, tell him I’m happy to bake some muffins for his new recruits.”
“He’ll see straight through your plan,” Emma warned.
“Not if I include a batch of huckleberry muffins. They’re his favorite.”
Jack shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m hearing two intelligent women discuss ways to bribe a pastor into playing matchmaker.”
Emma slid off the stool. “John is worse than we are and he’s single.” She sent a pointed glance at her friend.
“No way,” Kylie said with a frown. “He isn’t my type.”
“I know I shouldn’t ask,” Jack said, “but what is your type?”
“I like men who are tall, handsome, rich, kind, and intelligent.”
Jack’s eyebrows rose. “Are you sure you haven’t forgotten something?”
Kylie opened the door to the workroom. “He can’t be allergic to flowers.”
And that, above everything else, made Emma smile the most.
Later that night, Emma packed the last of the picnic left-overs into the basket. Mark’s idea to have dinner beside Flathead Lake had been just what everyone needed. It was a gorgeous evening—the kind that made you realize just how wonderful it was to live in Montana.
“Come and kick the ball with us.”
She looked up as Mark jogged toward her. “I’ll be there soon. I just need to—”
Mark scooped the plates and utensils into the bag she was using for the dirty dishes. “All done. The rest can wait a few minutes.”
She looked at Molly and Dylan. They were laughing and kicking a ball to each other. “Okay. I’m coming.”
“Thank goodness for that. I thought I’d have to sling you over my shoulder.”
Emma smiled. “The last time you did that you hurt your back. And we’re both a little older and heavier than we were when that happened.”
Mark pulled back his shoulders and sucked in his already flat stomach. “I think we’re doing pretty good for two people in their mid-thirties.”
“I’m only thirty-two. My mid-thirties are a long way off.”
With a theatrical bow, Mark rolled forward from his waist. “My humblest apologies, oh young one. I added a whole three years to your age.”
Emma wiped her hands on her jeans. “Remember that when I’m dodging your feeble attempts to outmaneuver me with the ball.”
“You’ll have to be quick.” Mark rushed toward Molly and Dylan.
“Hey,” Emma yelled. “You’re supposed to wait for me.” When Mark turned around and ran backward, she sprinted after him. “Show off,” she yelled.
The grin on his face reminded her of when they were first married. They’d had a lot of good times together. A lot of times that, regardless of what happened after he left, would always be imprinted on her brain.
“You’re getting slow, Emma.”
“Some of us don’t have time to go to the gym.” Were her lungs really that wheezy? She used to be able to run at least three miles without losing her breath.
“Neither do I. Look around you. All you need to do is go for a hike or swim in the lake. You’d be fit in next to no time.”
Mark was right, but she wasn’t willing to admit that her exercise routine was the first thing to go after she’d had the twins. “That’s easier said than done.”
“Here you go, Mom.” Dylan kicked the ball toward her. For a six-year-old, he had a strong right foot.
“Thanks, Dylan.” Before she could kick the ball to Molly, Mark rushed across the field, intercepted the pass, and flicked the ball toward his daughter.
“Someone’s skills are a little rusty.”
Mark was really beginning to annoy her. “You haven’t seen anything yet. Molly and I could outmaneuver you any day.”
“Is that right?” Mark turned to Dylan. “Should we have a game against your mom and sister?”
Dylan gave an excited nod. “We could kick the ball through the goalposts we made.”
“Good idea.” Mark pointed to two sticks about thirty feet away. “The last team to score three points has to buy the other team ice cream.”
Emma smiled at Molly. “What do you think?”
“We can do it.” And before anyone stopped her, Molly ran toward the sticks, taking the ball with her. As soon as she was close enough, she kicked the ball hard, scoring their first goal.
Emma grinned. “Yeah, Molly. That’s one goal to us.”
Mark high-fived his daughter. “Well done.”
When Molly wrapped her arms around Mark’s legs, Emma sighed. There was one major drawback to spending more time with Mark. When he left, Molly and Dylan would miss him even more than they had before.
A last-minute phone call to Manhattan meant Jack didn’t make it to the park in time for dinner. But that didn’t mean he wanted to miss the entire night.
He parked his truck beside Emma’s and checked his watch. In New York City, he’d call this fashionably late. In Sapphire Bay, he was almost at the stage when it wasn’t worth being here.
But nothing, including his latest case, would keep him from spending time with Emma. Especially when Mark was here.
The look on Mark’s face when he was around Emma was exactly the way Noah looked at Cassie. It was the familiarity that came with closeness, the easy way two people could communicate when they knew each other from the inside out. And even though Mark hadn’t been part of Emma’s life for a long time, he still knew her.
And, if Jack’s gut instinct was correct, he wanted to keep getting to know her.
“Jack!” Molly was jumping up and down, waving her hands in the air like a scarecrow stuck in the middle of a tornado.
He locked his truck and waved back. Emma and Dylan were chasing after Mark.
Mark
was kicking a ball toward Molly, running fast enough to outpace his ex-wife and son, but not quick enough to totally lose them.
Emma lunged forward, grabbing the back of Mark’s shirt to slow him down.
He turned, laughed at something she said, then wrapped her in a hug while Dylan kept kicking the ball across the park.
Jack’s eyebrows rose. Instead of stepping out of Mark’s embrace, Emma was laughing and yelling at Molly to stop her brother.
Jack walked toward Emma. Whether Dylan managed to keep the ball away from his sister didn’t matter. What mattered was making sure Mark kept his hands to himself.
Mark’s smile disappeared when he saw Jack.
Emma looked across the park and frowned.
Finally, Mark’s arms dropped from around his ex-wife.
By the time Jack reached them, Dylan and Molly were running back to their parents telling them it was time for ice cream.
Dylan smiled at Jack. “I scored the winning goal. Now Mom and Molly have to buy everyone ice cream. Do you want to come?”
“I’d love too, but only if it’s okay with your mom.”
“It’s more than okay,” Emma said. “There’s a sandwich in the picnic basket for you, too. Did you get all your work done?”
“As much as I could.” Jack looked Mark in the eye. “Did you find somewhere to stay?”
“Emma was happy for me to stay with her.”
“On the sofa.” She scowled at Mark. “And only for one night.”
As far as Jack was concerned, it was one night too many. After five years of having nothing to do with his family, Mark was taking his role of being a father far more seriously than Jack thought he would.
When no one said anything, Emma held onto Molly and Dylan’s hands. “Let’s get some ice cream.”
“I’m going to have three scoops,” Molly said excitedly.
Dylan looked around his mom’s legs at his sister. “It will fall off the cone.”
“I’ll have it in a bowl,” Molly said, undeterred by her brother’s practicality. “With chocolate sauce and sprinkles.”
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