by Annie Rains
* * *
Jack slid his gaze over to his nephew, who’d been sitting on a bench and looking at his cell phone for the last hour. The phone was doing a better job of babysitting than he was. Not that Sam was a baby. He was practically grown. Even so, Jack felt like he was failing this new job that Amanda had trusted him to do.
Jack returned his gaze to the calendar in front of him, which didn’t make him feel any better about this whole situation. He’d made a deal with Emma to get her event on the schedule at the park, and all the Saturdays and Sundays were full.
He couldn’t rightly cancel any of the bookings, and he doubted Emma wanted to do her 5K on a random weekday. He sighed and massaged his forehead, glancing back up at Sam who was still hunched over his phone and tapping his fingers rapidly on the screen.
“Girlfriend?” Jack asked.
Sam lifted his head. “No, just friends. They’re not happy that I’ve left for the summer. I’m not all that thrilled either,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong, Uncle Jack, but this isn’t really the hip place to be.”
Jack sympathized. Even though Sam lived in a small town, he was only a short walk from city life. He had the best of both worlds at his teenaged fingertips. Sweetwater Springs didn’t have that benefit. “It’s not forever. Try to make the best of it.”
Sam wasn’t impressed with Jack’s advice. “So I’m just going to be stuck here in this office, watching you work?”
“I do more than sit in this office.” As if to prove a point, Jack stood. Obviously, the calendar wasn’t going to change right in front of his eyes anyway. “Let’s go.”
Sam straightened, dropping his cell phone into his lap. “Where?”
“I need to patrol the woods,” Jack told him. “I’ve had a squatter lately that I’m trying to find.”
Sam stood as well and shoved his phone in his pocket. “What will you do if you find him? Arrest him?”
Jack chuckled. “They don’t give cuffs to park rangers.”
Sam looked disappointed. “Then what?”
“Well, I’ll talk with the guy.”
“Or the woman,” Sam pointed out, following him to the front exit.
“Or the woman. And if I need to, I’ll have the chief of police talk to him. Or her.”
Sam followed him to the outbuilding holding ranger equipment. “Do I get to drive one of these today? Because that would make this job a lot more fun.”
Jack shook his head, deciding on the ATV today. It wasn’t as smooth a ride as the truck, but it would definitely add a little excitement to Sam’s day. “Maybe next time. Take notes.”
Once Sam had climbed on beside him, Jack set off down a trail and through the woods, driving for an hour before returning to the office.
“Hungry?” Jack asked, parking under the shelter.
“Starving. You forgot to feed me breakfast.”
“Ah, geez.” Jack shook his head. “I thought you were old enough to feed yourself.”
Sam shrugged. “I didn’t want to go through your stuff.”
“You’ll be at the cabin with me for a while, and if you expect to eat, you need to feel free to help yourself to my fridge.”
“The beer too?” Sam asked as Jack pulled his truck keys out of his pocket and headed to his Toyota.
“I don’t keep beer. Also, you’re too young to even think about drinking.” He glanced over, wondering if Sam had overheard him talking with Amanda about his past with alcohol. He didn’t think Sam was baiting him. He wasn’t that kind of kid. He was easygoing and friendly, and he deserved the best summer that Jack could offer. Which meant Jack needed to do better than this.
The best he could do right now was Joe’s Pizzeria on Red Oak Street.
Jack climbed into the driver’s seat as Sam hopped in on the passenger side. Jack had to carry most of the conversation as he drove because Sam was looking at his phone.
“So your mom has a boyfriend?”
“Reginald.”
Jack looked over. “That’s a name you don’t hear too often. What’s he do?”
“He drives an eighteen-wheeler,” Sam said. “He’s gone for several days, and then he’s home.”
“Home?” Jack looked over. “As in, home with you two? He lives in the house?”
Sam laughed. “Come on, Uncle Jack. They’re adults. I’m sure Emma stays over with you all the time too. She doesn’t have to stay away on my account, you know.”
Jack wasn’t sure what to say. He didn’t want to lie, but he’d always been the overprotective brother. Amanda needed her health, and Sam needed his mom. “Noted,” Jack said simply.
He pulled into the parking lot of the pizzeria, recognizing his buddy Granger’s vehicle parked nearby. Hopefully he hadn’t had his lunch yet. Then Jack could grab a table with him and at least have someone to help carry the conversation.
They headed into the dimly lit pizza parlor, laden with the aroma of Italian spices and pasta. Jack let his gaze roam around the room, and sure enough, Granger was sitting alone with an open menu.
“Come on, buddy,” Jack told Sam. “I see a friend of mine.”
Granger looked up as they approached the table. “Hey, guys. Is this Sam?” Granger asked.
Sam looked between them. “How do you know my name?”
Granger chuckled. “Your uncle is very proud of you. Want to join me?”
“I was hoping you’d offer.” Jack plopped down in the booth next to his friend and gestured for Sam to take the bench. “Sam is staying with me for a while.”
“Dude, that’s bad luck,” Granger told Sam in a teasing tone. Sam nodded in agreement, but Jack didn’t think he was joking.
“What kind of job do you have?” Sam asked, grabbing a piece of bread from the complimentary basket that the waitress had laid at the center of the table.
Granger grinned. “I own a tree farm.”
Jack slapped a hand on his back. “And if you get too bored with me, I’m sure Granger can put you to work.”
Sam pulled back. “Seriously. Mom said I was going to have fun while I was here.”
The guys laughed. When the waitress came to take their orders, they ordered an extra-large pizza pie to split.
“I’ll have a Bud Light,” Granger said.
The waitress nodded, took Sam’s order, and then looked at Jack. “And for you?”
“Just a lemonade. I’m on the job,” Jack explained.
Granger looked at him. “I am too.”
Jack ignored his friend. “Just a lemonade,” he told the waitress. He didn’t need to explain himself. Granger had known him long enough to know he didn’t drink anymore, but Granger had never asked why. Jack guessed most of his friends assumed it was because of his dad.
“So,” Granger said, “Sophie Daniels was talking about you the other day in the Ladies’ Day Out group.”
The Ladies’ Day Out group, or the LDO, was a club in town that served to get the local women in the community together for the sole purpose of having fun. Jack had often wished there was a similar group for men.
“Oh yeah?” Sophie owned a boutique on Main Street. She’d flirted with Jack before, and he had reciprocated, but it’d never gone any further than that.
Granger grinned. “The women were encouraging her to spend some time at Evergreen Park to get your attention.”
“How would you even know this?” Jack asked on a laugh.
“My mom is in the group,” Granger said. “What happens in the group stays in the group, except my mom has never been one to keep a tight lip.”
Jack chuckled as the waitress returned and slid a drink in front of each of them. “Your pizza will be out in a moment,” she said before walking to the next table.
Granger reached for his bottle. “So? If Sophie were to show up on one of your trails, what would you do?”
Jack chuckled to himself. “I have no idea.”
Sam made a noise, and both men seemed to remember that he was even there. “Whoa. Uncle Jack, y
ou wouldn’t cheat on Emma, would you?”
Granger looked at Jack with a curious expression. “Cheat on Emma?”
Jack grimaced and looked over at Sam. “No, of course I wouldn’t. I was just joking with Granger. I would never cheat on Emma.”
Granger nearly choked on his sip of beer.
Yeah, Jack could tell he was going to have a lot of explaining to do this summer.
* * *
The next day, Emma sat outside her café at one of her new tables. The weather was gorgeous, the café was slow, and she had two employees working the counter. She, on the other hand, needed to get started on her to-do list for the 5K race.
She made a numbered list and started writing all the things she needed to handle ASAP. She needed to make up flyers to hang around town and in the café and possibly start a simple website where people could go to register. There would have to be T-shirts for people to wear to give the event a unified look as well. Maybe she could get Paris Montgomery to design the graphic and have the Print Shop complete the T-shirt order.
Emma clicked her pen and stared off into space trying to think of any other important issues. She wanted to keep the event simple this first year, and she’d have to anyway because she wasn’t a planner and time was limited.
“Mind if I join you?” someone asked, snapping Emma out of her thought bubble. Mayor Everson rolled his wheelchair in front of her, wearing a collared polo shirt and some nice pants. He’d been a prominent member of the community even before becoming the mayor of Sweetwater Springs. The Everson family was wealthy and contributed that wealth to a lot of community events. Brian was the only one to really get his “hands dirty” by actually working. He and his wife, Jessica, organized a lot of the charities in addition to donating their money.
“Mayor Everson,” Emma said in way of greeting.
He cleared his throat as he rolled his wheelchair under her table.
“Sorry. Brian. It’s hard not to give you the respect you deserve. Even if we went to school together and I know all your secrets.”
He chuckled softly. “Haven’t you learned? A politician has no secrets. Soon as you decide to run, all those bones are dug up.”
“Not that you ever had any,” Emma pointed out. “I just know about all the girls you’ve kissed and hearts you’ve broken before Jessica came along.”
He grimaced. “And some broke mine.”
Brian Everson had been a high school track star. Emma remembered that the girls had loved him and the guys had wanted to be him. The accident that had left him paralyzed in his senior year had brought his Olympic dreams crashing down around him. Even so, he’d risen above his circumstances and was now the town’s head and heart.
“Are you here for a coffee?” Emma asked, setting her pen down. “I can go inside and whip something up for you.”
“No. Looks like you’re not working right now anyway.”
“A café owner is always working,” she corrected.
“I just saw you sitting out here, and I thought I’d say hello.” He looked out on Main Street. “I like these new tables you’ve added. It’s a nice spot to sit and watch the goings-on.” He looked at her again. “Of course, I’m guessing you want only paying customers to sit here and do that.”
She lifted a shoulder. “That would be best. I added the chairs because of a bad review on the A-List website,” she admitted. “The review said that I didn’t offer enough seating to actually sit and enjoy a cup of coffee.” She still hated the thought of that review lingering in cyberspace and deterring potential customers from trying out her café.
He shifted around in his wheelchair, seemingly trying to get comfortable. “I’ve grown a thick shell over the years. In my job, negative feedback is inevitable.”
Emma watched a mother and child stroll by holding hands. And then a man walking his young puppy on a leash. “I have a soft shell, and my heart is exposed.”
He narrowed his eyes as he leaned in to whisper, “Politics would eat you alive.”
They both laughed.
“Good thing I have no intention of running for any kind of office,” she said.
They sat awhile longer and chatted about the various things Brian had going on.
“I’m working on a new charity myself,” Emma disclosed, after Brian updated her on his Mentor Match program. “This summer will be the first year. I’m still working out the details, but I’m all ears if you have advice.”
Brian leaned back in his chair as he listened. “Jenny’s Wellness Walk for Women. I like the sound of that,” he said. “That’s inspiring.”
“But it’s open to men and women, of course. Children too.” Emma watched another person stroll by walking their dog. “And dogs. Anyone who can walk.” As soon as she said it, all of the blood in her body flooded her cheeks. Her gaze dropped to Brian’s wheelchair. “I can’t believe I just said that.”
“Relax. I’m not offended,” he said easily. “You wouldn’t believe how often someone says something like that and then thinks that I’m going to banish them from town. Thick shell, remember? Plus, I don’t have banishment power. I’m working on that,” he joked with a wink.
She nodded and released a pent-up breath. “My event is open to everyone,” she amended. “I was thinking that people would pay twenty dollars to walk and that would also cover the cost of their T-shirt. The trail that borders Silver Lake through Evergreen Park stretches a few miles.”
“You’ll need watering stations for the walkers and runners. That costs money,” Brian pointed out.
Emma picked up her pen and wrote that down. Then he pointed out a few more items that she added to her list. As she wrote, her heart began to sink. “That won’t leave much money left to donate to whatever cause I decide on.”
“You’d be surprised,” Brian said. “Get some of the local businesses to be sponsors. I’ll be one. Also add a place for donations on your website too. People are generous in Sweetwater Springs.”
She continued to write. “Wow. Thank you for all the advice.”
“Of course.” Brian grinned back at her. “I’m sure Jessica would love to help. She has a lot of connections. I’m impressed that you’re putting together something like this so fast. And shocked that you were able to book the park. That’s no easy feat.”
Emma pulled her lower lip between her teeth. “I have connections too,” she admitted. And she had kind of traded her singlehood for the summer in order to make this happen. Although there were worse things than pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend.
Brian rolled his wheelchair away from the table and slid the pair of sunglasses that were sitting on the top of his head over his eyes.
“Are you sure you don’t want a coffee?” Emma asked. “It’s the least I can do after all your helpful suggestions.”
“No, thanks. Another time. I’ll see you later, Emma.” He waved and then continued down the sidewalk, leaving her with a bounty of new ideas and thoughts percolating in her brain. If she kept this event simple, she’d be able to pull it off. And in the process, she’d be able to help the community in her mom’s name. Everything was falling into place.
Her cell phone rang, and she looked down at the number on her screen, immediately recognizing it as the Women’s Wellness Center. They were probably calling to reschedule that annual checkup that she’d canceled.
Emma sat frozen, watching the screen until the call ended. She would reschedule. Of course she would. But not today. Today she was too busy planning something amazing.
Chapter Six
Jack was back to staring at the calendar. He’d returned to it several times, only to come to the same conclusion: There were no openings in the schedule for Emma’s 5K event. “Emma is going to kill me,” he muttered under his breath as he ran a hand through his hair and tugged softly on its roots. He definitely felt like pulling his hair out at the moment.
“Got anything for me to do?” Sam asked, looking up from his cell phone. His teenaged body, tall and
lanky, hunched forward over his device, shoulders rounded and his scrolling thumb primed to keep swiping up on his screen.
Jack started to shake his head and then reconsidered. “Yeah. Step over here for a moment.” He waited until Sam was standing right beside him and then gestured at the calendar. “I promised Emma that I’d get her 5K on the park’s schedule this summer. But look.”
Sam took a moment to run his gaze over Jack’s handwritten notes in the large square blocks of his desk calendar. There wasn’t one empty weekend block. Not even a section of white space in those squares to add something new. “Looks full,” Sam said.
Jack massaged his forehead where a headache was wrapping its way around his brain. “That’s my dilemma. Emma needs a spot, and I don’t have one for her.” Jack looked up at his nephew who looked so much like Amanda.
“Mom says you should never make promises you can’t keep.” Sam blew a bubble with his gum, making it pop loudly.
The sound penetrated through Jack’s brain. “I was desperate.”
“For what?” Sam continued to chew on his gum.
Right. Jack couldn’t disclose his arrangement with Emma to Sam. “Doesn’t matter,” Jack said. “Emma and I had a deal, and now it’ll be called off because I can’t keep my end of the bargain.”
Sam leaned farther in to look at the calendar. “So Emma wants to do some kind of 5K thing, right?”
“Yep.”
“Why can’t she do that on the same day as one of these other events?”
Jack shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way, buddy. When I book the park, it’s the whole park. The folks who are planning their event don’t want to share.”
Sam lifted his gaze. “Unless the two events help each other. Like, maybe Emma’s event would somehow bring people to the park to enjoy the other event. And vice versa. Kind of like a symbiotic relationship.”
Jack furrowed his brow. “A symbiotic relationship.” He looked at the calendar again, and instead of looking for empty spaces, he looked at the actual events already in place. There was going to be a kite-flying festival. Walkers and runners would have to dodge kite-flyers. Not a good idea.
