Jack kept his hands where Mark could see them. Emma’s ex-husband wasn’t holding a gun, but the tone in his voice was all the warning Jack needed to be careful.
Mark was more intimidating in real life than in the photos Jack had seen. Emma hadn’t mentioned that her ex-husband was at least six foot three and built like a quarterback.
“Do I need to repeat myself?”
Jack stared him in the eyes. “Emma asked me to find you.”
A flicker of emotion skimmed across Mark’s face. “Are Dylan and Molly all right?”
At least he was worried about the twins. A lot of the fathers Jack and his team tracked down couldn’t care less about their family. “They’re okay. They asked Emma if they could see you.”
The scowl on Mark’s face deepened. “I can’t see them.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
Mark’s eyes narrowed. “It’s none of your business. Who are you?”
“I own a company called Lost and Found. We look for people who have gone missing.”
Before Mark could reply, Jack stepped forward. “I’ve got something for you.”
He opened the folder and took out the drawing Molly and Dylan had made. As he walked toward Mark, he tried to keep an open mind. People left relationships for far less than what Mark had gone through. The scars of an abusive childhood could cripple a person for the rest of their life. Some people learned how to cope with the trauma. For others it was a constant struggle that often ended in another abusive situation.
Then there was Afghanistan. Whatever strategies Mark used in his civilian life would have been blown to shreds in the army. Piling one stressful situation on top of another would have led to disaster.
He handed Mark the drawing. “Emma is organizing a Christmas fundraising program for The Connect Church. The teachers at the local school asked their students to write letters or draw pictures about the type of events they wanted in Sapphire Bay. Instead of focusing on events, some of the students made pictures of what they wanted for Christmas. Molly drew that picture.”
Mark’s hand tightened on the sheet of paper. “How long have they been asking to see me?”
“A while.”
He looked up.
In that moment, Jack saw more than Mark would have wanted. The loneliness and fear in his eyes gave Jack a reality check. The man standing in front of him wasn’t a deadbeat dad. He was a man who had done what he thought was best for his family.
Jack handed Mark a photo of the twins. “They’re great kids.”
He silently stared at the photo.
“Do you want to see your children?”
Mark’s jaw clenched. “It wouldn’t be in anyone’s best interest if I saw them.”
“Why not?”
“I haven’t been part of their lives since they were babies. They’re better off without me.”
Jack wasn’t pushing his luck. He’d arrived unannounced and had given Mark enough to think about for one day. “If you don’t want to see your family, that’s your decision. But Emma would appreciate an email to let her know you’re still alive.” He handed Mark a business card. “If you decide you want to see Dylan and Molly, give me a call.”
Without saying a word, Mark nodded and walked toward his cabin.
It wasn’t until Jack was driving along the highway that he realized Mark still had the photo of his children and the poster Molly had drawn.
Perhaps the flight to Colorado hadn’t been a waste of time, after all.
When Emma saw Jack walking toward her house, her heart sank. She knew the chance of finding Mark was remote but, even so, she thought they would have more luck.
“You didn’t find him, did you?”
Jack met her halfway along the garden path. “I wish it was that simple.” He looked over her shoulder.
“Molly and Dylan are spending a couple of hours with Kylie. Are you telling me you found Mark?”
“He’s living in a cabin beside Evergreen Lake, but he doesn’t want to see the twins. I thought he might have emailed you.”
Emma wished he had. At least then she might have been able to hide her disappointment. “Did he say how he’s doing?”
“We didn’t speak for long.”
She shouldn’t have expected anything less. “At least he isn’t dead.” Jack’s sympathetic expression made her feel even worse.
“You don’t have to be brave. I know you were hoping Mark would change his mind and come to Sapphire Bay, but he’s not ready.”
“Do you think he’ll ever want to see the twins?”
“I don’t know. The only thing I can tell you is that he held onto Molly and Dylan’s photo and drawing.” Jack searched her face. “He thinks you’re better off without him.”
She took a deep breath. “That’s what he told me when he left. Everyone needs someone they can depend on, but Mark never had that. Thank you for finding him.”
“I’d feel better if he’d emailed or called you.”
“So would I.” She looked at Jack and forced a smile. “Would you like a glass of lemonade?”
For a moment, she thought he was going to say no. But for some reason, he changed his mind. “That sounds great.”
Emma led the way, determined not to let Mark’s decision ruin a beautiful day. “Now that you don’t have to worry about my ex-husband, what are your plans for the rest of your vacation?”
Jack held open the front door. “My brother’s taking me fishing in a couple of days. But, before I go anywhere near the lake, Granddad wants me to help him paint another tiny home.”
“You haven’t had much of a rest.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’d probably be driving Noah and Cassie insane about now if I didn’t have other things to keep me busy.”
She didn’t need to ask what things he’d been doing. Even though Jack had found Mark in record time, it was still at least two days out of his vacation. “I feel bad about taking so much of your time. How would you feel if I invited you to dinner tomorrow night? You could bring Noah and Cassie and your granddad. Dylan and Molly would enjoy the company and so would I.”
Jack sipped the drink she’d given him. “Sounds good. I’ll ask everyone if they can come.”
“Don’t bring anything.”
“I can’t guarantee my family will listen, but I’ll tell them. How are you finding the summer break? It can’t be easy juggling work with everything else.”
“I do my best, but sometimes it doesn’t quite work out. That’s why Kylie is looking after the twins. I got behind on one of my contracts and she offered to babysit for a couple of hours.”
“I shouldn’t be taking any more of your time—”
“It’s okay,” Emma told him. “You can stay. I finished the job a few minutes before you arrived.”
Jack sat back down on the kitchen stool. “Have you always worked in the IT industry?”
Emma smiled. “I used to be a teacher, but I’ve helped people build websites and advertise on the Internet since I was at college. When I moved to Sapphire Bay, I couldn’t afford to start my own business, so I worked at the local elementary school for two years. In the evenings, I worked on IT projects. Eventually, I was able to resign from the school and focus on my business.”
“I’m impressed.”
The heat of a blush hit Emma’s cheeks. “Mom and Dad thought moving here was the craziest thing I’ve ever done. But I couldn’t afford to start my business in New York City. Sapphire Bay is a lot quieter and less expensive. We have a great life and even better friends.”
Jack’s eyebrows rose. “I didn’t realize you’re from New York.”
“I lived in Park Slope for twenty-two years before I met Mark. I love eating pastrami on rye, bagels and lox, and Mom’s lemon cheesecake.” She grinned at Jack. “And until I moved to Sapphire Bay, I’d never missed a Yankees’ home game.”
“You can’t get any more patriotic than that.”
Emma clicked her glass against Jack’s. “Exactly.”
“Do you miss anything about New York City?”
“I liked spending time at Prospect Park. I miss the ballet and going to concerts. But most of all I miss my parents.” She looked at her glass of lemonade. “I always thought that one day I’d go back, but Sapphire Bay has become my home.”
“Do you visit your parents very often?”
Emma sighed. “I stay with them a few times a year and they come here when they can. It isn’t nearly enough, but it’s better than nothing. Once the school year starts, it will be even harder to get away.”
She looked around the kitchen. Talking about her mom and dad made her feel sad. “Would you like some cake?”
“Have Molly and Dylan been baking?”
“Not this time. I popped into Sweet Treats yesterday and bought one of Megan’s chocolate cakes. She was raising money for the tiny home village.”
Jack seemed surprised. “Does everyone raise money for the village?”
Emma thought about the events that had been organized over the past few months. “The easy answer is yes. The tiny homes mean a lot to the community. The village won’t get built without our support, so we all do our best to make the project a success.”
“Pastor John is lucky. There aren’t many communities who would work this hard to help other people.”
“You’ve been living in a city for too long.” Taking two plates out of the cupboard, she handed one to Jack. “Nothing worthwhile ever gets accomplished on your own. It’s important to feel part of something so big and exciting that it gives you goose bumps just thinking about it.”
“And the tiny home village gives you goose bumps?”
Jack was laughing at her, but she didn’t care. “It does and I’m proud of every one of them.”
The smile Jack sent her made an entirely different set of goose bumps skitter along her skin. Grabbing the cake, she quickly cut two slices and placed each of them on a plate. “When are you going back to Manhattan?”
“I’ve been thinking about that.”
Whatever Jack was about to say, sounded serious. “About going home?”
“I thought I’d stay in Sapphire Bay for a couple more weeks.”
“Why?” The word was out of her mouth before she could stop it. “I didn’t mean…you don’t have to tell me why you’re staying. It’s none of my business.”
Jack cleared his throat. “I want to spend more time with Noah and Granddad.”
“What about your company?”
“Apart from going home for a couple of meetings, I can run it from here.”
Emma ignored the butterflies in her tummy. It wasn’t as if Jack wanted to spend more time with her and the twins. And even if he did, a few weeks would never be enough.
Instead of making a fool of herself and telling Jack how much she liked him, Emma smiled. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”
“It is?”
She leaned closer and patted his arm. “From one workaholic to another, I’m proud of you. Taking life at a slower pace is difficult, but you won’t regret staying here a little longer.”
Jack brushed a stray lock of hair off her face. “I don’t think I will, either.”
Emma’s breath caught. “Are you…? Do you…?” She cleared the frog out of her throat.
Jack’s hand cupped her jaw. “Yes.”
“Yes?”
She looked into his serious brown eyes and sighed. “Do you want to spend more time with Molly and Dylan and me?”
“I do.”
She let go of the breath she’d been holding. “I’d like that, too.”
Jack’s gaze dropped to her mouth.
Emma’s heart raced. “I need to tell you something. It’s been a long time since I dated anyone. I might be a little—”
Jack’s lips gently nudged her mouth. His kiss was as soft as a summer’s breeze and left her wanting more.
She lifted her hands to Jack’s shoulders and held on tight. For once in her life she was tired of being careful. Even if she totally messed this up, she was ready to take a giant leap of faith. In Jack. In each other. And in the promise of what could be.