Emma's Secret: A Novel

come in a few days doesn’t mean she won’t again.”
    “I know.” His chest ached, and he wasn’t sure whether it was from holding in his tears or if his heart just couldn’t handle the hurt anymore. He rubbed his chest and winced.
    “Where’s your pills?” Kenny watched him like a hawk. Their fears that Jack would have a heart attack at home weren’t too far off. He expected it to happen any day, and was always amazed when he woke up in the morning.
    Jack shook his head before standing up and stretching. “I’m fine.” He stared down at the boys and asked his original question. “Bingo today?”
    The boys played bingo almost daily at the lodge—the retirement home where Doug and Kenny lived. It was an independent-living facility for seniors who didn’t require medical attention. Although there was talk of the doctors’ wanting Kenny to move to another wing, where there was more assistance than what they got now.
    Doug shook his head. “Nah. They have an outing planned instead. Something about a picnic at the beach.”
    Jack pondered the idea. It had been a long time since he’d last been to the beach. He’d promised Emmie he would take her. Another promise he wouldn’t be able to keep.
    “There’s the races tonight in Hanton. We could go early and play the slot machines.” That idea appealed to him. It was something different from the normal bingo game.
    Both Doug and Jack nodded their heads.
    “Get your beauty sleep then, boys, and meet me at the farmhouse in a few hours.”
    It would be the first time Jack had been to Hanton since taking Emmie and Dottie to the fair there. But he was a big boy, and it was time to move on with his life. He had to accept that Emmie was never coming back.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
    N ow remember, sunshine: We can’t stay long. I have a meeting this morning.”
    Peter held tight to Emma’s hand as she jumped out of the vehicle onto the pavement. She’d dressed up today, wearing a bright-yellow dress with a white-and-yellow headband.
    “But Papa’s here.” A pout formed on her lips as she pointed to Jack’s truck.
    Peter shrugged. “Sorry, Em, we don’t have much time today.”
    Emma lowered her head and dragged her feet, kicking up loose gravel as she walked.
    “But you can still say hi and give him your drawing.” Peter shook his head as she lifted her gaze and the brightest smile he’d seen all day appeared.
    Emma skipped along, dragging Peter behind her as she headed toward the front doors. Peter caught Jack’s eye through the window and gave a slight wave. His stomach clenched. He felt a little hesitant about bringing Emma today, and wasn’t sure whether it was from guilt or something else. He was keeping too many secrets from her lately. If he wasn’t careful, things could backfire in his face.
    Once inside, Emma tore her fingers out of Peter’s grip and ran toward Jack. The shuffling of a chair and the excited cries of a girlmissing her grandfather filled the restaurant. Peter had to blink his eyes a few times as he watched Emma’s arms wrap themselves around Jack’s neck as he picked her up and held her tight.
    As bad as he felt about it, Peter knew that keeping this a secret from Megan was the right decision. At least for now. She’d never let this happen, Emma holding tight to Jack. She’d do her best to rip her away from the old man. She still hadn’t let go of her anger. Maybe once she started to forgive Jack for his part in what happened, she’d be more open, but until then…
    “Two large, black and mocha, but can I pick up the mocha before I leave?” Peter stood at the counter and gave his order to the woman in front of him. It took him a moment to realize she was staring at Emma and Jack.
    Peter glanced over his shoulder and saw Emma sitting on Jack’s lap, her hands cradling his face as she chattered away. There was a dazed look on Jack’s face, a soft smile as he gave her his full attention. Peter glanced back at the waitress in front of him.
    “Um,” he glanced down at the name tag she wore, “Claire, might as well add a sprinkle donut to the order. We’ll be here longer than I expected.”

    Telephone to her ear, Megan sat at the kitchen table with a notebook and counted off the list of names she’d written down.
    “Mom, I have at least ten kids from her class coming. You can help me with the miniature golf while Dad and Peter supervise the go-kart racing.” She kept her voice down, not wanting Alexis to overhear