Emma's Secret: A Novel

be careful. Maybe you shouldn’t color with me.” She leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips before she rested her head on his chest.
    Peter sat back down in his chair as Jack stroked Emma’s hair. There was so much to take in right now: Jack being sick, and Emma not only knowing about it but calmly accepting it. This obviously wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. “How bad is it?”
    Jack shrugged. “Doctor wants to do more tests.”
    And?
Peter mouthed the word, not sure that this was something Emma should be hearing.
    Jack only shrugged.
    Peter swallowed and almost choked. It must be bad. He couldn’t imagine being so calm about something so serious.
    “What does your doctor say?”
    Jack raised his coffee mug and took a sip. “What do they know? I’ve got a little girl here to watch grow up. I’ll go when I’m ready to go.”
    “And you’re not ready.” Emma piped up. She pushed off Jack’s chest and sat back down in her chair, engrossed in her drawing once again.
    Peter still couldn’t believe how calm Emma was about all this. He would have expected her to be more stressed about Jack being sick, but she was as unfazed as if this were an everyday occurrence. Maybe it had been. Peter winced at the thought. He hated that his little girl had known so much grief in such a short time.
    “There you go; the boss has the final say,” Peter said. Jack’s hand shook slightly, and Peter tightened his lips. Maybe he should insist Jack go to the hospital.
    “Do me a favor?”
    Peter glanced down at the hand covering his own. It was wrinkled and spotted with age. Jack’s fingertips were rough as they grazed his knuckles. He glanced up to see concern in the other man’s eyes.
    “Tell her. Even if it means I don’t see Em again for a while. Your wife needs to know. Keeping secrets, especially something like this, isn’t good for a marriage. It’ll destroy you both, and nothing is worth that. Not even this.” Tears gathered in Jack’s eyes before he blinked them away.
    Peter winced. He was right. He needed to tell Megan. But he wouldn’t let her take Jack away from Emma. Not again. Not now.
    “On one condition,” Peter said.
    A steel gaze met his own, but Peter refused to back down.
    “What’s that?”
    “You remember you’re not alone anymore. You’ve got a granddaughter to live for now.”
    Jack turned his attention from Peter down to the little girl beside him.
    Peter knew the effect his words would have. He knew there would be ramifications, but it was worth it. He’d have to make Megan see that these meetings were necessary. That it wasn’t only Emma’s emotional well-being at stake. And if she didn’t agree? He knew he’d have to stand firm in his decision.
    He had just given Jack his family back.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
    M egan’s mom and dad had dropped by on the pretext of picking Alexis up to take her out for ice cream, something they did for all the girls on their birthdays. Daniel had wanted to check the latest baseball score on TV and sat down in the family room with Peter, while Sheila drank a cup of coffee in the kitchen with Megan. They had one hour before they all needed to be at the small amusement park where Megan had booked Alexis’s birthday party.
    Emma sat curled in an overstuffed chair in the far corner of the family room, playing with some of her ponies. She’d originally been out in the kitchen with Meg and Sheila, but slowly she’d ventured into the family room.
    “Emma, why don’t you come and sit by your old Papa?” Daniel patted the couch beside him during a commercial. Peter caught the deer-in-headlights look on Emma’s face as she raised her head and stared at Daniel.
    “Come on, sweetheart. I won’t bite.” Dan’s smile faltered when he saw the look in her eyes.
    Emma sat frozen in her chair.
    “Not yet, huh? Well…I’ll just go see what your grandmother is doing.” Dan’s shoulders slumped before he pushed himself off the couch.
    Peter gave him an apologetic smile before he too stood and went over to crouch in front of Emma.
    “What’s wrong?” He lowered his voice and reached a hand out to place on top of hers. Although ever since coming home she had been somewhat reserved when Megan’s parents came by, she was usually friendlier than this.
    Emma’s lip quivered. “He’s not my Papa,” she whispered.
    Peter sat back on his heels. He should have expected this, should have realized why, in all the times Dan