The Hearts We Mend (36 page)

Jack's face blurred. Evie tried to blink back the tears, but there were too many. They leaked from the corners of her eyes and zigzagged down her cheeks. But she had to tell him the truth. “You're the one who made me see I wasn't really living at all.”

Jack's hands clenched at his sides. “Don't say that.”

“Why not? Risk over regret, don't you remember?”

“That's what I'm doing,” he said softly.

The door closed behind him.

“We heard you're on a tight deadline.”

The hammer almost missed the nail and crushed Jack's thumb when Dan and Ryan appeared behind him. Sheesh. The guys moved with the stealth of Navy SEALS.

“I'll get there.” In record time, considering Jack had been working almost round the clock for the past few days. “And you're not going to talk me out of leaving, so don't even try.”

Dan and Ryan exchanged a look.

“Don't take this personally, Jack,” Ryan drawled. “I mean, you're a decent guy and all, but we think you made the right decision. Moving back to Milwaukee.”

How was Jack
not
supposed to take a statement like that personally?

“He's right. It's best to cut things off with Evie now,” Dan added. “She's fragile, and I'd hate to—”

“Fragile?”
Jack interrupted, almost choking on the word. “Evie is one of the strongest people I know.”

Dan's eyebrow shot up. “Well, you haven't known her as long as Ryan and I have.”

“Yeah, Evie's great when it comes to planning teas and stuff for the women at church,” Ryan added. “But she's pretty naïve when it comes to the real world.”

You couldn't get any more real than Fairview Street, and yet Evie had been able to look past the dilapidated buildings and embrace the people living inside of them.

“You're not giving Evie enough credit.”

And neither, Jack suddenly realized, had he.

Evie hadn't ventured onto Fairview Street since Jack had told her he was leaving Banister Falls, but it didn't matter. The last three days had been torture. He saw her everywhere. In his kitchen, laughing with Bert. Helping Josh with his homework. Rocking Amber Lynn. Braiding Lily's hair.

Evie had told him how she'd felt about him, and Jack had walked out. Not because he was afraid she'd get tired of his family. No. What Jack had been afraid Evie would eventually get tired of was
him.

“Are you protecting Evie,” Gin had asked
.
“Or yourself?”

As if God Himself had just aimed a spotlight on Jack's heart, the answer to that was pretty clear.

“Here.” Jack tossed the hammer at Dan and strode toward the door. “I have to go.”

As he hopped into his truck, through the window he saw Ryan and Dan slap their palms together in a high five.

He'd been totally played.

And the next time Jack saw them, he was going to say thank you.

“Your crown is falling off, Evie!”

Evie reached up and set the plastic tiara back in place, careful not to lose her grip on Grace as she twirled Ava in a circle around the living room of Nicki's apartment.

The children had acted like it was Christmas morning when Evie brought a box of dress-up clothes for the girls and a box of Cody's Matchbox cars to keep Luke occupied for a few hours.

“Someone's here.” Lily dashed toward the door, leaving a trail of purple feathers from the boa around her neck.

The only thing Evie heard was the thump of the bass pounding through the speakers and Grace's shriek of delight as Evie dipped the toddler backward over her arm.

Luke, who'd been stretched out on the floor building a bridge out of paperback books for his cars, suddenly rolled to his feet. “Uncle Jack!”

Evie's heart stuttered and then stalled completely when she turned toward the door and saw Jack. He looked . . . good. Too good.

“Evie.” Jack's eyes met hers across the room and then traveled over the gaudy beaded shawl draped around her shoulders before pausing to linger a moment on her bare feet.

“We're at a ball, just like Cinderella!” Ava shouted. “Look at my princess shoes!” She stuck out her foot so Jack could admire the sparkly high heels Evie had found at the thrift store on Bird Street.

A smile teased the corners of Jack's lips. “Interesting choice of music for a ball.”

So she'd developed a taste for jazz over the past few weeks.

“Nicki isn't here.” Evie turned the music down. “She signed up for a culinary class at the Tech, and I offered to babysit.”

“I know.” Jack's smile disappeared. “I stopped over at Cody and Raine's first.”

“You're here to pick up Lily?”

“Actually . . . I came to see you.”

Evie swallowed hard. She'd wondered if Jack would make an effort to see her before he left town. She was suddenly glad the children were there to provide a buffer . . .

“I'm tired, Evie.” Lily bounded over and reached for Grace. “Can we watch a movie now?”

“Of course.” What else could she say?
No, stay. I don't want to be alone with your uncle?

Luke and Ava scampered after Lily, and they disappeared into the bedroom.

Suddenly self-conscious, Evie reached up to remove her tiara. Maybe it would have been easier if Jack had left without saying good-bye. Then she wouldn't have to watch him walk out of her life twice.

“I don't want you with me.”

The words had cut deep, cycling through Evie's mind all day and at night when she tried to sleep. But they didn't stop her from praying for him. From loving him.

“Evie—” Jack extended his hand, and all Evie could do was stare at it.

Was he
trying
to torture her? Were they supposed to shake hands now? Part as friends?

“I . . . I should check on the kids.” So maybe Evie wasn't as bold as she'd claimed she was.

“Wait. Please.” Jack stepped into her path. “The last time we were together, I told you all the things I don't know. Now I want to tell you the things that I do. I know my family isn't perfect. I know that my God is . . . and I know I'm in love with you. I wish I could give you more, but that's it. That's all I've got—”

He didn't get a chance to finish the sentence because Evie closed the distance between them, framed his face in her hands, and kissed him. And the words she whispered against Jack's lips were a promise she could make to him.

“It's enough.”

E
PILOGUE

N
OVEMBER

J
ack opened the velvet jeweler's box and slid it across the table.

“Well? What do you think?”

Cody studied the diamond and sapphire ring, but it was impossible to tell what the kid was thinking. Jack gripped the back of the chair and waited.

It hadn't occurred to him that asking Evie's son for his blessing might be more stressful than the actual proposal. But Jack wanted to do this right.

“Are you going to ask her at Christmas?” Cody didn't answer Jack's question. He didn't give the ring back either.

“No.” Because that would mean waiting another month. And Jack was getting tired of having to leave Evie with a kiss good night at the front door. “I was thinking . . . Saturday.”

“Saturday the church is hosting the Thanksgiving dinner on Fairview Street. She's going to be crazy busy that day.”

Jack was counting on it. “Then she won't suspect anything. And it seemed like an appropriate time because what I'm the most thankful for is your mom.”

A sigh came from the direction of the living room, where Raine
was rocking two-month-old Ella Joy to sleep and unashamedly eavesdropping on their conversation.

Jack and Dan had paced the floor of the family lounge together after Raine went into labor, waiting for updates from Gin and Evie, who'd been given front row seats to the event in the delivery room. The VIP tickets had been issued shortly after the birth, and Jack was one of the first people to hold Evie's granddaughter.

Another Blue Eyes.

Lily had proclaimed herself an honorary aunt, demanding an Ella update when Jack picked her up from school every day.

Jack realized Cody still hadn't said anything, encouraging or otherwise, about his timing of the proposal. He waded cautiously into the silence, trying to pinpoint the reason for Cody's hesitation.

“Do you think it's too soon? I realize your mom and I haven't known each other very long, but I love her.” It scared Jack, sometimes, just how much. “And whether I hold onto this ring for six days or six months or six years, that isn't going to change.”

“Cody and I only knew each other for nine months before he proposed!” Raine called out from the living room.

Jack ducked his head to hide a smile. At least he had someone on his side.

“Mom's been through a lot,” Cody finally said. “I don't want her to get hurt again.”

“I can't promise that won't happen. This side of heaven, we get hurt. But I can promise that I'll love your mom through everything . . . the good and the bad . . . until I take my last breath. I'm not trying to take your dad's place, Cody, but I hope we can be friends. That's why I wanted to talk to you first. Your blessing means a lot to me.”

“You have it.”

It took a moment for the words to register. “Really?”

“Under one condition.”

“Anything,” Jack said. “Name it.”

Cody grinned and handed the ring back.

And when he told him what that condition was, Jack couldn't help but grin back.

“How am I supposed to steal a kiss when you're never alone?”

Jack's whispered comment sent a shiver dancing down Evie's spine.

“Behave.” She tried to keep a straight face as she dipped the ladle into the Crock-Pot on the counter and smiled at the next person in line. “Would you like some gravy, Ron?”

“Just a little, Blondie. The doc said that stuff ain't good for my cholesterol.” Ron held out his plate and watched Evie drizzle it over the mountain of mashed potatoes. “Maybe a little more.”

She kept drizzling until Ron smiled. He bypassed the next station—green beans—and shuffled toward Angela, who was doling out still-warm-from-the-oven dinner rolls.

“Aren't you going to ask me what I'd like?” Jack murmured.

“You're so bad.”

“Hey, I thought we established I'm one of the good guys.” Laughter warmed his silver eyes.

“We're running low on cranberry sauce.” Evie resisted the urge to fan herself with a potholder. “Why don't you go see if there's some in the kitchen?”

“Because it's more fun to stay here and make you blush.”

She
was
blushing, dang it. Jack had that effect on her.

“Hey, Mom.” Cody stopped in front of her, Ella cradled in his arms. Evie had bought her granddaughter the pink corduroy overalls and matching jacket, Gin the impossibly tiny cowboy boots.