The Truest Thing - Hart's Boardwalk

Seeing Emery cover her mouth and choke on her laughter, Jack’s eyes twinkled into Iris’s. “You’ve given this some very graphic thought.”

“Don’t think you can charm your way out of this. You need to take responsibility for your actions.”

That dispelled Jack’s humor. “Iris, I know Emery means something to you so I’m not going to tell you to mind your own business, even though that’s really what I want to say. Instead, I’ll assure you that there is nothing more important to me than Emery and our kid.”

She harrumphed but straightened. “Okay, then. What do you want to eat?”

After they’d ordered and Iris had left the table, Em sighed as she glanced around the restaurant. “I know she means well, but she just made them all stare again.”

“They’ll stop, Em. Once they get used to us, they’ll stop.”

“We’re none of their business.”

“Agreed.”

“They’ve come back to the store.”

“You told me.” He cocked his head, confused by her melancholy tone. “That’s a good thing.”

She wrinkled her nose, her expression adorably petulant. It made him want to kiss her. Everything she did made him want to kiss her. “I’m still mad at them for believing the worst in me, Jack.”

“Coming from someone who had to live with them thinking the worst of him for years, I can honestly tell you that it’s best to just let it go. Forgive them. They’re not worth that eating at you.”

Emery’s eyes brightened with sympathy. “I’m sorry. That was totally insensitive to say to you. And you’re right. I shouldn’t let what they did fester. I have a bad habit of holding on to things.”

Tell me about it.

“Do you ever let them go?”

“Sometimes.” She shrugged. “Most of the time. I only tend to hang on if it’s me I’m mad at, not someone else.”

“What do you ever need to be mad at yourself for? You’re perfect.”

She guffawed. “I’m not perfect, Jack.”

“No, but you’re perfect in all your perfection and imperfections. So, you’re still perfect.” He smiled.

“Iris is right.” Em rolled her eyes. “You are such a charmer.”

“But I always speak the truth,” he promised.

She seemed unable to meet his gaze after that. Instead she fiddled with her napkin and blurted out, “Do you forgive your dad?”

Jack was a little taken aback by the question, but he wanted to share everything with Em. Even the difficult stuff. “I don’t know. That’s the honest truth. I just know that I don’t want him to have any part of my life or my decisions going forward. I can’t wait for his trial to come along, be over with. I guess I’m trying to forgive him. But not for him—for me. For my family.”

“How are they? Your family?”

“Mom and Rebecca both started seeing a therapist, and they’re growing closer every day. They’ve even talked about getting in touch with Rebecca’s biological father when they’re both ready. Mom seems like a completely different person away from Hartwell and Ian.” It was true. Rosalie had started going out again. She wasn’t socializing a great deal just yet, but she was shopping, taking walks, hanging out with his uncle and his family—this was all a huge step in the right direction. “I’m a little worried about Becs and the upcoming trial. But she’s assured me she’s ready.”

“I meant to say that, um, I know you probably have legal counsel for Rebecca, but because of contacts in the Paxton Group, I know the best defense attorneys in the country. If you need an introduction, I can help.”

Jack gave her a grateful smile. “I might take you up on that.”

She nodded. “So … when is your father’s trial?”

“Four weeks.”

“Jack, you should’ve told me.” Em seemed put out that he hadn’t.

He held her gaze and whatever she saw in his made her go extremely still. “I didn’t tell you because I’ve been focusing on you. On the baby.”

Making you a priority.

“Oh. Well … of course I appreciate that, but your father’s trial is a big deal. Do you have to go on the stand?”

“Yeah.”

Her brow puckered with worry. “That’s so hard for you.”

“Not really. He deserves what’s coming to him.”

“You know …” She looked down at the table, fiddling with the silver bracelets on her wrists. Her long lashes covered her expression from him. “I know things aren’t … I know … ugh.” She covered her eyes now with her hands and took a deep breath.

“Em.” He reached out to touch her wrist, gently prying her hand away from her face.

She uncovered her eyes, and he saw her sad confliction. That expression caused a flare of feeling near his heart. “I know we’re trying to be friends,” she finally pushed out. “And that means I’m here. If you need to talk.”

The pain eased a little. “I might just take you up on that one day. It goes both ways, you know.”