The Strawberry Hearts Diner(44)

“That’s a good point.” Jancy threw the lever and stretched out in the chair. “But—”

“No buts. Besides, you didn’t just fall into a foreign country. Your granny lived in Pick her whole life and you were here for two years. You’re like the prodigal son who’s come home. No, I’m the prodigal son and you are the wandering soul who’s found his way back to where he belongs.”

Jancy giggled. “I don’t think either of us has the right equipment to be a son.”

Emily tossed a throw pillow at her. “You know what I mean. You’ve simply come home, Jancy. It’s like your destiny—own it.”

She caught the pillow midair and hugged it close to her chest. “And you? Are you owning your destiny?”

“Tryin’ to, but it’s harder for me. I wish I was you.”

“That’s crazy talk.” Jancy threw the pillow back at her.

Emily had never had to save tip money for days to start a bank account so she could get her service back for her cell phone. She’d never had her car burn up in front of her. And she’d never once wondered where her next meal would come from.

“It’s the truth.” Emily tucked the pillow under her head.

“Are you bat-shit crazy?” Jancy asked.

“Nope, just wishin’ for the best of both worlds. I’d never want to have had to live like you did, Jancy. But I wish—oh, it doesn’t matter.” That Emily needed to get something off her chest was evident by the way she kept twisting a strand of her hair and staring off into space.

“What’s his name?” Jancy asked.

“Who?” Emily asked without looking at Jancy.

“Only a man can make a woman act like you do. So what’s his name? Get it off your chest and you’ll feel better.”

“It’s Ryder,” Emily whispered.

“Sweet mother of God!” Jancy gasped even though she’d halfway expected it. “How long have you been dating? Vicky is going to throw a fit.”

“We were going to tell Mama last Sunday, but I decided that telling her I wasn’t going back to school was enough for one week. Now what do we do? I can’t tell her about Ryder with Nettie sick. That’s too much to put on her.”

“Did this all start this past weekend?” Jancy flipped the lever, sending the chair into an upright position.

Emily shook her head. “Been dating him since last Christmas.”

“Holy crap, Emily. How did you keep that a secret?”

Emily popped up from the sofa and started pacing around the room. “I was in school. He was out on the rig three weeks and then back home for two weeks, so it wasn’t so hard to keep it quiet. But now that I’m home and he’s not going back out—we just need to bring it out in the open.”

“Does Shane know?” Jancy asked.

“He’s the only one.”

“Poor Shane. Knowing and protecting his friends but still feeling guilty because he loves Vicky and Nettie, right?”

“And now I’ve put you in that position, too. I have to talk to someone. I sure can’t tell Waynette and my other friends about this. They’d freak out and beat a path straight to Mama. Ryder always had such a horrible reputation, but he’s changed and he loves me. I have to make Mama see that. What am I going to do?”

“Give it time. Nettie will get well. This thing with Carlton Wolfe will disappear. When everything’s settled down, then tell her. You don’t have to be in a hurry. I’ll keep your secret, because you need to be the one to tell her. But what’s the big deal? Ryder has a good job. He’s a sweet guy and he’s homegrown.”

Emily flopped back down on the sofa. “You do remember his reputation and you know how protective Mama is, right?”

“It’s not a bit worse than mine,” Jancy said.

“But I’m not marrying you,” Emily groaned.

“Marry!” Jancy’s voice went high and squeaky.

“June 24.” Emily’s tone left no room for argument.

“But that’s only three weeks from now. How is Vicky supposed to manage a wedding with all this going on in only three weeks? And isn’t the festival right near then?”

“June 17.” Emily groaned again.

“Forget the baby step idea. You’ve got to tell your mama now, and then you’ve got to put the wedding off for at least a few months. You are her only daughter, and she’s probably planned all kinds of fancy things for you.”

“The baby is due on Christmas Day. I’ve been real lucky not to have had any morning sickness.”

Jancy was absolutely speechless for several seconds. She opened her mouth, but words would not come out. Three weeks to plan a wedding and a baby on the way? Vicky might have a heart attack herself.

“I feel so much better just getting it off my chest. Thank you for listening and for keeping the secret until Sunday.” Emily sat back down on the sofa.

“Ryder?” Jancy managed one word and then a couple more. “A father?”

“He’s ecstatic and so ready to settle down. He’s hated dating in secret. Oh, Jancy, he’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“Really?” Her head buzzed with jumbled possible scenarios.