Love Finds a Home by Kathryn Springer

place.
    He’d deliberately scheduled some time with Jeremy right away—before Emma could change her mind—but the pensive expression on her face pinched his conscience. It was clear that even though Emma had approved the fishing trip, she was having second thoughts about letting her son go.
    He braced a hand on each side of the doorway. “I did knock.”

    Emma visibly started at the sound of his voice. “Jake.”
    Finally. Jake had started to wonder if she would ever drop the title and call him by his first name. He nodded at the trunk. “Do you need some help with that?”
    “Thank you.” Emma’s polite mask fell back into place. “It is a little heavy.”
    “Where does it go?”
    “Wherever you have room.” Wherever he had room?
    “You want me to take this along?” Jake had to be sure he understood.
    Emma nodded. “I packed a few things in the picnic basket for you and Jeremy.”
    A picnic basket? It was closer to the size of a laundry hamper.
    Jake clamped down on a smile. Even with his rusty social skills, he knew it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to point out they were only going to be gone a few hours. “What’s in it?”
    “Juice boxes. Oatmeal cookies.”
    “Healthy.” Jake hoped that Jeremy would have room for an ice-cream sundae on the way home. “Disposable washcloths.”
    “Always a good idea.” When Jake saw Emma’s frown, he decided it might be wiser to simply smile and nod.
    “I don’t have bug spray,” Emma said. “Did you bring some?”
    Jake had a hunch he was being tested. But fortunately, he knew the correct answer. Emma wasn’t the only one who had come prepared.
    “It’s in the tackle box. Right next to the first-aid kit.”
    The flash of startled approval in Emma’s eyes hadJake silently thanking the mother of twin boys who’d been standing behind him in line at the sporting-goods store. She’d overheard Jake talking to the cashier about his upcoming fishing trip and handed him the little white box.
    “You’ll need one of these,” she’d whispered.
    Jake had glanced at the red cross stamped on the cover—and then at the price tag. “Ten dollars for Band-Aids and antibiotic ointment?”
    “Ten dollars for peace of mind,” the woman had said with a wise smile.
    Without another word, Jake had tossed it into the cart. Now he was glad he had.
    Jeremy skidded into the kitchen. “I’m ready, Jake. Let’s go!”

Chapter Nine

    E mma laced her fingers together to stop them from shaking. She wished she could take back her decision. Wished that some things could stay the same.
    But she forced a smile on the outside so her sensitive son wouldn’t suspect that she was crumbling on the inside.
    “Did you remember your jacket?”
    “I have a sweatshirt. It’s not cold out, Mom.”
    She caught her lip between her teeth. “I guess you’re right.”
    “Why don’t you get in the car, Jeremy?” Jake suggested softly. “I’ll be right there.”
    “Okay.” Jeremy ran over and locked his arms around her waist. “Bye, Mom!”
    “Bye, sweetheart.”
    Jeremy squirmed in her arms and Emma forced herself to let go. Now if only she could hold herself together a few more seconds until Jake left.
    Only he didn’t leave.
    “Are you all right?”
    “I’ll be fine.” When they returned.
    “I remember when I was a kid, my mom alwayswanted to know one thing if I made plans to do something. Details. ” Jake reached down and picked up the wicker basket. “Of course I didn’t realize at the time that her ‘one thing’ really meant a lot of things. I thought I was getting off easy.” He flashed the smile that never failed to set her pulse racing.
    Emma wanted to return his smile. She stared at a point over his shoulder instead.
    “Since Jeremy doesn’t know what we’re going to do this evening, I’ll fill you in,” Jake said, as if she’d asked. “We’re not taking a boat out on the lake. Abby offered the use of her dock at the lodge. I’ll make sure Jeremy