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Pamela’s glare. “It’s about your dad.”
    “Our dad?” Emmy furrowed her brows.
    “You never talk about our dad,” said Emma.
    “I saw a picture of him once.” Emmy sat up straighter. “In one of Grandma’s photo albums. He was holding Emma and looking at her with goofy eyes.” Her face fell. “But I didn’t see one with me.”
    “That’s ’cause he left before you were born,” Emma snapped.
    “I know,” Emmy retorted. “Grandma told me, and—”
    Pamela lifted her hand. “Enough. He lives in Tennessee again and wants to meet you.”
    Emmy’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
    “Do we have to?” Emma pursed her lips together and frowned.
    Pamela studied her older daughter. She looked angrier than Pamela had expected. “I’m not sure, and I don’t know how I feel about it, and—”
    “I want to meet him, Mom.” Emmy stood up, then hopped into Pamela’s lap. “I always wanted a mom and dad just like my friends. I mean, Sarah only has a mom like me, but...”
    Without a word, Emma wiped a single tear from her cheek, stood and walked to her room. Her child’s bitterness cut like a dagger through Pamela’s heart. She traced her fingers through Emmy’s hair as the girl continued to prattle on about the various students in her class. But worry niggled at Pamela’s heart for Emma. How long had her girl been in such pain, and why hadn’t she noticed?

Chapter 6
    J ack waited in the small office space at The Refuge while the health inspector checked the kitchen. If the shelter passed, they could open the doors the following week. He thumbed through the list of people from Faith Church who had signed up as volunteers, hoping to call them in the next few days to set up schedules.
    The front door opened, and Teresa walked in. Jack worried the inside of his mouth. She was a pretty woman, dark hair, dark eyes, had a nice personality. But he didn’t feel comfortable when she showed up at the center and he was alone. He didn’t want people to get the wrong impression. He didn’t want her to get the wrong impression. This time the health inspector was there, but he would be leaving.
    Jack forced a smile to his lips. “Good afternoon, Teresa.”
    A blush spread across her cheeks, and Jack wished he knew how to make her understand his interest rested in his wife and daughters. Even if Pamela looks ready to wring my neck each time she sees me.
    She twisted the gold stud earring in her earlobe. “I just stopped by on my lunch break to see what the health inspector said.”
    Jack held back a sigh of relief. If she was on a break, she wouldn’t be able to stay long. He pointed toward the kitchen area. “He’s still here. Been here awhile, so I assume we’ll know soon.”
    “Oh.” She clasped her hands. “I figured he’d be gone. I mean, I’d planned to see if you wanted to grab some lunch, but I don’t have a lot of time, and—”
    He shook his head. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.” He lifted his left hand and pointed to his wedding band. “I’m married, and I wouldn’t want—”
    “I know, but...” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
    “I love my wife, and I won’t do anything to make her think otherwise.”
    Teresa started to say something, then clamped her lips shut. In one swift movement, she turned on her heels and walked out the door. Jack grinned. He did love his wife, and he was committed to winning her back.
    The inspector walked out of the kitchen. “Everything looks great. You and the church have done a good job getting this old place back in working order. I’ll email the papers to you, and you can open for business whenever you’re ready.”
    Jack gripped the burly man’s hand. “That’s terrific. Thanks for your help.”
    After guiding the inspector out of the shelter, Jack pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and called Jermaine. A deep “hello” boomed over the line, and Jack was surprised at how much he missed his longtime mentor and