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face, only inches from hers. “
You
might be hoping all things,” she murmured, “but you’re setting yourself up for disappointment, Jerome. I take my responsibilities to my parents seriously.”
    â€œEmma,” he entreated her in a lingering whisper, “I respect you immensely for keeping your family fed and cared for. But your folks would be a lot happier if you’d get out and enjoy yourself more. They’ve told me so.”
    Emma’s mouth dropped open.
Get out and enjoy yourself more?
She was inclined not to believe him, yet she could well imagine Dat and Mamm telling him that, because they adored Jerome and enjoyed the time he spent with them. Still, Emma wasn’t falling for it. “We really need to get inside before the crowd arrives,” she told Jerome. “You have your jobs and I have mine.”
    Jerome didn’t budge. “I just want to have some
fun
with you, because I really
like
you, Emma. Won’t you please give me a chance?” He held her gaze for a few moments more, then cleared his throat. “I’ve heard you were sweet on Matt Lambright all through school, and I’m sorry he didn’t return your affection. That had to be a hard pill to swallow, when he married Rosemary and then moved right next door to you.”
    Emma wished she could disappear. While Jerome had probably learned about her feelings for Matt from her parents as well, it still rattled her that he knew so much about her love life—or lack of one. “I don’t need your pity, Jerome,” she snapped.
    â€œPity?”
His eyebrows rose. “On the contrary, I admire your longtime loyalty to Matt. It strikes me as . . . very special. I’d like to make up for the good times I suspect you’ve missed out on—but now I’ve embarrassed you.” He sighed as he opened the door for her. “I’m sorry, Emma. When I really want something to work out, I tend to speak before I think.”
    Emma’s pulse was pounding, and as she entered the airy, glass-walled greenhouse, she hoped the ladies who’d been preparing the meal didn’t notice her red face. To settle her nerves, she inhaled the tantalizing aromas of the traditional chicken and stuffing “roast” and the creamed celery. After what Jerome hadsaid about her unrequited affection for Matt, it would be even more difficult to sit beside him for the entire wedding feast, in front of everyone. She really needed to keep herself too busy to—
    Why are you so upset? Jerome’s a nice fellow, complimenting you and expressing his concern. You could do worse than spending your time with such a good-looking, successful man
.
    Emma blinked. That sounded like something her mother would say.
    Okay, so Jerome came on a little too strong—but he apologized. Maybe you don’t know how to respond to his attention because you’ve hardly dated anyone, while he’s been engaged twice . . .
    Why were her feelings riding such a seesaw? This wasn’t the time or the place to let Jerome’s attention distract her. Emma focused again on the tables that were set for the meal, and on the things she could do to make this day totally wonderful for Abby and James.
    â€œIt was a beautiful wedding!” she called out to Beulah Mae, Lois, and the other helpers who’d remained there to oversee the final food preparations. “Folks’ll be coming over any minute now.”
    The cooks and servers bustled about, lifting the covers from the metal pans in the steam table and checking the food one last time. The bread and slices of pie were already on the tables, so Emma helped fill the water glasses as the first of the wedding guests stepped through the door. Abby and James entered the greenhouse, and the whole place seemed to light up with the joy that shone on their faces as they gazed at each other.
    That’s how love’s supposed to be,
Emma