A Family Reunited by Jennifer Johnson

in stood in this kitchen.
    Tammie took bowls out of the cabinets, while Pamela placed silverware and napkins on the counter. Kirk got out the vanilla ice cream, and Callie and Mike sat down at the table. Jack sat opposite them, and the girls plopped into seats on either side of him. Emmy grabbed his hand and nestled her cheek against his palm, and Emma grinned at him as she rubbed her hands together in anticipation of the dessert.
    Pleasure trailed through him once everyone sat at the table together with apple crisps and ice cream in front of them. He’d longed for this, to be a true part of the family once more.
    Closing his eyes, he took the first bite and savored the sweet, cinnamon-apple flavor. A memory filled his heart of Pamela making the dessert for him soon after they’d learned she was pregnant with Emma. He’d been confused and scared, and she’d tried to encourage him that everything would be all right. Her faith had been so strong and his so weak.
    Opening his eyes, he looked at her. She studied him, and he wondered if she could read his thoughts. She nodded toward the dessert. “Good?”
    “As always.”
    Emmy licked the back of her spoon. “I’m ready to play a game.”
    “Me, too.” Emma placed the silverware in her empty bowl.
    Taking the last bite, Jack stood and grabbed the girls’ bowls, then set them in the sink. “I’m ready, too.”
    Kirk took Callie’s hand. “I think I’ll take my girl back to the house and let her rest a bit.”
    Callie didn’t protest as she stood and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Tammie, I know I should stay and help with the dishes—”
    “Nonsense. You cooked with Pamela and me all morning, then took the girls to the movie.” Tammie kissed Callie’s forehead and patted her stomach. “Go put my grandbabies to bed.”
    Emmy stuck out her bottom lip. “But we need another player. Who’s gonna play if Callie and Kirk leave?”
    Mike reached across the table and tapped Emmy’s hand. “Your mama will play.”
    “No. I’m gonna help Mom clean up,” said Pamela.
    Mike pointed to his chest. “That’ll be my job tonight. Go enjoy your family.”
    Jack held his breath as he waited for Pamela’s response to her dad’s words. A few weeks ago she would have glared at her father, proclaimed Jack not to be her family and left the room. But they’d made some progress since then. She’d softened toward him. Maybe she was even beginning to love him again. Or at least like him.
    Pamela nodded. “Okay.” She looked at the girls. “What are we going to play?”
    The girls raced into the other room, and he and Pamela followed them. He wanted to take her hand, to feel the warmth of it once more in his own. But he didn’t. The time would come, but for now he had to be patient.
    Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it out of her front pocket. Jack spied the name Peter on the screen. That was the guy from the fall festival, the one who’d been her professor. No doubt the guy was interested in Pamela. Pamela snarled and shoved the phone back in her pocket without replying to the message. Jack sucked in a breath. He’d take that as a good sign.
    The girls laid out the board game, and Jack sat beside Pamela at the card table her parents had set up in the living room.
    “I’m yellow,” said Emmy.
    “Red,” said Emma.
    Pamela snatched the green and snickered. “Green.”
    He twisted his mouth and narrowed his gaze in jest at her. She knew green was his favorite color. He lifted his brows. “Then I’ll have to beat you all with blue.”
    The girls cackled as Emma spun to see who would go first.
    The front door opened, and Ben stepped inside. Jack couldn’t get over how much the kid had grown. He wasn’t a kid at all anymore. Several inches taller than Jack, with dark stubble covering his chin, Ben had grown into a man. A man with dark bags beneath his eyes and a hardened set to his jaw. He pointed to Jack. “What is he doing here?”
    Pamela stood.