Tears flowed down her cheeks, and she sniffled. “I love you, too, Daddy. I promise I’ll give it some serious consideration. If I do take a job, I want it to be on the lowest level possible. No nepotism.”

“Can’t promise no nepo-whaddyacallit.” Dill whipped out a white handkerchief and handed it to her. “You are my daughter. Can’t change that.”

She wiped her tears away and handed the hankie back to him.

“Keep it. You might need it again.” He grinned. “I’ve got a meeting, so I should be going. You can go on back to talking to yourself now.”

She hugged him one more time. “Thanks for understanding.”

“That’s what daddies do. See you later.” They exchanged waves as he left the store, and she tucked the hankie in her purse, hoping that she didn’t need it again for a long, long time.

Chapter Sixteen

Snow cone and a drive? The text came from Rick as she was finishing up at Nadine’s house.

Was this a date? Should she tell him that she didn’t have time? She worried with it a full minute before she typed slowly, Ten minutes?

The answer came immediately: I’m outside. No rush.

She finished putting away her cleaning supplies and left a note on the cabinet for Nadine.

Locking the door behind me. See you later.

Rick was leaning against the truck when she reached the driveway. He flashed a brilliant smile, but he had sunglasses on, so she couldn’t see his eyes. Opening the door for her, he said, “That was the shortest ten minutes I’ve ever had to wait on anyone.”

“You had me at snow cone, but Rick, are you sure about this?” she said.

“Hey, it’s not dinner and a movie. It’s just a snow cone after a long, hot day of work. What’s your favorite flavor?” He slammed the door shut.

She laid her arm on the open window. “Rainbow. Cherry, banana, and grape. I like that you don’t have AC in the truck. It reminds me of Frank’s old vehicle when I was a kid. I liked to hang my arm out the window and catch the wind.”

“I’ve saved enough money to buy a newer truck, but just can’t make myself let go of it when this one is runnin’ good except for the air. The heat works fine in the winter, so we don’t freeze. But—” There was that sexy grin again. “I remember when the heater went out in Dad’s old truck. Cricket and I were little kids, and Mama would bundle us up in quilts when we went anywhere. When he finally bought a newer model, we both cried and wanted our quilts back.”

“It would be like going for an open carriage ride in New York City in the winter, all bundled up in blankets. Daddy and Mama came to visit me the first New Year’s that I lived in New York, and we went on a carriage ride. It’s one of my favorite memories,” she said.

“Didn’t you do things like that with Percy?”

She shook her head. “No, he liked limos more than carriage rides, and parties with lots of people more than anything else. When it came right down to it, he wasn’t very romantic, at least not with me. Maybe he’s better with whoever he’s with now.”

“He’s an idiot,” Rick growled as he got in line behind half a dozen cars at the snow-cone stand. “Did you see lots of snow-cone stands in the big city?”

“Not in my part of the place. I haven’t had one since I left Bloom to go to college,” she answered. “So I want a large one, and add a stripe of lime to it with the other flavors. What are you havin’?”

“The same thing you are. It sounds great,” he answered. “I feel like a little kid every time I get a snow cone.” He moved up in the line, but there were still two cars ahead of him.

“Me, too,” she said, but her mind settled on the little unmarked grave. That baby would never grow up to be a little kid or eat a snow cone or go to proms or pick peas in the garden. She would never cry or laugh or pull her first tooth.

“I had a baby daughter,” she blurted out.

Rick reached across the console and tucked her hand into his. “Did your husband get custody?”

She shook her head. “He left when he found out I was pregnant and didn’t want anything to do with her.”

“Where is she?” Rick asked.

Jennie Sue felt as if there was a brick on her chest. Maybe it wasn’t the right time to tell Rick. Maybe never would have been a better time, but the old proverbial cat was out of the bag now.

“She was stillborn. Mama and Daddy brought her to Bloom to bury her,” she whispered.

“How? What?” he sputtered.

“I guess if you’ve got enough money, secrets can be kept, even in Bloom,” she said.

“Have you been to the cemetery?” he asked.

She held up two fingers. “Twice. The first time, I couldn’t even get out of the truck. The second was the day we almost collided. I feel so guilty that there’s not even a stone to mark her grave. It’s like I’m ashamed of her. Once we get a snow cone, maybe you better just take me home.”

“I’ve got a better idea.” He finally pulled up to the window and ordered.

“And that is?”

“Let’s go to the cemetery together. We’ll sit right there beside her, and you can tell me all about what she looked like,” he said.

For the second time that week, she was stunned speechless. That was the absolute last thing she’d expected him to say.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

He handed her the first snow cone that came through the window. “Of course. You need to talk about her, and I’m here to listen.”

“I’m not sure what I’d say to her,” she said.

“Not to her.” He took his snow cone and let go of her hand. “About her. I never felt right talking to my mama’s or my dad’s tombstone, but talking about them is a different matter.”

A wrought iron fence surrounded the Bloom cemetery, and huge oak trees located among the graves shaded much of the place. Rick drove through the gates and down to the first narrow road that divided sections.

“Where to now?”

“Left.” She pointed. “To the Baker graves right down there.”

“What’s her name?” he asked as he parked the truck.

“Emily Grace.” She carried her snow cone with her to the end of the plot and sat down on the grass.

Rick sat down beside her and draped an arm around her shoulders. “How much did she weigh?”

“Eight pounds even.”

“Is she named after someone?” he asked.

“No, I just thought the name sounded southern and pretty. I could picture her in a pink lace dress on her first Easter with a little bonnet,” she answered. “She had a lot of jet-black hair and a little round face with cheeks made for kissing. I got to hold her for an hour before they took her away. I sent the dress I’d planned to take her home in with Mama, but I don’t even know if she buried her in it. I got a horrible infection and had to stay in the hospital a whole week. By the time I went home alone, she was already put away.” Jennie Sue swallowed hard, but the lump in her throat wouldn’t go down.

Rick moved closer to her and drew her to his side. She leaned her head on his shoulder and let the tears flow freely.

“I just let Daddy and Mama take over the arrangements, and I buried myself in college classes. Mama said that she didn’t want anyone to know because it could ruin my chances of finding another husband.”

He patted her on the back. “I’m not sure I understand that reasoning, but your mother thinks different than I do.”

“Seems like years ago,” she said.

“It’s a wonder you kept any sanity at all. We’ll come every week from now on and bring flowers for her grave. She’ll never be forgotten,” he promised.

She nodded in agreement. “There’s going to be a stone with her name on it, too.”

His phone rang, and without letting go of her, he worked it out of his hip pocket. “Sorry about this,” he said to Jennie Sue before answering the call. “Hello? I’m pretty busy right now, Cricket.”

Several long seconds passed before he said, “Are you absolutely sure?”