“It’s great. Thanks again.”

“You’re welcome. I’ve got to go.”

“Go. Good luck.”

“Thanks, I’ll get in touch once I’m back.”

“I hope you find your friend, and that he’s all right.”

She did sound as if she cared. “Bye, Jessie.”

“Bye, Jack.”

Boy, he thought, one relationship ending, while his and Jessie’s was just warming up. There really weren’t any guarantees when it came to love and life.

Two days later, Jessie couldn’t handle the not knowing. She shouldn’t let Jack’s problems bother her, but for some reason they did. He hadn’t called, hadn’t shown up at the diner. Now it was her day off and she sat on the same park bench, watching her son play after school. Maybe the bench reminded her of him. Then again, she hadn’t stopped thinking about Jack since they’d met. Twice she’d picked up the phone to call him; twice she’d chickened out.

How was his friend doing? Did they find him? If there was one thing she knew about Jack it was his loyalty to people he called friend. Look at her. They hardly knew each other and yet he’d put his job on the line for her…fixed her car when he didn’t need to.

Sure, he might not have a kid to take care of or much in the way of responsibility, but he’d spent his money paying to have her car fixed. She hadn’t bought into his saying he owed a friend a favor. Chances were he’d paid something to have her car fixed.

The oil light didn’t even blink at her anymore.

Where was Jack now? Could she return the friendship favor and help him out? She had to do something other than sit here in the park and worry.

Friends call friends to see how they’re doing.

Jack was a friend…right?

Jessie had a sudden feeling of déjà vu. She was in high school again, contemplating whether or not she should call a boy.

“Grow up,” she chided herself.

She dialed Jack’s number and held her breath until he answered. When he did, he sounded like he was still in bed.

“Jack, it’s Jessie. Did I wake you?”

“Jessie? Yeah, hold on.”

Muffled sounds permeated the line until Jack returned. “Hey.”

“You’re in bed?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s four o’clock.”

Jack released a long sigh. “We couldn’t get Dean off his binge until sunrise. Then the alcohol haunted him until noon. He was a mess, Jessie. One sorry son of a bitch.”

Jessie sighed. “So you found him.”

“We did. I might have to spike his cereal with whiskey to keep his head from exploding, but we did find him, drunk as any sailor on shore leave.”

“Where are you?”

“Up in Arrowhead.”

“Dean is taking the breakup hard, then?”

Jack’s voice sounded more alert with every sentence. “He is. No man ever wants to believe the woman he pledged his life to isn’t committed. But between you and me, I think it’s for the best. Maggie was nice and all, but not for Dean. Better they figure that out now than get married and figure it out after.”

“You didn’t tell him that, did you?”

“I’m not an idiot, Jessie.” He laughed. “I’ve seen Dean throw a punch, and I don’t want to be on the receiving end of one.”

“Good. Why did his fiancée break it off?”

Jack sounded as if he was moving around on a bed. “I don’t think he knows. She just told him she couldn’t do it. They were too different. Shouldn’t she have figured that out before she said yes?”

“I’ve never been engaged, but I think that’s what an engagement is all about. You have to spend time with each other, figure out if you work together outside of the physical.”

“Dean said the physical was amazing.”

“He’s a guy. Of course it was. Did he know about the things that count? Did they mesh outside of the bedroom? Could they talk to each other about any and everything?”

“Damn…no. I don’t think so. But I already told you I didn’t think they worked. Dean thought they did, and for that I’m bummed for him.”

Jessie watched her son on the playground and leaned on her forearms. “You’re a good friend, Jack. You were ready to accept her regardless, and you’re there for him when it fell apart.”

“I’ve known Dean since we were kids.”

“Did you grow up together?”

“Yeah. He’s like a brother to me.”

Jessie smiled. “You take care of the people you care about, Jack, and it shows. Dean’s lucky to have you on his side.”

“Ah, now, Miss Jessie, you keep talkin’ like that and I’m going to have to get down to you and show you how much I appreciate your astute attention to my divine disposition.” Jack’s accent sang like a soprano in church.

“I’m paying you a compliment, not inviting you into anything divine.”

Jack laughed.

She laughed with him. “OK, well, I’ll let you go. Just wanted to check up.”

“You just wanted to hear my sexy cowboy voice,” he teased.

“I was concerned for your friend.” The sexy voice was a nice bonus.

Jack laughed. “What are you doing today?”

“I’m at the park with Danny. We’re going to the outlet center tomorrow, get some Christmas shopping done. How long are you going to be in Arrowhead?”