“What’s curling?” Kelsey asked.

“It’s that thing with the rock and the brooms and the ice for losers who live in the Arctic circle and shit,” Dalton said.

“Is he kidding?”

“No, that’s about right,” Emmaline said.

“My GPA is too low for me to be on a team,” Tamara said proudly. “Nice try, though, Officer Em.”

“This is a club, not a team. I just got permission from Dr. Didier for you all to join. Isn’t that sunshiney and sparkly and wonderful?”

“What drugs are you on?” Dalton said. “And can I have some?”

Inside the rink were two other kids—Abby Vanderbeek and Charlie Kellogg. “Can we join, too?” Abby said listlessly. “My mother said I needed to be on a team sport, but I really think she just wants more grown-up time with my father.”

“I’m so sorry,” Tamara said.

“Yeah, of course you can join,” Emmaline said. “Have you always loved curling, Charlie?”

“I don’t even know what it is,” he said. “I’m just keeping Abby company.” He blushed.

“Aren’t you guys cousins?” Cory asked.

“No. We’re not related.” His face went from blush to lava.

“Everyone’s related in this town.” Abby sighed. “I hear you’re sleeping with my uncle, Emmaline. Will I be calling you Auntie soon?”

“Shut up, Abby,” came a voice. “Hey, kids!”

Speak of the devil. Jack came over to Em and planted a quick kiss on her lips.

“Disgusting,” Abby said. “Isn’t it enough that my parents are home pretending to be Lord and Lady Crawley? Now my uncle is making googly eyes with the last cool adult in this town.”

“I think it’s beautiful, man,” Dalton said. “You go, Jack.”

“You guys are cute,” Tamara said. “You gonna get married? Can we be in the wedding?”

“Enough, enough,” Em said. “Here are the rules, more or less.”

For the next ninety minutes, Emmaline let the kids go at it. The curling stone, a hefty, polished granite rock, was pushed from one end of the rink to the other, the kids furiously scrubbing the ice in front of it. Em didn’t bother with technique; it was enough that the kids were doing something other than sitting around, complaining about life’s injustices. Dalton kept running down the ice and sliding on his belly like an otter, and Charlie Kellogg and Abby seemed to have a dozen inside jokes, which was kind of nice.

Em went to the bleachers and sat, taking a couple of pictures of her kids (and sure, one or two of Jack). It was rare to see her kids in motion, and for once, they were all smiling.

Kelsey even got in on the action a little as the lead, the person who pushed the stone down the ice. She was six months along, which meant the baby would come right before graduation. She hadn’t named a father yet and hadn’t made a firm decision about adoption, either. Em was worried. If Kelsey didn’t graduate...

“Yes, my brother!” Jack shouted, high-fiving Dalton. “We win!”

And speaking of worries, Jack was a little manic today. He had been since the other night, when she’d asked him about going to the hospital. That same night, he’d had a doozy of a nightmare, unable to wake up from it. She’d tried to soothe him, whispering that everyone was safe. But there were dark circles under his eyes.

He saw her looking and flashed her a smile that was too bright.

She’d tried to fix Kevin, too. Fix his ego, his weight problem, protect him from mean people and his own negativity, and that had backfired miserably.

There was no reason to think she could fix Jack. She could be a distraction. She could be fun. She couldn’t save anyone, and she shouldn’t try.

“Excuse me,” came a sweet voice, and Em tried not to twitch.

“Hadley. How are you?”

“I’m just wonderful, thank you,” she said. “And how are you, Officer Neal?”

“Great.” Though it was a balmy forty-five degrees today, Hadley wore a black wool coat with fur around the collar and a matching hat, looking like something out of a Russian fairy tale. Em was in uniform, as usual.

As if on cue, Hadley looked her up and down. “You’re looking very...muscular today.”

“Thank you.”

“It was more of an observation than a compliment. But I guess up here, you women need to be strong, since y’all are much more likely to stay single.”

“True,” Emmaline said. “I am single and can open jars all by myself. That being said, I’ve never been divorced.” Never cheated on my husband, either.

“Yes, I read People magazine,” Hadley replied. “Well. Doesn’t everyone?”

“Touché.”

“I’m here to talk with Jack, actually, but I just love watching him move. Reminds me of just how graceful he is. And predatory, if you know what I mean.”

Em rolled her eyes. Glanced at her watch. “Pack it in, kids,” she called. “And Jack, there’s someone to see you.”

Jack came over, his face neutral at the sight of his ex. “What can I do for you, Hadley?” he asked, ever polite. Irritating.

“Jack, it’s so good to see you!” she said, clasping her gloved hands in front of her. “You looked so handsome out there. Well, you always do, don’t you? Now, guess who’s in town? Frankie! She’s dying to see you, Jack! Please say you’ll come for dinner this time, please. You know how she’s always adored you. Oh, my gosh, you know what she remembered today? The time the three of us went on the ole trolley tour and you and she were standing in front of that bakery, and y’all didn’t even notice when—”

“Yeah, okay,” he said. “What time?”

“How about cocktails at six o’clock? You know how Daddy instilled that in us.” She beamed.

“Fine. See you later, then.”

“Oh, hooray! See you later, baby!” Knowing to quit when she was ahead, Hadley practically skipped away.

“You two-timing Officer Em?” Dalton asked, sliding over.

“No,” Jack said. “It’s just dinner.”

“Dude, are you crazy?” Dalton said. “It’s not okay! Although, props, man. She’s gorgeous.”

“Em?” Jack asked. “You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”

“It’s fine,” she said. It was not fine. And yet, she knew he was fond of his former sister-in-law. And it wasn’t like they’d made plans that he’d just canceled. Nor did she want to be that kind of girlfriend who told him who he could see and who he couldn’t, because, let’s face it, those women were control freaks.

Still. Teeny Tiny wanted him to come for dinner, and he was going.

“Oh, you’re screwed,” Dalton said. “Sucks to be you, pal.” He ran down the ice and slid once again.

“Is he right?” Jack asked. “‘Fine’ does tend to signal doom when it’s said like that.”

Em glanced over his shoulder. “It’s fine. I have to get the kids back.”

“It’s just that Frankie and I stayed friends.”