husbands. And Jane knew that cake wouldn’t end up on her check tonight.
Ryan had a sweet tooth that rivaled any kid in town, and Anita’s offer distracted him from his disappointment. His eyes widened. “Oh, cake. Can we have cake, Mom?”
She’d deal with the sugar high for hours and it would be hell to get the kids to bed tonight, but it would be worth it. “Of course you can have cake. Thanks, Anita.”
Anita winked and shoved her pencil into the wild mass of streaked blonde and brown hair piled on top of her head. “No problem, honey. Kids, go have Charlotte serve up that cake for you at the counter.”
The kids scrambled off. They loved sitting at the counter, where Charlotte, Bert’s wife, would serve them cake, no doubt with a dollop of ice cream on the side.
“Thanks again,” she said as Anita filled a cart with their empty dishes.
“You looked like you could use a ray of sunshine today.”
She hated that it showed on her face. “Oh, I’m fine. I just hate saying no to the kids.”
Anita laughed. “It’s a good word for them to learn. Teaches them that not everything in life is free.”
“I know that, but I haven’t been able to do anything special for them since Vic left. And Ryan wants to go to this fancy summer camp and I just can’t afford it.”
“Yeah, well, that’s Vic’s fault, not yours.” She punctuated the statement by tossing the utensils viciously into the cart.
“But my kids still adore their father.”
Anita gave them a look over her shoulder. Tabitha and Ryan were busily scooping from the bowl of ice cream Charlotte had given them and paying zero attention to their conversation.
“They’ll get over that when they’re older and realize how much he piled on your shoulders.”
“I got the great end of the deal,” Jane said with a smile. “I got them.”
Anita squeezed her arm. “You sure did, honey.”
Charlotte came over. She was a slight, just a bit over five feet tall woman with short gray hair, but she was formidable and ran Bert’s like a drill sergeant. She was also one of the sweetest women Jane had ever met. She slid a bowl of chocolate ice cream in front of her. Jane didn’t know what she’d do without Bert’s as a refuge.
“Some for you, too, sweetie,” Charlotte said.
She lifted her gaze at Charlotte. “Thanks. I needed that.”
“Figured,” Charlotte said with a wink.
Alone at the table, Jane inhaled and took a bite of the ice cream, then sighed, realizing this wasn’t going to do much to thin her thighs.
Then again, today she didn’t much care.
“Did you hear that Emma Burnett is back in town?” Anita took a seat across from her. It was a light crowd at the diner, and they’d come before the typical dinner rush anyway.
Jane was glad for the company—and some town gossip.
“No. Really?”
“Yes. She bought out Doc Weston’s veterinary practice and is reopening it.”
Jane smiled, happy to be talking about someone else for a change. “That’s great news. Gosh, I haven’t seen Emma since…high school, I guess. It’s been a really long time.”
“Yeah, she left town for vet school and then some job somewhere else and hasn’t been home much. I know she popped in here now and then during breaks from college, but we sure haven’t seen much of her over the years.”
“You’re right about that. Come to think of it, I don’t know that I can remember the last time she was back in Hope.”
Anita nodded. “Anyway, that’s all I know. Now she’s back and prepping the clinic to reopen.”
“That’s good news for Hope. Since Dr. Weston retired, everyone with animals has only had one clinic to go to. I can’t wait to see her. I’ll be sure to drop by once the clinic opens.”
“The Burnett sisters sure pulled a disappearing act, didn’t they?” Anita asked.
Jane frowned, then nodded. “Oh, that’s right. Emma’s little sister, Molly, left, too, didn’t she? I didn’t know her all that well because she was