[Finding Emma 03.0] Megan's Hope Read Online Free PDF Page B

of cotton candy and let the sugary sweet melt in her mouth.
    “ Do you think she liked my birthday gift? ” Jack nodded towards Emma, who was now at the top. She was leaned over the bar and looked down. Once she noticed they were watching her, both Peter and Emma waved at them.
    “ Jack, I don ’ t think it ’ s possible for you to give her anything that she wouldn ’ t like. ”
    The moment he ’ d walked into their home today, Emma had launched herself at him, wrapped her arms around his waist and said he was the bestest birthday gift ever. He ’ d laughed and held out a large gift bag. Without waiting, she pulled out the tissue paper and then smiled up at him with the largest smile Megan had ever seen.
    Jack had bought her a yellow sundress and a large sunhat, complete with a daisy flower attached to a pink band of ribbon. Emma ran up the stairs and quickly changed. Even now, she held on to that hat so it wouldn ’ t fly off her head.
    When she ’ d come back down the stairs, Jack had been waiting for her. He held in his hand one more gift.
    “ More gifts, Papa? ” Emma jumped up and down in her spot.
    He nodded.
    “ Can I open it now? Or, ” she glanced over at Megan, “ do I have to wait till later? Mommy says I can ’ t open her gifts until before cake. ”
    “ Well, if that ’ s what your mom says, then I guess we should follow her rules. ” Jack glanced up and Megan had a hard time not laughing.
    They both wore the same expressions on their face, the same twinkle in their eye, as if they knew she couldn ’ t say no.
    “ Go ahead. ” It was hard to say no to her little girl, especially on her birthday.
    Jack handed the small gift over to Emma.
    They all watched as she carefully unwrapped the box, taking one piece of tape off at a time. She let the wrapping paper fall to the ground and carefully opened the small black box and gasped.
    Megan leaned over to see what was inside.
    Jack cleared his throat. “ Your grandma picked this out and we were going to wait … well, now seems like as good a time as any to give it to you. ”
    Emma turned to Megan and held out the box. Inside was a beautiful silver daisy charm that hung from a delicate chain. The daisy was outlined with small sparkling stones. It was beautiful and Megan blinked away the tears that gathered as she carefully took the necklace out of the box.
    “ Your grandma saw it one day at the jewelry store and knew right away that it was meant for you. ” He swallowed hard and gave Megan a smile. “ How many other little girls do you know that love Daisy ’ s so much? ” He gave a small shrug of his shoulders while clearing his throat.
    “ Papa, ” Emma ’ s voice quivered, “ thank you. ”
    Emma threw herself into Jack ’ s arms and hugged him tight. Once she let go, she gathered her hair in her hands while Megan placed the necklace around her neck and attached the clasp.
    “ I have more, but I left them in the truck, ” Jack said to her as they watched Emma on the ride.
    “ More? Jack, she ’ s spoiled enough. ” Megan thought about all the gifts she ’ d bought as well.
    Jack shrugged. “ Let me spoil her while I can. ”
    Megan nodded. Each time they saw Jack, they knew they didn ’ t have much longer with him. Today was a good day: he was walking okay — albeit a little slow — but he was here and that was the main thing. Other days, when they ’ d had to bring Emma out to his farm, Jack stayed in his chair, rarely moving and although he would never say anything, they knew.
    They knew.
    “ You can spoil her as much as you want, Jack. ”
    He nodded his head and despite the smile on his face, there was a sadness in his gaze that hurt her heart. She wasn ’ t sure she was ready for the repercussions if they lost him.
    “ We were thinking of baby names, ” Megan blurted out.
    Jack glanced down at her growing belly and grunted.
    “ If it ’ s a boy, we were thinking of calling him Jack. And if a girl, Jacqueline. ”