Handful of Heaven by Jillian Hart

like this, and well, I think it’s too early to take a pregnancy test.”
    “I’ll run across the street to the drug store and get one, and we can read the instructions to see. Or, wait, no, you want to share this with your husband.”
    “I do.”
    “Whatever you need, sweetie.”
    The diamond wedding set on Amy’s left hand caught the light, sparkling like a brand-new shiny promise. Life had been hard for Amy for a long time. She’d been a rebellious teenager, and unhappy trapped in this small town. She’d run away her senior year in high school for a bigger and more exciting life in a big city, but she’d returned unhappy and disillusioned with her baby son in her arms.
    She’d worked so hard all the years since to raise her son and provide for him, and now Paige prayed for her nightly—that this new marriage and the man in her life were everything she deserved, that her road ahead would be easier and filled with love—the kind of love that could last.
    “Thank you, Paige. You are the best big sister.”
    “No, I’m just marginal and very lucky to have you. Why don’t you sit down for a bit? I’ll get some ginger ale and crackers to calm your stomach. Sound like a good idea?”
    “No, because the lunch rush is about to hit.”
    “Not your problem. It’s mine.”
    Amy wadded up the towel and gave it a toss. It landed neat as a pin in the wastebasket. Her heart-shaped face was ashen, but her jeweled eyes were big and bright and full of hope. “I’m not sick, I don’t think, and I want to finish my shift.”
    “Not on your life. You’re going home. First you’re going to sit until you’re looking better and when you are, we’ll discuss you staying at the diner. C’mon, baby sister.” Paige put her arm around Amy’s slender shoulders. “You come let me take care of you.”
    “I’m not sick.”
    “Then you’re something better, and you need to take care. C’mon.” She navigated them through the door and down the hall. “Go sit and I’ll be right out.”
    “But the lunch rush—”
    “Go!” Paige softened her stern tone with a smile. “Brandilyn,” she called to the teen, who was standing at the till, her forehead wrinkled in concentration as she stared at the ticket and then the cash register keys. “Brandilyn, honey, go fetch two orders of cornbread for Mr. Thornton’s table. I’ll grab Alex to man the till.”
    “Like, I totally need help!”
    Paige rang up the ticket, handed the change back to Mrs. Brisbane, and thanked her for coming. It took a second to haul Alex from his friends, he came with only a half-hearted complaint, and took over front-desk duties so she could go catch up in the kitchen. She ladled out two huge bowls of chili for Evan and the plumber, and started a row of burgers on the grill. After swiping off her hands, she brought Amy a bowl of crackers and a big cup of soda. Amy looked too miserable to tackle the crackers but sipped at the pop with a look of deep gratitude.
    Since Alex was answering the diner’s phone, probably for a take-out order, she grabbed her cell from her pocket and dialed Amy’s home number. It took only a moment to let Heath know what was going on, and before she knew it, the meat patties were done. She dressed the buns, plated the meals, added a heaping round of golden fries and rang the bell.
    Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Evan, digging into his chili and talking animatedly with Phil. There was something about him, something nice.
    What was she thinking? She filled a basket with raw cut potatoes and lowered it into the fryer. She was so not interested in Evan Thornton. In any man. She didn’t have time for one. Room for one. Heart for one. Her life was far too full taking care of everyone else. And that was besides the fact that she’d had enough of men. One husband was more than enough for any woman. What would she want with another?
    More customers were piling in, Alex was seating them, and she turned to dress