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Constance gave Jack a questioning look. “Would you mind very much if I…?”

Yes, he minded. This was supposed to be his chance to show off to everyone what a wonderful couple they made, and here she wanted to spend the afternoon helping Doug? But the man was in obvious distress, and Jack supposed he’d caused him enough misery already. “Not at all, as long as you let me help too.”

Because he sure as hell wasn’t going to let her spend their first proper date without him.

They crossed the patio to Doug, who glared at Jack before turning to Constance with a pleading look. “Mrs. Medford took ill and couldn’t help with setup. And then the ice cream man’s truck broke down, so he can’t make the delivery and wants us to come get it from his store. And for some reason, Mr. Cooper didn’t show up to run the children’s games. I had been counting on your help before…well…everything. And now, even though I told everyone the plan and reminded them a thousand times, I’m all alone here with a mob of angry parishioners who want ice cream that I don’t have.”

“I want ice cream,” screamed a three-foot-high knee-biter in short pants with suspenders, as if to punctuate the point.

Constance knelt and took his hands. “The ice cream will be here soon, Timmy. Let’s be nice to Mr. Brown and let him go get it. And in the meantime…tag! You’re it!”

She bopped Timmy on the head, and he ran off into the group of children, grasping wildly and cackling. Jack couldn’t help but watch in awe as the children’s mood immediately switched, ice cream forgotten in the game.

Then she stood and turned to Jack. “I hate to ask this, but could you go with Doug to the ice cream parlor and help carry everything back?”

“I can handle it myself,” Doug objected, looking daggers at Jack.

“Don’t be silly. You couldn’t possibly carry that much. Let Jack help you.”

Jack wanted to help Doug about as much as he wanted a root canal, but he couldn’t say no to Constance. “She’s right. You’ll need my help to carry it all.”

Doug took a deep breath through his nose and pressed his lips together. “Fine,” he grumbled. “Come with me.”

As Jack followed Doug out the door, he heard Constance enlisting various adults to set up the tables, like she was a general marshalling her troops. She was a miracle, and he was so lucky to be the man she chose. For her, he would even be nice to Doug, despite the hostility that radiated from him like a rancid cologne with every movement.

As soon as they were out on the street, Doug took off at such a brisk pace, it was obvious he was trying to leave Jack behind. Jack had to jog to catch up. “Look, I’m sorry about this.”

Doug gave him a murderous look without slowing his pace. “I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Fine.” So much for trying to be polite.

They traversed several blocks in stony silence. As they turned the corner onto the street with the ice cream shop, Doug slowed and turned to him. “You know what? I changed my mind. I do have something to say. You have some nerve coming to this event with her today. Are you deliberately trying to rub my failure in my face? I’m doing the best I can not to be a sore loser here, but you are making it very hard.”

Jack took a deep breath before responding. He could be the bigger man here. He had to be in order to deserve Constance. “I didn’t come to make trouble. This ice cream social is important to Constance and her family. And Constance is important to me. If I hadn’t brought her, it would have looked like I was hiding, like I’m ashamed to be with her, and I’m not. But I didn’t come with the intention of making trouble for you.”

Through clenched teeth, Doug answered, “You’re all wrong for her, you know. She’s going to see that eventually. You might have won her heart for now, but how many times will you break it? She needs safety, stability, and you can offer neither. I don’t know what she sees in you.”

All Jack’s insecurities came roaring back, along with a violent urge to throttle Doug. Because the man was right, which only made it all the worse. “I’ll prove you wrong. I’m exactly the man for her. She’s stronger than you think, and I have no intention of breaking her heart. I’m quitting the airmail as soon as I can manage it to start my flight school. You’re right that I’ll never be as safe, or as boring, as you. And I wouldn’t want to be. At least I know how to kiss her like she deserves.”

That was pushing things too far, and Jack knew it. But damn it all, he didn’t want to sit and let Doug lecture him. The man had walked away like a coward. If he regretted his decision, that was his own business.

Doug went rigid and turned slowly to face Jack. “I hope you rot in hell at the end of a very short life, Jack Thompson.” He spun and stalked away toward the ice cream parlor.

It took a full minute of deep breathing for Jack to move from his spot and follow Doug. Without a word, Doug handed him six tubs of ice cream to carry and took just as many himself. They made their way back to the ice cream social without speaking a word to each other. When they arrived back at the church, arms filled with ice cream, a cheer went up from the assembled crowd.

While they’d been away, the rest of the Pritchards had arrived. Constance must have enlisted their help to finish setting up and organize the children into games of hopscotch and red rover, because the twins presided over the games under her watchful gaze while she finished the last of the setup with her mother. Her father stood in the midst of his parishioners, probably in the midst soothing their agitated nerves.

Jack put down his tubs on a table decorated with bunting that had a bowl of lemonade at one end and stacks of tiny glass bowls and spoons at the other. “Who wants ice cream?” he bellowed.

Doug glared but then turned to the crowd with a strained smile. “Step right up, folks! There’s plenty for everyone.”

It took about half an hour to serve everyone, and at long last, Jack was free to enjoy a scoop with Constance. They sat together on a shady bench as far back from the crowd as they could manage.

“How did it go with Doug?” Her furrowed brow told him they hadn’t hidden their feelings as well as he might have hoped.

“I’ve got to admit that I didn’t picture spending most of our first date with your former beau.” The less that was said about what words they exchanged, the better.

“That bad, huh?” Her sympathetic gaze made him want to kiss her right then and there, but he didn’t dare.