8. Emma
EIGHT
Emma
I woke to a loud rumbling sound. And then a heavy weight crashing down on top of me. I was terrified for a split second until I realized what was going on.
A thunderstorm. And Stella had leaped up into bed with me.
“Come here, you big scaredy-cat.” I yawned. “There’s barely room for me in this twin, much less you. We’ll have to cuddle.” Luckily, Stella had never refused a cuddle in her life.
Thunder rumbled outside again. It sounded like we were in for a rainy day.
But if you asked me, music classes were the ideal indoor activity.
After the success of my parent-and-tot class, I now had three older students booked for private lessons. Two piano and one guitar. Summer was the perfect time to get started, and the kids were all sweet. Including Piper’s son, Ollie. He was a ball of energy for sure. But I had taught plenty of kids before, and I also had two much-younger siblings. I knew all the tricks.
After a slightly rocky start in Silver Ridge, everything had been looking up lately. Even Ashford had been slightly less annoying the past several days, ever since the night I’d seen him at the brewery. As my journal reflected. I’d spent less time complaining about him in there.
My apartment was the only part of my summer plan that was still on unsteady footing. This place was drafty, and it had a persistent smell of mildew. Especially in the bathroom. But it was fine. I was getting used to it.
When the first few drops of moisture hit my arm, I thought Stella was slobbering on me. But no, she was already slobbering on my shoulder.
I sat up quickly, looking around. My eyes slowly traced upward to the ceiling.
Drip, drip, drip .
“No!” I scrambled out of bed, grabbing for the small trashcan to catch the raindrops currently falling inside of my apartment through that ugly water stain on the ceiling. Which apparently wasn’t an old leak, but a very active one.
I threw on some clothes, grabbed my phone, and called Sheldon, the on-site property manager. He didn’t answer, so I marched down to his apartment on the first floor.
I knocked for a solid two minutes before Sheldon cracked the door open. “Dude. Do you know what time it is?” The smell of stale marijuana wafted from behind him.
“Yes, actually, I do. It’s much earlier than I wanted to be awake. Because it’s raining inside my apartment.”
“Have you tried closing the window?”
“Is that supposed to be cute?” I was sure another tenant would’ve reported this leak before. But I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, taking the time to describe it in detail. “Look, the roof has to be fixed today. It’s right over my bed. I can’t live like this.”
His bloodshot eyes drifted downward, suddenly taking interest in me. Except he seemed to be interested in my body instead of my words. “I guess I can call our handyman, but?—”
“No butts. Make the call. Somebody needs to be out here to fix it. Today .” I spun on my heel and went back to my apartment.
When I got upstairs, I realized I’d been wearing my pajamas with no bra that whole time. No wonder the guy’s eyeballs had gone to my chest. Gross.
Stella jumped up from the corner where she’d been hiding from the thunder.
“It’s going to be all right. I told Sheldon what’s what, and I’m sure he’ll get this fixed.”
Now, we just had to move on with our day.
Once I was cleaned up and dressed, and I’d moved as much of my stuff away from the leak as possible, we headed out the door. First stop was Dixie’s. She’d been watching Stella off and on while I held my classes. She lived in a cute cottage a few streets away from Main.
Dixie answered the door with towels for Stella. I’d warned her we would be walking as usual, since my car was still out of commission. “Want to come in and dry off too, hon?”
“It’s not so bad.” I pointed at my umbrella.
“Except umbrellas don’t help much when the rain’s going sideways. We rarely get it this bad. How’s the roof at the Ponderosa? Has it sprung a leak again? I swear, some landlords have no standards.”
I felt my smile slip, but I put it right back in place. Dixie had not been thrilled when she’d heard where I was living. There weren’t many other rentals available, though, and none in my price range. “There was a small leak. But?—”
“You know my couch is available. Oh, and my dear friend Shirley had her spare room open up. Her forty-year-old grandson still lives in the basement, so you’d have to share a bathroom…”
“Nope. The Ponderosa is working out great for me.”
The skepticism was clear on her face, but she nodded. “All right. But if you change your mind, you just let me know. It’s bingo at the community center later this afternoon, if you’d like to join. Dogs welcome. They aren’t allowed to serve liquor, but I bring my own pitcher of margaritas. I can save you one.”
My smile returned in full force. “I’ll think about it. Thanks, Dixie. Better go. I was up early, yet somehow I’m running late.” I handed her the bag with Stella’s food, toys, and treats for the day.
Dixie’s offer of her couch had been tempting. Her house was cozy and inviting. Smelled good, too. Not a single whiff of mildew.
But I was a grown woman with a college degree. I could handle my own shit. And it wasn’t that bad, really. This was adulting. Who had ever said it was supposed to be nothing but sunshine and rainbows?
I glanced up at the clouds just as a few rays of sunlight broke through. And there actually was a rainbow.
I took a deep breath, feeling steadier already. I refused to let this day get me down.
I’d started calling Ashford’s building the Big Blue Monster because of its blue painted brick and imposing facade. Also because of the grumpy man who lived inside. It now had a small sign proclaiming Music Lessons in the window. Not the fancy sign Dixie had offered, since I had no idea what to call my “music school,” but this was all I needed for now.
I left my wet umbrella by the door and my waterlogged shoes on the mat, then went straight for the kitchenette, where I filled the electric kettle with water to make some tea. Just what I needed. It would warm me right up. I brushed damp strands of my hair away from my cheek. Dixie hadn’t been exaggerating about the sideways rain.
Then heavy footsteps thudded in the hall, coming my way.
Ugh. Really?
Ashford’s bulky form appeared in the doorway, hands on his hips and a deep scowl on his expression. “Emma, I told you last week about the bear latch on the trash can.”
“I know. I got all your stupid notes.” I set the box of tea on the counter, determined to stay calm. “I always make sure the trash is secure.”
“Except clearly you didn’t, because this morning I found trash strewn all over behind the building. An animal got in there overnight.”
“ What ?” The back of my neck heated. Calm . I would not lose my temper with this man. “That’s not possible. I checked the latch yesterday before I left. It was secure.”
He waved an arm toward the back of the building. “Are you claiming that somebody else with opposable thumbs was skulking around here during the night messing with my trash can?”
Anger bubbled inside me despite my efforts to keep it down. “ Our trash can, Ashford. It’s ours .”
“Same difference.”
“No, it’s not.” Deep. Breaths . “Let’s just get it cleaned up.” I took a step toward the door.
“I already cleaned it up.”
I spun back around to face him. “You should have waited for me to help you.”
“I don’t need help picking up trash.”
“You know what? I don’t care what you need.” My finger poked into the broad wall of muscle that was his chest as I advanced on him. “That signed lease means I have every right to be here. That makes this place my responsibility as much as it is yours.”
His nostrils flared. “You’re mad that I didn’t make you pick up trash?”
“Yes, actually. I am.”
“Fine. Next time there’s a mess, I’ll save it for you.”
“Perfect. I can’t wait .”
We were suddenly standing very close. His eyes narrowed, studying my face. “Why are you all wet?”
“Because I walked here. It’s storming outside. As I’m sure you noticed.”
“I did, but I wore a raincoat when I went out there. That’s what sensible people do.”
My throat felt hot and thick. Tears burned behind my eyes. I was so dang sick of Ashford and his attitude. His assumption that I couldn’t do a single thing right.
“I didn’t remember to pack a raincoat when I left California.” The last word caught in my throat, so I turned and walked away. No way would I cry in front of him.
In the storage closet, I took some more deep breaths. Lots of deep breaths. Then changed into a spare set of dry clothes. Thank goodness I’d left a few things here just in case. I’d been preparing for incidents involving baby spit-up, but my spare outfit worked for a rainy day too.
Then, as I dug through my messenger bag, I realized I’d left my journal at my apartment in the chaos of this morning. To someone like Ashford, it would probably seem silly that I was so attached to my diary. It was a comfort thing, knowing I could open it up and write down whatever I was thinking. Such as, a rant about the impossible man I had to share a space with. Now it was too late to go back to my apartment for it.
It’ll be fine , I told myself.
I grabbed a basket of toys and carried them to the big room to get ready for my first music class. I was spreading out the mats when Ashford walked in and stopped a few feet away from me. I didn’t look up.
“Want to yell at me some more?” I asked testily.
“Actually, I thought you might need this.”
I lifted my head. Ashford held out a steaming mug with the string of a teabag sticking out of it.
“You made me tea?”
“The water was boiling. Since I chased you away from the kitchen, I figured the least I could do was bring this to you.”
“You didn’t chase me away,” I mumbled, accepting the mug. The warmth of it glowed against my palms.
“No, I did.” He scratched his forehead. “Look. I’m sorry I was an asshole earlier. If you say you secured the latch, I believe you. And even if you forget sometime, it’s not the end of the world. I…shouldn’t have been a dick about it.”
Huh. This was a first.
I shrugged, taking a small sip of tea. “Apology accepted.”
“I brought this as well.” He held up a jacket in his other hand. “Spare raincoat. I can hang it on a hook by the door.”
“Thanks.”
I chewed my lip and considered what else to say. But Ashford took off, leaving me wondering if any of that had really happened.
After both of my parent-and-tot classes and a private lesson were over, I sat to wipe down the mats. Running footsteps descended the stairs and came into the lobby. I knew exactly who it was before she appeared.
“Hi Emma! Did you see the rainbow?”
I smiled. “I sure did. Wasn’t it pretty?”
Maisie was a little rainbow in her own right. She never failed to cheer me up when she was around. Funny that such a difficult man would have such a sweet daughter.
Except Ashford had made me feel better earlier.
I was still frustrated with him. He’d been a pain in the butt since I’d arrived in Silver Ridge. But the summer would be far more pleasant if we found a way to get along. Was that possible?
I was ready and willing to find out.
“Can I help?” Maisie sat down next to me, picking up the spray bottle and holding it with both hands. When I nodded, she sprayed, and I wiped. We were a good team.
“What were you up to this rainy morning?” I asked her. “I was running late, so I missed seeing you.”
“I had summer camp. Instead of the park, we had to stay inside today and watch a movie. I liked it, though. It had a talking dog and cat. Then Daddy picked me up and we took Aunt Grace some soup for lunch.” Her little nose wrinkled. “The movie was fun, but I like the park better. Watching the chipmunks is my favorite.”
“Chipmunks are pretty cute.”
“I don’t like thunder and lightning. It’s too loud.”
“Stella would agree. Thunder scares her, and she jumps up in my bed to cuddle with me.”
“I would love if Stella jumped in my bed! Why were you late? Was it because Stella was scared?”
“Well, no. We had a small mishap at my apartment. But it was fine.”
“What’s a mishap?”
“That’s when something goes wrong.”
Her little mouth made an O shape, and she nodded with understanding. “Daddy had one of those today too.”
Right on cue, Ashford’s deep voice rumbled through the wall. He was in his office. I couldn’t make out the words, but the man was not happy.
“Was it about the trash can?”
“No!” Maisie laughed like I’d said something hilarious. “It’s ’cause Aunt Grace is sick. She was supposed to watch me later, but she can’t now.”
Ah, the picture was starting to come together. “That’s why you took soup to her for lunch? Because she’s sick?”
“Yeah, of course.” Except when Maisie said that, it sounded like a course . “But now, Daddy can’t find a sitter for me.”
“When exactly does he need a sitter?”
“For this afternoon.” Maisie squirted the mats with cleaning solution again. Then she blinked a few times, glancing up at me through her long eyelashes. Puppy-dog eyes if I had ever seen them. And I was something of an expert.
“What are you doing later, Emma?”
“Mais, you don’t need to be in here,” Ashford said, surprising me and Maisie both.
He had one hand braced against the door frame. From my seat on the floor, he looked ridiculously tall. But even from down here, I could see the worry in his eyes.
“It’s okay. Maisie was helping me clean up.”
His daughter held up the squirt bottle of cleaner. “See?”
“Perfect. You can help me clean the kitchen when we get upstairs.” He hooked his thumb, gesturing for her to follow him.
Before either of them could go, I blurted, “I hear you need a sitter.”
I told myself this was just about Maisie. I did love spending time with her. But I was also thinking of that cup of tea Ashford had brought me earlier. His apology.
He rubbed a hand over his beard. “I’m teaching a law enforcement workshop at the Hart County Sheriff’s Office. It’s in Hartley. Grace has a cold, and a couple other sitters I called can’t do it. But I’m going to ask Dixie.”
“She’s got bingo at the community center,” I said.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
“ Daddy !”
“What? I said truck .”
“No you didn’t!”
He frowned and looked to the side. “If Dixie’s busy, I can try Callum.”
“But you’re mad at Uncle Callum.” Maisie crossed her arms, a mirror image of her dad. “You said you don’t want to talk to him because he’s a D-word.”
I lifted my eyebrows, wondering which D-word.
Ashford scratched his nose. “Thanks, Mais. Can we go before you share any more of my private business?”
“But Daddy, Emma could watch me. Pleeeease?”
I got up from the ground, brushing off my hands. “I could do it. I’m free the rest of the day.”
A bunch of different thoughts seemed to pass through his mind, like he was torn between yes and no. “You don’t have to bail me out.”
“I know I don’t have to. I would be happy to do it. I like hanging out with Maisie.”
She clasped her hands together and aimed her puppy-dog eyes at him. “Please, Daddy?”
I saw the exact moment his resistance fell.
“Okay. That would be great. Thanks.”
“Yay!” Maisie threw her hands in the air.
Ashford walked closer to me. “I can pay you.”
“No need to pay me.”
“Then I’ll owe you.” He said that like it wasn’t a position he enjoyed being in.
“Just keep being nice to me. We’ll be even.”
“I guess I can be nice.”
There was something in the tone of his voice that sent a rush of tingles all the way to my toes.
“Meet us back here in an hour?” Ashford asked.
“Sounds good. I’m going to swing by Silver Linings to see Piper. Want a coffee?”
“Nah. I’d better not go any deeper into debt with you. I’ll be stuck paying it off the rest of the summer.” That time, he’d managed a half-smile. A minor miracle.
That crooked grin also increased his attractiveness by a hundredfold.
Yikes.
Warning bells were already pinging in my head. Nope. Don’t even think about it .