Chapter 25
Two weeks later, Emily was folding laundry in the laundry room. She could hear Joanna and Aaron talking in the den. They’d finished dinner and were sitting in front of a muted television while the news played out on the screen.
“How’s work going?” Joanna asked.
“It’s fine. I’m doing better than I was. It was a steep learning curve, but I think I’ve got the hang of it now.”
“That’s good, sweetheart. I’m sure you’re doing great. You always were quick to catch on to things. I remember when you were a little boy, your father showed you how to build a model car and from then on, you handled it alone. You were so competent.”
“Really? I don’t remember that.”
“Hmm… Well, it’s just one of those things that’s stuck out in my mind.”
“The commute is killing me, though,” he said. “It’s over an hour and half without traffic. At peak hour, it’s horrendous.”
“I’m sorry. That must be hard.”
“I’ll have to move closer to the office at some point, I guess.”
“Don’t they have a train?”
“I think there’s one, but I’d have to drive there.”
“Might be worth looking into,” Joanna said. “I’d hate for you to leave just yet. You could stay here a while longer. You’re not causing me any trouble, and I love having you here. Besides, it’ll give you a chance to save a deposit to buy something of your own. Everything’s so expensive these days.”
“You’re right about that,” he replied. “I love living in Sunshine. I can go surfing when I get home, if it’s not too late. And on weekends. It’s pretty great living by the beach. Maybe I’ll hold on for a bit longer. I would like to buy a place of my own. I have some money saved, but it would be good to build up a safety net. That is, if you’re okay with me staying a bit longer.”
“I’m delighted for you to stay. It’s wonderful having Emily here, but I don’t know how long she’ll stick with me. She’s young and has so much potential. And besides, I’m doing so much better these days, I won’t need a full-time carer forever. Although I hate to give her up. Still, it would be unfair of me to keep her here. She should be spreading her wings, not fussing around me. And when she goes, I’ll be all alone. So, you stay as long as you like, my boy. You living here has been good for me. I didn’t realise how much I missed my family.”
There was silence. Then the noise of the television burst to life. Emily continued folding clothes while she considered Joanna’s words. She hadn’t realised Joanna was ready for her to move on. The idea of leaving wasn’t something she entertained often. She’d be lying if she said she never thought about it, but she usually dismissed it quickly, since the work was easy and she was paid better than she would be anywhere else with no qualifications or experience to her name. She had room and board, plus a generous stipend. It made life simple. And she was close to her sister.
But there was something to what Joanna said. Lately, Emily had begun to feel a little agitated—like she needed more for her life. She wanted an adventure. Some kind of purpose. A direction to take. And at the moment, she had none of that. Wanda’s illness was in the past. Joanna was on the mend. But the idea of leaving, striking out on her own and starting afresh, made nerves jangle in the pit of her stomach.
She was glad Joanna had talked Aaron into staying.
The laundry door opened, and he walked in. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t realise you were in here. Is the dryer finished?”
She nodded. “I folded your things and put them on your bed.”
“Thanks. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I don’t mind,” she said. “It keeps me busy.”
“Did you overhear…?” He suddenly looked panicked.
She smiled. “I heard, and it’s okay. Jo and I talk about my future sometimes. I know how she feels. She wants the best for me. And I love her for it. But I’m not sure what that is just yet.”
He leaned against the washing machine and crossed his ankles. “When we were kids, you wanted to be a ballerina.”
She laughed. “Yes, well, I think that ship has officially sailed.”
“Do you still dance?”
“Not really. I miss it, though.”
“You should start it up again. It takes a lot of discipline to be as good as you were. Don’t give that up.”
“Maybe. I can’t believe you remember that. You never saw me dance.”
He smiled. “I watched many of your dances.”
“You did? When?”
“Tristan and I may or may not have snuck into dance practice more than once.”
“What?” She laughed. “That does surprise me. Tristan always acted like it was a form of torture to go to my recitals.”
“He had a crush on Jewel.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s right. I remember. He was so smitten.”
“And she was in your dance group. Plus, I wanted to see you…”
Her breath caught in her throat at the look in his eyes. He stepped closer. She cleared her throat and focused her attention on the shirt she was folding.
“You were always up to something back then.”
He folded his arms. “I had a lot of energy and plenty of teenaged angst.”
“You filled the principal’s car with whipped cream. It smelled so bad, he had to sell it.”
“I can’t confirm or deny…” He winked.
“And you wanted to see me dance?”
“I was a complicated boy. But I’ve changed.”
“I can see that,” she said. “You seem different.”
“I’ve been through some things,” he said. “Grown up a bit. Not too much, I hope.”
She finished folding and put her hands on either side of the clothes basket. He was in her way. She couldn’t get out of the laundry room without pushing past him. She waited.
“Would you have dinner with me?” he asked suddenly.
She frowned. “We eat dinner together every night.”
“I mean a date. Would you go on a date with me? Friday night?”
Her heart skipped a beat. “This Friday? Okay.”
He smiled and stepped out of the laundry room. “Great. I’m looking forward to it.”