Chapter 26 #2
“Is it? I hoped you wouldn’t mind. I reminded Simone of how she told me the night we met that you like to dance and asked where I could take you.” He lifted her into his arms. “And that led to dinner and dancing at home and her spending the night with Ray. That part was her idea.”
“I don’t mind at all. If she’s helping you to surprise me, that means she likes you and approves of us being together.”
“I want her to approve, and not just because I want you, but I want her in my life, too. She’s so fun to be with, cute and smart and funny and polite. We had the best time today.”
As she listened to him talk about Simone, Emma’s eyes filled with tears that she couldn’t contain no matter how hard she tried.
“Hey,” he said. “What’s this? What’s wrong?”
She shook her head and nuzzled his neck, wishing there was some way she could have everything she wanted for once in her life. Just once. Was that too much to ask?
“Emma, sweetheart. Talk to me. Tell me what upset you.”
Her cell phone rang, and she withdrew from him to answer it, even if she’d rather ignore it and focus on him. If Simone was anywhere other than with her, she’d never ignore a call. She saw Lucy’s name on the caller ID and took the call. “Hey, what’s up?” she asked, forcing a cheerful tone.
“I have news!”
Emma wiped the tears from her cheeks, acutely aware of Grayson watching her intently. “Are you going to tell me?”
“We’re getting married the second Saturday in May.”
“Oh, Luce.” Emma sat on the sofa. “That’s great. I’m so happy for you guys.”
“You’ll be my maid of honor, right?”
“Of course I will.”
“I’m only going to have you and Cam and Simone. We’re going to do it in Molly and Linc’s yard under a tent.”
“Sounds perfect,” Emma said with a sigh, thrilled for her sister and Colton, a man Emma loved and respected. “Have you told Dad?”
“He’s my next call.”
“He’s got Simone, so you can tell them both at the same time.”
“Are you home alone for New Year’s Eve?”
Emma glanced at Grayson. “Umm, not exactly.”
Lucy shrieked. “Emma! Is he there?”
Emma held the phone away from her ear. “Maybe…” She glanced at Grayson, who was smiling because Lucy was so loud, he could hear her, too.
“Oh my God! When did this happen?”
“Yesterday.”
“He went home with you guys?”
“Maybe.”
“Emma! Stop being a one-word sally, and tell me what’s going on.”
“You already know. He came home with us, and we’re hanging out for a while.”
“What’s the plan?”
Emma glanced at Grayson again. “We don’t have one.”
Lucy’s voice was much quieter when she said, “Are you okay, Em?”
“I’m trying to be.”
“Remember my mantra. If it’s meant to be, you’ll find a way.”
Emma desperately wanted to believe that was true, but all she could see were the many obstacles standing between them and finding a way. “I know. I’m really happy for you and Colton, Luce.”
“Thanks. I’m happy for us, too. Hey, did Linc call you?”
“Yes, he did.”
“What was that about?”
“Just something Simone forgot at the house. They’re mailing it to us.
” If she told Lucy about the job offer, she’d get her hopes up about Emma and Simone moving to Vermont, when that couldn’t happen.
And then Lucy would feel bad that she’d gotten to move when Emma couldn’t.
What was the point of even talking about it? “What’re you guys doing tonight?”
“Going to Hunter and Megan’s for a New Year’s Eve party. What about you?”
“Staying in and watching the ball drop on TV. Talk to you tomorrow?”
“Sounds good. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” Emma ended the call and put the phone on the coffee table.
“Big news from Vermont?”
“In case you or the people next door couldn’t hear her, they’ve set a wedding date. Second weekend in May, and I’m the maid of honor.”
“Good for them. They’re a great couple.”
“Yes, they are, and this is what she wants. I love seeing her get what she wants.”
Grayson sat next to her and put his arm around her.
Emma curled up to him.
“Are you going to tell me what had you upset before Lucy called?”
Emma wanted to tell him. She wanted to unload on him and rail about the many ways that life simply wasn’t fair sometimes.
But again, what would be the point? There wasn’t anything he could do to fix the situation, and hearing that his uncle had offered her a job in Vermont would only get his hopes up for no good reason.
“I’d much rather enjoy this evening with you than dwell on things that upset me, if that’s all right with you.”
He studied her in that intent way of his, seeing her more clearly than anyone ever had before. “That’s all right with me. For now. But if something makes you sad, I want to know what it is.”
Emma took his outstretched hand and let him draw her onto his lap.
He wrapped his arms around her. “I can’t bear to see you sad.”
She closed her eyes against the rush of emotion. Wouldn’t it be nice to have him, to have this, every day for the rest of her life? Wouldn’t it be nice if he could be an actual father to Simone rather than “like a father” for a day? Wouldn’t it be so very, very nice to have it all?
She couldn’t have it all, but she had right now, and that was going to have to be good enough.