CHAPTER FIVE
T hat evening, Crystal looked at herself critically in the mirror. Emmett thought she was beautiful. Was it a line he used on all women he wanted to get to know? An image of her younger self appeared, and she closed her eyes at the sight of the scrawny, unkempt child she once was. She colored her hair purple to remind herself that she was different now—a successful young woman with a business of her own. And talented too. Not as good an actress as Whitney, of course, but she could perform some lesser singing roles with ease, a total break from her normal routine.
Life is complicated, she thought, putting a last swipe of mascara on her long lashes. Their darkness highlighted the unusual color of her eyes, slightly more purple than dark blue in certain sunlight. Funny, that both she and Emmett had unusual eyes. She wondered if he was able to see hers clearly. She’d read that in addition to difficulty with red and green hues, a person who is colorblind might have trouble with the color blue.
Her doorbell rang, and as she went to answer it, a shiver went through her. Behind the offer of dinner and her acceptance was a chance for her to move forward, if not to love, to a meaningful friendship. He, unlike others in town, wouldn’t remember her as she was growing up. He’d only see her for what she’d become.
She opened the door and noticed his hair was still a little damp from a recent shower. He’d put on a fresh golf shirt and now wore khaki pants instead of the jeans he’d worn earlier.
“Wow!” He grinned at her. “You look nice.”
“Thanks.” She couldn’t help blushing as she nervously brushed a speck of dust from the skirt of her sundress. She was used to wearing jeans or shorts and a T-shirt at work. The way he was looking at her made her realize it was worth it occasionally to dress up in something a little more feminine. She’d even worn dressy drop earrings instead of her usual silver hoops.
“It’s nice that we can simply walk to the restaurant,” he said as they emerged onto the street. He took her arm. “It’s a little bit like New York, where neighborhoods have all kinds of conveniences close by.”
“Did you always live in New York City?” she asked.
“Most of the time,” he answered. “Right now, I don’t even want to think about anything but getting comfortable here in town. I’ve met a lot of nice people.”
“Like every other small town, there are some easier to like than others, but Lilac Lake is full of great people. We tend to attract people who want to enjoy a simple life. You must admit, the town and surrounding areas are gorgeous.”
“Oh, yes. When I was searching for a place to fulfill my obligation for my residency, it was something I noticed right away in my research.”
They arrived at Fins, and Emmett held the door while Crystal stepped inside. Melissa’s mother greeted them with wide smiles. “Nice to see you here, Crystal, and a big welcome to our new doctor.”
Crystal returned Susan Hendrickson’s smile, well aware that Susan never missed a bit of gossip in town. Still, it was nice to be greeted warmly.
Susan led them to a lovely table in the corner. There, they’d not only have privacy, but Crystal had an easy view of who else was in the restaurant.
“I’m hungry,” said Emmett. “How about you?”
“Me, too. I purposely kept myself from snacking or even taste-testing certain recipes. Dinner here is always a treat.”
“How about my ordering a bottle of wine? White or red? I’m leaning toward a white or a light red because of the seafood.”
“I’m happy with only a glass of red wine,” said Crystal. She didn’t want Emmett to spend a lot of money on the wine when she drank so little. Growing up with an alcoholic mother, she had no intention of getting into that kind of trouble and limited her drinks to two on occasional celebrations. Not that she was going to explain that to Emmett.
After perusing the menu, Emmett decided on clam pie and Crystal, the grilled salmon.
“Okay, let’s order a bottle of a nice pinot,” said Emmett.
Crystal was silent as Emmett discussed vintages with the wine steward before they placed their orders. Observing the quiet but confident way he’d handled the order, Crystal couldn’t help but wonder about his background. He’d given out little information about himself or his family. But surely, he’d had some experience with wine, especially when he ordered a Chandler Hill Inn pinot, a special one she’d read about.
Later, after approving it, Emmett waited while the wine steward poured some into her glass and then his. The man left, and Emmett lifted his glass. “Here’s to getting to know you and Lilac Lake a lot better.”
“I’ll applaud that,” she said. “It’s wonderful to have you here.”
They chatted about various things to do in the area and then ordered their meal.
Crystal enjoyed the idea of not rushing their meal. Eating at the Café rarely happened that way. Now, she listened as Emmett told her about the plans that he’d agreed on to renovate the house.
“You’re lucky,” he said, “to have friends like Dani, Brad, and Aaron who are willing to go overboard to help. They certainly are being cooperative about moving fast on the project.”
“They’re good people. Dani and her sisters used to come to Lilac Lake every summer growing up. They, Brad, Aaron, Nick, and a whole bunch of us have remained close since childhood. It’s great that we’re all coming together again.”
“I can understand why,” said Emmett. Crystal had the feeling he didn’t have many friends. Her heart ached for him. Her friends had “saved” her over and over again.
As they were eating, one of the customers in the restaurant came over to their table. “I’m sorry to interrupt but I have to ask, aren’t you Rory Chamberlain?”
“The movie star? No, ma’am, I’m not.” Emmett’s expression hardened. “He’s a distant relative.”
“I noticed your eyes in addition to your features and couldn’t let it go. I’m very sorry.” The woman returned to her table, but Crystal could tell Emmett was uncomfortable.
“Does that happen often?” she asked him.
“Every once in a while. I don’t know why it bothers me except I find it annoying. I don’t know how Whitney graciously acknowledges the people who recognize her. Not that I’m famous or wish to be.”
“It’s a bit of an intrusion, but I suppose someone like Whitney gets used to it.” Crystal leaned forward. “You never talk about your family. Now I know that Rory Chamberlain is a distant relative.”
Emmett shrugged. “I don’t like to talk about my family. They like their privacy as much as I do.” He settled his gaze on her. “You’ve kept pretty quiet about your background.”
“As anyone in town knows, I was married to Whitney’s husband, Nick, for a brief time. But we both knew we’d married for the wrong reasons. I’m pleased to see them happy together because I consider them to be my best friends. I grew up in a difficult situation with an alcoholic, drug-addicted mother who left me to care for my younger sister from an early age. Not your typical Lilac Lake family.
“I asked Dr. Johnson about you, and that’s all he’d tell me. Just so you know, like him, I’d never divulge medical or other private information about any of my patients.”
“One thing about growing up with a parent you never want to emulate is that neither my sister nor I have ever been into drugs or abuse of alcohol,” said Crystal. “I’m enjoying a glass of wine tonight, but I have no need or desire to have more.”
“That’s good. Because addiction is a disease that runs in families.”
“So, no problems like mine in your family?” Crystal asked, unable to hold back the question. He’d been reticent about them.
He shook his head. “Not drug addiction, but they have problems of their own. And because my father is in the public eye, they’re all on display.”
Crystal wanted to ask for more information but could see from the grim expression on his face that Emmett was finished talking about them.
They finished their main course and then were handed dessert menus.
Emmett perused his and regarded her with a sparkle in his eye. “What do you think? Ready for something? I’m opting for the Apple Pie a la Mode. Can’t resist that.”
“Well, I was thinking about the lemon tart,” admitted Crystal.
“Let’s go for it.” Emmett grinned at the waitress. “The lady will have the tart and I’ll take the apple pie.”
After she left, Crystal said, “I didn’t know you had a sweet tooth. I’ll have to remember that going forward with any of your orders.”
He laughed. “I try not to have sweets too often. But on a night like this, with food like this and a beautiful woman with me, I couldn’t resist.”
Warmth weaved through Crystal. She was having a wonderful time.
###
A s they left, Crystal noticed how some of the other people in the restaurant stared at them and realized they were checking out the new doctor.
Outside, Emmett turned to her. “Do you want to meet up with your friends at Jake’s?”
“No, I’d rather take a walk with you and then go up to my apartment for coffee or a cup of tea.”
“That sounds nice. I’ve enjoyed this evening and I’m not ready for it to end.” Emmett took her hand, and they headed down the quiet end of the street.
Crystal had dated and married, but as Emmett’s fingers wrapped around her hand, she felt a sense of connection that she knew was special. She hardly knew Emmett, but she was attracted to him. To some people, he might seem pleasant but ordinary, except for his eyes. But she’d understood he was a decent man. If only she could get rid of the thought he was hiding something about his background. But then, she told herself, she was someone who should never judge a person by his family.
They walked down one side of Main Street, turned around, and walked back on the other side, and, like tourists, stopped and gazed into the windows of the cute shops. Crystal had viewed them before but seeing them through his eyes helped her to be charmed all over again. Lilac Lake was a darling small town.
“I’m glad I chose to come here. The downtown is a real slice of Americana. Very cool. So far, the people I’ve met have been great. Dr. Johnson says he’ll be sad to leave his patients. I believe him.”
“We’re here at my place. Do you want to come up?” Crystal asked him.
Emmett gazed at her and smiled. “I’d like that very much.”
For all the fun she had in town with friends, she didn’t often invite them to come into her apartment. The Café was as much social as business, and she liked keeping her apartment to herself.
She climbed the stairs in back of the Café and unlocked the door to her apartment, experiencing a rush of heat. Coffee or tea wasn’t the only thing either one of them had been thinking about. Suddenly shy, Crystal wished it wasn’t too late to change her mind. But then, she scolded herself. She’d be all right.
At the threshold of the door, she snapped on the light and the living area glowed with light, accenting her tasteful décor. In addition to a couch and comfortable chairs atop a large Oriental rug, tables were scattered at the right places and showcased her interest in Native American art.
“This is nice,” said Emmett. He walked over to one of the tables and lifted a ceramic bowl.
“I love reading about various east coast tribes in the New York region—the Mohawks, Iroquois, Senecas, Onondagas, and others, and the tribes of New Hampshire—the Abenaki and Wampanoag tribes. But the tribes of the Southwest –the Navaho, Apache, Hopi, and Zuni, among others, are known for their arts and crafts. After a visit to Arizona, I became interested in them. Once in a while, I add pieces to my collection.”
“I’ve always admired their crafts,” said Emmett carefully setting the bowl down. “My aunt has a home in Tucson.”
“Do you mean Rory’s mother?” Crystal asked, eager to learn more.
“No,” Emmett said and left it at that.
“I have a selection of teas, coffee—both decaf and regular, water, and cold beer. What would you like?”
“A cold beer sounds delicious,” Emmett replied, following her to the kitchen.
Crystal reached into her refrigerator and handed a bottle of beer to him before pouring herself a glass of cold water.
“Let’s sit on the front deck and watch the activity in town,” said Crystal. “In the morning, before the town awakes, I sit and watch the fog rise from the lake. It’s pretty and peaceful then.”
“Don’t you ever get tired of being such a part of Main Street life?” he asked.
“Sometimes,” she admitted, “but I love this town. It’s not a house but the town itself that has always been home to me. Maybe because the people here are very kind. Without the help of Whitney’s grandmother, Genie Wittner, I might never have been able to buy the Café.”
“I’ve met her,” said Emmett. “She’s very nice, though I had the feeling she was interviewing me for the job of local physician.”
Crystal laughed. “It sounds just like GG. She’s helped many of us in town and elsewhere. Especially before she lost a lot of her money in a financial scam from what once was a well-respected firm in Boston.”
“Sort of like a Bernie Madoff scandal?” he asked.
“Yes. It’s quite awful to lose your money that way. And for GG, it meant she had to sell the inn and move into The Woodlands, where she lives.”
“I’ve been asked to do a presentation there, to introduce myself and to ensure that the residents know they can rely on me, that I come with Dr. Johnson’s recommendation.”
“While you’re there, you might meet JoEllen Daniels, Brad’s ex-sister-in-law, who works as an aide at the facility. JoEllen has a lot of problems. But then, she is a problem.” Crystal spoke quietly so people below them wouldn’t hear. She might know a lot of people in town, but she wasn’t a gossip.
“Thanks for the ‘heads up.’ Even though the town is small, it’ll take time to learn about all the residents,” said Emmett. “It’s important to me. As I’ve mentioned before, that’s why I chose family medicine and a small town.”
“So, family is important to you?” She studied him.
“Mine is complicated but, yes, it’s something I look forward to—having a family of my own.”
“I grew up raising my sister, so I’ve never been eager to have children of my own. Until recently. Now, I’ve begun to think of it. Who knows if it will happen.”
“I like your honesty. It’s something I admire.” He reached over and clasped her hand.
Her lips curved then she grew serious. “Honesty is very important to me.”
Emmett looked away and then turned to her. “It’s getting late. I think I’d better go.”
When he stood, Crystal got to her feet puzzled by his abruptness. But when he bent down and kissed her on the lips, a sweet gentle one, she felt a spark that took her by surprise.
He grinned as if he knew her feelings and said, “Would you be willing to show me around the area a bit? I have Wednesday afternoons and Sundays off.”
“I’d be happy to do that. Do you want to aim for Wednesday afternoon? We could drive over to Portsmouth and look around there and the southern coast of Maine.”
“That would be a nice start. Thanks. I have a meeting with the Collister Construction people in the morning, but the afternoon will be fine.”
“My brunch rush will be over by one. And I can leave things in the hands of my staff.” Crystal walked him to the door. They stood gazing at one another. Emmett’s turquoise eyes seemed to reach deep inside her. Then he lowered his lips to hers.
A warmth enveloped Crystal. Her response was as much spiritual as sexual. And when they stepped apart, his cheeks were as flushed as hers.
“Goodnight,” Emmett said softly and turned and went down the stairway.
Crystal hugged herself to stop the chills that still ran through her with his absence.
She closed the door behind her and leaned against it. “Wow!”
Holding onto that thought, she turned off the lights and went to bed.
There, she hugged her pillow and relived that kiss over and over again.