CHAPTER NINE
A fter taking care of all the necessary paperwork at the dealership, Crystal climbed behind the wheel of her rented RAV4 and waited for Emmett to get comfortable in the passenger seat.
“Are you sure you don’t mind me driving?” Crystal asked.
“Not at all.” He waved away her concern. “You know where we’re going, and I don’t think it would be wise for me to drive. I was given some pain medication. Besides, you need to do it, sort of like getting back on a horse after you’ve fallen off.”
“I’m glad you feel that way.”
They headed back home in a much different spirit from when they’d started. Crystal had removed all her personal belongings from her car and noticed the cooler in the back seat. “How about a cookie?” she asked him.
“That sounds delicious.” Emmett got them out of the cooler, and they enjoyed them as they headed back to Lilac Lake.
At one point, a truck followed behind them. Though she told herself it was no problem, she gripped the steering wheel hard. And when the truck gunned its engine and pulled up beside her to pass, she felt a trickle of sweat roll down her cheek.
“It’s okay,” said Emmett with a soothing voice. “It may take a while for you to forget it.”
“I just felt so helpless,” she said. “And I didn’t want you, or me, to get hurt.”
“We’re lucky,” he said. “And you’re doing fine driving.”
Crystal let out a long sigh and told herself to be strong.
As she pulled into town, she turned to Emmett. “Are you going to be okay? If you think you shouldn’t be alone, you’re welcome to stay in my guest room tonight,” said Crystal.
“I’ll be fine. Besides, everyone will find out we were together in the accident. No need to let them think it’s more than being friends.”
“You’re right,” Crystal said. “They’ll gossip about us anyway until we put an end to it.”
She continued driving to his house.
Crystal pulled into his driveway and turned to Emmett. Much to her embarrassment, her eyes filled with threatening tears. “I was having a wonderful time until the accident happened.”
He cupped her cheek with his hand. “I like you, Crystal, and want to get to know you better. I appreciate the day we’ve had together and don’t want it to end this way. Right now, I’ve got a lot of work to do to get both the house and the practice under control. But when the time is right, I hope we can go back to our lunch and dinner arrangement.”
Crystal gazed into those beautiful eyes of his, too emotional to speak. She watched as he climbed out of the car and entered his house.
After he’d waved and gone inside, she drove to her apartment reminding herself that she and Emmett were just friends who’d had a tough, but lucky day.
###
T he next morning, she was busy working when Whitney came into the Café with the baby. “Are you alright?” She studied her. “I came to check on you. You and Emmett made the news.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Your fender bender made the area news. It showed a video of your car and you and Emmett talking to EMTs. It was all part of an ongoing discussion about how to slow down the traffic on Route 1.”
Crystal sighed and shook her head. “It was an accident I’m still trying to forget. A truck was coming too fast as I was turning. It was awful. Emmett has cuts on his face and a broken nose from the impact. I feel very bad about it.”
“And you?” Whitney studied her.
“My back and neck are sore, and I have a headache but nothing beyond that. It could’ve been much worse. Glass could have gotten into Emmett’s eyes. As it is, he’s probably going to have black eyes, and his nose is taped in place for a couple of days.”
“Poor guy. I hope he’s better soon.”
“Me, too. But, Whitney, everyone is going to make more of it than it is.”
“They probably will, but you can’t let that rattle you. Only the two of you know what’s happening. If you want to talk to me about it, you know I’m here for you.”
“Thanks.” Crystal didn’t want Whitney to know how confused she felt. Emmett’s goodbye had seemed like a brush-off. But she didn’t want a real love relationship with him, did she? Isn’t that idea what made her feel safe with him? The thought that he wanted nothing more than friendship from her.
As the Café filled with customers, the locals asked her about the accident. Through the front window, she could see Bob Bullard crossing the street to her.
“How are you, Crystal?” he asked, stepping inside the Café. “I had to see the doctor about that cut on my hand, and Doc Chambers looked in bad shape. He said it was all minor stuff, but I had to be sure you were all right. You and our Sarah have always been good friends.”
Tears sprang to Crystal’s eyes. It was this kind of caring that had helped her sister and her through their childhood and adolescent years. “I’m fine. Just a bit shaken.”
“Glad to hear it. I was surprised to see the accident on the news. It must’ve been a slow news day. But I’m glad I did. If you need any help with anything, you know I’m here.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.” Crystal gave Bob a quick hug and then turned to business as Bob sat on a stool at the kitchen bar. “What can I get you?”
He ordered breakfast, and the day continued to be busy with visitors and locals alike. Crystal hid her impatience with everyone’s questions and comments about the accident and the fact that she was with Emmett. All this caring and curiosity was part of living in a small town, and she was as determined as they to stay abreast of town news.
By the time four o’clock arrived, the headache that had kept her company all day flared. Asking her staff to follow through on the closing procedures, she went up to her apartment to lie down. She’d sleep for a while and then make sure everything was done for the day, and they were ready to begin all over again.
She was resting on her couch when her cell rang. She decided to let it ring unanswered and then thought better of it. When she lifted her phone, she was happy to see it was Emmett.
“Hello,” she said sleepily. “How are you managing today?”
“Okay, though the office has been packed. Some with real problems. Others with curiosity. I feel like a celebrity. I’ll have to get hints on how to handle it from Whitney. But I called to check on you. Any unusual soreness to your head, neck, and back?”
“I’m sore but nothing unexpected,” she said. “Like you, though, I’ve had to cope with more than just doing my job. Everyone has apparently seen the report on the news or has heard about it. I’m just taking a rest before making sure we’re set for tomorrow. It’s a good thing I have a well-trained staff. They’ve been wonderful.”
“I feel the same about Lucille. She’s terrific. While names are just that on paper, she gives me all the details about the people themselves. It’s very helpful when you’re trying to get to know them and build rapport. She must know every little thing about anyone in town.”
Crystal laughed. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
“I’m glad you feel better,” said Emmett. “Maybe after all this excitement dies down, you’ll allow me to take you to dinner. Somewhere casual. I hear Fresh has excellent food. How about tomorrow night?”
“Yes, they have delicious farm-to-table meals. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Great. I’ll pick you up at seven.” He hung up and she couldn’t help smiling. Even if neither one of them wanted anything beyond friendship, she enjoyed being with him.
Feeling better, she got up and went downstairs to the Café. The crew had done a nice job of cleaning up and refreshing the tables for tomorrow morning. As usual, she prepared the daily financials and deposited the day’s receipts at the bank.
The evening was pleasantly cool, and she decided to go to Jake’s to see who, if anyone, in her crowd was there. She and her friends had a tacit understanding that if anyone showed up for drinks and supper, they’d sit at their special table and save places for the others.
###
W hen she entered Jake’s , she stopped for a moment to get accustomed to the darkened interior. She glanced at two middle-aged women sitting at a table at the far end of the room and turned to see David Graham, who owned Graham Landscaping with his father.
Smiling, she waved and walked over to him.
A good-looking man with deep-blue eyes and reddish-brown hair that had natural streaks of blond from the sun, David was a quiet man who loved a good joke. Fun company for a night like this. He stood, like the gentleman he was.
She sat down at the table with him. Soon after she ordered a pilsner ale and a grilled chicken sandwich, Aaron Collister joined them. With a Native American mother, Aaron’s coloring was a warm brown, and his features were strong. Crystal had always thought he was handsome and admired his love of the outdoors. He and David greeted each other warmly. They were close friends and enjoyed hunting together.
She was laughing at a joke David had just told when one of the women who’d been sitting at the other end of the room walked over to her.
“Aren’t you the person who was in the recent accident with Emmett Chamberlain?” The woman was tall and imposing with a domineering air about her. Maybe it was her expensive clothes, her jewels, and the look of disdain on her face, but Crystal felt herself shrinking.
“Do you mean Emmett Chambers?” was the only response Crystal thought to say.
“No. I mean Emmett Chamberlain, son of Senator Everett Chamberlain,” the woman snapped.
As Crystal gasped, Aaron got to his feet. “Do you have a problem?”
“I just want to tell this woman with the godawful purple hair she has no business being with my son. I’ll make that very clear to him, as well.”
Everett Chamberlain? The Senator? Crystal was still trying to process the information that sweet, kind Emmett was the son of such a rich, controlling man when Emmett walked into the restaurant.
His face fell when he saw them. He hurried over and turned to his mother. “What are you doing here?” He shot Crystal a look of concern.
His mother glared at him. “After watching the news on television, I had to come see you, to warn you against a gold digger like this woman. You know we must be careful about that. Just look at you. Your face is a disaster.”
Crystal gazed at Emmett, unable to hide her hurt and dismay. “No wonder you never wanted to talk about your family.”
“Look, Crystal, don’t let this meeting come between ... us ... our friendship.”
The other woman Crystal had seen earlier joined them. She put an arm around Emmett. “I told Natalie not to come. That’s why I’m here with her.”
“Hi, Aunt Margaret,” said Emmett. “We need to leave now. We can talk elsewhere.” He turned to Crystal. “I’m sorry. I really am.”
After Emmett hustled his mother and aunt out, Crystal took deep breaths.
“What a bitch!” said David, rising and putting an arm around her.
“No wonder Emmett changed his name,” said Aaron in a firm voice that held disgust. “Being the son of Everett Chamberlain would be difficult at best. He’s not considered a decent man by many. Too self-centered, too manipulative.”
“Some people say he bought his senate seat. God knows he can afford it,” said David.
Crystal studied them. “Emmett should have told us. I would never have spent a day with him if I’d known who he is.”
“And that would be fair to Emmett?” asked Aaron, giving her a steady gaze.
Crystal looked away, knowing Aaron was right. She’d been judged by many for her background and the way she appeared with purple hair. Why should he be judged because of his parents?
She turned back to Aaron. “No, it wouldn’t be fair. Especially from me. He’s a great guy who’s already becoming a member of Lilac Lake. I don’t want to ruin that for him.”
Crystal neglected her sandwich and stood. “It’s been a long day. I think I’ll go home.”
“Are you sure?” David asked, giving her a worried look.
Crystal nodded, and before her emotions could take over, she quickly left Jake’s.
###
C rystal entered her apartment and went to the bathroom to get a cold, wet washcloth for her face. Her cheeks were still aflame from the humiliation of Natalie Chamberlain’s words.
In the past, she’d struggled to be accepted for who she was as a person, not as the daughter of the town drunk. Though she sympathized with Emmett’s situation, she knew any hope of being more than friends with him was gone forever.
She started to cry and blindly reached for the cooling cloth. Maybe it was time to get rid of the purple hair. She’d dyed it shortly after her mother died, to remind herself and everyone else that though she might look like her mother, she was not like her at all. She’d always thought changing her hair color to something fun was a sign she’d moved on from the past and had started a new chapter in her life where she’d be safe from the likes of men who’d been with her mother. Her friends understood.
###
A knock on the door awakened Crystal. She sat up on the living room couch and gazed around sleepily. She checked her watch. It was ten o’clock.
The knock sounded again. “Crystal, it’s Emmett. Open up. I need to talk to you.”
Crystal hesitated and then told herself not to be a coward. It was best to settle the situation between them.
She went over to the door and cracked it open.
Emmett stood there looking silly with the tape across his nose. But his eyes seemed haunted.
She pulled back, opened the door, and stood aside.
He stepped inside, took both of her shoulders in his hands, and gave her a steady look through eyes circled with black. “I’m sorry, Crystal. I didn’t know she was coming to town.”
“But the news would still be the same.” She studied him. “You didn’t trust me with the truth? It normally doesn’t matter to me who your family is. Now, From the beginning, I had this weird feeling you were hiding something. Now, I know.”
“You know nothing. I’m not even Everett Chamberlain’s real son. He adopted me when he married my mother when I was four. It was a heart-warming piece, making positive news for him, nothing more than a PR move.”
“There are advantages to that name if you want them. But when I turned eighteen, I decided to change my name to Chambers. Close enough to Chamberlain to appease my mother, though she was furious with me. I wanted to be my own person, attend college and medical school with my new name independently.”
“And how has that worked for you?” she asked.
“Pretty well. I stay away from political discussions and out of the news.”
“Until our accident. Even then, you didn’t tell me the truth about you and your family,” said Crystal, trying to hide her hurt.
“I was hoping I could tell you in my own way, in my own time. Having my mother here, acting like that, is the worst way I can think of. Crystal, I like you a lot. I hope we can still be friends because, like you, I need them.”
Crystal let out a long sigh, acknowledging the truth. They both needed friendship until the right person came along for something deeper. “I won’t let this stop us from being friends. But that’s as far as it goes. I’m sorry you felt you couldn’t tell me the truth. Someday I’d like to hear it. All of it.”
“Deal,” Emmett said. He held out his hand and Crystal took it, telling herself the shot of electricity his clasp gave her was nothing more than her overactive imagination.
“Where’s your mother now?” Crystal asked.
“She’s staying at the Lilac Lake Inn, then she and Aunt Margaret are heading back to Mt. Desert tomorrow.”
Crystal knew Mt. Desert was an island off the coast of Maine that was, for the most part, an enclave for privileged families of wealth.
“No need to worry. I don’t think she’ll be spending more time in Lilac Lake. I told her that if she bothered you again, she’d be sorry, that I knew a few newspeople to contact should it become necessary.” Emmett shook his head. “It would be bad press for her, and she and my father won’t tolerate that.”
“I’m sorry I made the accident worse for you by bringing in family issues. You’re embarrassed by them for different reasons than I had with my mother. Still, I know it hurts.”
Emmett cupped her cheek in his hand. “Thank you. You’re such a treasure, Crystal.”
She looked away from him, suddenly shy.
“And don’t change your hair color. It suits you,” he said before lowering his hand. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Of course. You know where to find me.”
“I’ll come for coffee before the office opens. I want to make sure everyone understands that my mother’s visit changes nothing.”
“Okay,” she said, walking him to the door, and stepping back.
He gave her a wave and left.
Still not hungry, Crystal switched off the lights and headed to her bedroom.