Chapter 20
Luke
When Emma finally answered Luke’s call on the fourth ring, he stood still, with shoulders relaxed and his breathing evening out. He had been pacing back and forth in the backyard, grateful for the chance to talk to her privately without Jeremiah overhearing. Although Luke hated keeping secrets from his son, he wasn’t ready to reveal his feelings for Emma yet. He thought about how everything was still new, and they hadn’t even shared their first kiss. The missed opportunity during their dance kept replaying in his mind.
However, he had to focus on Jeremiah for the time being. When Emma came to pick up her lost dog a couple weeks ago, Jeremiah freaked out. How would he react to Luke dating Emma? Luke knew he needed to handle this situation delicately, given his strained relationship with his son. After leaving the animal shelter, they had gone for pizza and Jeremiah had even eaten downstairs in the kitchen while carrying on a conversation. Luke saw this as significant progress, especially after their earlier argument.
Luke felt a profound conflict clawing at his chest; he cherished the bond he had with his son, yet desperately yearned to find love and happiness again. He felt torn, as if something inside of him was splitting at the seams. His mind raced and his heart ached with painful agony as he fought to reconcile the relationship with his son and a future with Emma in a world where having both seemed impossible.
In truth, Luke felt exhilarated about his impromptu dinner date with Emma. It had been a long time since he had experienced such excitement and anticipation. He wasn’t willing to let that go just yet.
“Hey Luke. Um, did you forget something?”
“No. I said I’d call you. Remember?”
“Yeah, I didn’t realize you’d call so soon.”
Emma’s tone was light-hearted, as if she were holding back laughter.
Luke could hear music playing in the background. “Are you still at the bistro?”
“Um, guilty. Lisa wanted to grab a drink, so I indulged her.”
“That was nice of you.”
“Yeah. But I think we’re heading home now. Or back to my place.”
As Emma’s words hung in the air, Luke’s racing thoughts finally coalesced into a confession he couldn’t contain any longer.
With a deep breath, he spoke with a vulnerability he hadn’t felt in years, his voice laced with emotion. “I’m not really sure how to say this, so I’ll just say it. I really like you, Emma.
It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way about someone. After I lost Kate, I realized life is too short to waste time. That’s why I’m so gung-ho on repairing mine and Jeremiah’s relationship, and that’s why I want to explore what’s happening here too. I think you and I both realize that there’s something between us, and I’d like for us to give it a try.”
Luke held his breath, waiting for her response, hoping against hope that she would feel the same. The brief silence that followed made him anxious, causing him to wonder whether he had misread the signals. Perhaps the feelings he had for her weren’t mutual after all.
Finally, Emma spoke, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation. “Luke, I like you a lot too. It’s just—it’s scary, you know?”
“I understand, Emma,”
Luke reassured her, his voice gentle and understanding. “I don’t want to push you into anything you’re not ready for. We can take things at your pace.”
Emma let out a soft sigh, and Luke sensed her relief through the phone. “Thank you, Luke. I’d like that.”
“Of course. I want us to be on the same page,”
Luke said. He took a deep breath before asking the question that had been lingering in his mind. “So, would you like to get together again?” He shifted his weight from foot to foot, a little unsteady as he waited for her response.
“Yes, I would,”
Emma said matter-of-factly.
Luke couldn’t contain his excitement and did a little jump in the air. He was grateful that he was alone in the backyard, so no one could see his giddiness.
“But it’s going to have to be next week,”
she continued. “I’ve got class and tutoring every day this week, along with baking at night for the dog treat orders coming in. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, of course that’s okay. I’m just glad you want to see me again.”
“I thought that was pretty obvious,”
she giggled, making Luke’s heart skip a beat. “I can’t wait to hang out again.”
Luke paused, biting his bottom lip. He nervously looked down at his feet as he began pacing again. “I really want to share this with Jeremiah, but I’m not sure when or how to do that yet. So, is it alright if we just keep this between us for now? I’d hate for him to find out through the grapevine.”
Emma groaned. “Oh no. You’ve heard of the grapevine?”
Luke’s face lit up with a smile as he spoke. “The hottest, most eligible bachelor in Hadley Cove? Yes, I’ve heard of the grapevine.”
Emma chuckled. “Well, at least everything they’re saying about you is positive.”
“Hopefully it stays that way,”
Luke said. “Or if I wasn’t included at all in the Hadley Cove gossip, that’d be fine too.”
“I definitely can’t promise that. But I’ll be sure keep our date on the down low,”
Emma said, her voice reassuring. “And don’t worry too much about Jeremiah. You’ll know exactly what to say when it’s time to talk to him.”
Relieved, Luke let out a sigh, “Thank you. That makes me feel better.”
He glanced up at the illuminated house, grateful that Jeremiah’s bedroom didn’t overlook the backyard.
“How did it go with Jeremiah when you picked him up?”
Emma asked.
“Really well, actually. We stopped and grabbed a pizza, and he actually told me about his day without me prompting him every five seconds. It was a huge step in the right direction.”
“That’s wonderful, Luke! I’m really happy for you. It’s all about those baby steps and little victories that make everything worth it.”
“It’s nice to hear that someone’s on my side.”
“I’ll always be on your side,”
Emma said. “So, what are you thinking?”
Luke stopped pacing. “About what?”
“For our date next week.”
“Oh. Well, maybe dinner again?”
“I do like to eat,”
Emma said. “How does Sea Breeze Tavern sound? It’s a little off the beaten path and few people from town go there.”
“Then Sea Breeze sounds like a great spot. How’s next Tuesday?”
“I think I can make that work,”
Emma said. “Seven?”
“That sounds great to me. I suppose I’d better let you go now, since you got to get home and everything.”
“Good night, Luke.”
“Good night, Emma.”
As Luke walked onto the patio and opened the door, he was startled to see Jeremiah in the kitchen standing there, holding a glass against the fridge’s water dispenser.
“Who was that?”
Luke had to be quick on his feet. “Just a client I had to call back from earlier.”
“Oh.”
Jeremiah didn’t ask any follow-up questions and headed out of the kitchen toward the stairwell. He stopped short of it and turned to face Luke. “Thanks for the pizza night, Dad.”
“Anytime, son,”
he said, relishing the sound of the word ‘Dad.’ “We’ll do it again soon.”
Luke stood in the kitchen, his heart swelling with emotion as he watched Jeremiah walk away. It had been a challenging journey, fraught with ups and downs, but moments like this made it all worthwhile. The word ‘Dad’ carried a weight that Luke had longed for.
He looked forward to more moments like this, where the challenges they faced would be overshadowed by the joys of building a meaningful connection with each other. This small victory was a reminder of what he was fighting for, and Luke was committed to being the dad that Jeremiah deserved, no matter how tough the journey may be.
Luke’s footsteps were heavy as he ascended the stairs, a weight of guilt pressing down on him for keeping the truth from Jeremiah about his relationship with Emma. It was inevitable that he would have to come clean, but he was determined to handle it delicately, without undoing the progress he had made in rebuilding the connection with his son. It wouldn’t be easy, but he was willing to do whatever it took to keep his relationship with Jeremiah intact, while also building a future with Emma. Love and honesty were both important to him, and he wanted to find a way to honor both without sacrificing either.