Chapter Five #2
Showered, dressed in her own white shorts and a light blue tank top, Emma headed for the kitchen to begin to make the sandwiches.
Being in the fresh air and sunshine had given her a huge appetite.
She suspected Logan would be equally hungry.
Would he tease her again, or be too tired to do much more than eat?
Glancing at the clock, she wondered when he’d arrive.
She looked out the window at the yard; no sign of him yet.
Impatiently she sliced part of the roast she’d bought at the deli section of the supermarket.
The phone on the kitchen wall rang. It was Logan.
“Hi, babe. I can’t make lunch, after all. There were a dozen phone messages waiting for me about another problem that cropped up with the Italian deal. I have to go into the office this afternoon.”
“Oh.” Disappointment swamped her. She leaned dejectedly against the wall. “I understand.” She might understand, but she didn’t like it.
“Dinner’s still on. I’ll pick you up around seven. That suit you?”
“Yes, seven’s fine. I’ll be ready.”
“Lily?” He stopped.
“What?”
Emma’s heart raced. She wished he’d invite her to go in with him, spend the rest of the day together as they’d planned.
“Nothing. See you at seven.”
Hanging up the phone, Emma looked at the bread already spread with mayonnaise and the cold cuts she’d put out. Taking a slice of cheddar, she nibbled as she began to rewrap everything. It was a long time until seven.
When the phone rang a couple of minutes later, her spirits soared. Maybe he’d changed his mind.
“Hello?”
“Hello, darling. How was your trip?”
“Hi, Mom. I guess I should have called.”
Three days in California and her family seemed light-years away. She dragged a chair nearer to the phone and sat, annoyed at the disappointed she felt that it wasn’t Logan. She loved her family and was glad to hear from her mother.
“Oh, no, Emma, I love fretting for days on end, imagining you kidnapped or worse.”
She laughed. “Mom, I flew directly to LA from Dulles, not much chance of getting kidnapped. And it’s not like we have millions to pay a ransom.”
“How’s your sister?” Peggy Hamilton moved on to the next topic, her point made.
“Fine. Actually she’s not here right now. She’s in another movie and had to go to the filming early.”
“That’s a shame. Will she be back soon?”
“So she said. Just a week.”
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry your vacation is ruined. Maybe instead of sitting around all alone in a strange place, you should come home and visit Lily another time.”
“Um, I’m not exactly alone. I mean, I am alone right now, but her neighbor and I are going out to dinner tonight. And Lily’s house is right on the beach. I went swimming yesterday and this morning.”
“That’s nice. If her neighbor takes you under her wing, you’ll get to see something of California while waiting for your sister’s return.”
Emma twisted the phone cord in her fingers.
“The neighbor is a he, Mom,” she said slowly.
Maybe she should have just kept her mouth shut, let her mother think a woman was her new friend.
“David stopped by yesterday. He told us he’d asked you to marry him,” Peggy said slowly.
Yes, she should have kept quiet, Emma thought, grimacing. Now her mother would give her the why-didn’t-you-tell-me routine.
“Yes, he did.”
Emma frowned, wondering why he had stopped by her parents’ place.
Was it to make sure they knew of his proposal?
She wouldn’t put it past him to try to get them on his side, added pressure to get his own way.
Was this the first time she’d noticed how he plotted to get his own way more times than not?
“I must admit to being a bit surprised you didn’t mention it. David’s a nice boy,” her mother said gently.
“He’s four years older than I am, hardly a boy.”
Except when compared to Logan Beckett. Disliking the trend of her thoughts, she spoke again.
“I’m very fond of David. But I told him I needed to think it over. After all, marriage is a big step. I want to make sure I know what I’m doing.”
Emma heard the sigh across the lines.
“Honey, if you have to think it over, that ought to give you a hint of what your answer should be. I had no hesitation when Gerald asked me.”
“How about when Dad asked?”
“None there, either. But I think the relationship I’ve built with Gerald is far more substantial than what I had with your father,” Peggy said dryly. “You know we’ve been happily married for sixteen years.”
“And what you and Gerald have is what I want. David is sweet and dependable like Gerald.”
“Yes he is, and has a good solid profession that would always provide a steady income, also like Gerald. With your father it was always feast or famine. Of course, lately I understand it’s been a steady feast, for which I’m glad for him.
It’s your decision, honey. I could mention Stacey was with him when he stopped by. ”
“Stacey? His hygienist?”
Emma asked, puzzled. She’d seen Stacey many times when she’d stopped by for David. The woman worked two days a week. Plump and shy, she’d scarcely said four words to Emma in the years she’d known her.
“She just got back from a vacation and looks stunning.”
“Stacey?”
“Apparently she spent her vacation at some health farm and lost a ton of weight, got her hair cut, new clothes. She looked really pretty yesterday.”
“Mom, I’m detecting a drift to this conversation. If I think I’m going to accept David’s proposal, I’d better get home and defend my man, right?”
Peggy laughed.
“No, if he wants to marry you, he’ll still want that no matter how many beautiful women come through his office. I’m just catching you up on the news.”
“Right. How are Gerald and the kids?”
“The boys are up to their tricks again. Kari is going to spend the night this weekend at a slumber party at Marybeth’s. And you know your brothers, they are threatening to show up and wreak havoc. I think Gerald’s planning to take them camping. I’d like to have a night to myself.”
“Sounds great. Give everyone my love. I’ll be home before long.”
“Enjoy your stay there, darling. And give Lily my love. Tell her we wish she’d come to visit.”
“Mom, she knows that.”
“Then why doesn’t she come?”
“I don’t know. I’ll work on it. Talk again soon. Bye.”