Chapter Seven #2
Emma started to interrupt. She knew quite a bit about computers—from setting up the new computerized catalog system in the library, to researching on the Internet. She clamped down on the urge to tell Logan about her understanding.
She realized Lily knew nothing about computers, so another near miss.
Logan explained how his programming resulted in the appearance of magical things, the different kinds of animation tools used to simulate actual people and events. Even talked about incorporation some AI functions.
He stopped when Emma wished he would delve further into the intricacies, but knew Lily wouldn’t have understood and was flattered he took the trouble to make sure his explanations were clear to someone he thought totally computer illiterate.
“Lily. I thought it was you. Hi.”
A vibrant, red-haired woman dressed in black leather stopped by the booth, her smile wide and friendly. “I told Dolly it looked like you, didn’t I?” She turned to the petite brunette beside her who nodded in agreement.
“Thought you were heading for Mexico for that film,” she said.
Emma’s mind went blank. She stared at the women, noticing two men joining them, their faces friendly, open, smiling widely.
Oh, no, these were friends of her sister’s.
Darting a quick look at Logan, she frantically scrambled in her mind for something to say.
Was she to be exposed like this, in front of Logan and four of Lily’s friends?
“Hi, Logan. Do you remember us? We met at Lily’s party a few months back. I’m Sally McGuire. The handsome dude behind me is Toby Stanton.”
Logan nodded and smiled easily.
“I remember, and you’re Dolly who works in advertising and your friend is Mark Harmond, in real estate, right, Mark?”
Emma breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn’t have bluffed her way through any introduction. Now what?
“The film?” Dolly asked again.
“Canceled,” Logan said. “Just coming in?”
“Yeah, we’re going to eat, then plan to go dancing. Want to join us?”
“I’ll pass on the dancing, but you’re welcome to join us if you like,” Logan said, raising an eyebrow in question toward Emma.
Emma sat with a stupid smile on her face.
Her heart raced as her palms grew damp. Rubbing them against her dress, she nodded and scooted over so Sally could slide into the booth beside her.
Toby sat on the end while Dolly and Mark slid in to sit beside Logan.
Fortunately the booth was extra large. It was cozy, but not too crowded with the six of them.
“We’ve ordered, so flag down the waitress and tell her to hold our order until yours is ready,” Logan suggested.
“What’s up?” Emma asked quickly, hoping to get someone else talking before any questions were directed her way.
She felt trapped. Somehow she had to bluff her way through this evening, or die of embarrassment.
“Nothing much. Dolly got that contract she’s been angling for,” Sally said, reaching for some of the chips.
“Great.” Emma smiled at Dolly.
“Yeah, that’s why we’re here—celebrating. I’m treating. I’ll treat you two, too.”
“Quite a coup,” Emma said, hoping she was right.
“And a nice notice to the powers that be. I see great things for me now,” Dolly said, beaming.
“You always did, kid,” Mark added before he flagged down the waitress.
Toby asked Logan about his latest project, and they all listened while he spoke briefly about his Italian trip.
Then the conversation veered to other topics. Emma felt as if she danced through a mine field. She smiled, laughed and made as many comments as she could, none that had anything specific to say. She nodded, asked questions and soon fell into the sparkling mood of the evening.
She was having fun. These people were a bit irreverent about jobs and security, but they seemed to revel in having fun and experiencing life.
They talked about vacations in Mexico, skiing in Tahoe, and a wide variety of topics concerning their different jobs.
Emma’s staid life in Charlottesville seemed very quiet and dull after listening to the discussion swirling around her.
“Come dancing with us.” Sally said.
Her sleek leather outfit covered her like a second skin. Emma wondered what it would feel like to wear a leather skirt. Did Lily have one in her closet? Probably.
“Thanks, another time,” she demurred.
“Come on, Lily, it’ll be great. We’ll bring you home afterward. Logan said he couldn’t but that’s no reason you can’t come. Unless—” Suddenly Dolly looked uncertain. “Is there something going on between the two of you?” she asked.
Logan shook his head before Emma could open her mouth.
“No, just neighbors sharing dinner. We’ve come here before.”
His eyes met Emma’s and she caught her breath at the look in them.
“Right, neighbor?”
She nodded, mesmerized by the glint. Was he trying to say something with his look, or was she imagining things? She felt too uncertain, too keyed up to be sure about anything.
“I know you said you wanted to be an old lady before you took the plunge again, but I thought...maybe...” Dolly trailed off, a rueful smile on her face.
Lily looked at her and quickly picked up her cue.
“I still do. Besides—” she looked at Logan in a decidedly flirtatious manner “—Logan’s not interested.”
“In you?” Sally asked, her eyes wide.
“In me or marriage,” she replied.
All eyes focused on Logan.
“Thanks a lot, cupcake.” He shrugged. “Once burned.”
“Honey, don’t let that stop you,” Sally said, leaning across the table. “You look good enough to eat, and I bet the women would love to help you get over your divorce any way you’d like.”
“Mostly by spending my money,” he said easily. But there was a lingering touch of anger in the depth of his eyes.
“Prenupts. Solves everything.” Sally waved her hand. “I did it the last time and when we broke up, no hard feelings.”
“Sounds like you make a habit of marriage,” Emma murmured before she could stop herself.
Sally laughed. “Twice, as you know. Now I’m looking for the charm.” She slid a seductive glance to Toby. “Right, Toby, love?”
“Don’t look at me, Sally. Logan’s got the right idea. Women want a man’s money, and maybe something in the sack. Where’s the loyalty and devotion that’s supposed to go with marriage?”
The waitress interrupted, delivering the plates, warning everyone that they were hot. She refilled drinks, and the basket of chips, and left them to their dinners.
“I don’t know why we’re talking about marriage—none of us wants to get married anytime soon. I’m only twenty-six, I don’t want to even think about it before I’m thirty,” Dolly said, cutting into a huge burrito that covered most of her plate.
“What about a family?” Emma asked.
Having just made her decision about David, she had a lot of time to find a husband. But she wanted children and if she waited until she turned thirty, it would be that much longer before she had a baby.
Sally turned to look at her.
“Thought you didn’t want to have kids.”
Emma shrugged. Had Lily said that? They’d never discussed getting married or having children.
Why would her sister resist a family? Emma thought Lily would want one more than most, having lived a rather disjointed existence with their father.
Emma knew she wanted a nice home and a loving family for herself, just like her mother and Gerald shared—complete with rambunctious boys and tomboy little girls.
“One day,” Emma hedged.
“Not me,” Logan said.
“No children?”
He shook his head.
“Too much can go wrong and the child ends up with just one parent. Or if there are financial problems, the kid suffers.”
“With your setup, there’d never be financial problems,” Emma defended.
Why should she care if Logan wanted children? They were just sharing dinner.
“Too risky. We can’t predict the future, so how do we know?”
“Hey, I heard that Judee Falmouth landed that role on the soap she tried out for,” Dolly said, changing the subject.
Emma let the conversation swirl around, listening with interest to the gossip about mutual friends of her sister’s. She felt a bit disoriented with the recent discussion. Didn’t her sister want to marry, share her life with someone, and have a family?
For an instant Emma reflected that her upbringing in the picturesque town of Charlottesville had influenced her desire for a traditional life. Lily hadn’t know the stability or friendly neighborhoods, or school activities that all centered around family life.
Maybe it was a good thing she’d come to California. Having a chance to see how the other side lived might alter her own view of the future.
And if nothing else, her visit had clarified her thoughts for a marriage partner.