Chapter Four
Emmett looked around the living room and nodded to himself.
Everywhere was as clean and straight as it was going to get.
He might talk about needing to pick up after the girls and do spring cleaning, but the truth was that they were good at picking up after themselves.
They always had been. He ran a tight ship; as a single dad and full-time veterinarian, he'd had to.
But he liked to think that the girls were so good about helping because it was in their nature, not because they'd had no other choice.
He returned the vacuum to the closet and stored all his cleaning supplies back in the cabinet under the sink.
He, Alana, and Tanya all had their regular chores that helped keep the house clean and tidy.
But whenever he got a chance like this, he liked to do a deep clean without the girls feeling like they had to join in.
He went to the washroom in the hallway to wash his hands and laughed at himself when he saw the feather duster sticking out of his back pocket.
He'd tucked the handle in there while he was plugging the TV back in after dusting behind the entertainment center.
He'd completely forgotten that it was there.
His first thought was that he would have felt foolish if someone had seen him like that, but his smile faded when it hit him that no one would. With the girls still at Brooke's until this evening, he wasn't likely to see or talk to a soul.
He dried his hands and went to check on the roast in the crockpot.
It wasn't as though he needed anyone to talk to.
Far from it. Now that all his chores were done, he could kick back and enjoy a rare afternoon to himself.
Although, staring out the window at the mountains, he couldn't help but wish there was someone around to share it with.
He spun around at the sound of tires crunching on the gravel outside.
His pulse quickened, and he straightened, already moving toward the window before he'd even thought about it.
He stopped himself before he reached it, hanging back to make sure that he remained out of sight.
Then he laughed at himself when he realized what he was doing—even if it were Harper, there was no need for him to hide.
When he recognized the SUV, and Cash climbed out, Emmett wasn't surprised in the least that he raised his hand in greeting. Hanging back like this might have been enough to keep him out of sight from most people. But it'd take more than this to fool Cash into thinking he wasn't home.
Not that he wanted to do that. He hurried to open the door to greet his friend.
"Hey Cash, what brings you out this way? What can I do for you?"
Cash gave him a puzzled smile. "Damn, I know I've asked you for a few favors recently, but are we to the point where you think I'd only come over to see you when I need something?"
"Nah, I didn't mean it that way. I guess I'm just surprised to see you. It's Sunday afternoon after all—I thought you'd be hanging out with the family, at your regular lunch."
"I was over there for a while earlier, but I'm headed up to town, flying out tonight on some business, and I wanted to stop and see you on the way. If you have time for me, that is."
Emmett made a face at him and turned to go inside. Cash closed the door after them and looked around.
"I see you've been making the most of the girls being over at Brooke's, then. This place even smells clean."
"A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do," said Emmett.
Cash grasped his shoulder. "I know, and you do it damn well, but I still say that you deserve some time for yourself when you can, you know."
"I know, and I get that time, when I can. Like this weekend—the girls are at Brooke's."
Cash chuckled. "Exactly, and here you are cleaning." He gave Emmett a knowing smile. "Although I noticed you were out visiting yesterday."
Emmett stared at him, not knowing what to say.
"Well shit, is it a secret?" Cash asked.
"Is what a secret?"
"Don't act dumb, Emmett. Your truck was outside the cottage at Jim Sheridan's place yesterday. Don't try telling me it wasn't."
"It wasn't there for long; I brought her back from the airport, that's all."
"Well damn, I was hoping it was more than that. I knew you'd gone to the airport for her, but I figured you guys might have hung out when you got back." He looked around the empty house. "You know, since the girls aren't around."
Emmett shrugged and turned away. "Do you want a drink? Have you eaten?"
Cash followed him into the kitchen. "I have eaten, but whatever's in that crockpot smells good."
"If you can behave yourself and not give me grief about Harper, you can come and have dinner with me and the girls one night, like you used to. I know you love that crockpot roast, and the girls would love to have you over."
"You've got yourself a deal." Emmett was surprised at that, until Cash laughed and added, "And you can't back out now. The deal was only that I'd behave myself. You forgot to put any conditions on what kind of behavior; you didn't say anything about me needing to be good."
Emmett shook his head with a laugh. "Fair enough, I'll feed you anyway, even if you do give me shit."
"I don't intend to give you any shit, bud. I'm hopeful."
"About what?"
"Jesus, Emmett, you know damn well what.
Or are you really that far removed from.
.." Cash pursed his lips and met Emmett's gaze.
"I know you'll never be over Em, but you have to remember I know the promise you made her, and I think it's probably time for me to tell you that I made her a promise of my own. "
Emmett just stared at him, not trusting his voice to ask the obvious question.
"If it's too soon to talk about it, if this is the wrong time and the wrong situation, then we can drop it again for now. But I think you know damn well what I mean, don't you?"
Emmett nodded slowly.
"I thought as much. I'll leave it at that for today. Although on second thought, no, I'll tell you this—I feel like it's time for me to make good on my promise to Emily. So, I'm going to get on with it, unless and until you tell me otherwise."
Emmett didn't know what to say. He knew damn well what Cash meant, but he couldn't even let his mind approach it. "Do you want that drink?" he asked eventually.
"Sure." Cash smiled. "I'll take one of Alana's diet sodas, just so she can get mad at me about it next time I see her."
Emmett chuckled, grateful that his friend had so easily turned the conversation back onto safer ground.
They took their drinks out back and sat in the rocking chairs. Cash stared at the mountains, and Emmett waited for him to talk.
The minutes dragged on until Emmett chuckled. "Damn you, I forgot you could outwait me—or anyone when you want to."
Cash laughed with him. "I can, but in this case, I was giving you a chance to go first. Tell me what you want to talk about—or ask. It's a two-way street, you know."
"Seems to me that you've settled right back in. If I want to ask you anything, it's how things are going for Mav and Blane. Are the teams settling in down at Mav's ranch? Do you think it's going to work having the company's home base here?"
"The teams are settling in just fine. I think working out of Mav's place will suit everyone—except him. He and Blane are still living up to their new names."
"Grumpy and Grumpier?"
"Yup. Either that or the Sunshine Twins."
"I thought being back here might help. I mean, I know Blane’s happy to be around his little sister again?"
"Yeah. He's glad to be home for Brooke, but you know what he's like."
"And Mav?"
Cash shrugged. "I was hopeful for a while there. But he and Libby are back to avoiding each other and each making excuses about why it's for the best. Oh, that reminds me. Are you free on Thursday night? Can the girls hang out by themselves for a while?"
"Yeah, once they're home, they're fine. They're capable of taking care of themselves. Why, what do you need?"
"I might ask you to give Libby a ride home. The women are having one of their nights out. You know how Mav gets—always wanting to know who Lib's going home with. I figure if we can tell him that she's riding with you, that should give us all some peace."
"Sure, I can do that." The request surprised him, but he'd do anything to help Libby out—and Mav, of course. He thought Trip usually gave her a ride home when the women went out. But if Cash was asking him to do it, then there'd be a reason. He knew that much.
Cash drained the last of his soda and got to his feet. "Thanks, bud. I'd best be on my way. Say hi to the girls for me, and if I don't see you before, I'll see you Thursday."
As he watched Cash's black Suburban pull away, Emmett couldn't help wondering why Cash wanted him to take Libby if he was going to be there himself.
But whatever the reason, it'd be fine. The girls would be fine at home for a couple of hours.
He had to leave them when he was called out for work in the evenings—they were used to it.
It'd be good to catch up with Libby, too.
~ ~ ~
Harper walked out onto the back deck with a large tray in each hand. Brooks and Boone jumped up, and each took one from her, making her laugh. "I'm quite capable of bringing things to the table, you know, guys."
"We know it," said Jim from his spot at the head of the table, "but these boys like to show off their manners."
Her heart melted in her chest at the smiles the brothers gave him as he nodded around at them.
"We do," Brad, who was the eldest, agreed. "Miss Kitty taught us well."
Harper glanced at Jim. She tended to wait for him to bring up Kitty's name, rather than push to hear stories about her. She was relieved to see the big smile on his face.
"Aye, I reckon you all turned out okay, thanks to my Kitty."
"I'd say we're more than okay," said Banner, "and not just thanks to Miss Kitty, but to you too, Jim."