12. Emma #2
The office. Last time I dropped in on him, I found him in the kitchen making dinner with his new mid-life crisis. But the new girlfriend’s car isn’t parked outside, so I feel safe.
There’s a photo on the wall of our entire family.
We’re standing in front of the beautiful Vermont fall leaves, Louie the beagle front and center, resting his head against Rosie’s leg.
We were in middle school when this photo was taken, and I love how well it captured my mom’s bubbly smile.
She was beautiful, and looking at Dad’s face, he thought so too.
Now we’re coming up on the anniversary of her death and he’s drowning himself in a high-maintenance girlfriend who seems to think long-term commitment is optional.
“Hi Dad,” I say, pasting a smile on my face and pushing into the office. He closes his book and gets up to hug me. “How’s it going?”
If he’s struggling with the impending anniversary of my mom’s death, he’s not letting on.
“Things are going well, Em,” he says, and I can see how happy he is.
But honestly? Why couldn’t he be happy with a stable woman who isn’t trying to secure marriage number five and couldn’t possibly be more different from Sally Harper, the woman he spent many happy years with before she was rudely taken too soon?
Deep breath, Emma.
“I’m glad.” Which is true, too. I’m happy he’s finding joy in some capacity, even if I think he’s lost his mind in the process. “We have Kiss the Pig going on right now, so don’t forget to come in and donate.”
“You know I’ll be there. Are you kissing the piglet this year?”
“I’m not in the running. No kissing for me.”
He makes a thinking sound, his eyes sparkling with humor. “Why not? It’s nice.”
“Ew, Dad. Stop.” I cross to the bookshelf and pretend to read the titles. “Maybe once leaf-peeping season is over and all the events are through, I’ll get on a dating app or something, but right now I have too much going on.”
“How long does it take to count everyone’s change and hold up a pig?”
“Hey,” I say, pretending to be mildly offended. “I have a voting game going about the mayor, the fall festival is going to have a library booth next week, and don’t get me started on Witches’ Night Out. I’m only halfway through planning it.”
“Take a beat and remember to breathe, Em.”
“I am. It’s just our busy season. We make most of our money to run programs for the entire year in this month.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t understand why they have the children’s librarian handling all this. You should talk to someone about mismanagement.”
“I’m over youth services, remember? Which includes all kids under eighteen and the fundraising for their events.”
He makes a sound like he doesn’t buy it.
Yes, I realize they could have three people doing my one job.
Technically Friends of the Library are supposed to do a lot of it, but the board is swamped with their own lives, and I’ve done all these fundraisers over the last few years with them, so I’m familiar with what needs to be done.
“Enough about that. Tell me what you want to do next Sunday.”
He looks at me quickly enough that I know he’s clocked Mom’s death anniversary. “Thought we’d visit her grave together.”
“I like that idea. I could make some of her favorite foods, have dinner with the four of us.”
“Maybe. Better talk to the twins and find out if they can make it.”
I won’t even respond to that. Of course they’ll make it. “I’ll work it out with them and get back to you with the details.” I cross the room to hug my dad, reveling in his warmth and health and hereness.
When he leans back, though, he has a stern look on his face. “What’s this I hear about you spending time with the Price boy?”
I freeze. My brain leaps from all the times I’ve been in the dental office to Maggie to the craft store where the Ednas saw us to the bar—oh gosh, the bar. Maggie’s such a gossip. She’s probably put together that he’s my mystery guy from the bachelorette party. Nothing is safe anymore.
But of course there’s no gossip about the bonafide date I went on with Seth to the wedding. Yeah, we drove separately…and I spent a lot of time with the others from the library too…but it still counts.
“What do you mean?” I ask, trying to sound nonchalant while I gather more information.
“I heard you spend a lot of time with him.”
I won’t mention that Dad’s kind of a hypocrite right now. I had to find out about his girlfriend from my brother.
“Dr. Price hired me to reupholster the chairs for his waiting room. We had to pick out fabric, so I took him to Burlington and the Ednas happened to be shopping for yarn. But he’s my neighbor, nothing else. He’s a dad and fresh out of a divorce.”
“Neither of those things are deal breakers, Em.”
“No, but it doesn’t change the fact that we’re only friends. Or that I’m kind of seeing someone from work.”
“Okay, I believe you.” He puts his hands up like he’s surrendering. “If you say it’s just gossip, then it’s just gossip. Now, who’s this guy from work?”
“It’s nothing yet. Only a couple of dates. We took a big break, but we’re seeing where things go.”
“Hm,” he says, like he doesn’t approve. “Thought you didn’t have time for romance?”
“Anyway.” I drag out the word, demonstrating an end to the topic. “Speaking of those chairs, I need to get moving. The dental office opens Friday, and Carson needs them finished.”
“Okay, kiddo.” Dad hugs me again, and I head for the door.
Why does it feel like I lied to my dad? Or that I’m using Seth as a shield more than I should? Agreeing to go out with him was a bad idea. If there’s anything this town should get an Olympic gold in, it’s spreading rumors.
Or…maybe that’s what I need.