The Everdon Series- the Complete Set

by L C Kincaide

  How furious mum was to discover Emma had visited the manor with him and even more so when she defended his rights. Never having met the man, nor his father, she despised him just the same, and it made no sense. It’s as if she had taken an axe and tried to hack off that branch of the family. She had loathed Mason more than the rest of his descendants combined, not that Emma blamed her. Except for the last two years, Elinor Everdon’s life had not been her own to live as she would have wanted and the same applied to everyone before her. It very nearly became her own fate. Still, why the need for the separation? What had caused her so much worry? Or was it fear of a living, breathing part of a man who from beyond the grave had controlled them all? Fear was merely a guess. Emma had never seen her mother afraid of anything.

  The rest of the pages referred to family members who had died long ago and were of little interest. She gathered the file and went to Elinor’s desk. In the top drawer, she found her diary and opened it to the page with the tucked-in envelope. She had been about to open it when Adam called and she took it out now. It was addressed to Graham Morrow asking him to retrieve the box from the safe deposit box and destroy it.

  That was a weird request to ask of him as soon as they returned from England. Emma shook her head. Was it possible mum was going a little senile? She dug through the drawers for the watch then remembered having left it in her bag. It was a quality timepiece of considerable value, both as an antique and the gold content. The craftsmanship was exquisite; Amelia had paid plenty for it over a hundred years ago. But the hands frozen in that particular position made it sinister. Had she realized it was still in there, she would have left it in the warehouse with all the other items. So much for the great treasure hunt.

  Her time was better spent focusing on other tasks and she picked up her phone to call Theresa, but her finger tapped a familiar long distance number instead. Seeing his name made her lonely for him, and she needed to hear his voice before moving on.

  CHAPTER 20

  ~*~

  “I can’t believe everything is ready to go!” Emma announced as she stepped into the house that still felt more like home than either the condo or her apartment.

  “That’s great news! I knew you could do it.”

  “Thanks, with a lot of help. The only thing left to confirm is the menu, the ballroom layout and have all the decorations, plants and props ready. I’m finally excited about it instead of terrified.”

  “It’s going to be a fabulous night.”

  “Oh, and the invitations are coming back. Frances Ruskin made good and a crowd is arriving from New Haven.”

  “That was a bit of genius asking Carrie to play.”

  “It worked out. Carrie needs the exposure, and I needed to fill a ballroom.” She smiled sweetly. And to prove myself. The overheard conversation still stung.

  “Either way, it was a good move.”

  “Have you heard from Adam?”

  “I called him yesterday. He’s busy. I don’t think he’ll make it in time. He said he’s waiting for confirmation on something and until he gets it…”

  “You still have over a week to go.” Rachel reassured her. “Anything can happen by then. Now, about the costumes. I went online and found a great site that has a huge selection and equally important, next day delivery.”

  “Okay. Let’s have a look.”

  “And where are you running off to?” Rachel turned to her husband trying to sneak away with Ella.

  “The weather’s good and we want to go for a walk.”

  Emma raised her eyebrows. “We?”

  “Oh, he’s impossible. I tried to get him to pick a costume, and he always finds an excuse not to.”

  Emma chortled.

  “I’ll just have to pick one for you myself.” Rachel threatened.

  “I trust you.” He said unfazed.

  “Fine, and just so you know, Ella can’t come as a prop.”

  “What?” Matthew exclaimed in mock horror. “Well, in that case I won’t go.”

  “You better be joking, Matt.”

  “Matthew, you have to. You’re giving the speech.”

  “Oh, that’s right.”

  “Have you given it any thought?”

  “I’ll do that on our walk. Walking helps me think.”

  Rachel shook her head defeated. “You see what I have to deal with? I can’t win.”

  Matthew came over and kissed her cheek. “You know you love it.” He teased.

  Rachel grinned up at him. “I know. Go on, both of you.” She turned to Emma. “They’re like peas in a pod.”

  Before father and daughter returned from their walk, Rachel and Emma selected and paid for their costumes. Rachel also arranged for salon appointments for them both, leaving nothing to chance.

  “Whew! I’m so glad that’s done and all we have to do is relax.” She poured a glass of iced tea. “Oh, did you find anything interesting going through Elinor’s stuff?”

  “Not really. A file of notes about the Everdon generations. She’d never approve of me and Adam.”

  “Why not?”

  “Mostly because he is directly related to her archenemy, Mason.”

  “That’s hardly Adam’s fault. It’s not like he could help it. He didn’t even know until you came along.”

  Emma sighed. “She wasn’t happy about that either, believe me.”

  “Oh well, what’s done is done. It’s your life to live.”

  “That is true. This is great iced tea.”

  “Glad you like it. I’m going to get the food started.” She got up. “Come with me to the kitchen. I’d like to have it ready for when they’re back.”

  “The dynamic duo! That would be a costume to remember.”

  “Don’t even think about saying that in front of him. He doesn’t need ideas.” Rachel raised a spoon.

  Emma made to zip her lips. “Mum’s the word.”

  “Good. Take down the plates and I’ll get the salad. I’ve got this awesome dressing,” she took a bottle from the fridge and opened it for Emma to sniff. “It even has real bacon and…”

  Emma took a whiff, turned green, clapped a hand over her mouth and lurched for the powder room.

  Rachel hurried after her. “Emma! Are you okay?”

  Emma met her wide eyes and groaned. “I think so.”

  “Are you sick? You must’ve been working too hard.”

  “Yeah, maybe.” She splashed water on her face. “My stomach’s been bothering me lately. Can I have a piece of toast please?”

  “Sure. Anything on it?”

  Emma shook her head. “I must have caught a bug. Everything tastes bad and…”

  “Here, have a seat.” Rachel led her to a bar stool at the counter. “More iced tea?”

  “That would be great. Ironically, tea is about the only thing that doesn’t make me nauseous. And Magda’s dumplings, and toast.”

  Rachel went about preparing the meal and watching her with concern. “Here’s your toast.”

  Emma chewed it relieved. “That’s better.”

  “How long have you been feeling this way?”

  “I don’t know. A couple of weeks. A month tops. I’m so bloated, none of my pants fit. Do you think I’m suddenly lactose intolerant or something?”

  “I’d place my bet on the something.”

  “Like what?”

  Rachel came around and sat beside her. “I know it’s a crazy question, but is there a chance you may be pregnant?”

  Emma stopped chewing and swallowed hard. “What? No.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Well, yeah. We were really careful with that. What made you ask?”

  “It’s from everything you’ve said, food tasting off, reacting to smell
s, loss of appetite, bloating. Emma, it may not be gas that’s causing it and you haven’t gained any weight.”

  “I can’t be. I don’t see how that’s possible.”

  “You know yourself better than I do. I could be wrong.”

  “It must be something else. Tell you what — if I still feel bad in the morning, I’ll make an appointment. Deal?”

  “Deal.”

  Emma tried to dismiss the idea of being pregnant going over her weekend with Adam in New York. They had even joked about how many condoms they had, each having brought a supply, and the supply had diminished considerably. No, it couldn’t be. Nevertheless, she stopped at a pharmacy on the way home to set her mind at ease and to show Rachel that it really was something else like indigestion caused by nerves or a food intolerance. People got those all the time.

  She stared at the wand then read the instructions. All she had to do was pee on the stick and wait for the bars to appear in the little window — one for not and two for a baby. Simple. Yet, she hesitated. Maybe it was better to do it in the morning. No, best to get it over with and prove she was right and assure herself of a good night’s sleep. She positioned herself and with a trembling hand performed the test then setting the tester on the edge of the sink, she waited for what seemed the longest three minutes of her life. Five minutes went by and she still hadn’t looked. It’s okay. When you look, you will see one bar. ONE. When she turned her head, there were two.

  Her heart jammed in her throat — what the hell? How… when? What was she going to do? How did she even feel about this besides mumchanced and gobsmacked? Oh God! Adam! Emma realized she was still standing over the sink and staring at a reflection with the widest eyes she had ever seen on herself. So much for sleeping tonight! First thing in the morning, she’d call her doctor.

  CHAPTER 21

  ~*~

  “Hello, Emma. What brings you by? You’re not due for your check-up.” Dr. Ann Wellner greeted Emma and consulted the tablet. Her doctor of many years, Emma was comfortable with Doctor Ann, as she called her, always confident in her no-nonsense approach to health. Yet, this visit was different, her condition not one she had expected to discuss at this point in her life and not under these circumstances.

  “I’m pregnant.”

  “I see. And how do you know?”

  “I took a home pregnancy test.”

  The doctor furrowed her brow and consulted Emma’s patient file.

  “How many periods have you missed?”

  “I don’t know. I seldom had them with the shots, so I didn’t pay much attention.”

  “According to your chart, your last injection was on March fifteenth, which means you’ve had no protection against pregnancy since mid-June.”

  “I can’t be more than a month.” Emma said.

  “Then you haven’t had…”

  “No, just last month and we used condoms.”

  “As effective as they are, unfortunately, they’re not one hundred percent effective.”

  Emma looked at her bare toes. Growing up, she had always felt like a kid sitting on the examination table, and again today.

  “How are you otherwise? Any sickness, fatigue?”

  “I’m tired and almost everything tastes horrible.”

  The doctor wrapped the pressure cuff around her arm and pumped. “You’re a little pale. I’ll order blood tests. Anything else happening in your life?” She checked her heart next.

  “My mom died recently.”

  “I’m so sorry. That is a major stressor in life.”

  “I thought I had more time for the shot and then it slipped my mind.”

  Dr. Ann touched a comforting hand on her shoulder.

  “Why don’t I have a look and see exactly what we’re dealing with?” She spoke into the phone, and a moment later, the nurse pushed in an ultrasound machine.

  “Lie down, Emma.” She squirted the gel onto her belly and positioned the wand over it. Pressing lightly, she moved it around, searching for an embryonic being Emma could not imagine how she’d recognize. The doctor had turned the monitor away, so she saw nothing, and her expression was inscrutable, even when she paused in her search to press the wand over a spot. Doctor Ann pushed buttons on the keyboard and soon she was done and handed Emma tissues to wipe her skin clean.

  “You’re right. You’re definitely pregnant. Go ahead and get dressed and I’ll see you in my office.”

  Emma nodded mutely.

  “Your ultrasound was fine. You have a healthy baby.” She pushed a printout of the scan toward her. “You’re eleven weeks along.”

  Emma stared at her. What was she talking about? Eleven weeks? That was practically a whole trimester gone! “That’s impossible.” She muttered studying the blurred black-and-white image trying to decipher what was where on the tiny being. How could this be? How had she not known? Because she had no reason to suspect this as the cause of the recent changes.

  “And the father...”

  Emma shook her head. Adam had no idea. He would be shocked, at the very least. How was she going to tell him? On the phone with the Atlantic spread between them? She didn’t even know when they’d see each other next and if it was weeks away, then he’d just have to look at her stomach to realize what happened.

  “Sorry. I…”

  “Do we need to discuss options?” The doctor asked.

  “Options?” She looked at her with a blank expression.

  “Termination, adoption.”

  “No! I’m keeping him.”

  “All right. Here’s the name of a good prenatal vitamin you should take. Your nausea won’t last much longer and food will taste better. You’ll also need plenty of rest.” She clasped her hands on the closed folder. “Will the father be involved? I’m asking because it can be a stressful time especially being on your own. Do you have emotional support from family and friends?”

  “My brother and his wife. They had a little girl this summer and they’ve been very supportive of me through everything that’s happened.”

  “Good.” She smiled, the detached professional veneer gone for the moment. “Your mental and emotional well-being is just as important as your physical health, Emma.” She took her prescription pad and wrote on it. “I’m going to refer you to Doctor Benson. She’s an OBGYN. You’ll like her. Her office will call you for an appointment.”

  “Thanks.” She took the note from her.

  The doctor rose from her chair and came around the desk. “Once the shock wears off, you’ll find it’s an exciting time. Enjoy it.”

  “I will. I just have to let it sink in.”

  Emma stared at the calendar and the date she had conceived which was the night of the storm when her car wouldn’t start and she and Adam had been stuck in the manor. The dream had not been a dream after all. Was it possible that Adam had experienced the same thing as she? Neither had mentioned it in the morning and now a baby was on the way — their baby. Emma crossed the room to the window. Clouds gathered over the dull surface of the Charles River, the view reminding her of their last moments together on the rooftop terrace of the Jane Hotel.

  How on earth was she going to tell him? If she was in shock, what would his reaction be? She would laugh about how careful they had been in New York not suspecting it was already too late, but found no humor in it. What was the saying about closing the barn door after the horse fled? She had joked with Rachel about seducing him — rather not seducing him when she was in the English manor and smarting from John’s unexplained behavior, and had promised both Rachel and herself she would not. But is that what happened after all only delayed?

  Again, she dismissed the notion. If her seduction of Adam had been deliberate, she would have been fully aware of her actions, and so would he, yet neither acknowledged their lovemaking as
if it had never transpired. Did it happen in their sleep? She’d read about cases where people cooked food or drove miles from their homes to awaken in unknown neighborhoods, but this was different and it affected them both. Did an explanation even exist?

  The phone rang and Emma jumped. She wasn’t ready to talk to him yet in her present state. They’d spent enough time together for him to tell when something was off with her, and she was a terrible liar.

  “Hi Emma. I haven’t heard from you. Is everything…” Rachel didn’t have a chance to finish before Emma started to cry. “I’m coming over.”

  Emma scrambled for words, but Rachel had disconnected.

  Within minutes she was at the door weighed down with the baby carrier and a diaper bag. She dropped the bag and set Ella on the coffee table.

  “What’s going on?” Rachel said breathless taking Emma in a tight embrace.

  “You were right.” She sniffled.

  “You mean…”

  Emma nodded.

  “Oh. Wow.” They sat on the couch. Ella watched them and kicked her legs.

  “I don’t get it. How is it that I knew about you being pregnant before you did and when it comes to me, I’m clueless?”

  “You have a gift for that and if it’s the last thing you suspect, it won’t cross your mind.”

  “It didn’t.” She shook her head miserably.

  “With all the distractions you had in New York…”

  “It wasn’t in New York.”

  Rachel gave her a blank stare. “When?”

  “The doctor did an ultrasound. I’m eleven weeks pregnant.”

  “Eleven weeks?” Her expression mimicked what Emma felt. “But how…”