Finding Family...and Forever?

by Southwick, Teresa

  “No. Don’t even say that. The situation is bewildering and will take some getting used to, but we’ll get through this.” She smoothed the blanket more securely over Emma’s legs, then patted her knee. “Happy doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel at having you back. I’ll never recover the memories and experiences that were stolen and, I have to be honest, I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive her for robbing me of that.”

  “Her name was Ruth.”

  Michelle nodded. “Your father and I named you Sarah Elizabeth after both of your grandmothers.”

  “I’m not sure what to say, except it’s a nice name, but for me it’s surreal.”

  “I just wanted you to know. I hadn’t even thought about the legal ramifications because there’s a birth certificate, but obviously she, Ruth, managed to do what was necessary to enroll you in school and anything else you’d need legal documentation for.”

  “I don’t remember any problem with it. Obviously it was forged.”

  “Well, we’ve hired an attorney to figure this all out. But, for now, I feel incredibly lucky to have you here.”

  Emma smiled. “Me, too. I thought I was all alone.”

  “Never.” She nodded firmly. “You’re stuck with us now.”

  “Speaking of that...” She met the other woman’s gaze. “I don’t even know what to call you and Alan.”

  “You can call me Michelle. Hey, you. Or anything else you’d like.”

  Emma smiled and slid forward to hug the other woman. “How about Mom?”

  Maternal arms tightened around her. “That works for me.”

  “Me, too—” Her voice broke.

  Her mother held on for several moments, then took Emma’s face between her hands. “I’m glad we had this talk.”

  “I am, too.”

  “Now you need to get some rest.”

  “Good night, Mom.”

  “Sleep tight, daughter.” She stood and smiled. “I finally will sleep well now that my baby girl is back home.”

  When Emma was alone, thoughts of Justin popped into her mind. And Kyle. She wouldn’t be there in the morning and his careful routine would be completely messed up. He wouldn’t understand what was happening and that made her feel horrible.

  But Justin was there and he’d take care of the little guy until she could figure out what to do so that baby boy didn’t feel abandoned.

  So much for sleeping.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The next morning Emma had the vague, sleepy impression of being in an unfamiliar place and opening her eyes confirmed it. This pretty room was different and there was no baby chatter to greet her. Everything came back in a rush, including Justin’s proposal. There was nothing vague and sleepy about the pain that squeezed her heart. She missed Kyle terribly and wondered if he missed her, too.

  It was Saturday and Mercy Medical Clinic was closed, so Justin wouldn’t need her today. But she couldn’t leave him hanging and would call later. During a sleepless night she’d decided to make a proposal of her own. Child care without living in his house.

  She’d arrive before he left for work and leave when he got home, but only until he found someone to replace her. If he had an emergency during the night, she would come over and stay with Kyle. That was the best she could do. What he’d suggested was unacceptable to her.

  She smelled coffee and had the pitiful, pathetic thought that it was just what the doctor ordered. Spotting the borrowed pink fuzzy robe still on the end of the bed, she got up and put it on. When she opened the bedroom door voices drifted to her and she followed the sound to the kitchen. Her brother Kane was sitting on the stool where she’d had tea the night before.

  He was very handsome, all of her brothers were, but his rumpled, early-morning scruffy look was incredibly appealing. His dark brown hair was cut conservatively short and his blue eyes were full of the devil.

  Their mother poured a mug of coffee and set it on the island in front of him. She moved through the doorway and they both looked at her.

  “Good morning,” she said, taking the stool beside Kane’s.

  “Morning, sis. Want coffee?”

  “More than you can imagine.”

  He slid his mug in front of her. “Cream and sugar?”

  “Cream, and if there’s any low-calorie sweetener that would be great.”

  “Of course there is,” her mother said. “What kind of B and B do you think I run here?”

  Emma smiled when all the coffee stuff magically appeared in front of her. “Careful. You’ll spoil me.”

  “Good. I have a lot of years to make up for.”

  Kane’s grin was all big-brother wickedness. “Does that mean I get a free pass to pick on her?”

  “Not if you want breakfast, young man.” She gave him a mom look designed to put a boy in his place. “Speaking of that, what sounds good? Pancakes? Omelets? Crepes?”

  “I don’t care. Whatever is easy. Please don’t go to any trouble.” Emma wasn’t particularly hungry.

  Her brother gave her a “what?” look. “You’re missing an opportunity here. This is going to wear off and you’ve got to work it while you can.” He leaned close and whispered loud enough for people in the next county to hear, “Say omelets.”

  “That’s your favorite,” his mother said. “I asked what Emma wants.”

  “Omelets would be wonderful. If it’s not too much trouble,” she added.

  “It’s not.”

  Michelle assembled the eggs, cheese, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes and cooking utensils. Her brother got off his stool and refilled all their cups with coffee.

  Emma realized her father wasn’t there. “Where’s Alan? I mean Dad.”

  “At the diner.” Kane had noticed the slip and for just a moment there was a sympathetic look in his eyes. “Saturday mornings are traditionally busy or he wouldn’t have gone.”

  Her mother stopped stirring the eggs in the bowl. “I’m here and not at work because we agreed that this was where I should be this morning. He’ll be home as soon as he can, so there’s no need for you to feel guilty.”

  “Too late,” she said. “You really don’t need to fuss over me—”

  “Yes, I do. For all these years I couldn’t be with you when you needed me, but now I can. And something is definitely going on. We’ll get to it. But first I’m going to cook for my two youngest kids.”

  “She makes really good omelets,” her brother said.

  “I hope so or that means you’ve got really bad taste, brother.”

  “Okay, you saw that, right Mom? She drew first blood. The gloves come off. Watch your back.” He grinned, then glanced at what his mother was doing. “What about fried potatoes?”

  “If you want them, get over here and help.”

  “What about me?” Emma asked. “I want to help, too.”

  “Why don’t you set the table, sweetheart.”

  “I can do that.”

  When her mom pointed out where everything was, she did just that. Soon they were seated at the round oak table in the nook. White shutters covered the window, but they were open, and the towering Montana mountains were visible in the distance. Three mugs had been filled with coffee and each of them had a full plate of food.

  “This smells wonderful,” Emma said.

  “Tastes even better.” Kane shoveled in another bite.

  She watched in awe as he seemed to inhale everything. “How can you eat so much?”

  “It’s a guy thing.”

  Emma managed to get down half the omelet and a few potatoes, but the knot in her stomach stopped her from eating it all. “That was delicious.”

  “You’re finished?” Her brother looked doubtful.

  “It’s a girl thing.” She grinned at him. �
�And you should know that.”

  “Why?”

  “You’re a nice-looking guy. Don’t you date?”

  “The better question,” their mother chimed in, “is when does he find time to work.”

  “So, you have a flourishing social life.” Emma wrapped her hands around her mug and met his gaze. “But you’re not married. Why is that?”

  “Good question.” Michelle set her fork on the plate and joined Emma in staring at the token male. “I’d like to know the answer to that, too.”

  “No fair.” Kane squirmed and scowled good-naturedly. “My long-lost sister is back and ganging up on me?”

  “What are sisters for?” She grinned at him.

  “How come you’re not married?” His plate was clean and he pushed it away.

  “Because I was engaged to a guy who I discovered had been cheating on me the whole time we were dating.” Emma found that it didn’t bother her at all. She could actually joke about the fiasco that was her fiancé.

  “Weasel.” Kane’s blue eyes narrowed a little dangerously. “I’ll beat him up for you.”

  “Okay.” She rested her forearms on the table. “I always wanted a big brother to do stuff like that.”

  “Now you’ve got three,” he promised.

  “So, is there a guy here in Blackwater Lake who needs a visit from the Crawford brothers?” Her mother’s brown eyes had a knowing glint.

  “You want to know why I’m here.” Emma knew it didn’t take a mental giant to figure out her sudden appearance last night had something to do with a man.

  Her mother squeezed her hand. “It’s time to confess why you ran away from Justin.”

  “Do I have to?”

  “You’ll feel better.” Kane looked at his mother when she laughed. “What? That’s what you always tell me.”

  “For all the good it does.” She sighed. “You never talk to me about anything. I’m hoping Emma will.”

  “Wow, the honeymoon is over,” Emma joked. Then the humor faded. “I showed up on your doorstep last night and you didn’t hesitate to take me in. More important, you didn’t ask any questions. I appreciate that. And you have a right to know what’s going on.”

  “I notice you didn’t include me in that,” her brother commented.

  “You weren’t here. The Crawford male-bonding ritual was more important.”

  “Mom told you.” He shrugged. “I’m here now. And you should know I’m not leaving. Just in case you change your mind and need some muscle.”

  “Good to know.” She smiled. “The thing is, I can’t live with Justin anymore.”

  “I knew it.” Kane’s expression was two parts gotcha and one part anger. “He made a move on you.”

  He’d done more than that, but she’d been an eager accomplice. “He asked me to marry him.”

  Kane stared at her for several moments then said, “I’m not sure what to say. Do you want me to take him out back and beat the crap out of him?”

  “You don’t understand—”

  “Ignore your brother, sweetheart. Take your time.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Emma sighed, remembering that sinking sensation when that oh-wow-he-cares feeling changed because his real intentions became clear. “He was proposing a marriage of convenience.”

  “Why?” Kane’s tone was full of bewilderment.

  “He wants guaranteed child care for his son.”

  “But not an emotional connection,” her mother finished.

  “Exactly. The thing is, he was married before and it didn’t go well.” The details weren’t Emma’s to share. “But he won’t let himself care because love let him down in a big way.”

  “Okay.” Kane nodded. “So he has his reasons.”

  “Now whose side are you on?” Emma asked.

  “Mine.” He stood and picked up his empty plate. “This is where you guys get into the mushy stuff and there’s nothing I can add. So, I’m out of here.”

  He put his plate in the sink before leaving the room.

  “Men.” Michelle sighed. “They’re good for opening stubborn mayonnaise jars and changing a tire. But when it comes to touchy-feely issues they’re not much help.”

  “So much for the male point of view,” Emma agreed.

  Her mother looked thoughtful. “Justin was serious about getting married?”

  “I’m sure he was. And it’s weird because at my first interview he made it clear that he wasn’t looking for a wife.” It was practically the first thing he’d said. “So it was a shock when he brought it up out of the blue. If he wasn’t prepared to follow through, why would he have asked?”

  “I think he’s serious. I mean, serious feelings,” her mother clarified.

  “Not possible.” In his bed he’d told her not to get the wrong idea, although that wasn’t something she was prepared to reveal.

  “He might not want to have them, but a man doesn’t get to the point of asking what he asked without deep emotion to back it up.” Her mother’s expression turned tender. “But I’m more concerned about you. How do you feel about him?”

  Surprisingly, Emma didn’t hesitate. The truth had been in her heart for a while but she’d refused to acknowledge it. “I love him,” she said simply.

  She was certain of it. He was a good man, a good father. And he would be a good husband if he’d let himself. But he’d given no indication of changing his mind about that.

  “Emma, you have to face this head-on. Hiding isn’t the answer and running away won’t help.”

  “You’re right.” As difficult and awful as it would be, she needed to explain to Justin the reason she’d left. “But I don’t think you’re right about his feelings for me.”

  “Maybe not. But you won’t know unless you face him. And take it from me, knowing is better.”

  Emma knew she wasn’t just talking about the situation with Justin. Her mother had lived in limbo for so many years and still had the courage to put one foot in front of the other. She was the best kind of role model.

  “I need to get my clothes,” she said.

  “Your brother will go.”

  “Doesn’t that make me a coward?” Emma asked.

  “No. You need your own things before you have that conversation with Justin.” Her mother smiled. “A girl needs to look her best.”

  “I’m so glad you get it.” Emma stood, then leaned down to hug the other woman.

  “My first mother-daughter talk.” Brown eyes so like her own glistened and her mom sniffled. “How did I do?”

  “Pretty terrific.”

  And her family was pretty awesome, too. On this journey of self-discovery Emma had worried about where she belonged. How ironic that she’d found her place and lost her heart at the same time.

  And nowhere in the law of karma did it say that life would let you have it all.

  * * *

  Justin was relieved when Camille Halliday opened her door, even though he’d called to say he was coming over. She and Ben McKnight lived a couple miles from his house and he needed a friend to talk to. He also thought a woman’s touch might help calm Kyle. The baby had been out of sorts since waking up that morning and seeing him instead of his nanny.

  “Emma’s gone.”

  “What do you mean, gone?”

  “She left last night and Kyle’s fussy. He’s not taking it well. And you’re a woman.”

  The little boy took one look at her and let out a wail, then buried his face in Justin’s neck.

  Cam rubbed a hand over her pregnant belly. “I’m definitely a woman, but not the one he wants.”

  “It was worth a try.”

  Justin didn’t like this. He didn’t like curveballs. His approach to life was planning and execution. Normally it was a win-win. Not
this time. He’d acted spontaneously, made his pitch and everything fell apart.

  “Come inside, Justin. You look terrible.”

  “Thanks.” He walked past her and she closed the door. “For letting me in, not the making-fun-of-me part.”

  Sleepless nights were nothing new. During med school, internship, residency and private practice, a doctor often didn’t get eight straight hours and frequently pulled an all-nighter. But that was professional. An employee walking out should have been, too. If Ginny quit her job at Mercy Medical Clinic, it would be inconvenient, but manageable. Emma leaving felt damn personal and unmanageable.

  “I’ll put on some coffee.”

  “Where’s Ben?”

  “Shopping. I think he’s bringing home a surprise for the baby.” She smiled. “A glider chair. So actually it’s for me. And not really a surprise.”

  Cam headed to the back of the house where the large kitchen and family room combination had an entire wall of windows. There was an incredible view of the mountains, and normally the beauty had a calming effect, but not today.

  Carrying Kyle, Justin walked over to the black granite-covered island as big as an aircraft carrier. There were green glass jars with delicate lids and a statue of a skinny French chef. A napkin holder beside crystal salt-and-pepper shakers finished off the knickknack grouping. Everything was breakable and his son wanted it all. He let out a frustrated cry when Justin pushed the things out of reach.

  “Sorry, pal. Those aren’t toys.”

  Cam pressed the button on the coffeemaker and instantly a sizzling sound filled the room. “Did you bring anything for him to play with?”

  “Not unless there’s something in the diaper bag.” He lifted a shoulder where it was hanging.

  “So you didn’t pack it.”

  “No. Emma always took care of that.”

  “I don’t have any toys yet.” Cam moved her palm over her baby bump while she thought for a moment. “But I’ve got an idea.”

  In the kitchen she grabbed wooden spoons out of a crockery jar on the counter, opened a drawer and pulled out plastic measuring cups, then gathered nonbreakable leftover containers and lids. She carried it all to the family room and put it on the floor.