by Claire Adams
“I've got breakfast ready for you guys.” Emmy said as she walked toward us.
“An angel she is.” Ryan kissed the top of her head then headed toward the house.
“I didn't realize it was this bad.” She looked over the damage.
“It wasn’t a bear. I think someone tried to steal my tools.”
“Oh no.” She frowned.
“I guess I'll have to figure out some kind of alarm system for out here.”
“I'm sorry, Luke.” she reached her arms around me and hugged me to her.
When we made it back into the house, Ryan was coming out of the bathroom.
“Breakfast looks great,” Ryan said as Emmy made him a plate and handed it to him.
“Thanks.” I kissed the side of her head, grabbed the plate she handed me, and then headed toward the table. Ryan was looking at her laptop when she walked over.
“That looks like Chinese.” He pointed.
“It's, in fact, English.” She laughed.
“Well, it must be smart people English ‘cause this dumb country boy has no idea what any of that means.” I watched as she pointed at the screen and would look at Ryan waiting on him to nod his understanding. This continued until Ryan was completely engrossed in what she was talking about.
“But we don't get a lot of sun here. Hello, Oregon,” he laughed.
“There are other sources of energy,” she explained. “We also use wind turbines. Two wind turbines could power this whole town if they’re big enough.”
“They are kinda ugly though,” Ryan pointed out.
“That may be true, but what if your power bill was say twelve bucks a month instead of two hundred?”
“I would say put the ugly fuckers everywhere,” Ryan said seriously, making me and Emmy laugh. Ryan and I continue to work in the shop trying to clean up the mess, and Emmy disappeared into her side of the house. When I went looking for her, she was cleaning. Her hair was up, and she had on a tank top. She was singing into her dusting wand and dancing around her small living room. I leaned in the doorframe and watched her for a few minutes. She startled when she turned and saw me.
“I think that may have been the best rendition of Pat Benetar I have ever heard.” I smiled around my words as I walked over to her. “We’re almost done and thought maybe we’d go eat at the diner in town tonight. Ryan invited Cindy.”
“Ohhh, I get to meet her?” she purred.
“Appears so.” I leaned in and pulled her to me.
“I really need to get this house clean. When are we leaving?”
“I told Ryan we would meet him around seven.”
She looked over my shoulder at the clock on the wall. She pulled away and turned back to the table she had been dusting.
“That gives me plenty of time. I already did the work, I needed to get done today so I may have a long soak in the tub.” She winked at me and then continued to clean.
“The sheriff is coming by in a little bit to check things out.”
“You already cleaned everything up.” She turned looking at me again.
“I don't think we will find who broke in or what broke in, so I just wanted someone official to see it.”
“Oh, okay.” She pushed her ear bud back in her ear and turned away from me. I reached for her, pulled her against me, and kissed her passionately then turned and left her panting.
“Not cool, Luke Lawson!” She called out after me.
I grinned.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Emerson
Luke appeared at my door at six fifteen to pick me up for our date. Even though it was a double date, it was the first real date we had ever been on. I had worked all afternoon to get my house in order and then hopped in the shower to get ready. I straightened my hair and then put soft waves in it. I put on my normal makeup and then smoked my eyes a little darker than usual. I pulled a soft cotton dress over my head and matched it with a pair of strappy brown sandals. Luke’s mouth dropped open when he saw me.
“You look amazing.” He followed the neckline of my dress down over the swell of my breasts and then back up to my face.
“I clean up nice.” I smiled.
“You look even better in nothing.” He winked then kissed me softly and escorted me to the truck.
We arrived at the diner before Ryan and Cindy and found a booth.
An older woman came toward our table.
“You must be Emmy,” she smiled down at me.
I looked at Luke in confusion.
“Oh, dear, he talks about you all the time. It makes this little old lady’s day to hear about it.” She pulled a pad from the pocket of her apron and looked at Luke.
“This is Ethel.” He introduced me.
“Oh, my manners. He must not talk about me much.” She laughed.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ethel,” I replied then she went about taking our drink orders.
“What are you doing here so late?” Luke asked her.
“Ryan told me he was bringing his friend in for dinner, so I switched shifts, so I could meet her. Not like this happens every day.”
“Good point,” Luke chuckled.
“Glad I got to meet yours, too.” Ethel smiled at me and then walked away from the table.
Ryan walked in a few minutes later with a raven-haired girl. She was small beside him but had a fierceness in her eyes.
“Cindy.” Luke gave her a half hug then turned to me.
“Emmy,” she smiled and then looked back at Luke. “I know all about Emmy.” She chuckled and then slid into the booth as Ryan turned back toward the table.
“Cindy, this is Emmy.” Ryan introduced as he slid in beside her.
She smiled up at him and then turned back to Luke and I.
“So, tell me the truth because I'm not sure Ryan is always honest with me. I need the truth about you two.” She pointed between us, and in that moment, I liked her.
“There isn't much to tell.” Luke smiled down at me.
“Yeah, right.” She giggles. “I've known you for a long time, Luke Lawson, and I have never seen you look at a woman then way you looked at her.”
“Well, she is pretty great,” Ryan chirped beside her.
“Really?” Cindy looked at him, and he shrank in the booth. For one, I had never seen Ryan shrink away from anyone, and two she seemed to be exactly what Ryan needed. Ryan reached over and took her hand, and they disappeared under the table. She gave him a sly smile.
“We worked hard to make this happen.” Luke leaned over and kissed the side of my head.
I could see her following Luke’s movements, suddenly realizing that she wanted that with Ryan.
I kicked Ryan under the table, and he jerked his head up and looked between Luke and me. I smiled and darted my eyes toward Cindy whose face was in her menu. Ryan reached around her and pulled her closer, and I saw the smile spread across her face. I winked at him, and he nodded. He just needed a little direction.
“You trying to make sure he does things right?” Luke whispered in my ear.
“He is on the right road, he just isn't you.” I leaned into Luke. I could tell Ryan liked her, and that it was more than just sex for him, even if he wouldn't admit it. After dinner, I grabbed Ryan in a hug and whispered in his ear. “Bring her to Portland for my grandfather’s cookout, also open doors and touch her in non-sexual ways. I like her.”
His deep chuckle rumbled as we separated.
“It was so nice to meet you,” I hugged Cindy loosely. Ryan took her hand and led her to his truck and opened the door, helping her in. Once she was seated in the truck, he leaned in, kissed the side of her head, and closed the door. I knew then that she was different and Ryan cared about her more that he wanted to admit.
“How long have they been seeing each other?” I asked as I leaned back into Luke’s arms.
“Almost eight years. It started not long after high school.”
I looked at him over my shoulder and sighed. “She’s crazy.”<
br />
“About him, yes.” He tugged me closer.
“I would say so.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Luke
I was putting the last cooler in the truck as Ryan pulled up. He walked around the front of the truck and went to open the door to help Cindy out. He lifted his blue cooler from the bed of the truck and walked over and put in the back of Emmy’s.
“You guys ready?” Emmy asked as she walked out of the door.
“Yes.” Ryan slinked his arm over Cindy’s shoulders, tugging her against him. Her soft smile was telling, and I was convinced then that Ryan was a goner. He had changed in a matter of weeks. Having thought it was impossible, I was happy for him.
We all had a great conversation on the drive to Emmy’s grandparents’ house.
“There's my girl.” Emmy’s grandfather pulled her against him.
“Hey, Granddad.” She smiled as her arms went around him. When he released her, she stepped into her grandmother's arms. When she pulled away, she reached her hand out to me, and I grabbed it, stepping forward.
“This is Luke. Luke, this is my granddad, Harlan Myers. And my Mimi, Amelia Myers.” She smiled at me then turned back to her grandparents.
“It's nice to meet you, sir.” I took his outstretched hand and shook it, then turned to her grandmother. “And nice to meet you, ma’am.”
Emmy then introduced Ryan and Cindy. When the introductions were done, we followed them to the back of the house. When we walked out of the back door, it was like walking into a paradise that didn't belong into the pacific northwest. There were palm trees surrounding a large inground pool and a built-in grill and bar. The man standing with his back to us at the grill made every part of my body shift. Chris looked over his shoulder, a smile spreading across his face. He put the cooking utensils down and walked over to us. Ryan stepped to my side, and I tried my best to keep myself in check.
“Hey Emmy. It's good to see you.” He moved toward her, but she stepped away and closer to me.
“Ryan. Luke,” he said and then looked back at her.
“I didn't realize you knew each other,” Emmy’s granddad said.
“We compete together,” Chris explained.
“Together would be a stretch,” Ryan spoke up.
“Luke won it all this season,” Emmy announced and smiled at me.
Her grandfather’s eyes widened. “That's amazing, son. Congratulations.” He slapped me on the shoulder. “Now, let's get this party started.” He smiled then turned away and walked toward the house. We settled at a table near the house, and I can't say I was comfortable, but I did my best to relax and enjoy everything that was going on.
“The fireworks will shoot from that direction.” Emmy pointed toward the river. I looked over her shoulder at the kids that were splashing in the pool. I was also looking to see where Chris was, but I was trying my best to keep him out of my mind.
“I didn't know he would be here. He was supposed to be in Seattle.” Her words brought my attention back to her.
“It's fine.” I shrugged.
“It really isn't, and I'll talk to my grandfather about him next week.”
“You don't have to do that. As long as he knows where we stand, then it should all be good.”
“There’s more to it though. I want Granddad to know how deceitful he was.”
I nodded. “Up to you, babe. But as long as we are a we, then I don't really care what he does or says.”
Ryan and Cindy decided to get in the pool as night creeped in on us. They were kissing and just enjoying the closeness hidden by dusk.
“They are so cute,” Emmy smiled as she stood and kissed my cheek. “I'll be back, I'm going to hit the restroom and then make a quick visitation round.” She walked away, and I watched her as she disappeared into the house. Her grandfather wandered over to our table and pulled a chair out sitting and looking over at me.
“When her father left, a piece of her seemed to leave along with him. I see that piece being filled by you.” He took a sip of his drink and sat it on the table, leaning back into the chair. “I see so much of myself in her, and I don't want to see her hurt.”
“That will never be my intention, sir.” I said as I watched his face.
“She means the world to me,” he looked over at me.
“I love her.” It was the only thing I could say. I wanted him to know what I was feeling, but I also wanted him to understand my intentions.
“She’s worried about moving here and leaving you there,” he said, reaching for his drink again.
“We’ve talked about it. I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get there,” I said.
“Best advice I can give you, son. Never make her choose between what she wants out of life and you.” He wasn't being mean, just matter of fact.
“Hadn't planned on it.” I responded.
“Good.” He shook his glass making the ice clink around the glass.
“I want to marry her,” I declared.
His eyes narrowed. “Does she know this?”
“No, sir. I thought I should talk to you about it first.” I sat forward, putting my elbows on the table.
“Are you asking me for her hand?” He leaned forward, bringing his face closer to mine.
“Yes, sir. I am,” I said, more certain of that fact than I’d ever been of anything.
“If she says yes when you ask, then you have my blessing.” He placed his hand over mine and gave it a squeeze, then pushed away from the table. “Good luck, son.” He said and walked away. I let the breath that I hadn't realized I’d been holding out and sighed loudly.
“What was that for?” Ryan stood behind me. He was drying Cindy off and then wrapped her in a towel and pulled her down into his lap when he sat beside me.
“I just asked Emmy’s granddad if I could marry her.”
“Seriously?” Cindy clapped.
“Congrats, bro.” Ryan fist bumped me. I wasn't exactly planning on that happening today, but he was here.
“When are you going to ask her?”
“I don't know. We haven't been together that long.”
“Five minutes or five years, easy to see that it doesn't matter when you look at her,” Cindy said.
I should probably feel her out and see what she is thinking before I asked her something like that. I hadn't even known her a year, but I knew I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I would even give up the farmhouse and move here if that's what it took. All I really needed was a workshop, and I could build one of those anywhere. I started looking around for Emmy and realized that I hadn't seen her in nearly an hour.
“Have you seen Emmy?” I looked over at Ryan.
“I haven't,” he answered and went back to nuzzling Cindy.
I stood and walked around the pool looking over every table and not seeing her. I walked into the house and started to look for her. I heard some rustling and then a slap. I started toward the hallway and stopped when I heard words coming from the other side of the door.
“You don't know what you are missing. Why waste your time on that stupid hick? He will never be anything more than he is right now.”
“Get off me.” I heard, and my body stiffened. I shoved at the door, but it didn't open.
“Emmy?” I half-shouted.
“Luke.” I heard her voice. I laid my shoulder into the door and shoved hard. When it gave, I stumbled into the room to see that Chris had her pushed against a wall, her wrists pinned above her head. I saw red and grabbed the back of his overpriced shirt collar. I pulled him backward and out of the room. He was trying to get out of my grip, but I pulled him up and then shoved him into the front door. I jerked him back toward me, reaching for the door and pulling it open, and heard Emmy as she was running toward me.
“Luke!” she shouted. I shoved him through the open door and to his knees. I planted my foot into his back, kicking him forward. He shuffled on his hands and knees and stood, turning to look at me. I rushed him and h
it him with everything I had, making us both tumble to the ground. The blow drew blood. He shoved at me, and we tumbled again. We exchanged several blows before he went down on one knee. I lifted my fist to hit him again, and he started to speak. There was blood running down from his nose, and he smiled.
“I've been waiting on this for a while. I'm sure Harlan will wonder what kind of man his precious piece of ass has fallen for. She’ll never be happy with you, Lawson. She needs financial security, just like her mother. Fucking her was one of my biggest challenges. Now that you've beat me bloody, I'll stumble back around to the party and show him exactly who you are.”
I felt arms wrap around me, and I was pulled back before I could hit him again.
“Stop.” I heard Ryan’s voice. I continued to struggle until Emmy appeared in front of me. Her hand reached tentatively toward my face and then laid softly over my cheek.
“I'm okay, it's okay.” She leaned into me.
“Emmy,” I pulled her against my heaving chest and didn't want to let go. “I'm sorry,” I said.
“For what? Protecting me?” She pulled back and looked at me. “I don't know what he was planning, but he grabbed me when I came out of the bathroom. I didn't know he was even in the house.” She shuddered in my arms.
“What is going on out here?” Harlan stepped into view, several other people following him, including John.
“He hit me.” Chris stood in front of us.
“Why would you do that?” Harlan looked over at me with anger in his eyes.
“He tried to hurt me, Granddad. Luke stopped him.” Emmy reached out and touched his arm.
“He what?” Harlan roared.
“She wanted me, and now that her boyfriend is standing here, she is gonna act all innocent. Why don't you tell him about all our other times together,” Chris said. I started to push Emmy away from me and then stopped. I wasn't going to fall into his trap. He wasn't going to get in my head.
“Granddad, I have never—” She started to talk, but he put his hand up and turned his attention to Chris.
“I think it's best if you gather your things and meet Robbie and the office to pick up your belongings there. You are no longer welcome here.” He said directly to Chris, and then he turned on his heel and walked back into the house seemingly unaffected by what had happened. That was that.