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Uncertain Past

Page 24

by Roz Denny Fox


  A funny look crossed Jed’s face. “So you weren’t the one who raided my candy stash on a regular basis?” He listened to her vociferous denial. “I’ll be damned. Will did it. That little sneak swore it was you.”

  “You two haven’t changed one iota,” Riley mused aloud. “Maybe Will’s punishment is that he’s fat and bald now.”

  Emmy snorted. “Dream on. Will had the kind of thick, honey-blond hair most girls drool over,” she said for Gwyn’s benefit. “He was a fanatic about working out. Will was built like a Greek God,” she said, glancing up and blushing.

  Riley sat forward in his chair. “Here I always thought you were the one girl in town who didn’t have a mad crush on Will McClain. Maybe I should hope Gwyn’s letter of inquiry doesn’t turn up old Will.”

  Emmy bristled. “I had no such thing as a crush on him, you goof. From the day he and Jed walked through Fran’s door, I claimed them as brothers. Next to you, they were the best looking guys at school, though. Don’t think I didn’t get a lot of mileage out of that. Girls who couldn’t see me before suddenly started hanging around me. It did my heart good each time the guys turned down a date with one of those snobs.”

  “I recall you were plenty ticked at Amanda,” Riley said, dragging a teasing finger down the bridge of Emmy’s nose. “During more than a few of our darts lessons, I got an earful about how you’d love to mess up Ms. Jennings’s pretty face.”

  “That’s just it. She’s not that pretty. I don’t know what you three ever saw in her.”

  Gwyn turned to her husband. “Ask Jed, he took her to the prom.”

  “We all dated her at one time or another,” he said defensively, including Riley in the quick circle of his hand.

  “At least he’s honest,” Emmy said. “Maybe you can get out of Jed what the big attraction was.” Emmy aimed her suggestion at Gwyn. “Lord knows none of them confided in me. And believe me, I did my best to worm the truth out of one and all.”

  Riley and Jed exchanged a quick, very masculine smile, assuming blank expressions when Emmy and Gwyn both reached out and smartly struck their shoulders.

  “Don’t you ladies feel a little sympathy for Amanda?” Riley asked, the picture of innocence. “She’s had three bad marriages and has dated a string of losers since. She’s our age and back living with mommy and daddy.”

  Emmy climbed to her feet. “I think I’ll pass on dessert. Riley’s obviously sweet enough for both of us. Sympathy for Amanda, indeed. Anyway, we’re approaching the hour he told the sitter we’d be home. The agency triples the price if we’re late.”

  “Next time, try Cassie Morris, used to be Ames,” Jed said to Emmy and Riley. “She waits tables at the café. Anyway, her oldest daughter babysits. Cassie’s kids strike me as nice. They’re certainly hard working. But you don’t often leave Alanna in the evenings, so maybe you’re not interested in a referral.”

  “I like Cassie,” Emmy said. “But she’s a terrible gossip. The fewer people who know that Riley and I are dating, the better.”

  “So it’s a secret?” Jed frowned.

  Riley said no at the same time as Emmy said yes. Gwyn and Jed swiveled their heads between the two. After an awkward moment, Riley shook Jed’s hand and thanked him for dinner. Emmy did the same, hugging Gwyn and Jed before she started around the house toward the car.

  They’d almost arrived home when Riley turned to Emmy with a serious look on his face. “I don’t care who knows we’re dating.”

  “We’re, uh, more than dating. I thought we agreed it’d be best if Alanna remained unaware that we’re sleeping together. If there’s gossip around town, she’ll hear.”

  “Dammit, that’s where you’re hung up. I’d marry you tomorrow and I don’t care who knows we’re sleeping together.”

  Emmy laid a hand on his muscled forearm. “Let’s not argue, Riley. We had such an enjoyable evening with Jed and Gwyn. Why spoil it with an argument that has no possible end? At least not an end in sight.”

  Riley expelled a long breath. “Will it ever?” he muttered.

  Emmy had worried about the same problem earlier when she and Gwyn talked. She let her palm slide off his arm and scooted to her side of the car. As soon as they reached home, Emmy didn’t wait for Riley to open her car door. She climbed out unaided.

  “Your mother’s arriving soon, Riley. I think I’d better start sleeping in my own bed. I’ll come over tomorrow and throw the sheets in the wash. I haven’t left much in your bathroom, but I’ll do a clean sweep there, too.”

  Riley opened his mouth to object. Taking note of the determined set of her jaw, he inclined his head. He wondered if he should tell her that Marge had heard talk among the tellers at the bank. Speculation as to whether he and Emmy were having sex. He thought better of it. Knowing Emmy, she’d march down to the bank and knock a few heads together.

  Damn, he wished he could make some headway in finding out who’d given birth to Emerald Monday. After Marge had mentioned the gossip she’d heard at the bank, he’d gone there to see if any of the tellers were the right age to be Emmy’s long-lost mother. They were all too young. Another dead end. But one day someone would slip up and the truth of her birth would come out. Then, he wondered, would Emmy still find excuses to not marry him?

  Chapter Fourteen

  Emmy had no more than reached her bedroom when the bedside phone rang. She picked it up hesitantly and was surprised to hear Riley’s voice, considering they’d parted badly.

  “I don’t like us being at odds,” he said before she’d finished a shaky greeting. “What if I promise to quit pressuring you to marry me? Can we call a truce?”

  “It’s not that I don’t want to marry you, Riley. You know that, I hope. I—I—just can’t. I have to choose between what feels good and what feels right. I care too much for you and Alanna.”

  “She’s the second reason for my late call. She waited up to see you, positive you’d come in with me. It seems the sitter taught her some string tricks. Alanna was dying to show us cat’s cradle, Jacob’s ladder and a couple of others.” Contrition crept into his voice. “Without thinking, I promised she could show you tomorrow. Then she told me how anxious she is about meeting her grandmother. Emmy, she’s counting on you to go with us on Friday to pick Mom up at the bus depot.”

  “Tell her I’ll go. I’d love to see Neva again. She always made me feel welcome in your home. After that frightening move to Houston, I lay awake nights picturing every detail of Mom Fran’s house and yours. Especially your mom’s kitchen. I never felt a part of my new foster family. Those memories were my comfort.”

  “God, Emmy. I wish Jed and Will and I had forced the agency tell us where they sent you. Why in heaven’s name would they rip you away from your only friends?”

  “At the time, it seemed painfully cruel. Looking back, I believe the social workers hoped a clean break would make the transition easier for me to bear. Maybe if I’d been younger . . .” She let the thought go unfinished.

  “I’d give anything to erase those years, Emmy.”

  “I know,” she said softly. “You’re a good man, Riley. Every morning I cross my fingers that this will be the day we find out I’m woman enough to match.”

  She heard his sharp intake of breath. “I promised no more pressure, Emmy, but one day I’ll remind you of this conversation. Listen to me—you are exactly right as you are. Sleep on that,” he urged in a voice rough with feeling.

  Emmy held her breath and felt the faint click of his hanging up echo through her trembling fingers.

  She slept surprisingly well that night.

  The following Friday, the meeting between Alanna and her grandmother brought tears to Emmy’s eyes. Neva Gray Wolf’s beaming round face was as open and friendly as ever. She might have added a few laugh lines around her black eyes, and her coiled black braids had a smidge
n more gray, but her warmth and generosity of spirit remained constant. Because of that, Emmy felt the loss of Mom Fran even more acutely.

  Neva brought Alanna a set of the handmade dolls the girl had admired at her aunt’s. Better, she had Caddo legends to go with the dolls. Alanna sat beside her at a bench in the bus station, enthralled, all anxiety forgotten.

  Emmy thought Riley felt pleased with how their reunion was going. He gave his mom a brief hug after stowing her suitcases in the trunk. “We thought we’d eat lunch somewhere before we go home,” he said, as they left the depot. “Do you have a preference?”

  “All day, my taste buds have been primed for Carlita Santiago’s green corn tamales. If it’s no trouble, I’d love to see her and catch up on what’s happened with all her kids.”

  Riley’s grin couldn’t have been bigger. “Emmy and I have talked about going to Santiago’s. We haven’t made it yet. I do legal work for Carlita, so I see her and the girls on occasion. Since Rico moved back and took over Doc’s practice, all he does is work. Layla, too. She runs the marina.”

  “Rico Santiago and Will McClain thought up more mischief than ten boys ought to. And to think Rico’s a doctor now.” Riley’s mother chuckled. Her tone took on more somber aspects as she turned to look at Emmy, who sat in the back seat with Alanna. “Josey phoned me when that archaeologist found Frannie. I’m sorry you came home to trouble, Emerald. And to have Jed under suspicion must be killing you and Will.”

  “No one’s heard from Will. And Jed is innocent,” Emmy said fiercely. Forcing herself to calm down, she mustered a smile. “Thanks for your condolences. I’ll pass them on to Jed. We’d feel a whole lot better if Sheriff Fielder would let us hold a decent burial.”

  “My word, I should think so.” Mrs. Gray Wolf started to add something, but Riley interrupted.

  “I wonder if Jed’s thought to ask Rico about Will. They were best buddies. Maybe they’ve kept in touch.”

  “Why would Will call or write Rico and not Jed?” Emmy demanded. “That doesn’t make sense.”

  “I’m not saying he did. Right now we’re all reaching, Emmy.”

  Riley’s mother broke in to ask how Emmy’s search was going.

  “It’s stalled. I’d planned to give you some time with Riley and Alanna before I bombarded you with questions. I know you lived in Uncertain as long or longer than Fran. Do you recall hearing any stories about me?”

  “You don’t have to answer immediately,” Riley said. “We’re trying to fill in any number of blanks. Emmy, it might help if we tell Mama what we don’t know.” He began listing facts without waiting for her agreement. “Emmy’s not positive the birth date Frannie had is correct. We have no known religion to go by. Emmy has no idea if her parents were married—to each other or to different people. She hasn’t got a single identifying birthmark or skin blemish on her entire body.” Even as those words left Riley’s lips, he realized he’d spoken with enough conviction to prompt Neva to raise an eyebrow.

  Emmy loved the way Neva threw his lawyerly persona into disarray. “Hmm . . . aren’t you forgetting to tell your mom about my tattoos?” Emmy’s innocent smile met Riley’s stunned reflection in the rearview mirror.

  While he sputtered, Alanna thrust out her flat chest. “Emmy’s got a neat rainbow right here on her skin, Grandma.”

  Total silence fell over the car until Mrs. Gray Wolf pointed out her window and began talking too fast. “Mercy. Look how the Santiago’s have added on and improved their restaurant. Carlita must be so pleased. Expanding was her dream.”

  Riley didn’t lose any time hustling his party out of the car and into the busy restaurant. The owner saw them immediately and ran over with arms outstretched.

  While the two old friends reminisced, Riley whispered a promise in Emmy’s ear. “I’ll get you good for dropping that bombshell.”

  “You were sounding too much like a stuffy lawyer. And it’s discouraging when you point out all the holes in my search. Do you think Joleen will be over her flu? Neva’s return would provide a good excuse to visit. Didn’t they chat occasionally?”

  “Give Joleen a few days, Emmy. She was pretty sick.”

  “Okay. But I’m not kidding about being stalled. I got all those names of baby girls born around my birth date, and not a single one has panned out so far. And where do I go next? “

  “I combed the search suggestions for other ideas. Wednesday, I placed an ad in the personals in all the papers delivered around Canton. I described how and when you were found. I mentioned the brooch in general terms. At the end, I put my office and cell phone numbers and offered a reward for information. I hope you’re not mad.” He didn’t tell her he’d been frantic and desperate to do something—anything—after hearing from the lab. No prints of any kind were found on the second warning note.

  “Mad? Riley, you’re a genius. Money loosens tongues. Oh, but let me pay the reward. I told you I have some savings put aside for my search.”

  “Let’s wait and see if any information turns up first.”

  Their discussion ended abruptly as soon as Carlita discovered who Emmy was. The older woman clasped her in plump arms. “Let me look at you, chica. So long you’ve been gone. Jed must be so happy. Por favor, es Will . . .?”

  Riley rested a hand on Emmy’s back. “Carlita, neither Emmy nor Jed has heard from Will. Jed and his wife, Gwyn, are trying to locate him. We wondered if Rico’s heard from him.”

  “Nada. If I see that naughty boy, I box his ears. For now, you eat.” She bustled off, shouting orders in fluid Spanish to someone in the kitchen.

  “She didn’t ask what we want to eat,” Alanna complained.

  Riley yanked playfully on one of her braids. “She’s preparing a royal feast in honor of your grandmother and Emmy’s return home. There’ll be samples of almost every scrumptious item on the menu.”

  He was right. The four of them ate tortilla soup, chicken mole, crepes Ensenada, fresh tamales and more, until all declared they couldn’t eat another bite. Carlita refused to present a bill. Riley peeled a generous amount from his money clip and dropped it on the table before they filed out, mixing goodbyes with high praise for the cook.

  “I need a siesta,” Neva declared. “If you young people have something to do, please drop me at the house and point me to my bedroom.”

  “I will, Grandma,” Alanna offered. “But . . . Emmy said siesta’s another word for nap. Do grandmas take naps? I thought only little kids do.”

  “Ah. You have much to learn about grandmothers.” Glancing at her son, Neva’s coal-dark eyes filmed with tears. She looked back at Alanna and smiled contentedly. “I’m so very grateful to finally be granted the opportunity to teach you.”

  Riley hardened his jaw. “Thank Emmy.”

  “No, it was Marge,” Emmy interjected swiftly. “To be honest, Marge said my asking Riley to conduct the search into my background is what persuaded her to give him a lecture. About family.”

  “That was no lecture. Marge blasted me with both barrels.”

  “Whatever led to my son’s change of heart,” Neva murmured, “it’s an answer to my prayers. Emerald, you’re far too modest, I think. Riley always had a special glow about him whenever you showed up at the house.” Neva inspected him closely with a mother’s eye, adding with satisfaction, “He has the look again. So tell me you’re going to make an old woman’s life complete. While I’m here, will I be shopping for a mother-of-the-groom dress?”

  Riley tossed that ball to Emmy, who turned brilliant red, stuttered, stammered and finally spit out a feeble, “Uh . . . no.”

  He’d entered the lane leading to his house and parked the car before coming to her rescue—if it could be called a rescue. “Mama, that’s the weakest denial I’ve heard out of her yet. You have my permission to keep nagging while you’re here.”

 
Emmy slapped his shoulder. “Mind your manners. Your mom wants to go inside and rest. And I have to shop for tonight’s barbecue.”

  At his blank look, she elaborated. “Don’t tell me you ate so much at Santiago’s you forgot we’d invited Josey, Cleon, Jed and Gwyn over at six? For barbecued chicken, your special baked beans and coleslaw?”

  His groan said he had indeed forgotten. “Give me a minute to carry the bags in and get Mama and Alanna settled. I’ll tag along to the store and provide a strong back.”

  Emmy faltered. She imagined how it would feel to engage in the simple domestic chore of grocery shopping with Riley. Somehow, the task seemed more intimate entered into as a couple. As though they were married.

  She shook off a longing that struck out of nowhere—a desire to belong to this family. She reminded herself a man and a woman didn’t have to be married to be a couple. “Sure,” she said at last. “Honk when you’re ready to leave.”

  He did.

  And they got through the store without incident. They were at the cash register when his cell phone rang. Riley mimed to Emmy that he’d be outside talking. He’d clicked off by the time she pushed her shopping cart out. “You look funny. Nothing’s wrong at home, is it?”

  “No. That was a woman answering my ad. A retired social worker who was on the intake desk the day Joleen Berber came in with you. She refused the reward I offered, even though she said two interesting things. Joleen handled you like a pro for an unmarried woman who didn’t have kids—which could be simply because she was a nurse. But she also said Joleen was unusually attached to you. To the point of making a real stink over the possibility that you might be placed with someone other than Fran Granger.”

 

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