“Right, at least, I think so.” Roger didn’t care to continue discussing the marriage. Not when Em appeared to be mulling over Sophia’s comments about the church. At any moment he could expect some lightbulb to go off, and he’d have to do some explaining, something he’d rather avoid until they were alone.
“Do you think she wore the same wedding dress each time?” Samantha asked, as she got into the backseat of the car.
“It’s not done, usually. We’ll have to ask her, and also if she had all three weddings in this same beautiful church.” Em’s words, spoken softly, oozed sugar. Obviously Sophia’s remark hadn’t slipped past her, despite his effort to hurry her into the car. “It is a beautiful church, don’t you agree?” She drew the words out and practically blew them against his cheek before she slipped onto her seat. “Am I right, or am I right?”
Roger glanced at his daughter and saw her forehead pucker in thought. No way would he mention his conversation with Sophia with his daughter listening in.
Steeling his voice so Em would get the hint not to pursue the subject, he said, “And you told her, of course, you liked her church. Who wouldn’t love all those lovely statues and ornate decorations?”
“That I did.” Em grinned and buckled her seat belt. As he walked over to his side of the car he knew he hadn’t heard the last on the subject. Between now and the next time it came up, he’d have to think of some kind of explanation.
* * *
THEY REACHED THE reception, a garden affair held in back of a Mexican restaurant. The men were dressed in black jackets and pants with shirts similar to Roger’s. At least he was in style, and he felt comfortable. The women wore dresses in vivid primary colors, similar to Em’s bright blue but in no way as form fitting. Despite the heat, everyone appeared to be enjoying the celebration.
“She’s quite grown-up,” Em said as they watched Samantha talk to a group of adults. They were standing under the large leaves of a mulberry tree that shaded them from the bright sun. All signs of the earlier storm had disappeared, except for the increased humidity.
“She’s mastered the Spanish language. Something I’ve never been able to do,” Em continued.
“It’s all due to Sophia. The boys talk like natives. I hear them using Spanish even when they’re by themselves. You watch. Sammy will pick it up, too.”
Em shook her head. “Not if Sophia isn’t around. My mother believes in mastering your own language first, and you know how strict she can be.”
They headed toward a table set with drinks. Em picked up a glass of lemonade, and Roger reached for a bottle of Mexican beer, floating in a tub filled with ice.
Roger sighed. “Yes. But she can help them deal with the real world. I worry so much about the perils out there, and how Samantha will handle them.”
Em sipped her lemonade before saying, “Are you sure you’re not worrying about her repeating your mistakes?”
“We all make mistakes.” Roger flipped the cap off the bottle and slipped a wedge of lime into the opening. “I’m sure she’ll make plenty of her own.” He turned to her, the bottle close to his lips. “Did you ever make any...mistakes, that is?” When she didn’t answer, he added, “Besides having that crush on me?”
“My goodness, Roger. Are you going to fixate on that forever?”
Em laughed and headed toward the buffet tables, and Roger chuckled.
Em always made him laugh, one attribute he really appreciated. But although she knew almost everything about him and his life with Karen, he knew nothing about her life or her marriage. What kind of fool hadn’t been able to appreciate such a gem? He followed her over to the buffet and picked up one of the sturdy paper plates.
The tables were piled high with enchiladas, salads, refried beans and tortillas. Roger took a sample of everything from burritos to chile rellenos and topped the lot off with a good helping of guacamole. Em did the same, and he wondered how her dress would expand to accommodate the food.
They headed for one of the tables under a white tent and sat next to a mariachi band, the only spot available. The exuberant music made conversation impossible, but the food was delicious, and they devoted the time to eating.
* * *
“WOULD YOU CARE to dance, señorita?” Roger held out his hand, and Em grasped it.
Stars sparkled in the cloudless night sky. Strings of tiny white Christmas lights, strung under the tent and wrapped around the tree trunks, offered a warm romantic glow. Sophia and José had left moments before, and the crowd had begun to disperse. Em and Roger had danced several times since they arrived at the reception, but this song was a slow one and possibly the last of the evening.
“Did I tell you how wonderful you look, señorita?” Roger pulled her close so that they were cheek to cheek.
“Why thank you, señor,” Em whispered against his ear. “However, I believe I should be called señora for my age and station in life. Samantha is a señorita.”
Roger pushed away so that his face was directly in front of her, his nose touching hers. “I think the only thing that counts is that you’re single. There have to be at least a dozen hombres here who would like to escort this particular señorita to her home.” She had spent a good deal of the time dancing with other guests. “I’ll probably have to fight them all off.”
Em collapsed in laughter and buried her face in Roger’s shoulder. He pulled her closer. Oh, how good he felt. She moved her face so that her lips pressed against his neck. He smelled good, too. She breathed deeply as he planted a kiss against her ear.
They had had such a lovely day, a perfect day. Only one niggling point kept repeating itself—Sophia saying she could use the church. The only thing that could refer to was marriage, and obviously, something to do with marrying Roger. Why had that idea popped into the woman’s head, and why did she bring it up when she did?
“Roger?” Em said as she moved away slightly.
“You’re going to ask me, aren’t you?”
She moved farther away, allowing enough distance to see his features in the dim light. “No, you’re going to tell me why Sophia assumed you and I would get married in her church.”
Roger blew into her hair and twirled her around a few times before answering. “You remember that night I showed you her room?”
Em nodded.
“The next day, she told me you were a wonderful woman and I was an idiot.” He paused. “She spent the whole morning lecturing me on how I shouldn’t let you get away.”
“Oh, my.” Em buried her head in his shoulder again, this time to hide her embarrassment.
“That’s when she suggested a double wedding.”
Em looked up. “You’re kidding.”
Roger backed away, his eyebrows raised in shock. “Listen, I haven’t enough imagination to come up with that on my own.” He swung her around as the music came to a halt. “And I wasn’t about to bring it up in front of...” He nodded in Samantha’s direction. “We can’t talk now and I’d appreciate...”
Em walked out of his embrace and headed toward Samantha without answering him. “It’s about time to go.” She smiled at the young man who had been talking to the girl. “We’ve got a long drive.”
Samantha pouted and said a lingering goodbye.
Em turned to see Roger watching her. Did he expect some comment? Something to the effect that she’d never make the mistake of believing he’d want to marry her? After all, they both knew he was already married to a ghost.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
LABOR DAY. Was it ever. Up at dawn assembling figures for all the old problems that would be handled by the staff left in Phoenix. More charts on the training that had to take place in Seattle.
Roger had gone to his office on Sunday to make sure he had all the information he needed for his trip. Everything was downloaded onto
a laptop. Carnation had made all the arrangements for airline tickets and hotel reservations for the six people who would be involved in training the staff in Seattle. If her morning sickness didn’t cripple her completely, she’d be able to handle the local office while he was gone. She’d come a long way doing her job, and he now depended on her.
Nothing more had to be done.
Except for a brief time at breakfast and supper, he’d barely seen anyone in the household. Thanks to Doris, he had no worries about the children, and with Em’s help on Monday, he was able to finish everything he needed for work. He packed his computer and suitcases, leaving enough time to relax by the pool before his trip to the airport. Em planned to join him. Since Samantha was off with a girlfriend, only Doris and the boys remained, all of them enjoying the pool.
It meant he’d have no time alone with Em. He’d wanted to find out more about her. Find out why she’d clammed up after he explained what Sophia had implied. Again, he must have explained it all wrong. One minute Em was cozying up in his arms, the next she was barely talking to him. Certainly nothing personal. Once again he realized that, despite their living in the same house, he knew very little about her or her past life, outside of that crush she’d had on him. Every time he remembered that, it instantly brought a smile.
Earlier she had given him another shoulder massage, something he not only enjoyed but also hoped to give in return. He’d picked up the sunblock she always used on Sammy. Eyes closed, Roger waited impatiently on the chaise lounge for her to join them.
“I brought us each a spicy tomato juice,” Em said, in front of him.
Roger opened his eyes and slowly sat up. The white one-piece bathing suit she always wore was gone. Instead she had on a blue bikini, one he hadn’t seen before.
“New bathing suit?” He took the offered drink and stirred the red liquid with the celery stalk before taking a sip. He avoided further comment on the suit, knowing any interest he showed might wave red flags. He glanced over at Doris, who sat under an umbrella attached to her chair with a towel covering her legs.
She eyed him with that schoolmarm stare. Although they hadn’t had any further discussions about proper adult behavior, he’d made doubly sure never to do or say anything that could create problems. He sighed and raised his glass at her. She gave him a smile before turning back to the boys playing in the shallow end of the pool.
Em sat on the other lounge next to him. “Yes. Macy’s had all their suits greatly reduced, and I can never pass up a bargain.”
Roger casually lifted the sunblock. “With more skin exposed, you really should use this to protect yourself.”
Em squinted up at the cloudless sky. “You’re probably right.” She sat up and took the sunblock from him. “Mom, could you put this on my shoulders?”
Doris turned to her with an expression of annoyance, removed the towel and looked about ready to get out of her chair.
Gathering his courage, Roger sat forward. “I can do it.” He put his drink on the cement and stood as Doris sat back in her chair. “Those dangerous rays can be lethal. Move over and I’ll put some on your back, too.” He flipped the lounge chair down so that it went flat.
Em glanced at him and chuckled, but she scooted over and lay on her stomach so he could sit down behind her. “You want to help me with the strings? I don’t want to get this stuff all over your new suit.” When she didn’t do as he requested, he added, “Okay, I’ll protect your suit from the UV rays, too.”
She moved her hand around and undid her top.
Roger edged her hair out of the way and glanced back at Doris. “Can’t do more than protect you from the UV rays with the schoolmarm watching.”
“Right!” Doris called. “You step out of line, and I’ll send you to the principal’s office.”
Em laughed as he squirted the liquid on her back. Slowly he moved the moisture around, careful not to do anything that could antagonize Doris. “You’ve given me several back rubs. This is payback.”
When he was finished, Roger stood. “You can fix the ties. I’m going for a swim.”
He walked over to the pool edge and dived into water the temperature of a bath. He swam underwater to the shallow end, where the three boys batted a giant balloon around. After playing with them for a few minutes, he looked back and saw Em approaching the pool.
Phoenix had over 300 days of sunshine each year, Roger mused while swimming back to where she was standing. Seattle probably had an equivalent amount in clouds and rain. His thoughts drifted back to Em as he surfaced. Would she like Seattle?
“Would you care for your refreshment?” She held out the drink he had left behind.
He took a sip of the spiced tomato juice while he trod water. “Mmm. Hits the spot.” When he finished, Roger placed the plastic glass on the cement and waved to Em to come in. She slipped into the water and joined him.
“Did you enjoy the wedding?” Roger asked. “We haven’t had any time to talk about it.” Maybe he could find out what he’d said, what had offended her. Em moved over to the side of the pool, where she could hang on to the edge and not have to tread water.
“My ears still hurt.” Roger joined her.
“I know. Samantha talked nonstop and that band was a little loud.” Em drew her finger across his lips. “Looks like a permanent smile carved here. Couldn’t have been all that bad.”
“It was wonderful. And I’m so glad you could be there. I particularly liked the dancing. Maybe we could try that again, sometime.”
Em looked away. “It was nice.” She pushed off from the edge and began swimming the length of the pool. Being alone with Roger heightened her awareness of him. Better to work out the frustration that produced in physical exertion and avoid any possibility of getting personal. That backrub using the sunblock had been way too...personal. Roger kept pace with her, and they swam back and forth several times before he stopped in the deep end and grasped her hand to pull her to the edge.
“Em, look at me,” Roger said softly.
The chlorine water stung her eyes, and she rubbed them.
“I’ll be gone for at least two weeks.”
“I know. Mom’s worked everything out. Nothing to worry about.”
“I’ve been thinking a lot about that wedding, the fun we had.”
“It was nice,” she repeated, pulling her hand free and kicking off from the wall. She headed for the stairs to get out. Roger was right behind her. Why so much talk about the wedding? Did he want to talk about what he’d discussed with Sophia? Marriage. A wedding at the church. The thought seemed so farfetched, yet she couldn’t get it out of her mind, and it made her uncomfortable.
He followed her out of the pool, over to the towels on the chaise lounge. “It was better than nice.”
Her mother had gone inside, taking the boys with her, so they were alone.
“Maybe we could go out on a date when I get back. You know, dinner, dancing. Just the two of us.” When she dropped the towel, Roger enclosed her in his arms and brushed his lips against hers in a tentative kiss. She was about to relax and return the kiss, their first kiss, when he added, “Did you notice, I removed Karen’s picture from the living room wall?”
Again with Karen! Em stiffened and attempted to move away, but Roger held firmly to her arms. When she continued to push against him, he let her go. “Will you at least let me talk?”
“I’ve got things to do, and I’m not interested in your great life with Karen.”
He reached for her hand and wouldn’t let it go when she tried to pull free. “I know that. I also know you’re uncomfortable in the living room with her portrait. I took it down and put it behind the couch. I’m going to give it to her mother the next time I see her.”
Em looked at the stucco walls, the palm tree, the patio furniture. Everywhere except at Roger.
> “I want you to be comfortable in this house, Em. I just want to make it easier for you.”
She faced him, the muscles in her jaw still tense. “Thank you. Now may I go?”
He released her hand. She didn’t look back but could see Roger in the patio doors. Before she opened them, Roger collapsed on the chaise lounge and pulled the towel up to his face. Em was sick of hearing about Karen. Would he never be able to move on with his life?
* * *
EM WAS BY the front door, dressed in shorts. “Your carriage awaits, sire.” She opened the door. The white van with its airport logo stood by the curb. Roger picked up his bags.
“Do you always call the airport shuttle?” she asked.
“Sure. It beats leaving the car at the airport.”
“I could drive you.”
Spending more time with Em. Now that had some intriguing possibilities. “Maybe next trip. I’ll give you a call when I’m coming back.”
She followed him to the porch steps. “Any last-minute instructions?”
Roger hesitated. He didn’t want to leave but could think of nothing else to extend his stay.
The guy driving the van gave one honk of the horn.
“You sure your mother can handle everything?”
“Are you kidding? Mom could take on the presidency and never break a sweat.”
Roger dropped his luggage and reached for Em. “I’ll miss you.” She came easily into his arms for a warm hug, interrupted by two beeps from the van’s horn.
He picked up his bags, ran to the van and deposited them in the back before taking his seat. “Looks like the wife’s going to miss you,” the man next to him said. With a quick nod to acknowledge his companion, Roger glanced out the window.
Em stood leaning against the porch wall, waving.
But the reference to his wife bothered Roger. Not in the same way it would have a month ago. Karen’s face no longer had the same clarity. More and more, Em’s image had begun to replace it. His wife. Maybe Sophia had it right. He had to make room in his heart for Em.
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