by Ellis, J. J.
Pulling up to the cottage, he suddenly felt afraid and turned off the ignition to sit there for a few moments. He felt like a lust filled, nervous teenager. Hell, even Vivienne hadn’t made him feel this way. Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the SUV, carrying the rose with his right hand, tucked behind his back. He rang the doorbell with his left.
When it opened, Emily stood there, fresh faced, with her hair in a long ponytail. The green summer dress she was wearing formed to every luscious curve and set her emerald eyes ablaze. She was stunning.
“I know it’s kind of cliché,” he said, his voice shaky. “But Miranda seemed to think you would like this.” He brought the rose around to the front of him and presented it to her.
Emily smiled big and took a deep breath. “Your daughter was absolutely right. I love it.”
Russell looked relieved as he followed her inside to find a vase. Once she had the beautiful flower in water, she gathered her purse and turned to him. “I’m ready when you are.” He ushered her out of the cottage and helped her into the SUV. Once he was in the driver seat and ready to go, he turned to her. “I was speechless when you opened the door. Is it too late to tell you that you look beautiful tonight?”
“It’s never too late,” she assured him. “You look pretty good yourself.” That was an understatement. His new jeans and tight black t-shirt, which showed off every muscle, made her want to get him back inside her cottage and lock the door to the outside world but they’d agreed to date instead.
The drive to Vito’s went quickly and they were lucky enough to get a great table as soon as they walked in the door. The town was dead because bow hunting season had just started.
As they sat down, Emily noticed that Russell looked uncomfortable and shifted in his seat. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he said as he looked around the place. “This is one of the two things about Harper’s rock that Vivienne kind of liked. According to her this restaurant was authentic and classy, like you would find in the city.”
“Do you want to go somewhere else?” she asked. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
Russell breathed deep and let it out slowly. “No. I’m okay now. When I first walked in, it was like I could feel her presence. It must be because we ate here every night the one time we visited.”
“Okay, if you’re sure. Do you mind if I ask what the other thing was that she liked?”
Russell opened the menu and started to read the choices. “The lake house on the ranch. She said the view was ‘rich’.”
“Strange woman,” Emily murmured as she opened her menu to decide what to order.
“You can say that again,” he chuckled. “I think I’m going to have iced tea and eggplant parmesan.” His menu was closed and laid to the side.
“Same for me,” Emily decided, setting her menu on top of his. “It’s my favorite and I don’t get to have it very often.”
“That’s one of the specialties at my restaurants,” Russell claimed with a smile. “I probably eat it way too often, but I really like it.”
Emily was about to ask him a question when the waiter appeared. They ordered their drinks and their food then he turned back to her. “You were saying?”
“I wanted to ask you about your restaurants. Are they specialty or family, or fast food?”
“I like to say they are fine family dining. They aren’t a mom and pop diner, but they aren’t upscale either.”
“Sounds like my kind of place,” Emily said with a smile. “You never have told me the name of your restaurants.”
“Harper’s, of course,” he said with a grin. “Three locations to serve you. One just off the strip, one in Summerlin, and one in Green Valley.”
“You’re very proud of them,” she stated.
“I am,” he acknowledged. “I’ve worked my butt off to make them successful. It’s been hard but they are everything I dreamed they would be.”
“It must have been hard to leave them.”
“Very hard. One of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” he admitted.
The waiter showed up with their drinks and assured them that their food would soon follow.
“I think you can have the best of both worlds. And Miranda too.”
“I hope you’re right.”
They sat in companionable silence until their food arrived. “This looks so good,” Emily sighed. “I haven’t had eggplant in months.”
“Were you in Seattle then?”
“Yeah. I went to my favorite restaurant the night I decided to move home, and this is what I had.”
Russell took a bite of his food and watched Emily. His mention of Seattle hadn’t seemed to bother her as much as he thought it would. “Do you miss it?” he asked.
Emily looked up at him. “Not really. Certain things might cause me to pause but nothing big enough to make me ever want to go back.”
Russell nodded and continued to eat. Between bites he finally built up the courage to ask her the burning question. “Did you leave someone special in Seattle?” He said it so fast he almost wondered if she’d understood.
Emily took a drink and looked at him. “There had been someone before…but it was…I’m definitely single,” she finally managed to get out.
“I’m…sorry.” He didn’t know quite what to make of what she’d just said. There was something she was hiding but she obviously wasn’t willing to talk about it. He would set it aside for another time.
Emily smiled and raised her eyes to him. “Things happen and if the whole mess in Seattle hadn’t happened, I never would have run into you again.”
He smiled big. “Yeah, I guess good can come from bad.”
The waiter walked up, interrupting them. “Would you like refills on your iced tea?” he asked.
“No thank you,” they both said. Russell turned to the young man. “I think we’ll just take the check. The lady and I are headed to the concert in the park.”
“Yes sir, I’ll be right back.”
When the man returned with the bill, Russell handed over his credit card then smiled at Emily. “I have dessert for us in the picnic basket in the car. I hope you like it.”
She reached out and touched his hand. “Is it full of sugar and horribly bad for you?”
Russell chuckled. “Yeah. I’m pretty sure it is.”
“Then I’m pretty sure I’ll love it,” she laughed.
The waiter returned with the credit card and slip for Russell to sign, then left them alone again. Emily’s hand was resting on the table so he reached for it. “Are you ready?”
She took his offered hand and rose from the table. “I am. I can’t wait to get to the park.” They walked out of the restaurant, their arms around each other.
**********
The park wasn’t busy yet when they arrived, so they snagged a prime spot not too far from the stage. Russell spread the blanket out while Emily tried to sneak a peek inside the picnic basket.
“No peeking,” he warned, sitting down and reaching for the basket.
“You’re no fun,” she teased, sitting next to him.
“You’ll see it soon enough.”
“I know,” she sighed, taking a hold of his arm and leaning into him. “I’ve always loved this park. There is something so peaceful about the river and the big old rock off in the distance. I don’t think Josiah was as crazy as everyone thought he was.”
Russell looked off toward the landmark. “That’s what my dad used to say,” he murmured.
“My mom told me about your dad when I got home. I’m so sorry.”
“I let Vivienne keep me from coming to the funeral,” he said out of the blue, his voice choked up. “I was so damn stupid.”
Emily gasped. “That was really your second biggest mistake. I knew the whole walking in on Dylan thing was just a cover up.”
“Yeah,” he admitted quietly. “That kind of goes along with the one about marrying Vivienne in the first place. I’ll never forgive m
yself for that. I miss him so much, still.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, reaching out to caress the side of his face.
“Unless you want me to kiss you, here and now, I suggest you stop doing that,” he muttered through gritted teeth.
Emily left her hand where it was and Russell reached out to pull her close, his lips crushing hers in a deep but brief kiss.
“I warned you,” he panted.
“I know,” she smiled. “I think the music is about to start. Shall we have dessert?”
When his breathing calmed he reached for the picnic basket and took the cheesecake sampler out of the insulated interior and set it aside. “How about some wine first?”
“Sure. Oh, you got my favorite!”
“I know,” he snickered. “I saw an empty bottle on your counter the other day.”
Emily leaned over and kissed him gently, sweetly. “Thank you, you thought of everything.”
Russell felt a little warm around the collar as he opened and poured the wine before unwrapping the cheesecake platter. “Have some,” he encouraged.
Emily reached out and took one of the small bite sized pieces. She took a small taste. “Mmmm, turtle,” she sighed.
“Oh, that’s my favorite kind,” Russell said. “Do you see another one?”
Emily shook her head. “I can’t tell what’s what in this light. Have my piece.” She reached out toward him and he opened his mouth to take the morsel. When his lips grazed her fingers, a slight gasp escaped her. “If you come across white chocolate raspberry, you need to share with me.”
Russell picked up a piece and held it out to her. “I believe this is what you’re looking for.”
Emily’s lips wrapped around his fingers and she moaned. “You were right,” she murmured. “I think that’s the best I’ve ever had.”
Russell was struck speechless then smiled. “Logan and his staff make them fresh every day using my Grandma Harper’s recipe.”
They settled back on the blanket, side by side and finished their dessert and wine while listening to the music. The classic rock band had to cancel so a nearby orchestra was playing in their place.
“I’m sorry,” Russell whispered, his breath tickling her ear.
“It’s okay, I like it,” she whispered back. “I just wish it would last longer.”
When the music did stop, after that song, Emily re-packed the picnic basket while Russell folded the blanket. “I have somewhere I want to take you,” she said as they walked to the SUV.
“Okay,” he hedged. “Care to tell me where?”
“Nope.” A grin formed on her face. “You’ll figure it out.”
“Okay…” he agreed, tossing her his keys. “You’re in charge now.” What in the hell was he doing? He never let anyone drive his car. The day Miranda asked to learn to drive would probably be the worst day of his life.
Following a quick stop at the grocery store, Emily drove through town and kept going. She snuck a glance at her reluctant passenger to see if she could read his expression. Even in the dark, he looked anxious.
“Why are we headed toward the cemetery?” Russell asked. There was nothing else out here so he knew exactly where she was headed.
“You need to talk to your dad. I think that unfinished business is holding you back.”
“Probably a good idea,” he agreed. “But it’s not something I want to do in front of my date.”
Emily smiled in the dark. “I’m staying in the car, Russell. I’m just the chauffeur for this part of the evening. And the encourager.”
“Okay,” Russell breathed. “Thank you…I think.”
Emily chuckled and pulled up to the curb. “I’ll be here when you get back,” she said, pulling some flowers out of the grocery bag and handing them to him.
Russell took the blossoms and walked up the hill to where the Harpers had their plots. He stopped at his brother’s grave and stared at the dates. Sixteen years old was just way too young to die. He put half of the flowers on his brother’s grave and gave him the message from Abby. If there was such a thing as heaven, his big brother was up there smiling.
His heart started to ache even before he reached his dad’s grave. It was the first time he’d ever seen it. It made things final. Cole Harper was gone. Tears started to roll down his face before he could even think to stop them. “Hi Dad. I bet you’re pretty pissed at me. Kind of like when you found me sneaking out of the house to meet up with Sarah Cline.”
Russell moved forward and knelt down to put the flowers on the grave. “I’m so sorry Daddy,” he sobbed quietly. “I should have made sure to get here. I let someone else control me and I can’t change that. But I can promise you it will never happen again. I’ll be a better man. I’ll be just like you…someday.”
He couldn’t move. He felt paralyzed so he just knelt there and cried. Would his father ever forgive him? But then suddenly he knew, he already had. Cole Harper was that kind of man.
Soon he could move again and rose from the ground. He brushed the dirt and grass from his pants and said one last farewell before he turned and headed back down the hill.
Wiping his eyes, when he was about halfway down, he ran the rest of the way. He felt lighter somehow and had a smile on his face when he opened the door of the SUV.
Emily didn’t say a word. She saw his red-rimmed eyes and knew something good had happened at the gravesite. She started the vehicle, made a quick U-turn and headed back through town and out to the Harper ranch. When she pulled up in front of her cottage she turned the car off and looked at Russell. “Are you okay?’
“Yeah,” he answered quietly. “I’m better than I have been in a long time…thanks to you.”
“You just needed a little encouragement,” she said with a smile. “Walk me to my door?”
“Of course,” he smiled back then opened his door and walked around to meet Emily by her front gate.
“Would you like to come in for some coffee or more wine?’ she asked hopefully. She was nowhere near ready to let this night end.
“I’d love to,” Russell said as they approached her front door. “But if I come in right now I may never want to leave again. I just can’t do that yet…um right now.”
“I understand,” she said with a genuine smile. “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
“Yeah. I’d like that.” He pulled her close for a kiss. A sweet, gentle kiss that left him shaking when he turned and walked to the car. As soon as she was safely inside, he hopped in and drove home. It was home now, not just his mother’s house where he was staying. It was his home again. And for some reason, that thought didn’t paralyze him…for once.
The house was dark and quiet when he walked in. He took his shoes off and padded up the stairs, making sure not to disturb Miranda.
“Son, can you come here?” he heard his mother whisper form her bedroom doorway.
“Sure Ma,” he whispered back, walking over to her. “What’s up?”
“Did you have a good night?”
“Yeah,” he mused. “I had a great time.”
“Well that’s good. Are you busy three weeks from today?”
“I don’t have any definite plans yet. Why?’
Evelyn pulled her robe tighter around herself to ward off the night chill. “Uncle Ethan is flying up this year instead of driving. He’s going to have Henry’s Meats prepare his kill and ship it home.”
“Oh, okay. Do you need me to go to Casper to pick him up?’
“I’d like to go too,” she answered. “If you don’t mind coming with me.”
“Sure Ma,” he said with a grin. “You, Emily, Miranda and I will make a day of it.”
“Thank you, son. You’re a good boy.”
“Night Ma,” he said as he left the room and pulled the door closed behind him.
Once he was in the quiet of his own room, he headed into the bathroom to get ready for bed. By ten minutes after twelve, he was lying in bed thinking of how much he wished he could be holdi
ng Emily right then. His phone buzzed from his nightstand and he reached over to answer it.
“Hello.”
“It’s tomorrow,” Emily said quietly.
“That it is,” he returned. “I was just thinking about you.” He heard something close to a moan come over the line.
“Exactly what were you thinking about me?” she nearly whispered.
“About how I wish I could come back over there, break down the door and take you into my arms.”
“And then what?” she asked, a sense of desperation in her voice.
“And then kiss you until neither of us can breathe,” he murmured.
“Is that all?”
“No,” he said matter-of-factly. “After that I would take you to the bedroom and bury myself so deep inside of you…”
“Can you sneak away?” That sense of desperation was back in her voice.
“Yeah, everyone’s asleep.”
“I’ll leave the door unlocked so you don’t have to break it down.” The line went dead and Russell jumped up. He put on a pair of sweat pants and his hoodie before slipping his tennis shoes on. He grabbed his wallet and keys and snuck down the stairs.
A feeling of guilt started to slip in so he turned back from the door and left a note for his mother on the counter before hurrying outside, hopping into the car and driving to the cottage. He was out of the vehicle and at the front door in a split second. His breathing came hard and he didn’t even try to stop to catch his breath.
The door opened easily beneath his hand which caused it to fly open. Emily stood there in a green satin nightie and robe. He felt like a starving man walking into an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Rushing forward, he lifted her in his arms and kissed her. Hard. At that moment, for some strange reason, she felt like a lifeline to him.
They pulled apart, breathing hard and he looked into her eyes. “For so long I’ve been mostly numb. But now, tonight, I can feel again.”
“I’m glad,” she whispered, reaching up to caress his cheek.