He swallowed. He’d already made enough of a fool out of himself. No need to share with her his fear of parking garages. “You don’t want to try for street parking?”
She rolled down her window as they approached the kiosk at the garage entrance. “Nope.” She pushed a button and took a yellow token. “This is always easier.” She waited for the barrier to rise so they could enter the garage. “I figure my car is more secure here than out on the street somewhere.”
Emily parked and they headed toward the elevator.
Andrew cast a quick glance behind them. He expected someone to jump out from behind one of the parked cars at any moment.
“Everything okay?” she asked as they neared the elevator. “We can take the stairs if it makes you feel better.”
He shook his head. “The elevator is fine.”
“Parking garages freak you out?”
Busted. “A little. Just seems like they’d make a good hideout for someone looking for trouble, that’s all.”
She pressed the elevator button and they stepped inside. “Memphis does have a little bit of a crime problem.”
He tensed.
Emily grinned. “But no worse than any other big city.” She shrugged. “Just be smart. Don’t leave anything of value in your car. Lock your doors. Common sense stuff.”
The elevator doors opened at the bottom floor and they exited the elevator. “I’m sure you’re right. I guess I’m just used to rural life.” He chuckled. “Honestly, where I’ve been living these past few years, I don’t even have to lock my door. I have an alarm system in the house here.”
“Where have you been living? Mayberry?” She grinned.
He nodded. “Just call me Opie.” He glanced at her. “Or Barney, considering our meeting this morning.”
She laughed.
“Actually I’m from Soso, Mississippi. Population not many.” He grinned. “It isn’t too far from where Sarah and Mary Kate live in Laurel.”
“So living in a city must be kind of exciting for a change, right?” Emily asked as they walked along the sidewalk.
Andrew frowned. “Not really. Let’s just say I prefer rural life where things aren’t quite so hectic.” Not to mention safer.
“I understand. I’m actually from a small town in Arkansas. Life’s just a little slower there.”
“So you aren’t a city girl?”
She shook her head. “Not originally. But I am now. I rarely go back.”
Andrew frowned. “Is it a long drive?”
“It takes about two hours.”
He lived a couple of hours from his hometown as well, but he visited his parents frequently. “Don’t you miss your family?”
“My parents come to Memphis every now and then. But I don’t guess I’ve been home in a couple of years.”
“Holidays?”
“I usually work.”
He wondered what the story was but didn’t want to pry.
At least not until they’d known each other for more than a day.
Chapter Four
Emily knew her obvious aversion to her family must seem strange to someone like him. He’d uprooted his life to come to a strange place so he could be here for his sister and niece. And she hadn’t set foot in her childhood home in two years. They were definitely operating on opposite ends of the spectrum. “We try and make the holidays as special as possible for the kids. Some of them are so far away from home.” She shrugged. “I guess I’ve always felt like it was important for me to stay here.”
Andrew nodded. “I think it’s admirable.”
They waited at the crosswalk in front of AutoZone Park. People milled around everywhere. “I haven’t been to a game all season,” she said. “I used to try and come out a couple of times a year.” Back when she actually had a social life.
“Looks like there might be a big crowd tonight.” Andrew gestured toward the long line at the ticket window.
Emily led the way to the end of the line. “At least we’re a little early. Hopefully there are still some good seats left.” Ten minutes later the tickets had been purchased and they were inside the stadium.
“We’ve still got time before the game starts. Do you want to look around or find our seats?” Andrew asked.
“Why don’t we sit out here in the plaza and do a little people watching?”
He grinned and followed her to a bench. “Good call.”
They sat in silence for a moment.
“So thanks for coming tonight,” Andrew said finally. “I think it meant a lot to Mary Kate.”
“You’re welcome. We can’t forget to go get her a Redbirds cap.”
He laughed. “True. She reminded me one last time before I left her.” He glanced over at Emily. “She’s going to be okay, isn’t she?”
Emily took off her sunglasses so she could look him in the eye. “Her odds are really good. They caught it early and she’s getting the best care possible.”
“But still. All of your patients don’t make it. That must be tough.”
She nodded. He had no idea. “I’d like to say you get used to it, but you don’t. Each case is different. Each child is special. Sometimes it seems like there’s no rhyme or reason.”
“God has a plan though.”
Emily narrowed her eyes. How many times had she heard that over the years? When Holly was first diagnosed with cancer it seemed like everyone they knew offered that phrase as a consolation. Like it solved everything. “That is one way of looking at it.”
Andrew looked at her, surprise evident on his face. “What other way is there?”
She rose from the bench. “You know what? I think I’m ready to go inside and find our seats. The game starts soon.”
He held her gaze for a moment. Finally he stood. “Sounds good.”
She could tell he was startled. But she didn’t know him well enough to get into some kind of religious discussion. Because if she did, there was no way to keep from telling him about Holly’s battle with cancer when they were teenagers. No way to keep from going back to that very dark time. And tonight, just for a few hours, she wanted to watch a baseball game and forget about the past.
They walked by a popcorn stand on the way to their seats. The buttery scent permeated the air around them. “Wow. I don’t even like popcorn much, but that smells delicious.” Andrew paused beneath the sign that designated the section where their seats were located.
“You don’t like popcorn?” she asked. “I thought everyone liked that. Kind of like apple pie and ice cream.”
He grinned. “I’ll eat my weight in those things. But popcorn, not so much.” He motioned for her to go first.
She walked down the stairs that led to their section near the third base line. “Here we are,” she said once she reached their row. “These are great seats.”
“They sure are.” He sat down next to her.
Emily lifted her thick hair off of her neck. “Got to love Memphis in late July. Almost seven and it’s like a furnace out here.”
Andrew nodded. “That’s the beauty of life in lower Mississippi. Even though it gets hot, the beach isn’t too far away. Our family goes to the beach in Gulfport all the time.”
She sighed. “What I wouldn’t give to be at a beach right now. With a salty breeze and a good book.”
“Maybe you should plan a vacation sometime.”
She looked up at him. “I just got back from Flagstaff. I went out there to a hot air balloon festival. It was pretty cool.”
He furrowed his brow. “Did you go with a group?”
She grinned. “Nope. Party of one.”
“Seriously? Traveling alone like that doesn’t scare you?”
Emily cocked her head. “Didn’t you just get back from China or somewhere?”
“That’s different.”
She raised her eyebrows. “How so? Because you’re a guy?”
Andrew shifted in his seat. “Well. . .yes.”
Emily wrinkled her nose. “Don’t tell me you’re one
of those.”
He grinned. “I’m just cautious, that’s all. There are some crazy people in the world.”
“And I can’t defend myself against them as well as you can? I don’t understand.” Emily had been traveling alone for years. If she had to wait on her schedule to coincide with a friend or wait until she was dating someone, she’d never leave Memphis.
Andrew sighed. “I guess I’m just more worried about a pretty girl traveling by herself than I am about a guy like me. I can guarantee I don’t attract as much attention as you.”
She frowned but felt oddly flattered. “So I shouldn’t go anywhere alone just because I have red hair that people notice?”
“It’s not just your hair. It’s. . .everything.” He rubbed his jaw where there was just a hint of dark stubble. “I’m not explaining this very well.”
Emily shook her head. “No. You aren’t. But even so, I think I kind of understand what you’re saying.” She gave him a tiny smile. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m very cautious when I go places alone. I do a lot of research before I go and make sure I’m staying in a safe place and do most of my sightseeing before dark.”
“That does make me feel better. I guess I sound like a complete Neanderthal. I drive Sarah and Mary Kate crazy. Last year they went to Six Flags in Atlanta over Mary Kate’s spring break. I was worried the whole time. I would’ve gone, too, but my school was on a different schedule than Mary Kate’s.”
“Maybe you’re not a complete Neanderthal.” She grinned. “It’s better to be a little concerned than not to care at all. I’ve dealt with the latter a lot.” Her last boyfriend wouldn’t even have noticed if she didn’t call him while she was on a trip. She had an odd knack for attracting guys who loved themselves a lot more than they loved her.
“Would you like a Coke or something?” Andrew asked. He motioned toward a guy coming down the stairs selling refreshments.
Emily nodded. “I’d love one.”
He jumped up and caught the guy’s attention. “Two Cokes,” he said. “And some cotton candy.”
“Cotton candy, huh?” Emily teased once he sat back down.
Andrew grinned. “It’s my favorite. I thought we could share.”
She plucked a piece of sugary pink goodness from the bag. “I love this stuff. It reminds me of going to the county fair.” She laughed. “It was such a big deal in my hometown, they’d let us out of school for a whole afternoon so we could all attend.”
Andrew nodded. “Those were the days. Sarah and I used to beg our parents to take us on armband night so we could ride the rides as many times as we wanted. Our favorite was the Tilt-A-Whirl. Once when I was ten and she was nine, we rode it four times in a row. Then she threw up.” He laughed. “But that’s another story.”
Emily smiled as she watched him talk about his childhood. “You and Sarah must have been close growing up. That’s nice.”
He nodded. “I know it’s probably weird. I mean, aren’t brothers and sisters supposed to fight like cats and dogs? But we just always got along. Sure, there were some arguments. But for the most part, we never had any problems.” He grinned. “Until high school. She went out with my best buddy a few times and I was the worst, most overprotective brother ever. I just didn’t want to see her get hurt.” He took a sip of Coke. “Of course, years later when Mary Kate’s dad left them, I couldn’t help but wish she’d ended up with my friend instead.”
“That must’ve been tough. Must be tough.” Something similar had happened to Suzanne. Emily remembered when they moved into the dorm their freshman year of college. All the dads were toting boxes and complaining about how many shoes their daughters owned. But Suzanne’s dad was absent. Later, Suzanne had confessed that he’d walked out when she was a child and she hadn’t seen him since. For all the problems Emily had endured with her family, she’d never once doubted her parents’ love for her or for each other.
Andrew nodded. “Mary Kate was so young when he left, she doesn’t even remember him. I think that’s probably for the best. And Dad and I have always tried to step in and do whatever we can around the house.”
“Does Sarah have any interest in remarrying?” Emily had been impressed by Sarah during their interaction at the hospital. She always managed to keep it together for Mary Kate’s sake even though watching her daughter go through treatments was difficult.
Andrew stuck a piece of cotton candy in his mouth. “I think it would take someone really special.” He chuckled. “But then, I guess it would take someone really special for all of us, right? Not just Sarah.”
“Amen.” Emily grinned.
The loudspeaker crackled. “Ladies and Gentleman, please rise for the singing of our national anthem.”
Emily and Andrew stood. She glanced over at him as the music started. This was turning out to be fun.
And fun was something her life had been seriously lacking.
Chapter Five
Andrew hadn’t dated much over the past four years. In fact, he’d avoided setups like the plague. One thing about living in a town small enough for everyone to know your name—everyone also knew your business. He’d faced a barrage of well-meaning mothers, grandmothers, and aunts who claimed to have the perfect girl for him.
And the few times he’d agreed to go out, it had seemed awkward and stilted. But tonight was different. He felt normal around Emily. Like he could be himself and not have to worry about messing up. Not that this was a real date or anything, but it was at least a nice evening with an interesting, attractive woman. And those were something to celebrate.
“Awesome game so far,” he said, as the Redbirds scored again.
Emily flashed him a grin. “Sure is.” She held up the almost empty bag of cotton candy. “You want the last bite?”
He shook his head. “It’s all yours.”
She stuffed the last morsel into her mouth. “I’m going to be on some kind of sugar high for the rest of the weekend.”
“What’s a typical weekend like for you? You strike me as the social butterfly type. Am I right?”
Emily shook her head, her red hair dancing around her. “You couldn’t be more wrong.” She grinned. “I mean, sure, I go to the major events in town. Charity balls, the annual barbecue festival, stuff like that. But I’m not a member of the Junior League or anything. You’re not going to find me on the pages of a society magazine.”
“So you’re more of a homebody?”
She shrugged. “Somewhere in between I guess. I have a group of friends I’m close to. We do the usual. Dinners, movies, that kind of thing. But I travel a lot. Whenever my job and my bank account allow.”
“I see. So what’s on your list to see next?”
Emily frowned. “I never said I had a list. Just that I like to travel.” Her previously sunny face darkened.
Andrew sighed. He would never understand his knack for saying the wrong thing. Sometimes it seemed like women weren’t just from another planet, but from a whole different galaxy. “Sorry. I just figured. . .well. . .you know.” He shrugged. “I have a list of places I’d like to see someday. I guess I just thought most people who liked to travel would have one even if they only kept it in their heads.”
She relaxed. “Oh. Yeah, I guess. There are definitely places I’d like to go. This is probably going to sound weird, but I really like national parks. I’d like to go out west someday and see some of the big ones. Yellowstone, Yosemite.” She shrugged. “Places like that.”
“Interesting.” He looked into her brown eyes and was struck by the hint of sadness in them. It almost seemed like she was hiding something, although he couldn’t be sure. “So you enjoy the great outdoors? Camping, hiking, that kind of thing?”
She smiled. “I do, but I don’t really have time for it now. I think I learned to fish before I even went to kindergarten. We lived near a lake and did a lot of fishing and boating. Some of my very favorite memories of childhood are when my family would go camping in my grandparents’ camper. Ev
eryone staying all together like a big sleepover and the kitchen table that turned into a bed was like magic to a six-year-old.” She laughed. “I haven’t done anything like that in years.”
“I don’t understand. If you travel so much now, why have you not gone to places you’d obviously enjoy seeing?”
She shook her head. “I just haven’t had the chance. Yet.” She managed a tiny smile. “Maybe someday though.”
He motioned toward the field. “Seventh inning stretch. I’m going to go find Mary Kate a baseball cap. Want to come?”
“Lead the way.”
Andrew hurried up to the steps and waited for Emily once he reached the top.
“I think there’s a kiosk that sells Redbirds merchandise near the entrance.” Emily pointed in the direction they’d come from earlier. “We should be able to find a cap there.”
Fifteen minutes later, Andrew had purchased just the right cap for his niece. “I think she’ll love it, don’t you?” He pulled it out of the bag and looked over at Emily.
Her ashen face told him something was terribly wrong.
He just had no idea what it could be.
***
Some moments moved slower than others. Emily had always thought there must be some kind of time warp that made the good ones speed up and the bad ones slow down. She remembered the months Holly had been sick and the way they’d seemed to last for years.
So it was no surprise that the bustle around her came to a near stop when she spotted Matt Rogers coming toward her. Matt, who’d proposed to her out of the blue right in the middle of a Huey Lewis concert. She’d screamed so loud that Huey himself had called them up on stage so she could share her answer with the crowd.
And she’d been happy, finally.
After years of searching for something that would fill the empty void inside her, she thought she’d found it. The ring on her finger said she had her life all figured out. Even if her heart told her otherwise, she could cling to the kind of certainty that came with an engagement ring.
Except that the week before the wedding, Matt had come to her with crocodile tears in his eyes and told her that he wasn’t the marrying kind after all. That marriage wasn’t in the cards for him. That he didn’t want to have a family someday the way she did.
Can't Help Falling in Love (Memphis Moments Book 2) Page 3