She was still tearing up when the teenaged Luke awkwardly shook her hand. “I’m real sorry, Miss Scott.”
She turned to watch Abby walk away with Brody and Luke. They stood on the other side of Logan, talking.
Matt, a lovely woman who had to be his wife, Lisa, and Danny Adams were next in line.
After Matt introduced his wife to Emily, he also hugged her. “You’re a very special lady, Emily, and I hate that this happened to you.”
“Thank you, Matt.”
Danny, shuffling his feet, told her, “Sorry, Miss Scott,” before following Matt and Lisa away.
She smiled through her tears when Mason hugged her. “You know I’m always a phone call away if I can do anything for you.” He gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. “Logan has me on speed dial.”
“Thank you, Mason. Especially for taking care of Logan’s business so he can be with me.”
“If I didn’t, he’d figure something else out. He’s right where he wants to be.” He smiled gently and winked.
“I was very sorry to hear about your mom and dad, Miss Scott,” Spencer told her, any trace of inappropriate flirtation gone. Maybe Mason had gotten through to him after all.
Coop had her in a bear hug before she could greet him. “I wish I could fix everything for you,” he told her.
“I wish you could, too, but thank you for the thought.”
Little bitty Ryan followed Cooper. He reached up and gave Emily an awkward hug. “I’m sorry, Miss Scott.”
“Thank you, Ryan.”
“I hated to hear about this,” Colton told her, hugging her with one arm and pulling Andy with his other.
Emily almost had a nervous fit of giggles when she remembered thinking Andy looked like the poster child for the importance of sending children to school.
“I’m supposed to tell you I’m sorry, Miss Scott, but I wanted to tell you I’m real sorry,” he solemnly told her. At least he hadn’t been short-changed in compassion.
She waited until Bo was finished hugging her so tightly she could barely breathe before she greeted him. “Hi, Bo.”
“You know what, Emily?” he asked. “This really bites.”
She laughed through her tears. “It certainly does.”
There, peeking out from behind Bo, was a red-haired boy. Emily leaned forward and hugged him. “I’m glad to see you, Seth.”
“Do you got a aunt to take care of you?” he asked, blushing fiercely.
Emily gestured to the front row of seats, where her aunt, grandparents, and uncle had chosen to sit. “My aunt is over there, but I’m a big girl. She doesn’t have to take care of me.”
“Logan does, though, don’t he, Miss Scott?” Trevor was there, speaking over the top of Seth’s head, pride in his voice. A woman, dressed in a worn but clean pair of slacks and blouse, was right behind him. Behind her was a man in a wheelchair. “This is my grandma and grandpa, Miss Scott. They both work for Logan now.” Trevor was practically beaming.
Logan happened to look her way right then and could see the love flowing from her eyes toward him. He could only hope it was real.
“Miss Scott, I’m sorry for your loss, and I hate to meet you in these circumstances, but what you did for our grandson and those other boys…” Trevor’s grandmother had tears in her eyes. “God bless you, Miss Scott.”
“I thank you,” the man in the wheelchair told her, then continued. “I’m very sorry that you’ve lost your folks. I’m sure they loved you very much, and you’re going to miss them.”
“I will.” Emily drew a ragged breath. “I hope you know what a special young man you’re raising.”
“That, we do,” he told her. “That, we do.”
After he moved on, there was a gap in the line. Emily took a few moments to gather herself. The Slammers had said nice things—things that helped. She couldn’t hide a small smile as she remembered Bo. “This really bites.” That summed it up pretty good.
“Fifteen more minutes, Em,” Logan said softly.
It was then that Emily looked up and saw the two people she most wanted to see. Aaron and Sara had walked in the door. They would have been there with her the whole time, but Sara’s immune system was weak and she couldn’t be out very long. Emily didn’t care that they could only be there for a little while. They were there. She walked straight over to them and they both embraced her.
The three of them stood in a huddle, crying until Emily pulled away.
“I love you two so much.”
“We love you, too,” Sara, her eyes surrounded by dark circles, told her. “No matter what, you’ll always have us. Don’t forget it.”
“I won’t,” Emily promised them.
“I found someone to host the campground,” Aaron told her gruffly, his voice raw with emotion. “They’re using their own camper until you’re ready to collect your mom and dad’s things. There’s no rush. I just didn’t want you worryin’ about it.”
Emily realized Aaron and Sara were going to miss her mom and dad nearly as much as she did. She moved back into the warmth of their shared embrace once more.
“I’m sorry we can’t stay, Em,” Aaron told her.
“I know,” Emily assured him. “I understand. Sara, you take care of yourself.”
After a hug from each of them and promises for her to visit—Sara would have to miss the funeral the next day because she couldn’t be around that many people at once—they left.
Emily turned to see her grandparents standing at her father’s closed casket, Uncle Mitch beside them. Her grandma was crying. She slowly walked to them, not wanting to intrude, but feeling the need for family.
“Come here.” Her uncle pulled her next to him. Emily couldn’t help it. He looked so much like her dad. The tears started pouring.
“Oh, you poor baby.” Her grandma had turned around and was holding her. “Your mom and dad were so proud of you.” Tears were running down her own face. “Did you know your dad sent me pictures of you all the time?”
“Our living room wall is covered with them,” her grandpa said, putting his arm around her.
“We haven’t kept in touch like we ought to, but we’re going to change that, Emily. You’ve lost your mom and dad, but you have grandparents who love you very much. We won’t take it for granted that you know that ever again. You’re going to hear it often.” Her grandmother spoke with conviction.
“I know it’s hard for you to be around me,” her uncle Mitch said softly, “but I love you, too, and I’m here if you ever need me.”
“Thank you. I love all of you and I’d like for our family to be closer.”
A loud sobbing noise broke through. Emily realized Aunt Helen was standing at her mother’s casket, crying her heart out. “I need to see Aunt Helen,” she told her grandparents and uncle. “She doesn’t have anybody else now.”
“You go ahead, Emily. I just want a few more minutes with our boy.” Her grandma patted Emily’s shoulder.
“Aunt Helen.” Emily wasn’t speaking loudly as she approached her aunt, but even though she was crying loudly, Aunt Helen heard her.
“Oh, Emily, what are we going to do without your mom?” she asked, pulling Emily into a hug.
Emily suddenly knew what to say. “Exactly what Mom would want us to do. Live.” Her aunt’s tears subsided, and she looked at Emily. “She would be furious at both of us for standing here crying over an empty shell. She and Dad are in Heaven—together and happy. They’re not here in these caskets.” Emily could hear her mother speaking as if she were standing beside her. “She’d tell us to remember the good times and celebrate the life they lived. It was cut short, but they lived, didn’t they?” Emily smiled. “They had a good life, and that’s what I’m going to remember tomorrow.” Her aunt offered a trembling smile. “You should, too.”
Aunt Helen’s smile, shaky though it was, grew. “You sound just like your mother, did you know that? I can hear her telling me those exact words.” She gave Emily a big hug. “Thank
you, Emily.”
Emily smiled and stepped back to let her aunt have a few minutes alone at the casket. A little while later her grandparents and uncle left, telling her they would see her in the morning. It wasn’t much longer until Aunt Helen followed them, leaving Emily there with Logan and Abby.
She stood at the table with the photographs of her parents and looked at them. They were very happy in both of them. Their love for each other shone in their wedding picture, but even more so in the one taken for their anniversary. They had done everything together. Given the choice, they would have wanted to leave this earth together, too.
“Are you okay?” Logan walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.
She leaned back against him, feeling his arms wrap around her.
“Do you see how much they loved each other?” She indicated the pictures.
“Yes.”
“I want to have that kind of love, Logan.”
He took a deep breath. “Remember, Em, I do love you. We have to wait until you’re sure—when you’re not still mourning so deeply.”
She turned in his arms. “I understand.” She raised her face, and he softly kissed her lips. “Can we date?”
A low chuckle emanated from his throat. “We’ve been sleeping together for the past few nights. I think dating would be a good idea.”
“Okay.”
She snuggled against him.
“Em, I’m going to wait outside and let you and Abby have a few minutes alone. She’s pretty torn up, and I know you two have always been like sisters.”
“Thank you.”
He placed another gentle kiss on her lips before he turned and walked out the front door of the building.
Emily turned to see Abby, sitting on one of the chairs, silently crying.
“Come help me tell Mom and Dad goodbye, Abby,” she softly called.
Abby looked up at Emily and stood. “Don’t you want some private time? I can wait outside with Logan.”
“What I want is for my very best friend in the world to be with me while I say goodbye to my parents. Now, please come over here.” Emily held out her hand.
Abby walked over and took it. “I loved them, too, you know.”
“How could you know them and not love them?” Emily asked. “But they always thought of you as theirs, too. I hope you know that.”
“Thank you for telling me that.” Abby put one arm around Emily. “I love you, Em. I might not have been born with a brother or sister, but in my heart I have one—you.”
Emily turned and embraced Abby. “You’re my sister, Abby, and I love you, too.”
They stood that way for a few minutes, then turned and faced the pictures again, each lost in her own thoughts.
Even though she knew they weren’t really in them, Emily still felt the need to drop a kiss on each casket and murmur goodbye before she looked at Abby. “I’m ready. Are you?”
Abby silently nodded.
Emily had to get through the funeral in the morning, but it was going to be okay. She had found peace and said her goodbyes. Tomorrow was just a formality. She turned and gave the caskets each one last glance before following Abby out the door—to where Logan waited.
Chapter 28
Tonight was their first date. It had been a week since the funeral, and Logan was taking Emily out for dinner.
Unsure of where he was taking her, she had no idea how to dress. She had picked up her phone to call him several times during the day, but then decided it wasn’t worth bothering him. He’d already missed enough work for her.
They talked every day, but she hadn’t seen him since he had taken his stuff and gone home two days after the funeral. She had just started getting used to sleeping without him. She remembered what he said about dating being the thing to do since they’d been sleeping together. Of course when he said sleeping, he meant actually sleeping together.
Looking through her closet, she decided she couldn’t go wrong with her “little black dress”. It would be casual enough if they went to a restaurant, and dressy enough if he took her to a club. It hit her again how little she really knew about his life during the past seven years. She didn’t know if he golfed, bowled, danced, or just hung out in bars. He didn’t know any more about her. He was right. They needed to take this slowly.
Almost an hour later, she was ready. Her dress still fit perfectly, falling to just above her knees and hugging her slender figure. Since he was over six inches taller than she was, she chose a pair of black three-inch stilettos. She decided to wear her hair down and spent quite a while curling it to get just the right look. With minimal makeup, she felt like she looked as good as she was going to. Hopefully, it would satisfy Logan.
The low wolf whistle he greeted her with told her it did. “Come here.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss. The next thing she knew, they were both breathing heavily and aroused.
“Whoa,” Logan slowly released her and backed away. “That is not the way to take things slowly.”
“I agree.” She was still trying to catch her breath and waiting for her heart to slow down. Emily finally had the chance to look him over and was gratified to see he was wearing a pair of black dress khakis and a nice shirt. Her dress should be fine.
“Where are we going?” she asked, picking up her small clutch before walking out the door.
“I thought we’d go to Butlers. Is that okay?” He checked her doorknob to make sure it was locked.
“It’s one of my favorite places.” When she had the opportunity to go out for good food in a nice atmosphere, she always chose Butlers.
“I’ll put that in my ‘Emily file,'” he told her, opening the door of his Mustang for her.
She had ridden in his car, but under the circumstances hadn’t paid much attention to it before. He drove a late model midnight blue Mustang convertible. The interior was black, and the seats were leather. It was nice.
“Have you decided whether you’re going back to work early?” he asked.
She had been weighing her options. Since she didn’t have the responsibility of the campground, she found herself at loose ends. But her parents had wanted her to take those two months off so badly, would she somehow be letting them down if she went back to work? “Not really.” She angled herself toward him. “What do you think I should do?”
“Oh, no.” He shook his head. “If I tell you what to do and it makes you miserable, it’ll be all my fault, and I’ll end up in the doghouse with you again.” He sent a smile her way. “I’m liking it too much living in your good graces.”
“What if I decide I’m mad at you because you won’t tell me what to do?” she teased.
“I’ll kiss you until you change your mind.” He grinned and winked at her.
“Awfully sure of yourself there, aren’t you?” This was fun.
“Excuse me, but wasn’t that you back there in your house a few minutes ago?” He liked seeing the smile in her eyes.
“Yes, and if you don’t stop talking about it, I’m going to make you pull this car over and take up where we left off—taking it slowly or not.” She giggled.
“Okay. I’ll stop tempting you with my wiles.” He was still smiling. “Em, tell me something about yourself. We’ve got seven years to catch up on.”
“Okay. You can ask me one thing, and then I get to ask you a question. I want to know about you, too.” This sounded interesting.
“Ladies first.”
“Okay, how many girlfriends have you had?” She just wanted to get that out of the way.
“Serious or just dates?”
“Both.”
“Then, none and several.”
She was surprised. “You’ve never been in a serious relationship?”
“That’s cheating. You’re asking two questions.” He raised an eyebrow.
“Come on. They’re tied together.” She wasn’t above whining.
“Okay, then.” H
e paused. “I’ve dated several women, but there has always been something missing. I’ve never felt the need to build something…permanent.” Logan glanced at Emily. “Until now.”
“Oh.” His words sank in. “Oh.”
“Is that a good ‘oh’ or a bad ‘oh’?” he asked.
“Is that your first question?”
“Nope. I’ll just assume it was a good ‘oh’.” She could have told him he was absolutely correct, but she was enjoying their banter. “So, my first question—have you dated much or had any serious relationships?”
“Sneaky, Logan,” she chided him. “You combined two questions.”
“Better than outright asking two questions when we agreed to one.”
“Are we arguing?”
“Nope. You’re procrastinating. ‘Fess up, Em.” He didn’t want to hear about her being with other men but wanted everything between them up front and honest.
“Okay. I’ve lived a very boring life, Logan.” She braced herself and got ready to deliver the blow. “I’ve only dated a handful of men, and I’m still a virgin.”
“You’re a…wow, Em.” He glanced over at her, looking at her from head to toe. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you haven’t been responding to me like a virgin.”
She shrugged. “It’s you. Once you kiss me, my logical thought processes stop, and I just feel.” She looked at her lap, embarrassed. “That first night on the picnic table, if I hadn’t remembered where we were, I’d have let you make love to me.” Her gaze lifted to his. “I guess I’m pretty easy, huh?”
“I don’t think you’d be classified as easy, but I’m sure glad to hear that I’m the only guy you’ve ever responded to like that.” He actually wanted to roll down his window and let out a war whoop but decided she would think he was certifiable. “Your turn.”
“Okay. Let’s see…What are your hobbies?” She knew about his work.
“Well, you know about the fast-pitch softball…I’m still so sorry about that, Emily.”
“Over and done with, Logan.” Her parents’ deaths had shifted her perspective on a lot of things.
“Okay. I like to play cards, watch just about any kind of sport, and probably most of all, fish.” Those were his three favorites other than softball.
Counting On It (Hearts for Ransom Book 1) Page 14