“Crazy,” she admitted. “But I can take a minute. How are you?”
He explained about B.J. and Jodie’s spin on Emily’s recent lack of attentiveness.
“Oh, sweet heaven,” Emily murmured. “I should have realized.”
“Realized what? That Jodie would seize on this and run with it?” Boone said. “Nobody thinks like she does.”
“Is B.J. there now?”
“He’s with Cora Jane in the kitchen. I’ll get him.”
“I’ll make this right, Boone. I promise.”
“Never doubted it. Is it okay with you if I give him your number, so he can call when he starts to miss you? He’s already promised me he won’t be a pest.”
“That’s a great idea,” she assured him. “And I’ll always be able to find a couple of minutes to talk to him when he calls. I’ll try to be better about calling him, as well.”
“Thanks. I really appreciate that. He’s very attached to you. So am I, by the way. Do you think you’re going to be here for Thanksgiving?”
“That’s my plan,” she told him. “We’re almost on schedule for the opening of this place on Monday. The families should be in here by Wednesday. Unless there’s a glitch of some kind, I’ll fly out Wednesday night and be there in time for Thanksgiving dinner. You will be at Cora Jane’s, right?”
“We’ll be there,” he confirmed. “Though we’ll probably have to stop by Jodie’s first to keep the peace.”
“Even if you only make it in time for pie, it’ll be great,” she told him.
“And miss Cora Jane’s turkey and cornbread stuffing? Not a chance. She’s planning a late dinner for that very reason.”
Boone had walked into the kitchen as they talked and now B.J. was in front of him, his expression wary, as if he was half afraid Emily wouldn’t have time to talk to him after all.
“Here he is,” Boone told Emily. “See you next week.”
“I’m counting on it,” she said fervently.
Boone handed the phone to his son, then stepped away. Cora Jane gave him a quizzical look, but didn’t ask the question that was obviously on the tip of her tongue. Unlike some people, she would never try to stir up trouble, especially in front of B.J. Boone had come to appreciate that trait more than he could possibly express.
* * *
Emily had been on her own for so long, not accountable to anyone except her clients, that the realization that she needed to consider Boone and B.J. caught her off guard. Once she’d hung up after speaking to the two of them, she sighed.
“Problems?” Sophia asked, joining her on the porch of the house. It was the only place quiet enough to talk on the phone, much less think.
“I’ve just realized how many adjustments I’m going to have to make if I’m going to have a relationship with someone.”
“Someone in particular?” Sophia asked. “Maybe this man who has you running back to North Carolina every few weeks?”
Emily nodded.
“Tell me about him,” Sophia suggested. “Is it serious?”
“It’s been serious since we were teenagers,” Emily admitted. “But I took off to make my way in the world and he stayed behind, got married and had a child.”
Sophia lifted a brow. “And exactly how do you fit in now?”
Emily gave her a chiding look. “It’s not like that. He’s a widower, a single dad. Because of what happened before, he has a lot of trust issues about me actually making a commitment. He’s also scared his son is going to get hurt if I bail again.”
“Are you planning to bail?” Sophia asked.
“It’s not my intention, but there are days when I wonder how we’re going to pull this off, especially after a call like the one I just had.”
“Was he on your case for not being around?”
“No, he does understand how much this project matters to me.” She smiled at Sophia. “Thanks to you, I’ve finally found a way to combine work I love with something worthwhile. I’ve never felt this way about a job before.”
“Something told me it was going to be a perfect fit,” Sophia said. “You’ve always done an outstanding job for me and for everyone I’ve recommended you to, but I sensed there was something missing.”
Emily frowned. “You didn’t think I gave the work my all?”
“Oh, heavens no!” Sophia protested. “In case you haven’t noticed, there seem to be two extremes out here, at least in the circle of people with whom I associate. There are those who are sincerely passionate about the work and those who are in it to make a quick buck. While I’d certainly never lump you in with the latter, you didn’t have the sort of passion for the work that takes something from being a job to being something more. I like to be around people who can’t wait to get out of bed to start the day. I wanted that for you, too.”
Emily grasped what Sophia was telling her. “And you’re right. I think I’ve found that now.”
“But you think that’s going to ruin your future with this man?” Sophia guessed.
“I hope not,” Emily said, “but it does mean I need to consider people other than myself when I make decisions. B.J., that’s Boone’s son, started worrying that I’d forgotten about him. His grandmother, who’s not a big fan of mine, started feeding that insecurity. So while I was here, all caught up in the job, I was inadvertently hurting that little boy. How selfish is that?”
Sophia smiled. “And now that you know about this, what do you intend to do? Go on ignoring him until it’s convenient to make a call?”
“Absolutely not,” Emily said.
“Then lesson learned,” Sophia concluded. “Sweetie, it is not all that unusual for people who’ve only had to think of themselves to need a little time to get used to what’s necessary when there are others in their life. Now that you’ve been reminded of that, you’ll make every adjustment necessary. I have complete confidence in you.”
“What if the adjustments or sacrifices are too great?” Emily asked, voicing her greatest fear.
Sophia’s gaze was filled with compassion. “Then you’ll have made a choice, won’t you? You’ll have chosen work over a relationship.”
“But I don’t want to be that woman,” Emily complained. “I want it all.”
Sophia laughed. “Then find a way,” she said. “You’re a smart woman.”
“What about Boone?” she asked in frustration. “Do all the adjustments and sacrifices have to be mine?”
“Not in my book,” Sophia said. “But then I lost a couple of husbands because of my refusal to compromise. I don’t really recommend that, not if you’re hoping that things will work out. There’s always a middle ground, Emily. Find it.”
Emily nodded, praying that her friend was right and that she and Boone could find a solution that worked for both of them. They certainly weren’t there quite yet. Emily was starting to feel pulled in two different directions. And, she admitted, she was starting to resent Boone for not having to give up a single thing thus far. To be fair, though, had she even once sat down with him and asked him to meet her halfway on something? No.
She sighed just thinking about the emotional heavy lifting still ahead for them. Sophia smiled.
“Just sinking in how complicated this is going to be?” she teased lightly.
Emily nodded.
“At least the crisis has been averted for now,” Sophia said. “I’m going to take off and try to sweet-talk a couple of corporate tycoons out of some big bucks.”
Emily chuckled. “They don’t stand a chance. I’ve never known you not to get exactly what you set out to get.”
“Remember that the next time I’m trying to wheedle something out of you,” Sophia advised her. “Give it up graciously.”
“For you, anything, anytime,” Emily said.
“Oh, b
oy, I have you now,” Sophia exulted. “I wish I’d gotten that on tape.”
“My word’s good enough,” Emily said. “I won’t forget I gave it.”
And now that she had given her word, she just hoped it wouldn’t come back to haunt her.
As Sophia took off, Emily’s cell phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID as she answered. “Hey, Samantha.”
“How are things in Tinseltown?” Samantha inquired.
“Chaotic. How about New York?”
“Way too quiet,” Samantha said, an odd edge to her voice. “Are you getting to Grandmother’s for Thanksgiving?”
“I’m hoping to. You?”
“I’ll head down on Tuesday most likely. Have you spoken to Gabi recently?”
Emily thought of the call she’d gotten in which she’d sensed something wasn’t right with their sister. “I spoke to her a couple of weeks ago. I meant to call you then. She wouldn’t admit to anything, but I felt like something was wrong.”
“That’s what I thought when I spoke to her last night. I was going to go by there on my way to Sand Castle Bay, but she told me not to bother, that she’d probably see me over there.”
“Probably?” Emily repeated with a frown. “What does that mean? Surely she’ll show up for Thanksgiving. Even Dad usually drags himself away from the office for the holiday.”
“I’m not convinced Gabi will this year. I do know if she doesn’t, we might need to drive over to Raleigh and see for ourselves what’s going on.”
“Why don’t I run by her place from the airport?” Emily suggested. “Maybe I can drag her with me, if she’s balking at coming.”
“Even better,” Samantha said. “See you next week, Em.”
“Travel safe.”
“You, too.”
Emily sighed when she disconnected the call. If she’d learned nothing else this morning, it was that once family or anyone else was in your life, it was all but certain to get very complicated.
20
Boone had given Pete a long holiday break to spend with the new woman in his life in New York. The fact that his top executive was actually excited about seeing the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving parade in person had come as a shock.
“You’re just a kid at heart, after all,” Boone had teased him.
Pete had responded with an expletive that was definitely not very childlike.
Now with Pete out of town, Boone had to deal with the calls coming in from various contacts in Charleston as they moved forward on opening their fourth restaurant, hopefully by spring.
“I really need you down here as soon as possible to sign the papers if you want that location you liked in the historic district,” his Realtor announced when Boone returned his call. “There’s another bidder, but the owner’s eaten at your restaurants and he liked your plans. He wants to get the deal in place now before his people start insisting on taking the higher offer.”
“You do realize this is Thanksgiving week,” Boone said. “How about next Monday?”
“How about Friday?” Caldwell Marshall countered.
“Nobody works on the day after Thanksgiving,” Boone protested.
“Sorry. He insisted it be by the end of the week. Even Friday’s pushing it. I think he was hoping for Wednesday.”
Boone sighed heavily. “I’ll try to make it work. I’ll get back to you before the end of the day.”
He hung up and called Emily. “How would you like to take a trip to Charleston on Friday?” he asked when she answered.
“It’s a very romantic city,” she responded cautiously. “Are you suggesting a private tryst, just the two of us?”
“I wish,” he said and explained what had come up. “I can’t call Pete back from New York to handle this, so it’s up to me.”
“Then you have to go.”
“Not without you,” he replied flatly. “I am not going to lose a whole day with you for business. Our time together is limited enough as it is.”
“While it’s very nice to know that I’m so high on your priority list,” she said, “things like this are going to come up for both of us. We’re going to have to be flexible.”
“So, be flexible,” he encouraged her. “Come with me.”
“B.J., too?”
“I could leave him with Jodie,” he said, though he didn’t even try to hide his hesitation.
“Only heaven knows what she’d make of it,” Emily concluded. “Samantha will be here. He could stay with her and Cora Jane, I’m sure.”
Boone considered that option but dismissed it as well. “It’s his school vacation. I want to spend time with him, too. And you know he’ll be over the moon to have a whole day with you.”
“Then we’ll all go,” she said. “He and I can wander around and sightsee while you do your business.”
“I’ll take you out for a great meal afterward,” he promised, relieved that she’d agreed to this.
“On the day after Thanksgiving?” she said with a laugh. “A couple of lettuce leaves will probably be all I can stuff down. You know how Cora Jane overdoes it.”
“Then we’ll play the meal by ear,” he compromised. “Thank you for going along with this. I know it’s not what you had in mind for your Thanksgiving break.”
“Hey, give and take is what life is all about, or so I’m told. And I’ll be with you. What’s the downside of that?”
“Any good at give and take?” he asked. “Because I have to tell you, I’m a work in progress on that front.”
“Me, too.”
“Well, so far you get an A-plus in my book.”
“Watch out. I may have to come up with a test of my own to see how you score.”
“Whatever it takes to make this work,” he said readily. “See you in a few days. Love you.”
“Love you back.”
He was smiling when he hung up. Crisis averted, and as a bonus he’d just negotiated for an entire day with Emily far from Jodie’s prying eyes.
* * *
Because of the necessity for secrecy surrounding the location of the safe house, there was no media invited to the grand opening. Only members of the board, key contractors and Emily were there as the first women moved in with their children.
Sophie had assigned Emily to show them to their rooms and explain about the amenities the house offered. The first woman, whose name was Lisa, regarded Emily with understandable caution as they climbed the steps to the second floor. Her two girls, who were so thin it was hard to tell their ages, looked to be no more than six and eight, though it was possible they were older. Their eyes held a world-weary exhaustion no child should ever know. They hung back behind their mother as they climbed the stairs and avoided making eye contact. Emily didn’t like thinking about the kind of life that had made them so timid and fearful.
Emily opened the door to their room, which had been painted a buttery yellow trimmed in white. Sunshine poured through the windows and splashed across the polished wood floor. Though it was a little tight, Emily had managed to fit a full-size bed in the room, just right for cuddling, she thought. She’d also squeezed in a small dresser, bunk beds and a comfortable chair. She held her breath as they saw it for the first time.
“This is for us?” the youngest one exclaimed, her eyes wide. “The whole room?”
“It looks brand-new,” her sister said.
“It is,” Emily confirmed. “Every single thing in here is new.” She glanced at the mother and saw tears welling up in the woman’s eyes. “I hope you’ll be comfortable here.”
As the tears spilled over, dampening her cheeks, the woman said, “You can’t know...” She blinked and tried again. “You can’t possibly know what this means to us.”
Until that moment, Emily hadn’t realized. Not really. Seei
ng the relief on the mother’s face, the excitement in her children’s eyes, she felt the kind of gut-deep satisfaction that could only come from doing something special for people who truly deserved it. For this family to be so thrilled with a small room of their own with simple furnishings, she knew they must have survived on so little before.
Choked up herself, she managed to say, “Girls, would you like to take a look upstairs? There are desks and lockers to store your books. You can study up there if you have homework from school.”
Predictably, both girls made faces that had Emily laughing. “Then how about we go back downstairs and you can take a look at the playroom? Would that be more to your liking?”
“Yes, please,” the older girl said politely.
“An honest-to-goodness playroom?” the mother breathed as if she couldn’t quite believe it.
Emily nodded. “We tried to think of everything that would make it comfortable. If there’s anything we didn’t think of, though, please be sure to let us know.”
For the first time, a smile teased at the woman’s lips. “If you understood where we’ve been and even half of what we’ve been through, you’d know that bare walls and a blanket on the floor would be a thousand times better as long as we’re safe. This is heaven.”
To Emily’s surprise, the woman embraced her in a hug. “Thank you.”
“I’m just the designer. The people you really need to thank are downstairs.”
“Believe me, I’ll be thanking them every day of my life. And once I get on my feet and I can provide a safe place for myself and my kids, I will come back here and return the favor. I promise you that.”
The whole day was like that, with women who had so little showing boundless gratitude for what was being provided and promising to give back when they could. By the end of the day they’d already worked out a rotation among themselves for cooking and child care.
The experience left Emily with a full heart. She could hardly wait to get to Sand Castle Bay to share everything that had happened today with Boone. This, she thought as she flew across the country, was what she’d been meant to do.
* * *
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