Emma lifted both hands. “I know, and I meant it, but tonight Imogene needs to be surrounded with everyone who loves her. She asked about you, and I can’t think of a good enough excuse for why you can’t see her.”
Reece took a step closer. “Emma, you have to believe me when I tell you I did not—”
Emma backed up, lest his touch tempt her to forget what he’d done. “I don’t have to believe anything you say. The only thing I need you to do right now is comfort my sister.”
His mouth firmed, and he nodded. “All right, but we will talk about this.”
“I don’t see that we have anything to talk about,” Emma said. “By the way, don’t mention anything about what happened tonight. Not about the rare blood type, and you better not tell her who you really are. As far as we’re concerned, Thomas Bertram was, and always will be, her father. Just remember that.”
Emma could only wait for him to come back out. She certainly couldn’t be in the same room with him.
When Reece finally did emerge, Imogene had fallen asleep. With the danger past, Emma went home with her mother. Reece didn't even try to protest. He only sent her a long, beseeching look before getting into his car and driving away. Maybe he wanted her to feel sorry for him. Maybe he wanted her to regret putting a halt to their relationship.
Oh she had regrets all right. She regretted the end of something promising. But most of all, she regretted letting Reece Casings in against her better judgment, only to have her trust shattered again.
Chapter 24
“Careful now. Take it easy,” Emma said, as she helped her sister out of the car.
Her mother went to take Imogene’s other arm. “Don’t rush it.
“Could you both stop hovering?” Imogene groused as she made it to her feet. “I’m moving like a sloth.”
“Okay, I just don’t want you to overdo it.” Emma shared a look with her mother and then took a step back, following her sister up the drive.
“I guess we have become a little too protective,” her mother said, also bringing up the rear in the slow-moving train.
Emma waved a hand in frustration. “I should just let Imogene fall on her face on the front lawn?”
Her mother actually laughed. “No, but we might need to back off just a little.”
Emma sighed. “I had no idea this mothering thing was so hard.”
“Welcome to my world,” her mother said in a wry tone. “The worst thing is, you never stop worrying, no matter how old your children are.”
Emma sent her ‘stop it’ look. “Please don’t bring up Reece Casings right now.”
“Honey, you can’t just ignore—”
“Watch me.”
They both helped Imogene upstairs and into bed. Her mother left to go prepare lunch, leaving Emma to tuck her sister in. “You comfortable? You have enough pillows? Are you cold?”
“I’m good.” Imogene glanced down and played with the edge of the comforter. “I’m mostly sorry.”
“For what?”
“For not listening to you about Ricky,” Imogene said. “You were right. He was such a jerk.”
The relief that swept through Emma had her sinking onto the bed. She’d feared her sister might still be clinging to the fantasy of Ricky the Creep. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”
Part of her didn’t want to know. Emma could guess why Ricky had asked her sister to go for a drive. Did she really want to know if her sister had let that creep—
“Ricky asked me to go for a drive, and I was so stupid I didn’t know what he meant,” Imogene said, tears streaming down her face now. “He took me out to this place where all the kids go to…make out…and stuff.”
Emma did not want to even know what “and stuff” entailed. The thought of her sister doing “and stuff” made her want to throw up. She knew teenagers were curious about sex, and many experimented, but oh, how she wanted to keep Imogene innocent for a little while longer. She had plenty of time for “and stuff”, and frankly a lot of it led to heartbreak and disappointment.
“Did you…um…agree?” Emma asked, trying to remain calm and nonjudgmental.
“No, I freaked out and told him to take me back,” Imogene said, her hands fisting in the sheets. “I wasn’t ready to do that.”
“Good…go with that,” Emma said, relieved beyond measure. “Maybe until you’re like thirty or something.”
Imogene frowned. “What?”
She patted her sister’s hand. “It’s okay to admit you’re not ready for something more physical,” Emma said. “You haven’t known Ricky that long, and he shouldn’t expect you to agree so soon.”
“Well he did, and when I wouldn’t, he got so mad. He called me a baby and said I’d wasted his time.” Imogene’s voice began to waver, and she swallowed hard.
“Honey, I’m sorry, but Ricky is nothing but a jerk,” Emma said, the urge to hurt the dirt bag kid overtaking her again. “If he cared about you, he would understand.”
Imogene’s chin quivered. “I’m so stupid,” she sobbed. “How could I have thought he liked me? He’s so popular, and I’m nobody.”
“He’s the stupid one for not realizing how special you are,” Emma said, hating that her sister was hurting so much, but also relieved that Imogene was no longer under the spell of Ricky the Creep. “Honey, teenage boys aren’t always the best bet when it comes to the heart. Most are interested in one thing. It’s how they’re wired.”
Adult boys weren’t much better. They still lied, cheated, and stole. Emma didn’t want to pass on her cynicism to her sister, though.
“I know it hurts right now, but I promise, someday you will meet someone who does treasure you,” Emma said. “He’ll know how special you are, and he won’t let you down.”
Imogene’s lips quivered, and she continued to look miserable.
“Honey, is something other than Ricky bothering you?” Emma asked.
“I’m sorry for being such a brat about Ricky…and everything.” Her eyes filled. “Losing mom and dad hurt so much, and I was so mad. It didn’t seem right that you were here while they—” She swallowed, and her cheeks colored.
“While they were gone?” The truth slashed a hole in Emma’s gut, but she couldn’t blame Imogene for being angry at the injustice of losing her parents. Hadn’t Emma been angry with everyone over the breakup of her parents’ marriage? Hadn’t she resented her father’s new family?
Imogene nodded. “I’m a horrible person.”
“Oh honey, no.” Emma gathered her sister close. “You’re not horrible at all. It’s only natural you would resent me. It’s not like I was ever around before. If you want to talk about being horrible, look at me. I’ve spent most of my life resenting you.”
“Me?” Imogene’s eyes widened. “Why?”
Emma opened her mouth to try and explain, but then hesitated. If she confessed her own dark impulses, would Imogene understand?
“Emma…” Imogene tilted her head.
She jumped up. “Hold on a second. I need to show you something.”
Emma raced to her room and grabbed a framed photograph from the top drawer of her dresser. The picture was one she’d carried with her around the world.
Imogene was sitting up straighter when Emma came back. “What’s this?”
Emma handed over the picture. “That’s me with my parents. It was taken at the Grand Canyon the summer I turned fourteen,” she said. “It turned out to be the last family vacation we ever took together. Dad moved out the next fall.”
Imogene gripped the frame, staring intently at the image of a young, grinning Emma with Thomas and Mary Bertram. There didn’t seem to be a hint of discord between them. Emma had looked often enough, trying to determine if there’d been a sign she’d missed.
“You look really happy,” Imogene’s voice was soft and a little faraway. “So did Miss Mary.”
“I thought we were, but then everything fell apart the next year,” Emma said. “I’m sure there were problems between them
before that, but I never noticed. But then what kid really pays attention to their parents’ marriage? They never fought or anything, at least not in front of me.”
Imogene looked up, her eyes dark with a kind of compassion Emma had never seen before. “It must have been awful.”
“Yeah, and the worst thing was that I never allowed myself to get over it,” Emma said. “I resented you and Paige because you two represented everything I’d lost when Dad left. I didn’t feel like I could be part of his new family, so I stayed away. It hurt too much to be around you guys.”
Imogene reached for Emma’s hand and squeezed. “I never knew.”
“Well, I was supposed to be older and more mature.” Emma squeezed back. “I’m sorry I didn’t make more of an effort to get to know you before, and I’m devastated that it took losing our dad to make me see how amazing you girls are. I love you two so much.”
“I love you too,” Imogene said. “Can you forgive me for being so difficult?”
“If you can forgive me for not being a good sister.”
Imogene threw her arms around Emma’s neck. “If it had to be anyone taking care of us now, I’m glad it’s you.”
Her sister’s words seemed to seal the wound Emma had held on to for so long, and for the first time she believed they would be all right.
When Imogene pulled back, her eyes had begun to droop, and she yawned.
“You should get some rest,” Emma said. “We have plenty of time to apologize for everything we’ve done.”
Her sister gave a wry grin and nodded. “Okay.”
Emma left her sleeping sister and was walking back downstairs when the doorbell rang.
“Don’t shut the door in my face,” Reece said, when Emma answered.
Her stupid heart jumped, but she forced herself not to show any reaction. “What are you doing here?”
Reece stepped closer. “I wanted a chance to explain.”
“I'm not interested. You should go.”
She moved to close the door, but Reece stuck his foot out. “Not until you hear me out. I’m prepared to wait on the front porch all day, and I’m pretty sure the neighbors will start to ask questions.”
Emma stared at him, wondering why she was stupid enough to consider letting him in. Letting him try to charm her after he’d lied to her…to everyone.
“Emma, please…”
The soft plea whispered along her nerve endings, and before she could stop the impulse, Emma let him in. She led him toward the kitchen and then out to the back deck, ignoring her mother’s startled expression as they passed through.
Emma leaned against the railing and crossed her arms. “Okay, let’s hear your explanation. Why did you lie to everyone?”
“I didn’t set out to lie to anyone,” he said. “At first I only meant to see my daughter and find out if she was all right.”
She turned to him with a frown. “Why wouldn’t she be all right? She’d been placed with a loving couple.”
Reece gripped the railing with both hands. “Well, I didn’t know that. I didn’t know anything because I had no idea she existed until two years ago.”
“That’s crazy. How could you not have known?” Emma asked, forgetting her vow not to be interested.
“My girlfriend never told me she was pregnant.” With a frustrated sigh, he left the railing and sank onto a deck chair. “I think I told you that my ex wanted to be a dancer. She broke up with me to pursue her dream, but then she found out she was pregnant. She thought about getting rid of it—”
“Oh Reece…no!” Emma burst out, horrified by the idea that Imogene might never have been born at all.
His mouth twisted. “Thankfully, she couldn’t go through with it. Lydia didn’t want to raise a child, though, so she arranged for a private adoption. Only she never contacted me or got my permission. She faked my signatures on documents that said I agreed to give up my parental rights, and Imogene found her way to your father and stepmother.”
“Your girlfriend never said a word to you?” Emma asked, unable to believe anyone could be so deceptive. “How could she do that?”
“She just wanted to get rid of the problem. I was in law school by then, so maybe she didn’t think I’d want to be bothered.”
Emma drew closer, despite her vow not to believe him. His girlfriend had given away his daughter without saying a word. Who did something like that? “How did you find out about Imogene?”
“My ex finally met someone and decided to get married. I guess she got an attack of conscience because she tracked me down and told me the truth.” He lifted his head and looked her in the eye. “I had a daughter out there. I didn’t know her name, what she looked like, where she lived, if she was all right, or if she was being abused. I went a little crazy obsessing over it.”
“Didn’t your ex know where she’d gone?” Emma asked, trying to hold onto her vow not to feel sympathy. “There are open adoptions.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think Lydia wanted to know anything. Maybe she thought it would be harder, I’m not sure. All she had was a baby picture from the day Imogene was born.” His voice grew husky. “She was so beautiful, with a head of dark hair and these perfect little hands.”
Emma pictured Imogene now, with her dark hair and eyes. She didn’t look exactly like Reece, but there were similarities. The way Imogene and Reece both held their heads, the way they moved, little hand gestures that were carbon copies of each other. How could Emma have failed to miss those traits before?
“I had already lost both of my parents,” he said. “My dad had a heart attack, and my mom went about a year later. I think she didn’t want to live without him. I didn't have any siblings so I was completely alone. Then Lydia told me about my daughter, and I knew I had to track her down.”
“How did you find her if the records were sealed?”
“There are ways around that.” Reece steepled his hands together between his knees and stared at the ground. “I managed to find them.”
“You were going to try and get her back,” Emma said, the certainty hitting her in the gut. “That’s why you came here.”
He stood and came back to the railing. “You have to understand, I was furious. I’d been cheated out of knowing my daughter. I’d missed everything. Her first step, her first word, her first day of school. She was calling someone else “Daddy”. There was a case for the adoption being illegal since my permission had never been obtained.”
“But to take Imogene away from the only family she’d ever known?” Emma shook with the realization of how close her dad and Mona might have come to losing their child. “That would have been unconscionable.”
“I know.” Reece swiped a hand across his mouth. “I realized that the moment I saw Imogene with Thomas and Mona. They were in the park, and she was running toward your dad with her arms out wide. She looked so happy, and they clearly adored her. I couldn’t tear Imogene away from her family without destroying her. I figured the best thing to do was leave her be and hope that one day she might be curious enough to look for me.”
Despite Emma’s anger toward him, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for Reece. What must it have cost him to give up a chance to be with his daughter? To walk away, not knowing if he would ever see her again? Except, he had seen Imogene again. He’d wound up as Thomas Bertram’s partner at the firm.
“How did you ever wind up working with my dad?”
He chuckled. “That could only have been divine intervention.”
“What does that mean?”
“Before I left town, I went to lunch. The ladies sitting behind me happened to work in your dad’s firm. One of them was his office manager, and the other was a paralegal.”
“Beverly?”
He nodded. “They were talking about the search for a new attorney and how Thomas Bertram hadn’t found anyone yet.”
What were the chances that he’d pick that restaurant, that day, and that time to eat lunch in a town where he knew only two
other people? Emma shook her head in disbelief. “That’s not possible.”
His mouth pulled up at one side. “I told you it was divine intervention. I knew it was no accident that I’d overheard their conversation. I called up the office and pretended I’d seen a notice posted on a job site,” Reece said. “Your dad asked me to come to Shellwater Key for an interview.”
“But you were already here.”
“He didn’t know that. I used my cell, and the area code is for Atlanta where I’d been living. He assumed I was in Atlanta, and I didn’t correct him. Anyway, I showed up for the interview, and I liked your father right away. I liked Shellwater Key, too, for that matter.”
“Really,” Emma said dryly. “You don’t have to lie to me anymore. I guess you decided being near your daughter was worth giving up life in a big city.”
“She was the draw initially, but I actually enjoy small-town life,” Reece said. “I like the slower pace and the fact that people actually know their neighbors. I feel like I’m part of a real community.”
Emma glanced away. “So, you not only started working with my father, you worked your way into his family. Good old Uncle Reece.”
“I figured it was the only way to have Imogene in my life. Paige was like a bonus daughter. I love her to death. I never planned to say anything because I knew it would all end if the truth ever came out.”
“And me? Was I just a convenient way to stay connected with your daughter?”
Reece took her hand. “Emma, the way I feel about you is hardly convenient.” He lifted her hand to his lips, kissing each fingertip. “You have destroyed my well-ordered life, and I don’t ever want to go back.”
With strength of will she could hardly imagine, Emma pulled away. “How can I believe you now? How do I know you aren’t looking for a ready-made family, with me as the queen chump?”
“Emma, I love you, and that is no lie.”
Her breath left in a rush. “Oh my gosh…you can’t say that!”
One brow quirked. “You wanted the truth.”
“But you hate me.”
“I thought we’d already established that I don’t. Emma, you can deny it all you want, but we have a real connection. I know you feel it, too, and it’s why you’re so scared.”
Straight on Toward Paradise Page 31