Heart Block (24 page)

“Surprise,” her mother whispered in her ear from behind. Sarah’s fears were confirmed. Unable to form a complete sentence, she felt herself ushered by her mother over to the group, Emory lagging somewhere behind.

“Hey there, beautiful,” James leaned in and kissed her cheek.

She was still in somewhat of a state of shock and answered evenly. “Hi.”

“I hope you don’t mind me popping in on you. Your father invited me when I stopped by the job site earlier this week.”

“I told him to!” Her mother grinned like the cat that swallowed the canary. “I knew you’d be thrilled to see James, and this gives him a chance to meet the rest of the family.”

James wrapped his arm around her mother’s shoulders. “Well, then it’s you I have to thank, Mrs. Matamoros.”

“Call me, Yolanda,” her mother answered dreamily.

Sarah couldn’t believe this was happening, but was determined to keep a cool head. “You’re always welcome, James. It’s nice to see you.” She looked to Carmen, whose eyes widened as if to say “I had no Godforsaken idea this was going to happen. Please don’t kill me.” She offered a tiny helpless shrug to punctuate.

Deciding to stay the course, Sarah pressed forward. “Papa, I wanted to introduce you to someone. This is my friend, Emory Owen. Emory’s the CEO of her own company and went to Stanford.” A few bonus points couldn’t hurt, right?

Roberto Matamoros turned to Emory and extended his hand warmly. “Are you the artist Graciela was telling me about?”

Emory smiled and took his hand. “I suppose so, though I don’t actually paint anymore.”

“My granddaughter thinks the world of you. Welcome to our home.” He patted her hand and bowed his head. But his attention shifted back to James and Roman, the men clearly taking precedent with him in this moment. “So, James, do you have any other big projects lined up?”

“Several actually. It’s hard to juggle them all, but if I want to make partner someday, I have to burn the midnight oil.”

“The corporate world can be cutthroat, that’s for sure,” Emory interjected.

“I do okay.” James turned to her.

“I’m sure you do.”

James eyed Emory and Emory eyed James until finally Sarah couldn’t take it anymore. Clearly picking up on the tension, Carmen swooped in and saved the day. “Emory, we haven’t met yet. I’m Carmen, Sarah’s best friend and, might I add, closest confidant,” she said, emphasizing the words. “She tells me everything. I’m thrilled to finally meet you.”

Emory beamed. “Thank you. I’ve been anxious to meet you too. Sarah tells me that you two have quite a history.”

“You can’t even imagine.”

“Sarah,” her mother interrupted. “Why don’t you introduce James to your brothers, and maybe later he can meet Grace.” She shot her a not so subtle wink, which Sarah refused to return. Sarah looked apologetically at Emory, who stared back at her blankly. Feeling caught and unsure how to proceed, she begrudgingly gave in to the pressure.

“Sure. Follow me, James.” She walked James across the yard, and when they were out of earshot, tugged on his sleeve bringing them to a halt. Yes, they were in the middle of the yard, and yes, people were watching them, Emory included, but she had to figure out this situation and quick. “James, I just need to be clear. I’m seeing someone else. I thought you understood that.”

“I do and I respect it entirely, but it doesn’t mean I’ve completely given up on you forever. We’re still friends, right?”

Sarah softened. “Yes, but that’s all it can be. I just want to be sure we’re on the same page.”

“We are, beautiful.”

She closed her eyes momentarily in frustration. “See, right there, that’s what I’m talking about.”

“The fact that I called you beautiful?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry. If it makes you uncomfortable, it will never happen again.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Unless you want it to.”

“James.”

Over the next ten minutes, she introduced him to all the same people she’d introduced Emory to. There seemed to be a markedly different reaction to James. At the mention of his name, her friends and loved ones lit up, a sign that they’d been prepped by her mother well in advance about who he was and his potential place in Sarah’s life. In response, he was universally given the careful attention she’d hoped they’d show Emory. It was disheartening and entirely counterproductive to what she’d hoped to accomplish that day.

Leaving James to continue his in-depth discussion on drafting techniques with Robert, Sarah located Emory across the yard, who much to her horror was standing with her mother and cousin Martin, the creepy funeral director. Realizing that her mother was already in matchmaker mode and a rescue mission was now necessary, she wasted no time. Sliding up next to Emory, she briefly squeezed her hand. She needed to explain things, and now was as good a time as any. “Can I borrow you for a sec?”

Emory turned to her with immense amounts of gratitude in her eyes. “Sure. Excuse me, Martin. Maybe we can finish the uh, embalming story later.”

Sarah led Emory back into the house and down the short hallway. “Where are we going?” Emory asked.

“Shhh.” She quickly pulled Emory into the small hallway bathroom, closed the door, and locked it. As she turned around, Emory offered a plastic smile and it didn’t escape Sarah that she stood about as far away as the tiny bathroom would allow.

“Let me explain.”

“There’s no need. I know you didn’t invite him.”

Sarah closed the distance between them and tucked a strand of hair behind Emory’s ear. “All the same, I’m sorry.”

“I know.” But Emory didn’t seem convinced.

“It bothers you. I can tell.”

Emory stared past Sarah at a stack of decorative hand towels. “It’s just been a while since I’ve had to hide who I was. I don’t like how it feels. Your parents are very excited about the prospect of you and James, and I get to watch that play out. It’s…less than fun.”

“I know, trust me, I know. I guess I just wanted to finesse this for them a little bit. Parcel out information slowly. I know my family, and it will be better if I can ease them into the idea of you and me.” She let her hands drop from Emory’s shoulders where they’d rested. “I’m sorry. I feel like I’m screwing this whole thing up.”

Emory tilted her head and met Sarah’s eyes. It was clear she was softening. “Sarah, look at me.”

She did.

“So it’s not the easiest of days. Let’s just try and get through it. The fact that James is here just caught me off guard and complicated an already touchy situation for me. But I’d rather not focus on that. I’d rather focus on you, which is all I tend to do lately anyway.”

Sarah let the comment settle and took a step in. She slid her hands onto Emory’s hips and rubbed her abdomen with her thumbs. “In that case, I should probably confess that I’ve wanted to kiss you ever since you walked in the door.”

A shy smile crept across Emory’s face. “You have?”

“Mhmm. You have the most kissable mouth I’ve ever seen.” Sarah placed a hand behind Emory’s head and guided her in. The kiss was just as electric as Sarah knew it would be, hungry and fast with no buildup required. Easing Emory’s body up against the door, Sarah melded against it, moaning quietly into Emory’s mouth as their tongues danced. In a stroke of fantastic timing, there was a knock on the door. Damn it all.

They froze.

Sarah pulled her mouth away and listened. Please God, let them leave.

“Hello in there? Everything okay?” Oh no, it was her elderly aunt Sofia. Sarah felt like a deer in front of an eighteen-wheeler as Emory tried unsuccessfully to suppress a laugh. She placed a much-needed hand over Emory’s mouth but couldn’t help smiling herself as she leaned into Emory’s ear. “That’s my great-aunt Sofia. She’s eighty-nine years old. We’re going to have to make a break for it, but I think we can take her. Follow my lead.” Emory nodded wordlessly and followed Sarah out of the bathroom. As they emerged, Aunt Sofia’s eyes drifted suspiciously from one of them to the other.

“Sara, is everything okay? You were inside of the bathroom for a long time.”

“My friend was just helping me…with a problem.”

“Are you all right, mija? Should I get your mama?”

“I’m fine. I just needed Emory’s uh, expertise for a minute. She was able to help a lot.” Emory smiled and nodded emphatically. They made their way silently through the living room and then exploded into laughter once they landed outside.

Her mother smiled along with them. “What’s so funny, you two?”

Sarah deadpanned. “Long story.”

“Well, you’re just in time for dinner. Sarah, I have a seat for you down here with me, and, Emory, Martin has saved a seat for you next to him.” She offered her second conspiratorial wink of the afternoon, this time at Emory.

Sarah looked down the long table and the expanse of distance between her predetermined seat and Emory’s. And then there was the fact that her chair was coincidentally next to James’s.
Just perfect
. “Mama, I think Emory and I would rather sit—”

“It’s fine, Sarah, really,” Emory interjected, feeling the need to smooth things over. It wasn’t entirely fine, but she didn’t want to make waves on her first meeting with Sarah’s family. She could hold her own against Martin and his grisly tales from the crypt for an hour or so. Luckily, Carmen was seated across the table from her, which might give her some reprieve.

Unfortunately, dinner was nonetheless excruciating. She watched from afar as James flirted mercilessly with Sarah while her parents made over him like he was their long-lost son. By the end of it all, she was mentally exhausted and ready to make a quick exit. She thanked Mr. and Mrs. Matamoros, wished Robert a happy birthday, offered Sarah’s shoulder a squeeze, and headed for the door.

She needed to get out of there.

She needed to find her head.

And she needed to figure just what exactly she’d gotten herself into. So she was acting like a coward, and retreating when things got rough. She was actually okay with that. As she turned the knob, she was stopped by the sound of a small voice. “Emory, wait.”

She turned and Grace appeared, breathless. “Are you coming over later? Mom said you might.”

Emory hesitated. She wasn’t in the best of moods, and maybe a night on her own would help her decompress a little. “I don’t think so, Grace. Maybe another night.”

Sarah appeared in the entryway and wrapped her arms around Grace from behind. “Please?” she chimed in. It was clear from her clouded expression that the events of the day had taken their toll on her as well. “We can eat raw cookie dough out of the tube.” Sarah’s eyes held hope.

Emory stared at them and felt her resolve crumble as it often did when she was sucked into their vortex. How could she resist such an odd and wonderful offer? “Well, only if there’s raw cookie dough,” she said quietly.

“There is!” Grace practically shouted.

“All right then, it’s a plan. I’m going to go for a run with Walter first. See you two later tonight.” And she was gone. Sarah stared at the door, wishing the day had turned out differently.

She decided a talk with her mother was in order.

An hour later, most of the guests had headed home and only a few of the more rowdy partygoers remained in the backyard drinking beer with Robert and her father. Sarah took the opportunity to steal some alone time with her mother as they cleared the remaining plates. “So, Mama,” she began as they loaded the dishwasher. “What do you think of Emory?”

“I think she’s wonderful, mija.” She smiled warmly at Sarah. “Very pretty and with a good head on her shoulders. She’s done a lot of nice things for you, and that makes me like her all the more. Did she say anything about Martin? I saw them flirting a bit at dinner.”

Sarah couldn’t prevent a sigh. “You know, I’m not sure he’s her type. But I really like spending time with her, and then there’s the fact that Grace simply adores her. I just wanted you and Papa—”

“Not those glasses, sweetie, we have to hand wash those. So James looked very handsome today, didn’t you think? He would be quite the catch for you, Sarah.” In response to Sarah’s eye roll, her voice moved into that cautionary mom tone Sarah knew so well. “You need to listen to me on this, Sarah. Sometimes a mother knows what’s best.”

“Sometimes, maybe. But I can tell you, Mama, that James is not for me. It’s just not going to work out.”

“But he’s so well spoken and funny too.”

“I know, but—”

“Nothing wooden in the dishwasher.” She took the wooden handled serving spoon from Sarah’s hands and started to wash it. “Once the newness wears off, it’s important that you and your husband have something in common, something to talk about.”

“Is that the case with you and Papa?”

“Oh yes,” she answered quickly. “And we still have a lot of fun. That’s what I want for you.” She turned to Sarah earnestly. “I want you to find that important someone to share your life with. You’ve been on your own too long, mija.”

“That’s what I want too, Mama, and I believe now that it’s possible. I want what you and Papa have, I do. You just have to trust me.”

Her mother nodded as she dried. “I can do that. Just don’t give up on James so quickly, and give me those little plates. They always flop around in the machine.” Sarah handed over the plate she was holding and wondered why they had the damn appliance in the first place.

*

“I can’t do it like you.” Grace sighed. “My hand won’t stay steady.”

“Yeah, you can. Keep your eye just a little bit ahead of your pencil.” Emory pointed to the white space in front of the point and laid out the path while snagging a bite of cookie dough from the nearby tube. “There. That’s more like it. See how nice that edge looks? You’re a natural.”

Grace looked up from the page in wonder. “I did it, Mom. I finished the outline of the vase. Look!”

Sarah had to admit, it wasn’t bad. It looked quite like a vase would. It was a nice vase, as far as vases went. “I’m impressed, Graciela. I think you’re my favorite child.”

Grace giggled. “I’m your only child.”

“Details.” Sarah stood behind Emory’s chair and placed her hands on her shoulders, squeezing gently. “Have you ever thought of offering lessons?”