Love Will Find a Way (13 page)

"I'm looking forward to it. I'll see you this evening around six.” Emily hung up before Kevin had time to argue.

Through the remainder of the day, Emily looked forward to the evening. She was beginning to realize how much she missed Larry and his noisy, boisterous friends. She made a list. There wouldn't be time to cook. That wouldn't matter. Young people loved fast foods and deli take-outs.

The dinner menu was a deli delight of French fries, hero sandwiches and soft ice cream. Emily had the waiter throw in a vegetable salad for good measure. She made the drive from the store to home in record time and was putting the ice cream in the freezer when the doorbell rang.

When she opened the front door, Stacy and her sisters were standing on the front porch. “Mrs. Franklin.” Stacy looked over Emily's shoulder and into the living room. “Kevin said we should meet him here. Are we too early?"

Emily swung the door open. “No. Kevin should be here any minute. Won't you come in?"

Stacy came inside, Kim and Amy followed. After a moment of awkward silence, Emily asked, “Won't you sit down?"

Boo, who had been asleep on the rug beside the couch, raised his head wagged his tail.

Kim screamed with delight. “A dog, what's his name?"

Emily snapped her fingers and Boo came to her. “His name is Boo. Would you like to pet him?"

Kim stroked Boo's shiny coat. “He's so beautiful. How did he get the name Boo?"

"It's a long story,” Emily replied, thinking that Boo had proved to be an ideal icebreaker. “He was a birthday present. At first we had some idea of him being a watchdog. That was before we discovered that if someone said boo to him, he tucked his tail between his legs and ran away."

"I like him.” Kim announced.

"May I pet him, too?” Amy asked shyly.

"Of course you may."

Stacy smiled at her sisters. “The twins love animals, especially dogs. They've always wanted one, but Dad doesn't think a parsonage is any place for pets."

"Maybe you'd like to take Boo into the backyard and play with him?” Emily suggested as the twins continued to stroke Boo and talk to him.

"Could we?” Kim asked. She was already halfway out the door.

Amy turned as she followed her sister outside. “Thank you, Mrs. Franklin."

Stacy was still smiling when she asked, “May I help you in the kitchen?"

Over the sound of Kevin's car stopping in the driveway, Emily answered, “Everything is ready."

Dinner was relaxed and pleasant. It turned out that the twins both loved hero sandwiches and soft ice cream. Afterward they offered to help Emily clear away the dishes. “That was an awesome meal, Mrs. Franklin.” Kim remarked as she dumped paper plates into the waste can. “Our housekeeper never makes sandwiches for dinner."

Emily could believe that. “I'm glad you enjoyed it.” She put lids on half-filled containers. “Why don't you call me Emily? Mrs. Franklin makes me feel positively ancient."

"I don't think Daddy would approve,” Amy answered.

"I'll be almost like family when Stacy marries my son,” Emily said. “I don't think your dad would object. If he does, I'll explain that I prefer to be called Emily."

"All the same, we'd better ask first,” Kim chimed in.

Kevin and Stacy had disappeared into the living room. Kim looked around to make sure they were out of earshot before she asked, “Mrs. Franklin—Emily, What are you wearing to the awards ceremony?"

"Kim!” Amy scolded.

"It's all right.” Emily put silverware into the dishwasher. “I hadn't thought about it. Maybe I'll buy a new dress."

"Daddy says Amy and I can have new dresses.” Kim followed Emily as she moved around the kitchen. “Stacy wants us to get dresses that are alike, but we don't want to do that."

Emily smiled over her shoulder. “Don't you like dressing alike?"

"It was all right when we were kids,” Kim said. “But since we've grown up, we'd rather be thought of as individuals instead of twins."

Emily remembered Larry's remark about the great difference in the two girls. “Have you tried explaining this to Stacy?"

"Do you have a big sister?” Kim questioned.

"No,” Emily answered, “but I see your point."

Amy observed, “Older siblings can be terribly opinionated."

"You are so right.” Kim winked at her sister. “I have a great idea. Maybe the three of us could all go shopping together, Mrs. Franklin—Emily. That way Stacy wouldn't have to be there at all."

That idea appealed to Emily. “We'd have to clear it with your father."

"He'd agree.” Amy put a bowl of fruit on the kitchen table. “He likes you, Mrs. Franklin."

Emily had expected Kevin to object when she told him of her plans to sell the house. Instead, he surprised her by saying, “That's a great idea, Mom. This place is too big for one person."

Emily breathed a sigh of relief. “The realtor's ad will be in tomorrow's paper.” After that she was able to relax and thoroughly enjoy the rest of the evening.

Later, as Emily prepared for bed, she thought that she was not the only one who had thought the evening to be a huge success. Kevin was more relaxed than she had seen him in weeks.

The next day over lunch, Emily related the events of the past evening to Thad. “It was such fun having teenagers in the house again. And I'm taking the twins shopping next week. I've already gotten permission from their father."

Thad was not his usual happy self. “That's nice,” he answered halfheartedly.

"You sound down,” Emily observed. “Is there a problem?"

"Truth.” Thad's brow wrinkled. “I have a problem of gigantic proportions."

Emily studied his troubled face. “Can I help?"

"There ain't no cure for what ails me.” His flippant answer couldn't quite cover his somber mood.

"Are you ill?” Emily laid her fork on her plate.

"Love sick. Would you believe it?” Thad's voice was derisive. “I've gone and fallen in love."

"You?” Emily struggled to keep from laughing. “The invincible Thaddius T. Thackery has fallen in love?"

Thad smiled as he said, “It's not funny."

"I'm not laughing.” Emily bit her bottom lip.

"No, but you'd like to.” Thad frowned. “It would be funny if it wasn't so downright depressing."

"Being in love shouldn't depress you. It should make you deliriously happy."

Thad pushed back his half-filled plate. “I'm having a hard time convincing Lucy I'm serious. Considering my track record, that shouldn't come as any surprise."

Suddenly Emily realized that Thad was serious. Lucy must be his latest conquest. He hadn't mentioned her before. “Tell me about Lucy."

"Lucy and I met by accident. I ran into her, literally. I backed into her car. After she had lectured me about looking where I was backing, I learned she lives on a farm north of town. She's a widow with two grown children. For me it was love at first sight.” Thad's fingers pleated his napkin. “Lucy refuses to believe that."

"She'll come around.” Emily wasn't too sure that was true. She added a qualifier, “Eventually."

"I don't want eventually. I want now."

"Instant gratification,” Emily chided, “Thad, that's childish."

"Damn it, I feel childish. I feel like a teenage Romeo who has just met his Juliet."

Emily asked, “Is there anything I can do?"

"There's nothing anyone can do,” Thad answered. “I'm almost fifty years old and for the first time in my life, I'm in love. It's like I waited until I was middle-aged to come down with some childhood disease.” He grimaced. “There's something else. We have to stop meeting like this."

"You mean our weekly luncheons?” How much Emily had grown to count on Thad's friendship, “Lucy objects?"

"Lucy doesn't know. If she did, she wouldn't understand. I'm still trying to explain that Daphne means nothing to me and it's over between me and Rochelle."

"Poor Thad,” Emily sympathized. She had never seen him so troubled.

"It's my own fault. If I didn't have such a rotten reputation, Lucy might believe that you and I are only friends."

"But you do and she wouldn't.” Emily patted Thad's hand. “I understand. I'll miss you. Maybe later, after you've proven yourself to Lucy, we can all be friends."

"I'd like nothing better.” Thad tossed his napkin on the table. “This is good-bye, for now, at least.” He stood. “You're the best friend I ever had. It's a damn shame you're a woman.” Shoulders slumped, head bowed, he turned and hurried out of the restaurant.

Emily finished her meal and walked back to her office in a cloud of gloom. She would miss Thad. Remembering her coming shopping trip with the Morrison twins lifted her spirits. It wasn't the end of the world. She had survived worse things than losing a close friend to another woman. She opened her office door and went inside.

Over the next few days, Emily had very little time to concentrate on anything beyond her regular office duties and a host of social events. Friday night she was the keynote speaker at the annual Downtown Merchants’ dinner. Saturday she attended a luncheon and benefit held by the Literacy Council. If her job did nothing else, it kept her too busy to brood. As she pulled into her driveway late Saturday afternoon, her one objective was to shower, crawl into bed and sleep for the next twelve hours.

She was surprised to see Robert standing on her front porch. A dozen thoughts crowded into her head, most of them unsettling. She got out of her car and hurried up the walk as she braced herself for the worst. “Has something happened to Larry? Is George ill? Tell me what's wrong."

"Does something have to be wrong for me to come to see you?” Robert pointed to the paper bags in the glider. “I brought dinner."

"You came without bothering to call?” Emily snorted her disapproval. “How do you know I'm free tonight?"

"I didn't.” Her reprimand didn't seem to faze him. “But free or not, you have to eat dinner."

Emily snapped, “I could be going out to dinner."

"Are you?” he asked bluntly.

She was behaving like a child. “No.” She put her key in the lock. “What did you bring?"

Robert smiled, “Barbecue, salad, hot rolls and pie.” Lifting a bag in each arm, he followed her inside.

Emily wasn't hungry, but she was curious. She couldn't shake the feeling that Robert had some ulterior motive in coming here. After a strained, rather silent meal, she pushed her plate back and said, “I have soft ice cream in the fridge. Would you like some with your pie?"

Robert laid his napkin on the table. “No. He spooned sugar into his coffee. “Have you talked to Larry lately?"

"Not since Monday evening. He called to say he wouldn't be home this weekend."

"Do you still miss him?” Robert stirred his spoon around in his coffee.

"I do,” Emily admitted, “I miss having his friends underfoot. I miss his loud music. I even miss picking up after him and helping him with his homework."

"It's strange how you never know how much you'll miss someone until they aren't around anymore.” Robert laid his spoon in his saucer and stared into space. “Even the things that once annoyed you become precious memories."

Did he want sympathy from her because the woman who had taken him from her had walked out on him? That was the one thing she couldn't give him. “I don't dwell on Larry being gone. I have other things to occupy my mind."

Robert took a quick sip of his coffee. “I saw Thad Thackery at a cocktail party last night. He was with a woman he introduced as his fiancée."

So Lucy had succumbed to the irrepressible Thackery charm. “Her name is Lucy.” Was this what Robert had come here to tell her? “I didn't know she had agreed to marry him, but I'm glad for him."

Robert's coffee cup halted in mid air. “You don't mind that he dumped you for another woman?"

That was what had happened, but not in the way Robert thought. Emily was not about to enlighten him. “A little, I guess, but I'll survive.” Robert's baffled expression brought the sad facsimile of a smile to her lips. “There was never anything serious between Thad and me."

"You weren't thinking of marrying him?"

"I'm not thinking of marrying anyone. I'm happy with my life the way it is.” As she spoke, Emily realized those words held an element of truth.

"I came here tonight because I thought you might need a shoulder to cry on.” Robert lifted his coffee cup in a salute. “Here's to a speedy recovery."

"That was kind of you.” Emily studied his expressionless face. “But it's unnecessary. I'm not upset that Thad chose Lucy over me."

"You don't have to pretend with me, I understand."

She didn't know which she hated more, his sympathetic words or his guilty expression. “I'm not hurt.” How pathetic she must seem in his sight.

"You're well rid of him.” Robert's eyes held a wealth of compassion.

It was more than Emily could bear. “I'm not mourning the loss of Thad Thackery."

Reaching across the table, Robert let his fingers touch the back of her hand. “You're better off without him."

"I doubt that.” She pulled her hand back. “But I'm not saying I won't miss him. He was a good friend."

"I'm here for you now,” Robert offered. “Why not think of me as your new friend?"

His words struck like an arrow through her heart. The last thing she wanted from Robert was friendship based on pity and that seemed to be what he was offering. “I don't think we can start over. We have a history, a past. We can't just blot that out."

Her rebuff rolled right off him. “Then perhaps we can rebuild and redeem the close friendship we once had."

Emily was beginning to wonder if it was in her best interest to let Robert become a part of her life again. “I'd like to be able to trust my friends."

He seemed unmoved by her derogatory insinuation. “In time you will learn to trust me again. I know when someone leaves it creates a void. I could help fill that empty space."

He was asking for her confidence and trust and she wasn't sure she could give him either. “You could never take Thad's place."

Once again Robert read all the wrong meanings into her words. “So you are hurt because Thad dumped you. I understand how you feel."

She was sure he did. It hadn't been all that long since Susan had walked out on him. “Thad's leaving was not the end of the world. I'll get over it."