He broke the kiss, and after a lingering moment of studying her face, opened her door.
She drew a calming breath as she slid into the car and hoped her concerns had not been written in her expression.After all, it was good to know that he wasn’t just dating her to have a good time.She should be overjoyed to know that this thing they had going was of a serious nature.
Then, why, when she was getting exactly what she wanted, did she feel as if her heart was going to break?
Chapter 7
“Hey,sis.Canyoufill this for me?”Fred placed his travel mug on the counter near the cash register atTheBaked Apple.
“With or without additives?”Emma asked as she took the mug.
“Without.”
She shuddered.“I don’t see how you can drink it without something added.”
“Lots of people drink it that way.”Cari, Emma’s business partner, was arranging baked goods in the display case.“You want something to eat with that pot of coffee?”Her left eyebrow arched as she smirked.
“Hey, it has to last me until the end of my shift.”But she wasn’t kidding.This insulated mug could hold a small pot of coffee.He had tested that fact.More than once.
She didn’t look convinced.
“Seriously.”
“Is the coffee maker at work broken?”Emma placed his mug back on the counter so he could put the lid on it.
“Nah, but your coffee is better.”And he wouldn’t have to stop to talk to anyone while refilling on caffeine this way.He hadn’t really been in a chatty mood for a while now.It was as if his willingness to hold a conversation had left when he decided to stop playing on the worship team.“I’ll take one of those chicken pesto paninis for lunch and a muffin for now – whichever you have the most of.Surprise me.”It didn’t matter what you ordered at Emma and Cari’s café, it was going to be good.
“You look tired,” Emma said with a small, almost sad smile.It was her heart showing up on her face again.
“I am.”He hadn’t slept well for three days.Not since he had followed God’s prompting and sent out that email about worship team changes.Thankfully, this past Sunday had been a non-worship team Sunday for him, and he’d managed to avoid Esther completely.
“Any specific reason for that?”his sister asked.
“Maybe.Maybe not.”
She chuckled.“Fine.Don’t tell me.”
The bell on the door rang as it opened and closed, and Fred turned to see who had entered.“Hey, Tiffany.How’s the housing market?”
“Rather chilly.”She pulled off her gloves as she smiled at her own pun.“How are your renovations coming along?”
“Nate assures me that everything is on time.”
“And what does Will say?”Emma asked.
“Oh, you know our big brother.I’ve been made fully aware of every possible thing that could delay my moving out of Henry’s place.”He laughed and shook his head.“As if I needed Will to tell me.I mean, I’ve got Eddie just across the hall, so anytime I get too excited, I can just ask him what could go wrong.”
“They are rather similar in that way, aren’t they?”Emma agreed with a laugh.
“Yeah, they are.‘Cept Eddie only shares what might go wrong if I ask him.Will takes it as his solemn duty to manage expectations in a downward trend.”
“Does he?”Tiffany asked.“He’s always been positive around me.”
“Oh, I’m sure he has been.He’s normally a pretty upbeat guy.This is just because I’m his little brother and prone to being exuberant.I think he thinks I’m too much like Mom.”
“But your mother is wonderful.”Tiffany was still looking rather shocked and now confusion had joined her expression.
“I won’t disagree,” Fred assured her.“However, when you’re Will, even our mother – whom he loves as well as the rest of us do – must not be allowed to be disappointed without warning.”He shrugged.“It’s just how he cares for us.As annoying as it can be.”
