“This is not her home, Cal, but I admit I went all papa-bear-protector over Jasmine and said some unkind things.You guys just go on your honeymoon to Mount Everest or Greece or wherever.Jasmine and I will take care of Em—”
She opens the office door and stares at me.I haven’t seen such a fierce look of disappointment on my daughter’s face since that day I wouldn’t let her take Summer’s crazy-assed palomino on a solo trail ride.
Obviously, Jasmine thinks I’m an asshole too.
It’s time to end the call.“Lovely chatting with you both.Have a great trip.”
“You are one stone-cold mu—”
I hang up and put on a cheerful expression.
“C’mon,” I tell Jasmine.“Wash your face and hands.We’re taking a ride to town!”
I haul ass into Sweetbriar, my mind swirling with images of Emma huddled in dusty doorways of shuttered Main Street storefronts.That’s followed by the memory of how she looked when I became the worst possible version of myself.The red splotches on her neck and chest that were my fault.
Jasmine sits in the back seat, not saying a word.Every once in a while I check the rearview mirror and smile at her, only to receive the silent eye roll treatment.She’s probably sorting it out for herself, trying to decide just how much of a douche nozzle her dad is, though I’m confident she’s not using that particular term.
She isn’t, is she?
“Hey, honey, uh, does Uncle Declan cuss around you a lot?”
“Daaaaad!”More eye rolling.
When we get to Main Street, I spot Emma still standing in front of the drugstore, looking lost.I see Cal’s SUV parked several blocks down the street, where they’ve apparently been running their stakeout.I flash my lights at them and Cal flashes back.I watch him make a wide U-turn and drive away.
I park at the curb alongside Emma.She doesn’t realize it’s us until Jasmine hops out of the car and squeezes her tight in a big hug.When I get out and walk around the car to meet her on the sidewalk, her face turns a dark shade of red.I can’t tell if it’s from anger or embarrassment.
If she’s angry with me, she has a right to be.And she needs to know that there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
“I’m very sorry for my behavior.”
I say this immediately, both hands out and palms up in the classicmea culpaposition.I need to fix this, and starting with some lame bullshit isn’t the way to do it.
“I’m sorry, too,” she whispers.
“No, Emma.You did nothing wrong.This is all on me, okay?”I take a step closer to her.“I was a complete jerk and totally out of line.Please forgive me.I’d like to start over, if you’re willing to give me another chance.”
“Dad’s going to take you out for dinner and ice cream to apologize!You don’t want to miss that!”Jasmine stands at Emma’s side, staring up at her, already back to her usual jumpy-happy self.“The best part is you can choose between pizza and spaghetti, or you and I can share and that way we can each have both.Youreallydon’t want to miss that.”
I smile at Emma.“You don’t want to miss that.”
She laughs and nods.It’s the first time I’ve heard the sound of her laugh, and it’s so bright and joyful that it cuts right through whatever tension is between us.
I pull the duffel bag strap from her shoulder.“It’s a little early for dinner, but if you don’t mind joining the senior citizen crowd, we can get right to it.”I open the cargo area and set her bag inside, then return to the passenger side door.
I open it for her.“Ready?”
Emma looks to the door, then to Jasmine, then to me.She seems puzzled.
“After how I botched breakfast, you’re probably hungry,” I say.
Her gaze locks on mine, and I see a spark in her eyes I’ve not noticed before.“I could eat.”
The wind picks a few strands of her long brown-black hair.She tucks it behind an ear away from her face and gives me a shy smile.It’s a sight to behold.If that image could be captured and put on a magazine cover, it would sell a million copies.
I’d be first in line to buy it, too.
With effort, I manage to drag my thoughts back to what I’m doing.Right—I’m taking Emma Clark out for a night of pizza and/or spaghetti and ice cream.It needs to be an adventure she’ll be glad she didn’t miss.I continue to hold the door.“Shall we?”
