“She died when I was sixteen after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.”
“Oh, Emily, I’m sorry.” He hugged her tighter against him, resting his chin against her hair. Emily’s pain overshadowed all thoughts of appreciating its scent. “That music was beautiful. What was it?”
“My mom wrote that. She was incredibly gifted. She had the most beautiful voice.” Her tone grew wistful. “I loved listening to her sing.”
“I’m glad you remembered her.”
Emily twisted a lock of hair around her fingers. “She used to brush my hair whenever I was upset. She’d brush and sing until I calmed down. Then we’d talk, sometimes for hours. It sounds selfish, but that’s what I missed the most when she died.” Fresh tears slid down her cheeks. “It was one of the last things she did for me before she passed away. I tried to refuse because she was so weak, but she insisted.”
Jake tightened his arm around her shoulders and pressed his cheek against her hair. “I can’t sing worth a darn, but would you let me brush your hair?”
He was asking for trouble, but he didn’t know how else to comfort her right now. And more than anything he wanted to comfort Emily.
She pulled back and looked at him, her brow creased.
He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I’d like to brush your hair, Emily. Will you let me do that for you?”
Her lips lifted in a slow smile, and she nodded.
Releasing her, Jake stood and went to the bathroom to find her hairbrush. All the way there and back, he asked himself what he was doing. He couldn’t allow this woman to be a distraction. And he couldn’t allow himself to become interested in her.
His stomach sank as he acknowledged it was too late. On both accounts.
When Jake returned to the great room, he found Emily sitting on the couch. He grabbed the TV remote and took a moment to get Pandora on the television. “I was serious when I said I don’t sing, so what would you like to listen to?”
Emily suggested an artist that played instrumental music, and Jake created a new play list. Then he looked at her, realizing how awkward this situation was.
“How did your mother brush your hair?”
She gave him a small smile. “You don’t have to do this, Jake.”
“I want to.” It was the truth. He wanted to touch her hair to see if it was as soft as it looked.
“Well, I usually laid my head on her lap, but I don’t think I can lie on my left side,” she said, subtly pointing out that they were in the wrong position for her to lay her head on his lap.
Taking the hint, Jake stood and helped Emily shift to the other end of the couch before sitting again. Carefully, Emily laid down, resting her head on his thigh, then she shifted, searching for a more comfortable position for her neck. She finally relaxed with her shoulder pressed against the outside of his thigh.
Jake shifted her hair to the back as she situated herself. He pulled the brush through her locks, careful of tangles. After the fourth stroke, he felt as much as heard her sigh. Emily needed this. Encouraged, he continued.
Her hair was softer than he’d imagined. The tantalizing strawberry scent he liked so much drifted up to him. After a few more strokes, a warm dampness permeated his jeans where Emily’s cheek rested. She was crying again.
Am I doing it wrong?He stroked her shoulder. “Am I hurting you?” Or did she just hurt?
She tried to shake her head, but between her neck brace and his thigh her head hardly moved. She sniffled. “It’s strange. I can remember some things about my mom now, but I can’t remember my father and brother. My memories are isolated to her. I see a few shadowy images in my mind, but they don’t feel as real as my memories of her. I don’t understand why I can’t remember more.”
Remembering what Robert said about her father, Jake chose his words carefully. “Maybe your mind isn’t ready to accept or process memories concerning your father and brother yet.”
“You think so?” She was quiet for a moment. “I bet you’re right. Robert said my brother is my only living relative.” Her voice grew quieter as she continued to speak. “That means my father is dead... and my mind is not ready to accept that... knowledge again.”
Fresh tears soaked Jake’s leg. He continued brushing, attempting to soothe her the best he could.
After a few more minutes, she apologized for getting his jeans wet and lifted her head, but Jake shushed her and gently pushed her back against his leg. “Relax.” He continued to brush with rhythmic strokes until she relaxed again.
He enjoyed brushing her hair. More than he should. What had started out as awkward had become intimate, natural, and soothing. For both of them.
Jake set the brush aside and ran his fingers through her long silky hair. He let himself relax, enjoying the feel of Emily’s head against his leg. Resting his hand on her shoulder, he laid his head back against the high back of the couch and closed his eyes. He should go to bed, but he didn’t want to disturb Emily.
Not yet.
