She smiled as she remembered how much her grandparents had enjoyed retirement. “Grandpa was never one to sit still. He tried surfing and parasailing, ran day-boat trips, but golfing became his true love. He died from a heart attack on the ninth hole about five years ago. My grandma died in her sleep six months later.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m glad you found some happy memories.”
“Me too. I’ve been blessed by the people I’ve had in my life, but life isn’t the same without them. There isn’t a substitute for family and home.” A heaviness settled over Emily.
She’d had her condo for two years now, but it had never felt like home. It took family to make a house a home, and she’d never have that again. Maybe she’d marry someday, but that wasn’t something she could consider for a long time. Not until she could come to grips with being alone.
Sensing her sadness, Jake put his arm around her and pulled her to him. A part of her knew she should resist him, but a larger part of her needed the comfort he offered. She relaxed her head against his shoulder.
Just because I need comforting, doesn’t mean I need the man offering it.
She couldn’t fill the holes in her life with the nearest man. As much as she wanted to do exactly that.
* * *
With reluctance,Jake pulled the carriage as close to the back patio as he could. He was disappointed to have this time alone with Emily come to an end.
He worried about her.
She’d let him hold her and comfort her for a while out on the hill, but then she’d pulled away and acted tense ever since. She’d hardly spoken for most of the ride home. As he lifted her from the carriage, he read the exhaustion on her face, and she didn’t argue when he insisted on carrying her into the house.
He hesitated after stepping in the back door.
“Would you like me to take you to your room so you can rest?” In truth, he didn’t want to put her down at all. He wanted to continue to hold her in his arms until all her pain and sadness went away.
Emily didn’t look at him. “No, thank you. Just put me down, please.”
“Are you okay? Are you upset about something? I mean, something besides... your brother.”
Emily took a shaky breath. “I need to make a phone call... I need to call Joe.”
Jake carried her to his office and sat her on the love seat with her leg across the cushions, then handed her the phone.
“Would you like me to stay with you?”
“No.” Panic filled Emily’s face.
Okay. She didn’t want him anywhere around while she called Joe.
Jake backed out of the door and closed it.
Why was she so upset? And who was Joe?
Her boyfriend? If that was the case, then who was Trent? An old boyfriend, maybe? One she didn’t want to talk to right now.
A burning sensation settled in Jake’s gut, as he acknowledged his jealousy. Emily had regained her memory, but there was still so much he didn’t know about her.
* * *
Emily closedher eyes as she waited for Joe to answer his phone.
“Emily? How are you holding up?”
The familiar, low timber of Dr. Joseph Lewis’s voice calmed Emily, and she reminded herself Jake wasn’t the only one she could turn to. True, Jake’s embrace provided the physical comfort she longed for, but she also had Joe. He’d been there for her through so many of her struggles. He would always be there for her. That’s why he’d been the first person she called yesterday. Of course, she’d thought Cameron would always be there too.
Emily swallowed the tears clogging her throat. “I’m a wreck, Joe.”
“You have every right to be. You’ve been through so much.”
