This was all new news. Em looked as uneasy as Ethan felt. He found himself straight up scowling.
“Here I was, thinkin’ Em wasn’t into that sort of thing,” Ethan mused.
“Because Em is not,” Emmaline assured and the daggers she shot at her parents were extra sharp. “I’ve lived that life. I didn’t enjoy it. I’ve had the handsome guy with the big-deal job and all the famous friends. And I was wallpaper in that situation. So, yeah, I want to meet someone with a normal job, who doesn’t automatically demand all of the attention because he’s a big deal. Someone who doesn’t make me feel like…never mind.”
He wanted to hear the rest of what she was going to say.
“You know what? Dad and I should head out,” Patty said. “You two continue doing whatever it is you’re pretending to do. Thank you for the delicious cookies, Ethan, and the fun time.”
Jim grunted something that sounded like an agreement. Then he snagged two more cookies in his big paw of a hand and headed out with his missus. The girls followed right on their heels, glancing back to Em and Ethan repeatedly.
“Do the girls seem off to ya?” Ethan asked.
“I don’t know. Change is hard on everyone,” Em said, still not quite herself. “And…um…moving is hard. Finding normal is hard.”
“That’s the bloody truth,” he agreed.
“I’m sure they’re just feeling that. I mean everything’s fine, and then it’s not.”
That was the honest truth.
Chapter Thirteen
EMMALINE
Besides Em’sdistaste for her job, the imitation relationship she was actively avoiding, and the new puppy that kept chewing her shoes (Fiona’s negotiation tactics complimented Em’s perpetual motherly guilt perfectly), her life was actually great. Her parents may not understand her, but they were still fine parents. They spent loads of time with Fiona—including her with all the cousins. They included Annie, too.
They even bought the girls old-school walkie-talkies so they could still talk from their respective houses. Annie didn’t earn her cell back yet, and Fiona didn’t have one.
For everyone else, Em’s parents were fabulous. They simply didn’t understand Em or the life choices that had led her away from Denver.
And, really, she didn’t know how to explain herself.
So she did what she did best—moved forward. She eventually got through a boatload of unpacking, organizing, and rearranging her furniture. Enough that the place finally felt like home. Even her new gnomes watched over the garden with a place of backyard honor.
Also, she adored that Fiona and Annie spent loads of time at her house. Loved how they made everything loud and fun. The girls chose Em’s backyard most because it came with a treehouse, a play structure with swings, and a slide, and this tube thing that led to a secret spot behind the bushes that could only be accessed from above or from the tube.
Em had always wanted a loud, busy house like the one she’d grown up in. At their old house in California, running was absolutely not allowed. Her ex-husband—Tony’s—art collection was too precious to risk even a tiny dose of fun.
“Gramma and Grandpa will agree,” Fiona said, tromping up the stairs with Annie.
“It’s almost too late,” Annie countered. “They’re gonna break up.”
“Gramma will help. I’ll ask,” Fiona assured. “Double promise.”
Em stilled, made her breaths shallow so she could hear better. But the girls slipped into Fiona’s room and spoke in whispers.
She could put her ear against the wall, that wouldn’t be weird.
Gah, yes, it would be totally weird.
She was still gonna do it.
“I don’t want my mom to date someone else,” Fiona said, a little seepage of concern in her voice. “Your dad’s nice. I like him.”
Emmaline’s breath caught. She pressed her ear more against the wall.
“Dad needs this.” This was Annie.
