Harriet shoed her away with a wave of a knitting needle. “We’ll be fine.”
Chapter 7 ♥Let’s Put a Pin in This
The client, Laurel Hathaway, looked in dismay at the get-rid-of pile on her bed. To her, it represented money wasted. But Emma knew that gut clenching regret was a good feeling to have. It meant forever after, Laurel would only buy clothes she’d actually wear, clothes that made her look and feel good.
Emma folded up another reject and lightly tossed it onto the pile. Laurel, afraid of her height and curves, had been hiding behind shapeless sweaters for too long. This was L.A. Nobody really needed a heavy sweater here, shapeless or not. “I have a great charity if you’d like to donate them.”
Laurel nodded. “Okay. Okay, I can do this. What’s next?”
“Let’s make a wish list. We definitely need something to match those pinstriped pants you wear to work.”
It felt so good to get back to this. Cleaning out cluttered closets was the one domestic task Emma excelled at. And from the hundreds of closets she’d seen, it was obviously a struggle for a lot of people.
Together, they made a detailed wish list and an appointment to meet again in three days for a shopping trip. Emma took the huge pile of discards off Laurel’s bed before she had a chance to change her mind and stuck them in the back of her car. She’d drop them off at the shelter on her way home.
Laurel kept her house at North Pole temperatures, and Emma took a minute to defrost in her sun-warmed car before turning it on and driving home.
The house looked the same as when she’d left, and Granddad was in his usual chair yelling Jeopardy responses at the TV, so all was well.
Emma hung up her purse and walked around until she found Harriet in the kitchen, scouring the sink with such fury Emma was afraid to interrupt.
“How was it?” Harriet asked, not bothering to turn around.
“Just fine. Is everything okay?”
Harriet nodded, but the hunch of her shoulders told a different tale.
“Harriet?”
It all came out in a flood. “Everything is a mess. Martin and I talked this afternoon, and I told him we couldn’t be on the phone as much anymore, and he apologized and got really quiet. And when I pressed him on it, he said he missed me so much, he won’t be able to stand it if I don’t move there soon.”
Emma’s throat tightened. This was exactly what she’d been trying to prevent and all she’d managed to do was hurry it along.
Harriet whirled around and dropped her rag on the edge of the sink. “I don’t know what to do, Emma. I just started here, and I promised you I’d stay.”
Time for some damage control. Emma took a deep breath, willing her thoughts to stop racing. “He’s breaking up with you if you don’t move to be near him?”
Harriet shook her head vehemently. “No. We’re not breaking up.” She sniffed and fanned at her face, but it was no use. The tears were already threatening to storm.
“Well then, don’t cry. Give it some time and think about what you want to do.”
“I always cry when someone says not to.” Harriet wheezed out. “I don’t know why.” She wiped at her eyes, but it only smeared her eye makeup across her cheeks. “You’re not mad at me?”
Emma pulled a packet of makeup remover wipes out of her purse and handed one to Harriet. “I want what’s best for you. So, let’s work through this. Martin’s on the road all the time, no matter where you live, right?”
“Well, not all the time, but a lot.”
“So, what does he expect you to do when you move there? I don’t see this getting any better. Are there nursing jobs in Reno where you could be on the phone with him all the time like you are here?”
“Probably not.”
Emma handed Harriet a tissue next, and the girl blew her nose.
“So, you either live with a long distance relationship, or the two of you decide it’s not going to work.” That was a little harsh, but then the situation sort of called for it.
Harriet twisted the tissue in her lap. “Yes, I see your point. Don’t worry, Emma. I will figure this out.”
“I know you will.” Emma’s confidence was all for show. Inside, she was a churning mess. What were the chances of getting another great nurse to replace Harriet? And how long would that take? Emma’s business couldn’t handle another long hiatus.
