Page 90 of A New Chapter

Chapter 40

The next morning, Emma, Phil, and Debbie sat around the breakfast table enjoying the eggs, bacon, and toast that Debbie had prepared. Emma chewed slowly, hoping she would keep the food down despite the twinges of nausea she had felt since she’d woken up.

“I have an idea for what we can do today,” Debbie said. “The Biltmore Estate is all decorated for Christmas, and it’s only a short drive from here. What do you think?”

“Sounds great! I’ve always wanted to go there,” Emma replied.

Phil looked back and forth between them. “As wonderful as that sounds, there’s an important football game on today. Would you ladies mind if I bowed out?”

“I thought you wanted to spend time with your cousin,” Debbie scolded.

He turned his attention to Emma. “Do you mind, Em? We could meet up for dinner later.”

Emma couldn’t blame him for wanting to watch a game rather than walk around an old mansion. Zack would probably feel the same if he were here…

“That’s fine, Phil. I don’t expect you to change your plans on my account, but I will hold you to dinner later.”

Debbie sighed, but she smiled at her husband. “I guess you’re off the hook. However, you’re on kitchen clean-up duty. Emma and I need to get ready to go.”

Phil started to protest but thought better of it. He leaned over and gave Debbie a quick kiss instead. “Thanks, babe.”

An hour and a half later, they drove through the charming town of Asheville and then down the long tree-lined lane leading to the Biltmore Estate. When the magnificent mansion first came into view, Emma gasped.

“Wow, this is unbelievable,” she said. The estate was set amongst rolling hills and was surrounded by elaborate gardens. Because of the state’s temperate climate, there were still patches of green rather than the browns and grays that had taken over Michigan’s landscape. The large pine and fir trees that framed the grand estate were exquisitely decorated with Christmas trimmings, and Emma felt the first real stirring of Christmas spirit. She had been so caught up with work and, more recently, her pregnancy that she hadn’t fully embraced the joy of the season. Today, Emma decided that she would set her worries aside and simply enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

And that’s exactly what they did. Emma and Debbie toured the house and the grounds, oohing and aahing as they went along. They took time out for a light lunch in one of the estate’s restaurants that overlooked the vast property and chatted about everything but Emma’s pregnancy.

This was exactly the kind of escape I needed, Emma thought when they drove back toward Charlotte a few hours later.

“Let’s go home and freshen up before dinner,” Debbie suggested as they neared her neighborhood.

“Sounds good to me,” Emma agreed. That will give me some time to call Zack. She hadn’t heard from him all day, but she’d decided that he was probably trying to give her some space. She had glanced at her phone several times during the drive home, but it remained silent.

A small black sedan was parked in front of the house when they pulled up. “I bet Phil called one of his buddies to come over and watch football,” Debbie surmised when they got out of the car.

“What is it about men and football?” Emma said.

“They probably think the same thing about us and shopping,” Debbie said, holding up her bag of souvenirs from the estate gift shop.

Emma tucked her own bag of goodies under her arm, followed Debbie into the house, and then stopped dead in her tracks.

Her hands flew to her mouth, and thankfully, Debbie caught her bag before it crashed to the floor.

Time stopped. Everyone froze, and then Zack stood up and started toward her.

“Deb and I will leave for a while so you two can talk,” Phil said, breaking the silence. He hurried toward the door, turned Debbie around, and away they went.

Emma’s hands still covered her mouth, and she hadn’t budged. She felt the first tear prick the corner of her eye, but she was afraid to move, afraid to breathe, afraid of…

“You’re probably wondering why I’m here,” Zack said, his voice wavering a little.

He seemed nervous, which was only fair considering that her heart was pounding out of her chest.

“And no, I didn’t fly to North Carolina to take you out to dinner,” he added, his expression still serious.

He shoved his hands in his jeans pockets, cleared his throat, and took a step closer.

“I came here because I have a very important question to ask you, and I didn’t want to do it over the phone.”