Stay(73)

I think about what I should have done when she was standing right here in front of me.

Nodding, I blink up at him briefly. “That’s just what I intend to do.”



* * *



“I’m still mortified by the entire thing.” Bex slices a perfectly cooked piece of medium-rare salmon and puts it in her mouth. “Some of these newer families are not the good sort, I’m afraid.”

My last order of business before I catch my plane in the morning is Thursday night dinner. I don’t bother telling her the Dickersons have been around for generations. I tend to agree Burt is a bad apple.

“And I’m so disappointed in the boathouse,” she continues, sipping her wine. “Their security has gotten so lax. That young man should never have been allowed to enter the party without an invitation. I would never have invited Emily’s ex-husband.” My aunt closes her eyes and shudders.

“I think the invitation was sent to his girlfriend.”

“His girlfriend!” Her face is pure horror. “Who in the world would date such an animal?”

“Peg Yardley.” My tone is flat.

“Peg Yardley…” I glance up to see her frowning. “Do you mean Margaret Yardley?”

“She goes by Peg, Bex.” I take a sip of my whiskey, not really wanting to discuss it. I’m distracted thinking about what I want to happen tomorrow, wondering if it will go my way.

“I had no idea.” She shifts in her chair. “Margaret Yardley has an unfortunate forehead. I’m sure that’s why. I’ve always tried to be kind to the Yardleys… Anyway, they should never have allowed an unauthorized person to speak on a microphone.”

“Probably not.”

“People get married for money all the time. What’s the big deal?” She waves her hand as if she can shoo away what happened.

“Nobody says it out loud.” Anger burns in my throat at the memory. “He made her look like a whore.”

“Nonsense. Emily is too lovely for anyone to think something so horrible.” She studies my scowl, and her eyes turn pleading. “Darling, what can I do?”

“You can wish me luck.”

The next day I’m on a plane. Mount Rainier breaks through the clouds as my private jet approaches Sea-Tac. It’s silent, majestic, and strong. A good omen, I think. Just before I left, the envelope I’d been waiting for arrived. I have it in my breast pocket, and no matter how this plays out, I know I’ll leave her with one last gift.

The brunette flight attendant stops at my chair. “The pilot has asked that you remain seated with your seatbelt securely fastened until we land.”

“Thank you.” I motion to the belt across my lap.

She nods and heads to the front where she’ll strap in. In twenty minutes, I’ll be off this plane, headed for Ethan’s home and what I hope is my future.





29





Emmy


“Anybody up for a walk?” Ethan’s voice echoes from the bottom of the wooden staircase. “I’m headed out to Lincoln park.”

“Me! Me! Me!” Eli is in the hall, running and waving at my brother.

Since we arrived, my son has been in heaven. I had no idea my brother’s neighborhood was so pristine. It’s surrounded by hidden coves and small pockets of gray-pebbled beaches. Almost every day, Ethan or one of the boys, Kurt or David—my older brother decided to break the Barton tradition of first names starting with the letter E—heads down to the water to fish or skim stones or watch the boats go by.

A ferry makes daily trips out to Vashon Island and Southworth, and we have the most amazing view of the Olympic mountains. It’s all so gorgeous and homey…

And I miss Stephen.

I wake in the morning, and I think about him. I go to bed at night, and I think about him. I miss the funny noises he makes when he sleeps. I miss the way he would hold my face and kiss me. I miss the possessive way he makes love. I even miss his arrogant scowl and his bossy perfectionism.

I think about how he defended me against Burt… and how he asked me to stay.

A month ago, when everything was so intense, I couldn’t trust my heart when it came to him. Now, I’m afraid we’ve missed our chance.

I watch Eli playing with his cousins, and I know he’s happy here. I see him growing stronger every day, and I know as much as it hurt, as high as the price was to pay, his surgery was so worth it.

He hasn’t had a single seizure. We had a follow-up appointment with a neurologist here, and Dr. Rourke has been consulting with him by phone. Eli’s surgery is so new and ground-breaking, doctors are eager to work with us.

None of it would’ve been possible without Stephen.

Pulling on jeans and a gray and black striped Henley, I think about the other thing that wouldn’t have been possible without Stephen. Last night, I pulled out my calendar and counted off the days. I’ll have to make a trip into town and get a pregnancy test after breakfast.

I don’t even know where to begin to know what to do if it comes back positive.

My sister-in-law Patrice stands looking out the window at the boys walking in a line to the water. “Sleeping better?” She smiles, handing me a blue speckled mug of coffee as I enter the open kitchen area. Her red hair shines like embers in the sunlight.