The Memory of You (Sanctuary Sound #1)(34)
“What?” Claire’s alert gaze homed in. “You just shivered.”
Steffi closed her eyes and sighed. “I don’t want a lecture.”
“You zoned out again?” Claire pressed her fingers to her temples as if she were holding her head together so it didn’t explode from frustration. “You need to go to the doctor. Promise me, Steffi. This isn’t just about our business. This is your health.”
“I don’t have two days to give up to appointments and tests when, ultimately, there isn’t much they can do about postconcussion syndrome.” The repeated mantra was growing tiresome, even to her. Somewhere in the recesses of her possibly damaged brain was the recognition that fear of her diagnosis being something worse kept her from picking up the phone and making an appointment.
“You need the tests in case there is some bigger problem,” Claire insisted, giving voice to Steffi’s subconscious. “What if it’s a brain tumor or something?”
“I’m only thirty. I don’t have cancer.” As soon as she said it, she remembered Peyton.
Based on Claire’s sharp inhale and vexed expression, she must’ve shared that thought. They exchanged a sober look before Claire said, “Please make an appointment.”
Surely, two of the Triple Ls couldn’t get cancer at the same time. “Please stop pushing me.”
“Lecture over.” Claire tossed her purse into her car and heaved a resigned sigh. “Let’s grab Chinese for dinner, and you can tell me about Ryan and Emmy.”
“Huh?”
“You’ve been rather cheery lately, so I think you’re holding out on me.”
“I’m not cheery.” Steffi felt a smile tug at her mouth. “Then again, we are going sailing on Sunday. With Emmy, of course. She invited me, so Ryan couldn’t say no, but I’ll take any inroad I can get. I’m determined to renew our friendship, even if I have to choke on my pride a bit. Seems only fair after what I did.”
Claire’s brows pinched together when she grimaced.
“What now?” Steffi asked reluctantly.
“When I spoke with Molly today about the back order of her drapery fabric selection, she mentioned that Val was taking Emmy to Block Island this weekend.”
“Oh?” The warmth of anticipation drained away like the tide returning to sea. Had gossiping with Peyton about Ryan jinxed her progress? “I guess the plans changed. I didn’t see Ryan or Emmy today because I left early to help my dad, then came straight to meet you.”
“I’m sorry.” Claire laid a hand on Steffi’s arm.
“No worries.” Steffi shrugged, eager to shirk off Claire’s pity. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Good.” Claire nodded but didn’t look convinced as she slid onto her seat and started the engine. “I’ll meet you at Hunan Wok. I’m up for lo mein.”
Claire pulled her door shut and pulled away from the curb, leaving Steffi little choice.
She climbed behind the wheel of the van and rubbed her thighs, exhaling in order to release the selfish resentment festering in her chest. How perfectly awful of her not to be thrilled for Emmy, who missed her mother terribly. This turn of events should be good news, not bad. But she’d been fantasizing about taking a walk down memory lane with Ryan on Knot So Fast. Lazy days on his boat had been some of her happiest ever, and she could use another one of those. Dollars to doughnuts, he could, too.
She shook her head, feeling stupid for investing her emotions in his forced offer. Obviously, he hadn’t given it much thought since—he hadn’t even remembered to tell her the plans had changed.
By Friday, Ryan could barely keep his eyes open during the drive home. Long days with frantic people—or worse, criminals who didn’t give a damn—took a toll. Not as big of one as his daughter’s resistance to making new friends, though. Every night this week she’d yammered about the impending Block Island trip. Ryan ground his teeth when he thought about letting a man who lacked the integrity to steer clear of a married woman get close to his daughter. Then again, he did look forward to the downtime this weekend.
He set his briefcase on the entry table and stared at Emmy, who lay on the floor with her head propped up on her fists, watching television. “Where’s Memaw?”
“In the garden, I think.” Emmy barely looked up from whatever loud Disney show had her captivated.
He hadn’t seen his mother, but maybe she was putting her gardening tools away in the garage. “Are you packed already?”
“Uh-huh.”
He noticed a half-eaten bag of cheddar popcorn beside her, along with bits and pieces of other orange junk food strewn across the carpet. He bent down to kiss her head, picking up the stray bits. “Can I double-check to make sure you have everything you need?”
She scowled, sparing him a brief glance from beneath those dark lashes. “I’m not a baby, Daddy.”
“I know, but Block Island can be chilly in September. Let’s make sure you have warm-enough clothes for the evenings.”
She pushed herself off the floor and stomped up the stairs ahead of him, making her exasperation known with the pounding of each tread. Her pink gingham weekend bag sat in the corner of her room. She unzipped it and started pointing out the items. “See? I have three of everything—three bathing suits, three dresses, three underpants, and three pajamas.”