by Judith Keim
Gran gave her an apologetic look. “Oh, right, of course. I keep forgetting that. I’ll leave you to your work.”
Worry filled Em as she watched Gran leave the office. The fall had taken a lot more out of her than Em had thought. She’d always thought of her grandmother as strong and eager for any challenge. Now, she seemed almost broken.
Rather than go home for dinner, Em went down the street to the Ellenton Diner, grabbed a hamburger, and brought it back to the office. Once she got started making the financial entries, she didn’t want to stop. They were on target. That was the good news. The bad news was that Gran’s usual tidiness was missing. She’d had to search for receipts and other papers to do the input.
After closing up and locking the office, Em made her way to her car. The storm that had threatened earlier was already beginning to let loose. Wet snow driven by the wind struck her cheeks with cold. She wrapped her arms around herself and found her way to her vehicle. The car seemed to curl with the cold as the wind shook it, making it seem as if the little convertible was shivering.
She hurried to it and climbed inside, anxious to get home.
###
The next morning Em sat in the kitchen, sipping coffee and gazing out at the white blanket of snow covering the ground and laying atop tree branches like icing. An early morning snow was the one time she loved it. Soon, though, the inconvenience of waiting for snow plows, the muddying of the roadways, and the marring of the snow’s whiteness would erase the magic of it.
Today, she thought, she’d take advantage of the quiet time to do some online shopping for the condo.
Her mother hurried into the kitchen in a pink, fluffy robe. “You’re up so early!”
“I couldn’t sleep,” Em admitted. “Those numbers of Gran’s shop kept circling in my mind.”
Her mother stopped and frowned. “Everything’s all right, isn’t it?”
“Oh, yes,” Em said. “But it’s going to be a challenge to keep the numbers up if Gran can’t stay at the job. She’s the reason business is so good. Her customers love her, and so do the suppliers.”
“And they love the work you do, Emerson,” said her mother sternly.
‘I know, but I think we’re going to need to hire a professional floral designer. I can’t do everything myself and run another business too. And, Mom, I want the chance to see what I can do on my own.”
Her mother sat down at the kitchen table and squeezed her hand. “You deserve that. Give Gran enough time to understand that she might need to have professional help brought in so you can have more flexibility. She’ll fight the idea at first, but I know she wants you to be happy.”
“And you and Dad will wait to see how I do before you mention the offer for me to buy her out?”
“Yes,” her mother said sheepishly. “Your father and I were so excited about having you come home that we jumped too quickly to try to make things right for both you and Gran. That’s something you two will have to work out on your own.”
Feeling better, Em took another sip of hot coffee.
###
Later, Em sat in front of her computer studying furniture from various companies, listing her choices and their costs. She knew she couldn’t buy everything she wanted, but it gave her a better idea of what she liked and what would fit nicely in her condo. Later, she’d visit the nearest furniture stores and see what she could find.
On a whim, she put an ad in the local newspaper looking for a floral designer. She knew it was chancy to go ahead without Gran’s approval, but she wanted to see just how far afield she’d have to go to find someone willing to work in Ellenton.
She reviewed her business plan and called Marty Caster. His voicemail announced he was back in town but busy with snow plowing and to please leave a message.
Em hung up, deciding to bide her time. She wanted to face him in person and give him a professional presentation of what she had in mind.
###
On Friday, Em drove to the realtor’s office to sign final documents for the purchase of her condo. Barbara met her with a cheery hello and introduced her to the lawyer handling the sale for the development company.
An hour later, after all details were taken care of, Em was handed the keys to the condo.
“Congratulations,” Barbara said, giving her a hug. “You have a beautiful new home.”
The lawyer representing the development company came over to her. “Congratulations. You bought into the project at a good time. Prices for the condos are already up ten thousand dollars.”
“I like to hear that,” Em said. “You’re settling on the three other condos in my building soon?”
“Yes, within two weeks,” the lawyer said. He studied her. “’Sure you don’t want to wait a week or so before moving in?”
“I’m sure. I’m having some of my furniture delivered tomorrow, and the cable guy is scheduled to come this afternoon.”
“Okay, then. As mentioned earlier, the developers have hired a night guard who will keep an eye out for you and your unit, along with the rest of the property.”
“Thanks,” Em said, anxious to leave for her new home. She’d been excited to purchase a car, but this was ten times bigger.
As promised, her mother met her at the condo.
Carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers in a square vase, her mother smiled at her. “Gran had me pick these up for you as a housewarming gift.”
“How nice.” Lilies, freesia, and pink roses were a favorite combination of hers. “Let’s set it down and get to work.”
Together, they unboxed things she’d brought from the city. And then Em attacked the boxes recently shipped from online sources. Her excitement grew with each new item purchased for the condo unwrapped. And when the cable guy showed up to make sure her television and internet access were set up, she was thrilled. Now, the condo was home.
“Are you sure you don’t want to sleep at the house?” her mother asked. “Your bed won’t be here until tomorrow.”
“I want to sleep in my own home for my first night here.”
“How about dinner?” her mother asked, smiling.
“I’m ordering JC’s Pizza,” Em said. “It’s the best.”
Her mother chuckled. “Okay, then, I’m off to meet your father.” She kissed Em and hugged her, then with a wave she was gone, leaving Em to rejoice in her surroundings.
She walked up to the second floor to check on the air mattress she’d placed there. Taking a blanket from the linen closet she lay it on top, then grabbed the pillow she’d brought from home. Satisfied she’d be comfy and cozy, she went back to the kitchen to open the half-bottle of champagne the realtor had left in the refrigerator for her. Time to celebrate.
She poured the wine into one of the new glasses she’d ordered. In the past she would’ve refused to celebrate alone, but now, with her plans for the future intact, she thought it fitting.
In the living room, she turned on the gas fireplace and sat on the soft carpeting in front of it. Enjoying the warmth of the fire, studying the almost empty bookshelves, she could hardly wait to fill them with more books and small art objects.
She realized she was hungrier than she’d thought and lifted her cell to call in her pizza order when it rang in her hands. Kat. Thinking it might be something about a future wedding with Jared she didn’t answer. Then her phone pinged, indicating a message. “Em, I need to talk to you. Kat.”
When the second call from Kat came through, Em reluctantly answered it. Best to get it over and move on, she thought, but I refuse to be in the wedding.
“Hello, Kat,” Em said calmly, though she still was hurt by Kat’s betrayal. They used to share a fun friendship.
“First of all,” said Kat, “I want to apologize to you again for hurting you. I never meant to do that. I guess I was so caught up in my relationship with Jared that I let that take over everything.”
“I get it, Kat. So, when is the wedding? That’s what you’re calling me about, isn’t
it?”
Kat’s snort told a different story. “I’ve broken up with Jared. It turns out it was only talk. Like you, I’ve discovered he’s the type of guy who won’t or can’t make a commitment.”
“What? After all you told me? No way.”
Kat’s sobs stopped conversation.
Shock kept Em quiet, and then she said, “When did this happen?”
“While you were in Florida. I wanted to call you earlier, but I thought you probably hated me, and I needed time to get up my nerve to call you.” Kat’s voice shook with emotion. “Em? Do you think we could ever be friends again?”
Em hesitated. “I don’t know.”
“It’s important to me,” said Kat. “We were friends once. Please, could we start over?”
“We can try,” Em said honestly. “But it comes with a promise not to hurt one another.”
“Yes, oh, yes. I promise,” said Kat.
“You really hurt me.”
“I know. It’s something that keeps bothering me. When are you coming to the city? Can I meet you somewhere?”
“No, not for a while,” Em said. “I’m sitting in my new home having some bubbly champagne to celebrate.”
“New home? Wonderful? Is it the condo you were thinking of buying?”
“Yes. It’s my first night here.”
“I want to hear all about your plans, see your new home, everything.”
“After I get settled,” Em said, “I’ll call sometime.”
“Thank you, Em. So glad we can be friends again.”
“Mmm,” Em said, clicking off the call before she changed her mind. Her thoughts spinning, she leaned back and stretched out on the carpet. Jared could be very charming. She understood how Kat could have fallen for him, but she also knew she’d be careful if the time came for either one of them to be in her future.
She realized it was getting late and called in her order for pizza. Tomorrow would be an early day. Her furniture was scheduled to arrive first thing in the morning.
As she waited for delivery of her veggie pizza, one of her favorites, she gazed out the front window. The complex was going to be lovely when it was completed.
At the knock on her door, Em jumped and went to answer it. Keeping the safety chain on, she peered out to see a young man wearing the familiar baseball hat with JC’s Pizza’s logo on it.
She opened the door, gave him a tip, and accepted the box he handed her.
“Wasn’t sure I had the right address,” the young man admitted. “Looks like yours is the only unit occupied.”
“Yes, I know. We’re looking forward to getting new neighbors soon,” she said, hoping to give him the impression that she was living with someone.
“Good thing,” he said, glancing around.
As he trotted to his car, Em quickly locked the door.
CHAPTER TWELVE
When Em’s alarm sounded, she jolted out of sleep. She’d had a rough night of awaking to every strange sound in her condo. It was close to morning, she knew, when she must have fallen asleep.
Later, as the first piece of furniture was unloaded off the truck, Em’s parents arrived.
“Thought you could use a little extra help getting the furniture placed,” said her father, giving her a hug.
“Thanks,” she said, happily accepting his embrace. David Jordan was a college professor of history who was blissfully unaware that most of his female students fell a little in love with him. He and her mother were a devoted couple who kept their marriage alive by sharing many similar interests in travel, the arts, and tennis. On the tennis courts, they were not quite as devoted, trying to outdo one another with tricky shots. Raised by Gran alone, her father was molded to be polite, kind, and attentive to the female sex.
After the delivery truck roared away, a couch, an easy chair, and coffee table were placed in the living room, along with an end table, a table lamp and a standing lamp. A new television sat inside a box ready for hookup. Upstairs, her father was assembling the bed Em had ordered. One of the end tables meant for the living room was going to be used as a night stand until she could find a bargain to replace it. On the third floor, a new desk, chair, and chair mat sat in the office Em planned. An overstuffed chair in a funky print and a book case were on backorder.
“It’s a good beginning,” said her mother standing in the living room. “You’ve done a great job of picking out items.”
“I’m going to fill in with little things from different places when they go on sale,” she said. Already she could envision how she wanted things to be.
The doorbell rang. She hurried to answer it.
“Happy new house!” cried her sister. “I couldn’t miss out!”
Em pulled Elena into her arms and hugged her hard. “I’m so glad you’re here. Come in.”
“How’d you get here?” cried Em’s mother, rushing over to them.
“Andrew drove. He and Devin are looking for a better place to park. Construction trucks are all around.”
Devin? Em felt her knees weaken and grabbed hold of her sister’s arm. “What are they doing here?”
“They have a conference to go to in the city tomorrow. So, I decided to come along.” She turned. “Here they are now.”
Elena’s husband, Andrew, was a well-built man with brown hair, hazel eyes, and an open face that easily broadcast humor along with a sense of decency. His patients adored him. Em glanced at him then turned her gaze to Devin.
He grinned. “Hi! I didn’t expect to see you again so soon, but Andrew and Elena insisted I come for a visit and then ride up with them to the conference.”
Em fought for nonchalance. “It’s good to see you again. Come in, all of you. I can offer you coffee, tea, water, and left-over pizza.”
Elena laughed. “Thought so. That’s why I made the guys stop at the supermarket before coming here.”
“Yeah, we were told not to bring the bags of groceries in until Elena was ready,” Andrew said.
“And she threatened us if we ate anything before then,” said Devin, giving Elena a playful wink.
Elena laughed. “We all better go down to where Andrew parked the car and grab a bag or two.”
“What a sweet idea, darling,” Em’s mother said to her.
Em followed the others to Andrew’s Lexus and stopped in surprise. The whole back end of the SUV was filled with grocery bags.
“Enough to feed an army,” Em’s mother said.
Elena turned to Em. “I know how good it feels to have a kitchen well-stocked. This should be a good beginning.”
“Thanks,” said Em, giving her sister a quick hug. “Mom said the same thing. A good beginning. I think so too.”
Devin caught her eye and nodded.
Still lost in his gaze, her heart felt ready to burst. Her life seemed very good right now.
###
While Andrew and Devin set to work on getting the television hooked up, Em, Elena, and their mother put the groceries away.
“Let’s make sandwiches for the men,” Em suggested. “Dad must be hungry, and I bet we could entice Andrew and Devin to join him and the rest of us with a good lunch.”
“Perfect,” said Elena. “I don’t know why it is, but I feel hungry all the time.”
“I can’t wait to see that baby,” said Em. “I’m going to be the best aunt ever!”
“And a good mother too,” said Devin walking into the room and giving her a smile.
The looks of surprise on Elena’s and her mother’s faces sent heat to Em’s cheeks. “Devin and I met a little girl in Florida, the granddaughter of the gardener, and I became very attached to her.”
“I see,” said her mother, looking from Devin to her thoughtfully. “You’ve always wanted a big family.”
“Before I do anything else, I’m going to get my business up and running,” she said quickly, hoping to break the speculation that hovered in the room like a puffy cloud full of rain about to spill all her secrets, drop by drop.
Later, as they sat eating ham and cheese sandwiches at her new dining table or standing at the bar in the kitchen like Devin and Andrew, Gran entered the room, moving a little awkwardly with the walking boot on her left foot. Fortunately, her break wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been, so she’d avoided needing crutches, which could have been a real problem.
Her father rose from his seat. “Hi, Mom. Come sit down. I’m almost done.”
“Thanks, son,” Gran said, smiling at him as she slowly made her way to the table. “I had to come see Em’s new place.”
“How about lunch?” Em said, jumping to her feet to give her grandmother a hug.
“Thanks. It has to be a quick one. I don’t like to leave Marilyn alone in the shop for too long.” Gran’s gaze turned to Devin. “Ah, how are you, sweet boy? Ready for another dance with me?”
Devin laughed. “Any time, Gran, though. I see you’re not quite ready to do that.”
“Not yet.” Still chuckling, Gran hugged Andrew and made her way to Elena. “And how’s the mother-to-be?”
Elena grinned and hugged her. “Still trying to come up with a name for the baby.”
“I’ve always thought Julia was a nice name,” Gran said, bring laughter to the group.
As Gran sat down, she squeezed Em’s mother’s hand affectionately and turned to Em. “I’ve got a surprise coming to you. It should be delivered this afternoon.”
“Oh? You know I love your kind of surprises.”
Gran’s face lit with pleasure. “When Elena and I talked earlier this week, she mentioned she might make a visit. So, this should help.”
“If it’s what we talked about, it’s perfect,” said Elena.
“Are you going to go ahead and tell me, or do I have to wait until later?” Em said, placing her hands on her hips.
“Later,” Elena said. “Definitely later.” She turned to Gran. “It’s nice that you can drive. I’m glad to see you doing so well. I know how frustrated you’d be otherwise. How’s business since it happened?”
“It’s a slow time of year, but with Em here to make sure we get the store all decorated for spring, things will pick up, I expect.” She patted Em on the shoulder. “I hope you’ll be able to handle the shop on Monday. Your mother insists on accompanying me to my doctor’s appointment.”
