“I’d say he didn’t just try; he succeeded,” she corrected.
“Well, he had Peyton’s help too. It’s not like he did it alone.”
She turned and glanced at him. “Do I sense a little of hostility?”
He shrugged. “Growing up, Mason was the golden child. He could do no wrong. His mother used to love rubbing it in our faces just how perfect her children were. Especially Mason.” Another shrug. “We’re all grown up now, but sometimes I can’t help but get a little annoyed at how everything works out for him.”
“Well, you shouldn’t think like that. I mean, look at you! Look at how great things are going! You’ve got veterinary clinics practically up and down the East Coast trying to woo you!” Reaching over, she squeezed his hand. “You should be proud of yourself. Don’t waste your time comparing yourself to your cousin.”
“Maybe…”
“No maybes about it.” She moved away and opened the car door. “Now, let’s go inside. I’m starving.”
So was he.
And she was right. It was pointless to even try to compare himself to Mason.
His cousin would win every time.
Garrett just opted to keep that part to himself.
They walked inside and were seated right away, and he had to admit, the place looked fantastic. When he glanced at the menu, he was pleasantly surprised. “Okay, now I can see why you wanted to come here. The menu’s pretty impressive.”
“Rumor has it that your cousin Peyton is responsible for that. I know she has a little café in the heart of town, and I’ve gone in there quite a few times, but I prefer this menu.”
He nodded. “How are the burgers here?”
“Good, but not as good as the ones we had the other night. No one does a burger like The Sand Bar.”
“That’s the truth.”
They took several minutes and ultimately decided on splitting an order of tot nachos for an appetizer. Emma chose the lobster club and Garrett went for the fish and chips for their meals. Once their order was placed, he reached across the table and took both her hands in his and knew he was grinning like an idiot.
“What’s that smile for?” she asked.
“I can’t seem to stop,” he replied honestly. “This has been an amazing weekend. Every minute of it has been…perfect.”
She blushed. “It really has. I hate that you have to go home later.”
Go home?
Oh, right. He hadn’t told her that he’d had a change in plans since there were no jobs for him to rush home to.
“Listen, Em…about that…”
She smiled at him, and she was just so damn pretty and looked so happy and hopeful that it suddenly filled him with shame to have lied to her all weekend.
A lie of omission, he reasoned to himself, but a lie still the same.
“So I’m thinking of staying for a few more days,” he said carefully. “I know you have to work, but I’m thinking of going over to Happy Tails and seeing where I can help out before Ed has his surgery. Maybe there’s nothing I can do, but I feel like it’s important to go and offer.”
Her smile grew. “You are the sweetest man; you know that, right?”
“Em…”
“I think that is amazing and I know Mom and Ed are going to be so grateful for you. But…what about the clinics you were supposed to work with this week?”
“It’s not a problem,” he replied, looking down at their hands.
“Are you sure? I thought the point of all of this was for you to check and double-check that you were making the right decision.” She paused and then gasped. “Oh, my goodness! Have you gotten some better offers? Is that why you were able to blow this week’s stuff off?”
It was on the tip of his tongue to talk to her about what he felt because if anyone would understand, it was her.
But…he couldn’t.
His pride wouldn’t allow it.
Saying it out loud to her–or to anyone–would be admitting that he wasn’t good enough on his own merits to get hired anywhere. And right now, when Emma looked at him, he liked what he saw there. She genuinely liked him and cared about him just because he was Garrett. But would that change when she found out he was a failure who couldn’t get a damn job?
There was still the offer for the position in Delaware, so realistically, he knew all was not lost. But he did have a call scheduled with them for the end of the week. He’d feel better once that was done and he confirmed why he was taking the position and why they were hiring him.
Even though moving that much farther away from Emma was beyond unappealing.
Ugh…could my life be any more of a mess?
The waitress came back with their drinks and appetizer, and Garrett was thankful for the distraction. “So tell me about your week,” he prompted. “Tell me what your schedule is going to be like.”
“Well, my day starts at the school at eight. The school changes daily–and sometimes I go to more than one school a day–but I always make sure I’m there when the actual school day starts for the teachers. I take the time before the students arrive to talk to their teachers and go over their files. Most of the time, I work with a small group, but sometimes I get to do it one-on-one. That’s my preference, but it doesn’t always work out that way. That’s why I’ve taken up tutoring in the afternoons because a lot of parents prefer for their child to have that personalized attention and lesson plan.”
“I think what you do is amazing, Em, but it sounds like a very long day for you.”
She nodded as she helped herself to some tots. “Some days are, but…I don’t know…it’s not like I have anything else going on. I do have a couple of shorter days where I’m done by lunch and I take that time to do my shopping and laundry, or I go over to Happy Tails and help out.” She shrugged. “I like staying busy.”
“I get that. I’m the same way, but I hate to think that you’re just spending your life working and not living,” he said and genuinely meant it. “Do you ever go out with friends?”
“Not in a long time,” she murmured, focusing on her food.
“Maybe we should try to get together with some people this week. What do you think?”
With a sigh, she looked up at him. “Garrett, most of my friends are married with kids or they’ve moved away. I haven’t spent time with them because it felt weird after my divorce. I foolishly married young and was getting divorced when most of them were just getting married. I’m a little self-conscious about it, and after a while, they all stopped reaching out, so…”
Damn. That did suck.
Most of his friends had moved away from Magnolia and the few that were still here he hadn’t talked to in ages either.
“Maybe we can hang out with Austin and Mia one night?” he suggested. “We could go over to their place for dinner or something.”
Laughing, she took another tot from the platter. “Don’t you think we should wait for an invitation rather than inviting ourselves?”
“Trust me. If I called my brother right now and told him I was with you, he’d invite us over tonight. Possibly even right now,” he added as he pulled out his phone.
“Oh stop,” she said, shaking her head even though she was still clearly amused. “You know I’d be a tongue-tied mess if you took me to their house.”
“Because of Austin?”
Now she rolled her eyes. “No, because of Mia! I’m a huge fan. I told you that!”
“Once you hang out with her, you’ll see that she’s just like you and me. There’s nothing to be intimidated by. She’s very sweet and friendly and I’ll bet the two of you will become instant friends.”
She huffed with disbelief and turned her attention back to the tots. “These are seriously addictive. Who would have thought of using short ribs and tots to make something like this? I’m telling you, your cousin is a culinary genius.”
Garrett nodded and scrolled through his contacts to get to his brother’s number and hit send. “So if they do happen to
invite us tonight, would you like to go?”
“I have a feeling I won’t be able to eat anything. Between this lunch and my nerves, I’ll be a mess.”
He sighed, shaking his head. “Any day this week better for you?”
“Um…Tuesday’s a short day. I’ll be done by two.”
“Okay, then.” He popped a tot in his mouth as Austin’s phone rang. Garrett looked around the restaurant, recognized several familiar faces, smiled, and waved to a few of them. He continued to scan the room and wondered why his brother’s phone waited so long to go to voicemail when he noticed someone walking in. It was an older man who looked vaguely familiar.
“Hey, it’s Austin…” The message began and Garrett knew it to be lengthy because this was also his business number. So while it played out all about different ways to reach him, Garrett continued to stare at the guy by the door and tried to figure out where he knew him from.
A former teacher?
A former coach?
The man turned and looked his way and Garrett’s heart kicked hard in his chest.
“Leave me a message and I’ll get back to you,” the message was saying.
As soon as he heard the beep, he murmured, “Austin, it’s me. Call me back immediately. Something…something’s happened and you need to get down to The Mystic Magnolia ASAP.” He hung up and felt like he was going to be sick.
The only small consolation he felt was that the face looking back at him seemed to be equally shocked and uncomfortable.
“Garrett? Garrett, are you okay?” Emma was saying. “You’ve gone pale. What’s wrong?” Her voice was laced with worry and he had no doubt that if he looked at her, her expression would say the same.
Should he get up and walk over? Call out something? Everything inside him screamed that he should, but he couldn’t seem to move. And as for speaking, he knew his mouth was moving, but his throat had gone dry and he couldn’t seem to force himself to utter a single word.
“Garrett,” she said with more force. “You’re worrying me! What is it?” Turning in her seat, she looked around and followed his line of vision. “Who is that? Do you know him?” When she looked back at him–even in his peripheral vision–he knew she was looking back and forth between the two men as if trying to figure it out for herself.
It took less than a minute for her to gasp.
“Oh my God!” she hissed quietly. “Is…is that…?”
Finally, he swallowed hard but never looked at her. With a nod, he said the words he never thought he’d say. “My father’s here.”
8
Things seemed like they were happening in slow motion, and for the life of her, Emma had no idea what she could possibly do or say. So she sat back helplessly as Cash Coleman–the man who had abandoned his wife and sons more than twenty years ago–walked over to his middle son.
“Garrett?”
She eyed the older man before looking across the table at Garrett. Everything in her screamed to get up and hug him–shield him–from the father who had caused him a lifetime of grief and insecurity, but she wasn’t sure it would help. If he would only look at her, she’d know what to do.
Look at me, Garrett…
But his eyes never left his father’s, and the silence was beyond awkward.
“Cash,” Garrett finally gritted out, his jaw clenched.
His father scrubbed his hand along the back of his neck. “So, um…fancy running into you here.”
“If you say so.”
Cash looked from Emma and then back to Garrett before asking, “May I join you?”
Honestly, Emma was fairly certain her jaw was on the floor and she waited for Garrett to tell him to get lost.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he motioned to one of the chairs and watched as Cash accepted and sat.
Emma glanced around the restaurant and wondered if anyone could tell what was going on or how uncomfortable she was. She looked toward the door and almost willed Austin to walk through it, but…no luck there either.
“Hi,” Cash said when Emma’s gaze happened to meet his. “I’m Cash Coleman. Garrett’s father. And you are…?”
“Emma Ryan,” she said stiffly and with a hint of disgust. How dare he sit down and introduce himself like this was perfectly normal.
“Ryan…” he repeated and then recognition hit. “You’re Christine’s daughter, right? She owns the animal rescue.”
“Yes.”
“I was planning on reaching out to them this week. I’m thinking about getting a dog and I know it’s important to reach out to the shelters and rescues rather than going to the pet store, right?”
“What are you doing here, Cash?” Garrett interrupted with annoyance.
“What’s with all this Cash nonsense? I’m your father…”
But Garrett never let him finish. “And why would you even consider getting a dog? That’s a big commitment. Not as big as say…three children, but a commitment just the same.”
Cash let out a low laugh as he eyed his son. “I would think you’d be happy to hear I’m adopting a dog. You’re a veterinarian now. Surely you know the importance of finding homes for animals.”
Emma saw a flash of surprise on Garrett’s face and knew exactly what he was thinking–his father knew what he did for a living. How much more did he know about his sons? But most importantly, why was he here? It was hard to sit back and not ask any questions, but that’s what she forced herself to do.
Garrett’s only response was a low growl as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Anyway,” Cash went on, his focus on Emma, “I went to the website and saw several dogs that I’d really like to go and meet and see if I click with any of them. I need to make an appointment, right?”
He was looking at her expectantly, and as much as this man didn’t deserve any kindness or consideration, she was raised with manners, so she figured she’d take one for the team and engage in conversation with him while Garrett calmed down.
“Yes. You can make one through the website, but sometimes it’s glitchy. Your best bet would be to call the office in the morning. Betsy Hamilton is our receptionist and she can tell you the best time to go in for an adoption consult.” She paused and tried to think of anything else she should tell him. “There’s an application you can do online, as well. If you have that done, it will speed things up when you go in.”
“Why are you even telling him this?” Garrett asked wearily. “They can’t approve him to adopt a dog. With his track record, he’ll adopt it and then leave it on the side of the road somewhere!”
“Garrett,” she began, but Cash interrupted.
“No, no. It’s okay,” he said calmly, easily, as he leaned back in his seat. His big arms crossed over his chest as he looked at his son. “I can understand why you believe I’m unfit to adopt a dog–and be a father–but the fact is that you don’t know much about me or who I am now. You remember who I was when you were a kid and you’re smart enough to know that people can learn from their mistakes and change.”
Mimicking his father’s pose, Garrett volleyed right back. “Oh, I believe some people are completely capable of change. You’re not one of them.”
In her heart, Emma felt for both of them. She knew the hurt Garrett had experienced as a boy and how his father’s absence affected so many aspects of his young life. But then also learned that people could change. Her own father had divorced her mother when Emma was a baby and didn’t play a part in her life until she was a teenager. They had a better relationship now that she was an adult and maybe it was something she would share with Garrett later when they were alone.
“It’s not like you to be so judgmental,” Cash countered. “You were always the one who thought things through when you were a kid.” Then he smirked. “I guess you changed.”
Garrett’s hand slammed down hard on the table. “Now just a minute…”
“Holy shit! Dad?” They all turned to see Austin standing next to them with wide e
yes.
Honestly, Emma had no idea who to focus on because everything became very chaotic all at once. All three men were talking–and not particularly quiet about it–until Mia suggested they take it outside.
Garrett stood and looked down at her. “I’m sorry, Em,” he said gruffly. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Then he turned to Mia and introduced them. “Would you mind very much…?”
Mia waved him off. “Just go and make sure Austin isn’t beating your father to the ground.”
With a word of thanks, Garrett gave Emma a distracted kiss before storming out of the restaurant. Once he was gone, she smiled at Mia. “So…um…it’s nice to meet you.”
Mia Kingsley was beautiful in an almost exotic way. She was all dark hair and dark eyes and lightly tanned skin, where Emma was all…well…not that. Most women she had encountered who were this attractive tended to be more than a little conceited, so she was prepared for this to be strained and awkward.
Mia waved their waitress over. “Can I please get a glass of sweet tea, an order of crab cakes, and an extra plate? Oh, and some more sour cream, please.” Once the girl was gone, Mia grinned at Emma. “Garrett is going to have to deal with me sharing the rest of these tot nachos with you. They’re my favorite!”
And at that moment, Emma was relieved to be wrong.
“So, how long were you sitting here with Cash before we got here?” Mia asked, picking off a tot and popping it into her mouth.
“Thankfully, not long. You must have been driving right by to have gotten here so quickly.”
She nodded. “We were going food shopping and about to walk into the store when the phone rang. Austin is terrible about answering it on the weekends, but I encouraged him to listen to the message. Now I’m glad I did!”
“Me, too.” She shook her head. “I felt so bad for Garrett. He went white as a ghost when his father walked in.”
“Why would he even come back after all this time?” Mia wondered. “It just seems mean at this point. What could he possibly want?”
“I’ve known Garrett a long time, and I know his father would sporadically reach out–just a call or a card every now and then–but as far as I know, this is the first time he’s come back to Magnolia Sound.” She shook her head again. “And he’s talking about adopting a dog which makes me feel like he intends to stay awhile.”
Since You've Been Gone Page 11
