by Alexa Powers
She quickly came to realize that her aunt had either been talking to her mother about Noah or she’d filled them in on the car ride. Most likely both. The sisters didn’t go long without speaking to one another and her mother would undoubtedly want to know everything that Emma wasn't willingly offering up during their weekly telephone conversations.
With six children, Dianne Anderson had gotten creative over the years when her offspring didn’t volunteer information on what was happening in their lives, so pumping her loyal sister for information was expected.
Finally free from the confines of her car seat, Abby rolled around on the floor in the lounge, exploring her new environment, but never letting her mother out of her sight, her pudgy hands clinging tightly to her blanket. Abby giggled in the unrestrained way only babies did when Emma snatched her up off the floor and blew raspberries on her little tummy. God, she’d missed this, she thought to herself.
In all the commotion, Emma lost track of Noah, but relief washed over her when she saw him laughing with her brothers. She was tempted to join them, but resisted, figuring it was best to let them forge a friendship on their own, so she went to find her mother. Might as well get the interrogation over with.
Emerging from the guest room after successfully dodging most of her mother’s questions, Emma ran into Ali. Bracing herself for a new round of nosy Anderson women, she held her breath and was shocked when Ali walked right past her. Not wanting to draw attention to herself if Ali was momentarily distracted, she stood frozen in place, holding her breath.
Emma went to move quickly in the opposite direction, but when she heard a muffled sniffle she couldn’t walk away. So, like the good sister she was, she turned around and followed Ali into Lily’s childhood bedroom.
“Hey. You alright?” Emma sat on the bed next to Ali and gently nudged her shoulder with hers.
“Yeah. I’m fine.” Ali didn’t sound fine, as she wiped away the tears that were now falling freely down her cheeks.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just being back here with Abby. It’s a lot harder than I thought it would be. Everywhere I look, I’m reminded of Evan. And as much as I hate him, I still love him. But, I’ll be fine. I just need a few minutes.”
Emma’s heart broke for her sister. Ali looked defeated as she sat hunched over with her elbows poking her knees, her face buried in her hands. “Are you still going to call him?”
“Yeah. It’s scary though. What if he doesn’t want to see her? Or me?”
“Then it’s his loss on both counts. But you need to be the bigger person and at least offer to let him see her.”
“I know. But I’m also afraid of him falling in love with her, too. Does that make me a bad mother? Because that’s how I feel.”
“No one could ever accuse you of being a bad mother, Ali. One look at that happy and healthy baby out there and there’s no doubt about that. But why would you be worried about him falling in love with his own daughter? I don’t get it.” Emma placed a comforting hand on Ali’s back, slowly rubbing up and down the length of her spine.
“What if he wants to share custody of her? I can’t be away from her, Emma. It’ll kill me. And it’s not like he lives nearby.” Ali’s anguished expression broke Emma’s heart in two. She couldn’t imagine Ali spending even one night apart from her little girl.
“If that happens, then you’ll have to figure something out that works for both of you. But you’ll regret it if you keep Abby away from her father, if he wants to see her. And she will too in the long run. You can always come and stay here while she’s with him, if it comes to that. You know Aunt Mary would love to have you…or you could stay with Lily and Josh, for that matter.”
“I know but…what if he’s with someone else?”
“That’s a whole nother issue,” Emma answered seriously. “And I suspect that it’s more about you than Abby. And he could say the same thing about you if you marry someone else. It’s inevitable though, isn’t it? At some point, both of you will probably get married. I don’t see you growing old alone. But I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s see what he says when you talk to him.”
“I left him a message before we left, but I haven’t heard back from him yet.”
“Well then, the ball’s in his court. If you don’t hear back from him by tomorrow, call him again, and then you’ve done your part. But hey…I’ve missed you.” Emma wrapped her arms around Ali and hugged her tightly.
“I’ve missed you, too. So, tell me about Noah. What’s going on with you two?”
“I knew that was coming.” Emma pulled away from Ali and laughed, releasing some of the tension. “I really like him and we’ve been seeing a lot of each other since I got here. He’s a great guy. Really sweet.”
“Just be careful, Emma. I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
“Honestly, I think it’s inevitable either way, if he left me tomorrow or when I leave. I’m just going to try to enjoy what little time I have with him and then go home and somehow find a way to move on. That makes me every kind of fool, I know, but I can’t help myself. He’s amazing, and if he lived in North Carolina, I’d be picking out names for our future children.” Emma couldn’t stop the nervous giggle as she spoke the sobering words.
“Oh, God, you’ve got it bad, sis. I guess I can’t talk you out of it, so I’ll give you some sisterly advice. Please take care of yourself and remember that it’s not forever. Try to keep that in mind when you’re with him. And whatever you do…Do. Not. Get. Pregnant.” Ali gently shook Emma’s shoulders, emphasizing each word, and released a small chuckle, and Emma was relieved to see the smile return to her sister’s tear-streaked face.
“I won’t get pregnant and I’m trying to keep things in perspective. Although, I don’t think I’m wired that way. But I’m working on it.”
“I’ll start stocking up on tissues. But seriously, Emma. Be careful.” Ali affectionately tugged on a lock of Emma’s hair. “I wish I could convince you to walk away now. It’d be a lot easier to do it now. Trust me. But you know I love you and I’ll be there for you when you come home.”
“I know, and I love you too. I’ve missed you so much.” Emma pulled Ali into a tight embrace. It felt so good to see her again, to talk to her, face to face. She wasn’t just a sister, she was her best friend. “Are you alright now? Ready to go back out there?”
“Sure, let’s go.”
The next few days flew by in a swirl of activities and final wedding preparations. After the rehearsal dinner, they all gathered at Lily’s parents’ house to continue the celebration. The loud and energetic group were summoned to the lounge by Emma’s father with a loud whistle.
Noah entered the room to find Emma, with her guitar slung over her shoulder, standing next to her brother Steven, with their heads together in quiet conversation. Emma’s Aunt Mary quickly set two bar stools next to them, before addressing the crowd.
“My sister and I have asked her two very talented children to entertain us with a few songs tonight. The first few are personal requests that they’ve graciously agreed to play for us, but I think they’ve got their own ideas for what follows.” She let out a shaky breath as she turned to address Lily and Josh. “Lily…you know how much we love you and we’re so thankful that you’ve found a lovely man to spend the rest of your life with. We couldn’t be happier to welcome Josh into our family. And Josh…you’ve brought so much happiness and joy to our Lily’s life and we’re blessed to call you one of our own. Now, before I start to cry like a baby…Cheers.” Her voice trailed off, as she raised her glass and nodded for Emma and Steven to begin.
A hush fell over the room as Emma’s beautiful voice quieted everyone. He knew the song was meant for Lily and Josh, but as the words fell from her lips, he felt like he was the only person in the room.
Her eyes met his as she sang of finding true love along the broken road, and he stopped breathing. Emma was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, an
d he wondered if it was possible to be in love with her already. He wasn’t sure if what he was feeling was true love or not, but that broken road had led her strait to him and he wasn’t going to muck it up.
Looking around the room, his gaze fell upon her mother, who was beaming with pride, her husband’s arms folded around her, wiping tears from her face as she quietly sang along with her children.
Noah stood in the back of the room sharing a beer with Josh, resisting the urge to take Emma into his arms and kiss her senseless. To show his love for her like that in front of her family probably wouldn’t be well received, and the way he wanted to kiss her would surely get him thrown out on his bum.
Steven smiled at Emma as they began to play another song. More upbeat than the last one, but once again Noah’s breath was stolen from his lungs when his eyes met hers. Those expressive green eyes that were a window to her soul were staring back at him. Those eyes held him captive. Those eyes reflected the same love that he felt.
Bottomless pools of green locked onto him. Mesmerized, he couldn’t take his gaze off of her, and when she sang the words to the song, everything seemed to fall into place. “Thursday, Friday, short or long. When you got a love so strong. How can it be wrong now? Mercy me. Be mine, be mine.”
Whatever piece of his heart that hadn’t belong to her already, she now owned. She owned him. Lock, stock, and barrel. Standing with his feet cemented to the ground, as a vision of her as his bride flashed before his eyes, and feeling completely overwhelmed and sobered by the image, he was relieved when the song was over and Steven started speaking.
“Enough of the sappy shit.” At his mother’s reprimand, Steven lowered his head and added bashfully. “Sorry, Mommy. But now let’s change gears and kick this up a bit, shall we?”
Steven sat on the stool and began to play, and all Noah could think was…wow. His gaze moved to Emma, who was watching her brother in awe, with a huge smile on her face as she provided the rhythm for him. Steven’s fingers moved along the strings with purpose and skill, showcasing his expertise, and when he added his vocals to the song, Noah wondered why he didn’t play professionally, he was certainly talented enough.
When the song was over, Emma raised herself off her stool and bowed in mock worship of him, as her brother Luke called him a show off. Steven flipped him the bird and then quickly apologized to his parents, once again. Their easy camaraderie was evident as the family joked and teased one another.
Steven then turned to Emma and she nodded to him as they started playing an upbeat country song about cold beer on a Friday night and a pair of jeans that fit just right. The song suited Emma and her loving family, and as he looked around the room, his heart sank with dread. Ali was dancing with a giggling Abby in her arms, Emma’s parents were clapping and singing along, and her other brothers were laughing and teasing Katie and Lily.
As they played the song that painted a picture of southern living, love, and family, he wondered how he could remove Emma from them. The lyrics weren’t just symbolic, they were a reflection of how they lived. She was a part of them and they were a part of her. Would she even consider leaving that behind for him? Could he even ask her to?
It was easy to imagine Emma sitting at a scenic overlook on a mountaintop with close friends surrounding her, laughing, drinking, and playing music together. It was an ideal picture of a life that suited Emma. That was Emma at her core. It was her home.
As they happily performed, unaware of his distress, Noah felt his heart seize painfully inside his chest as his despondency grew deeper and deeper. She had a good life, filled with a loving family and friends. At the moment of realization, he felt defeated, having lost the battle before it had even begun.
Emma set her guitar down when they were done and observed him with concerned scrutiny, as if she could read his troubled thoughts. Making her way to him, she circled her arms around his waist, rocking him into her. Her thumbs threaded through the belt loops of his jeans in an intimate embrace, and her face lit up with that perfect smile he’d miss when she was gone.
Swallowing his heartbreak, he brushed her lips with a gentle kiss. She felt so right in his arms. How could they not be together? Was this karma paying him back for previous wrongs? He’d fallen in love with a woman that he couldn’t have.
Tilting her head, she looked at him through squinted eyes. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah, yeah I’m fine,” he lied. He was anything but fine…confused, heartbroken, and completely gutted, those were more appropriate words to describe how he was feeling. Definitely not fine. “You were amazing, Emma. Reckon I now have some more songs to add to my playlist, eh?” He let out an unsteady laugh, trying to quell his rising panic.
Emma eyed him inquisitively. “Are you sure? You don’t look so good. Let’s go outside and get some fresh air. You look like you could use it.”
As if he had any choice in the matter, Noah dutifully followed her outside. She sat on the porch swing and patted the seat next to her. “Come over here and sit with me.”
For a long while, they sat together in silence, hand in hand, gently swaying. The only noise was the din of laughter and conversation from inside the house.
Noah finally gathered his wits and broke the silence. “You miss home, don’t you?”
Emma replied quickly, too quickly for his well-being. “Like crazy.” Two little words. That’s all she said, but it spoke volumes. Two simple words that left him feeling helpless and alone.
“I’ve missed you this week.” He was pathetic, he thought to himself. If he couldn’t go a few days without her presence, he was in trouble. Since her family had arrived in En Zed, her time had been consumed with family outings and maid of honor duties, leaving little time for him, other than a few late night phone calls before falling asleep.
Feeling homesick himself, he’d made a trip to Hamilton to spend the day with his family. The whole time he was there, he’d wished Emma was by his side. He wanted to show her his hometown, to introduce her to his family. He hadn’t brought a woman home to meet his mum and dad in years, but he wanted Emma to meet them.
His mum had always been the most important woman in his life, but Emma was quickly gaining equal footing. He’d no doubt his mum would approve of her, and love her as much as he did.
Emma turned to face him and propped her chin on his shoulder, letting out a deep breath that tickled his neck. “I’ve missed you, too. I’ve gotten so used to you being there all the time. I love my family to death…don’t get me wrong, but at the same time, I missed you. I’ve been lonely without you. I know that’s crazy,” she chuckled, her delicate voice trailing off, as her fingers skimmed along the buttons of his shirt, causing a shudder to race up his spine.
Needing to feel her, he reached for her legs and draped them across his lap. Resting his hand on her leg, he rubbed circles with his thumb on her inner thigh. With her like this, he was able to forget his worries. Nothing else mattered but having her tucked securely in his arms. “That’s not crazy at all.”
Lifting her chin with two fingers, he brought his lips to hers. Needing it to be more than just a kiss, he kept it gentle and sweet, trying to somehow convey the depth of his feelings for her, as his heart swelled with love for the amazing woman who had come into his life and turned his world upside down and inside out.
With her family on the other side of the wall, he couldn’t take it any further; it would have to wait until they were alone. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t happen for another week when her family returned to the States.
Stealing these few moments would have to hold him over, and he was filled with a renewed sense of hope and purpose. He would love her while he had the chance, cherishing every precious moment, then it would be up to her to decide if they had a future together. When the time was right, he’d present his case for her to stay with him. She’d be his judge and jury, and he would have to live with whatever sentence she handed out.
The night before the wedding, Noah final
ly found himself sleeping in his bed at Josh’s place again, but it wasn’t the same. The fragrant aroma of honeysuckle lingered in the room and on Emma’s pillow. A scent that would forever be branded onto his consciousness as a reminder of her.
She’d filled the room with framed photos of family and friends, and right next to her pillow, on the night table, was a picture of them from New Year’s. His chest tightened with the realization that it was the last thing she saw before she closed her eyes each night. Without thinking, he stretched for his phone.
“Hey, babe.”
“Hi, handsome.”
“Guess where I am,” he teased.
“I don’t know, Noah. Where are you?” She answered in a tired voice that sounded breathless and sinfully sexy.
“I’m in your bed, looking at a lovely picture of us.” He reached out and picked up the picture to get a closer look.
“Oh, really. I hope you don’t mind that I did that.” She sounded insecure as she replied and he heard the sheets ruffling through the phone line as she shifted, confirming his suspicion.
“Don’t mind at all. In fact, I want one too. Would you make one for me?”
“Sure. I’d love to. So…what did you guys do tonight?” He could hear the trepidation in her voice and wanted to ease it.
“We went out for a few drinks and then came back here and played cards. Your brothers left a little bit ago, with heaps of my money, I might add.”
She exhaled loudly into the phone. “Oh, sorry about that. So…no strippers before Josh gets tethered to the old ball and chain, huh?”
“No. No strippers,” he laughed.
Her brothers would’ve probably kicked his ass if he ogled another woman in their presence. Not that he wanted to anyway. The only woman he wanted dancing naked in front of him was Emma. And he’d bet the deed to his beach house that she’d be quite brilliant at it too, he mused.
