by Aurora Rey
Alex grinned. “I don’t think you have to worry about that.”
“What do you mean?”
“She already texted me and said she was trying to wait at least twelve hours before she asks you out again so she doesn’t seem like a stalker.”
Darcy rolled her eyes. “Maybe tell her to pass me a note asking if I like her. I’ll be sure to circle yes.”
Alex snickered. “You know her heart is in the right place.”
She did, or, at least she had a strong inclination that was the case. And even if it felt a little bit high school, there was something to be said about dating someone sort of already in her circle. Even without knowing Emerson well, the fact that she was Alex’s friend made it much less likely she’d turn out to be crazy pants. “I do. It’s sweet, actually.”
“Should I tell her she can text you?”
“I’ll do one better.” Darcy pulled her phone out of her back pocket. She pulled up their previous exchange and dashed off a new message.
I hear you like me.
“What did you say?” Alex asked.
Darcy flashed her screen at Alex, causing her to chuckle. “Two can play that game, right?”
“Something like that. Let me know what she says.”
“Okay, boss.”
“Now, get back to work, will you?” As Alex turned to leave, Darcy launched a pot holder at her head. It caught her on the shoulder and she looked back. “I suppose I deserved that.”
“You most certainly did.” Despite her show of defiance, Darcy retrieved the pot holder and got back to work. The clam chowder wasn’t going to make itself.
*****
Emerson woke to the ping of her phone. She blinked a few times and rolled over. It was just after nine. Who in the world was texting her at nine in the morning? She picked up her phone and read the brief message from Darcy. If she was at all annoyed with Alex for outing her, the result made up for it. She flopped onto her back and thought for a moment before typing a reply.
Maybe. Is your source reliable?
When an answer didn’t come immediately, Emerson decided to haul herself out of bed. She made her way to the shower and wondered if Darcy was a morning person or if it was a requirement of her work schedule. Not that it mattered one way or the other. Some of her best friends were morning people. She didn’t judge. Mostly.
She emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later wearing a clean T-shirt and boxers. She picked up her phone and found Darcy’s response—assurance that she had a good source and an invitation to do dinner on Thursday. Emerson readily accepted, then sent a message to Alex.
I don’t know what you said, but it worked. Thanks for sticking your nose in. (No, really.)
Deciding it might be awkward to stop by the café now, she started a pot of coffee and checked the weather, wondering how she should spend her day. While she was pouring her first cup, Emerson’s phone pinged again. She picked it up, wondering if it was Alex giving her a hard time or Darcy laying out all the specifics of their second date. What she found was a message from her sister.
Wondering how you might feel about some company…
Emerson smiled. After Alex and Lia’s wedding, she’d made a point of calling Will. At the time, Will sounded distracted and in a rush. They’d texted on and off since, but Emerson couldn’t help but feel like something was up. She thought maybe Will was mad at her about something, although she couldn’t put her finger on anything specific.
Always.
How about this weekend?
Sure it was short notice, but Emerson didn’t have anything planned. Other than spending time with Darcy and fitting in enough work, she didn’t even have anything on the horizon. And she missed Will. On top of that, Will coming to P-town meant she wouldn’t have to see Kai, which made it even better.
Perfect. Send me your ETA and I’ll be waiting.
Emerson had a moment of worry about the apparent spontaneity of the whole thing, but she brushed it aside. Will worked at a mom-and-pop hardware store. It was probably easier to get a random long weekend than plan something too far in advance. And nothing in her messages hinted that something was wrong.
She glanced around her apartment and frowned. Even if Will didn’t count as real company, she should probably clean a little. And she hadn’t washed the spare sheets from changing the bed last week, so that meant a trip to the laundromat. And groceries. Even by her Spartan standards, there wasn’t much in the house. Looked like she had her day figured out after all.
Chapter Seven
Darcy finished applying her lipstick and glanced up to find Liam’s reflection watching her. He stood in the doorway of the bathroom, studying her. She offered him a smile. “What’s up, buttercup?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to tell you I think you look pretty.”
Darcy narrowed her eyes. Even though Liam was a sweet kid, compliments were not his usual style. Unless he was angling for something. “Why, thank you.”
“Are you going out with your friends tonight or do you have a date?”
“I have a date.” Just because she went out of her way to keep her worlds from colliding, she didn’t keep the fact that she dated a secret from him. Not only did she want to be honest with him, she wanted to model for him that dating—as much as settling down and getting married—could be a normal part of adult life.
“Is she pretty, too?”
Darcy smiled. He used to want to know where she was going to eat and when she’d be home. “I think she’s good-looking, handsome more than pretty.”
Liam scowled. “Can girls be handsome?”
“They can. And boys can be pretty.”
“Hmm.” He nodded slowly, acclimating to the idea.
“Just like how sometimes boys like to put on dresses and girls like to have short hair and wear jeans.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
“Gender is about how you feel and what you wear and what words you like to use to describe yourself.”
“And gender can change.”
“Exactly. Sometimes it changes from one to the other.”
“Like Kyle.”
One of Liam’s friends had a parent who’d transitioned from Kim to Kyle the year before. “Yes, and sometimes more of a mix. Some people feel like they don’t want to choose one. They like being fluid.”
She watched him process this. “There’s a kid in my class who paints his fingernails. Some of the other boys make fun of him.”
“I hope you would never do that.”
“I wouldn’t. Those kids are mean, and dumb, too. I think it looks cool.”
“We could paint yours too, if you wanted.”
Liam’s eyes lit up. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry I never thought to offer.”
“That’s okay.” His shrug told her it wasn’t something that had been weighing on him.
“You know who paints their nails all the time?”
“Who?”
Darcy pointed at him. “Guys who play catcher in baseball.”
“You’re right! Bright yellow so the pitcher can see their signals.”
“Exactly.” Darcy realized she should go out of her way to talk about stuff like that with him, even if he didn’t initiate it. “So, you should never feel like there’s something you can’t do because it’s something for girls.”
Liam nodded, his expression serious. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Is there something you’re thinking about in particular?”
Liam looked down at his feet, shuffled back and forth. “Nah.”
“Are you sure?” She sensed he was hiding something, but she couldn’t figure out what.
He looked up and nodded. “I’m sure.”
“Okay, then. I never want you to feel like there’s anything you can’t tell me.”
“Okay, Mom.”
He turned to go, but Darcy sensed there was still something on his mind. “Anything else you wanted to talk about?”
“Ca
n I stay up until you come home tonight?” He looked at her with big brown eyes.
“It’s going to be pretty late, honey. Why do you want to stay up?”
“Because I’ll miss you.”
Darcy studied her son. It wasn’t like him to be clingy. “Would you rather I stayed home tonight?”
“No, you should go out.”
The speed of his reply assuaged her concerns, but made her suspicious. “What’s going on?”
Liam sighed as though admitting defeat. “There’s a show on about the solar system. It starts at eight, but isn’t over until ten.”
A show about the solar system. Darcy resisted the urge to laugh. “I think that sounds like a pretty good reason to stay up past bedtime.”
“Really?” His excitement seemed laced with incredulousness and Darcy wondered if she’d been saying no more than yes lately. She’d need to pay closer attention to that.
“Really. I’ll let Sara know when she gets here.”
“Yes!” Liam put his fists in the air and ran from the room. She was going to miss the days when something so small filled him with glee.
She finished getting ready, then went to the kitchen. She’d just finished putting her purse in order when Sara knocked on the door. Darcy greeted her, then watched as Sara gave Liam a high five. In addition to being a great babysitter, she played lacrosse. Although Liam had yet to express interest in the sport, he adored her so much Darcy thought he might.
“There’s a pizza in the freezer and salad in the fridge,” she told Sara. “Salad is required,” she added, looking at Liam.
“And I get to stay up late,” Liam said.
“There’s something on TV about the solar system. I’m guessing PBS. I told Liam he could stay up to watch it.”
“Cool.” Sara punctuated the comment with another high five.
“I’ll be home by ten, so you don’t need to worry about bedtime routine.”
“Sounds good.”
“Text me if you need anything.”
“We will. But we’re cool, right L-man?”
Liam stood a little taller at the use of a nickname. “We’re cool.”
“Not too cool for a kiss, I hope.” Liam made a face, but didn’t hesitate to give her both a hug and a kiss. “You guys have fun. I’ll see you soon.”
“You have fun, Mom.” He put extra emphasis on the “you,” making Darcy laugh.
“Bye, Ms. Belo.”
“Bye, Sara. Thanks again. Bye, L-man. You be good.”
“Bye.” Liam took off for the living room and the television remote. Apparently, her using the nickname wasn’t nearly as cool.
Darcy made her way to her car, then to P-town. It was still early enough in the season that she found parking on a side street right off Commercial. After checking her makeup in the rearview mirror, she headed to Ciro and Sal’s.
Emerson waited on the sidewalk, black pants replaced the dark jeans of their first date, paired with a striped shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Even in the subdued clothing, she managed to look like an artist. Maybe it was the hair—longer on top and just the right amount of messy—or the kind of facial features that made it difficult to pinpoint her ethnicity. Darcy smiled, thinking about Lia’s initial description of her: full-on hot.
Darcy approached and Emerson greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. “Hi. You look fabulous.”
Darcy smirked. “You don’t have to say that every time.”
“But what if it’s true every time?”
“Then by all means.” Darcy tipped her head toward the white gravel path. “Shall we?”
“Absolutely. I haven’t been here since they opened the new wine bar upstairs. Have you?”
Darcy shook her head. “Liam is adventurous with food, but he likes his Italian pretty American.”
Emerson laughed. “I’m glad we get to try it out together.”
They were seated at a small table near a window. Even with the sun setting, the space offered far more natural light than the dim and cozy main dining room downstairs. They ordered wine, then Darcy encouraged Emerson to pick a variety of dishes at random. Emerson ran them past her before putting in the order and Darcy nodded her approval, enjoying that they had similar tastes and could sample more things.
The wine came, then a slow progression of antipasti, mussels, and pasta. Darcy savored each bite, thinking how unfortunate it was that she only seemed to go out for nice meals when she had a date. Not that she had any issue with her dates thus far with Emerson. She enjoyed the adult conversation, not to mention the chemistry between them. The way it simmered just below the surface felt exciting—more exciting than her last three or four dates for sure—but not in the giddy, nervous way of her youth.
Plus, there was the whole getting to know each other. In talking with Emerson, who seemed so interested in her life and her stories, Darcy realized how superficial many of her first and second date conversations were. She’d convinced herself that kind of connection was her preference, but it felt bland, boring even, compared to this. With their main courses in front of them, she said, “I feel like I’ve told you my story, but you haven’t told me yours.”
Emerson shrugged. “That’s because yours is more interesting than mine.”
“I doubt that’s true. Do you have any siblings?”
“A sister.”
Darcy smiled. “See? I’m an only child. Already more interesting. Is she older or younger?”
“Older.”
“So, you’re the baby. Does that mean you were spoiled?”
Emerson chuckled. “Hardly. If anything, Will was the free spirit—outgoing, popular, willing to try anything.”
“Fascinating.”
“I was more of a nerd, and an introvert. Very serious.” Emerson’s face grew serious to match her description.
“You sound like Liam.”
“Based on what you’ve told me, I definitely think that’s the case.”
“And what about your parents?”
“They died in a car accident six years ago.”
Darcy’s hand reached across the table and took Emerson’s. “I’m so sorry.”
Emerson nodded. “Thanks.”
“How old were you?”
“Twenty-two. Not a child by any means, but that didn’t make it feel any less devastating.”
Darcy’s heart ached at the thought. “I’m sure. I can’t imagine not having my parents around.”
“They were just about to retire. They’d spent years planning and saving. They were going to see the world.” Emerson shook her head. She missed them, but it was the timing that still got to her. All that working and waiting for a life they never got to enjoy. “That’s what drove me to paint full-time. Live in the moment, you know?”
“It’s a hard way to learn that lesson.”
“Yeah. I spent about six months feeling like I needed to make them proud and another six feeling guilty about doing what I wanted.”
Darcy set her elbow on the table and propped her chin on her hand. “So, what was your turning point?”
Emerson smiled, remembering the countless conversations she’d had with Will about it. Will had been so worried about her that she drove ten hours to visit her in the tiny room she was renting in the West End. “My sister, actually. She came to see me and we stayed up all night talking. I showed her some of the paintings I’d been doing, then we went for a walk on the beach as the sun came up.”
“And she convinced you this is what would make you happy?”
The conversation had turned into an argument. They stood alone on the beach at Race Point, yelling at one another over the sound of the waves and gulls screeching overhead. By the end, they sat on the sand, sobbing and holding onto each other like they hadn’t since they were kids. The memory remained vivid; it choked her up still. “She convinced me that being happy, and living life on my own terms, is what would make our parents proud.”
“Wow.”
The look of rapt atten
tion on Darcy’s face made Emerson smile. She didn’t tell that story often. And while she never forgot it, she sometimes lost track of how much impact it had. It made her appreciate even more the fact that Will was coming for a visit. “Yeah.”
Darcy nodded slowly. “I’m glad. It would be so hard to live your dream, but constantly second guess yourself while you did it.”
“Exactly. And I owe it all to my sister.” Emerson paused for a moment, then added, “She’s actually coming to town in a couple of days.”
Darcy sat up and smiled. “That’s fun. Does she visit often?”
Emerson frowned. “Not very.”
Darcy noticed the shift in Emerson’s demeanor. She tried to decipher whether the seeming disappointment was tied to the visit itself or to the fact that visits were infrequent. “Do you not get along now?”
“No, we…It’s more that…It’s complicated.”
Darcy tried to offer a reassuring smile. “Family often is. Do you want to talk about it?”
“It’s not bad or anything. We’ve always been super close.”
“But?”
Emerson smiled. “But I get the sense that something is up with her and she’s not telling me. I don’t know if that’s true or if we’ve lost that ability to sense one another. I’m worried about her.”
“What are you worried about?”
“She said something about needing to get away, wanting to regroup. That’s so not like her.”
“What do you mean?” Darcy was curious, but she also wanted Emerson to feel like she could open up.
“Will has always been indomitable. She bounces back. I’m not sure if something bad happened that she hasn’t told me about or what.”
Having been an only child, Darcy knew about that connection siblings often professed to have, but she’d never experienced it herself. She had it for Liam, though, so maybe it had something to do with the womb. “Are you going to ask her about it when she’s here?”
Emerson nodded, as though coming to a resolution in her mind. “I am. I hope to God she’s not engaged. I can’t stand her girlfriend.”
“Well, I hope it’s not that, or anything really bad.”
“Thanks.”
