by Aurora Rey
She loved her. Like, make babies and live happily ever after loved her. She needed to tell her. Now.
She went in search of Will, who was chatting with Lia and Alex. “I need to get out of here.”
Lia put a hand on her arm and Alex asked, “Are you okay?”
“I need to talk to Darcy.”
Will frowned. “Is she not coming?”
“I don’t know. She hasn’t shown up yet.”
“Do you want me to call her?” Alex asked.
“No, I don’t want to make it weird. I just need to see her.”
Will nodded. “Okay. What do you need from us? What can we do?”
Emerson shook her head. “Nothing. I just wanted to let you know.”
“We can stick around in case Darcy shows up,” Lia offered.
“You don’t have to do that.”
Alex waved a hand. “No big deal. Things are starting to wind down. We’re going to pick up the food in little bit anyway.”
“And I’ll help,” Will said.
“You guys are the best. You know that, right?”
Lia smiled. “We do. Now, go. Good luck.”
Emerson jogged from the gallery to where her car was parked. She didn’t want to be cheesy-movie desperate, but she felt it. Deciding you want to spend the rest of your life with someone created a sense of urgency. And she did. She wanted it more than anything. She got on the road, reminding herself repeatedly not to speed.
*****
“What’s wrong, Mom?”
Darcy stopped pacing and stared at Liam. “Nothing, honey.”
He raised an eyebrow and gave her a look that said he didn’t believe her. “Clearly, that’s not true.”
Darcy laughed. She couldn’t scold him for talking back when he was completely right. “You know how sometimes there’s something you want to do and don’t want to do at the same time?”
He considered a moment. “Like a karate tournament.”
“Yes, exactly. You want to go, but you’re kind of nervous and part of you just wants to stay home.”
Liam nodded. “So, there’s something you want to do and not do? What is it?”
She shouldn’t be telling Liam all this, especially given how tenuous things were with Emerson. Anything that got him more invested had the potential to come back and bite her in the ass, tenfold. “Emerson has a show of her paintings tonight. I want to go, but since we haven’t seen her much lately, I’m nervous.” Darcy took a deep breath. It was a truthful, if simplified, answer.
Liam looked at her like she’d grown a second head. “Mom. Emerson’s paintings are a big deal. We have to go.”
“I’m not sure she wants to see me.”
He angled his head. “Did you have a fight?”
“Sort of.”
“Well, then you should apologize.”
“It’s more complicated than that.”
Liam shook his head, clearly unconvinced. “What do you say when I don’t want to go to karate?”
“That you’ll have fun once you’re there.”
“And that I’ll be proud of myself. Don’t you want to be proud of yourself?”
Darcy looked at him. So much innocence and wisdom rolled into one package, it made her heart hurt. “You’re right.”
Liam folded his arms and smiled smugly. “I know.”
Okay, so they’d still have to work on humble. Still, he was right. “All right. I’m going to go.”
“Yes!” Liam jumped up from the sofa. He’d stopped wearing the sling the day before and his wrist seemed to be completely healed.
“I’m going to see if Sara can come stay with you for a little while.”
Liam stopped jumping up and down and planted his fists on his sides defiantly. “Why can’t I go with you?”
“Because I need to have a grownup talk with Emerson.”
“But she’s my friend, too.”
“I know, but you don’t need to make up with her. I do.”
“You should have moral support.”
“Liam.”
Whether he didn’t want to get in trouble or sensed what a big deal it was, he didn’t argue further. “Okay, Mom.”
“Thank you.”
“You better make up with her.”
Darcy laughed again as she picked up her phone to call Sara. Even with no idea what the situation was, he managed to hit the nail right on the head. “I’m going to try.”
An hour later, Darcy walked into the gallery and stopped dead in her tracks. The painting hung in the center of the largest wall, more than twice as big as any of the others. The size alone would have caught her attention, as would the vibrant colors of Emerson’s signature palette. But neither of those things held a candle to the painting’s subject matter. In the middle of a public gallery—complete with track lighting artfully creating a spotlight—Darcy was faced with a life-size portrait of herself.
The painting wasn’t a photographic likeness. It had the stylized vintage feel that seemed to be the hallmark of Emerson’s work. Yet, anyone who knew her would see the resemblance. Emerson had a way of capturing her essence even without the specificity of precise detail. And Darcy remembered posing for it. Or, rather, posing for the photo that inspired it.
Darcy shook her head. It was stunning. More than beautiful, it was intimate. It captured something Darcy didn’t know she possessed—a heady mix of playfulness and joy, tinged with something that felt at once sexual and innocent. She felt both enthralled and exposed. Someone called her name and Darcy turned, trying to rein in the jumble of thoughts and emotions crowding her mind. She was relieved to find Lia and Alex standing only a few feet away.
“I didn’t think you would be here,” Lia said.
Darcy hadn’t said anything to either of them about the show, but given how things with Emerson were, the assertion shouldn’t surprise her. Still, the show was a big deal. It’s not like she and Emerson had such a dramatic falling out that she wouldn’t want to show her support. Of course, it had been enough of a falling out that she had no idea she’d be the centerpiece of it. “I…”
“Are you looking for Emerson?”
Was she? Clearly, she was. She wouldn’t have come otherwise. “Yes. I didn’t…she isn’t…”
Alex placed a hand on her arm. “Are you okay?”
Darcy nodded. “She’s not expecting me. We haven’t spoken. She’s been working. I didn’t realize—” She turned to face the painting again.
“Ah, okay.” Alex’s hand moved from her arm to under her elbow. “Do you want to sit down for a minute? Or get some fresh air?”
Darcy tore her eyes away from the painting to look at Alex. “Sorry. I was caught off guard is all. I’m fine.”
“Yes, but you look like you might pass out,” Lia said.
“And you’re shaking.” Alex looked worried.
The last thing Darcy wanted was to seem fragile. She mustered a smile. “Just surprised. I’m fine, I swear.”
“It’s beautiful.” Alex glanced at the painting. “Did you not know Emerson was working on it?”
That was a loaded question. “Not exactly. She took some photos. I told her she could use them, I just…” Darcy trailed off again. Apparently, she’d lost the ability to form coherent sentences.
“Didn’t expect such a prominent display?” Lia’s tone was sympathetic.
Darcy laughed then, glad that she could have this reaction with her friends instead of with Emerson. “Something like that.”
“There’s just one thing,” Alex said.
What could be more noteworthy than her own face looking down at her? “What’s that?”
“Emerson isn’t here.”
That didn’t make sense. Darcy yanked her gaze from the painting and turned to her. “Wait. What?”
Lia put a hand on her arm. “She left to go find you.”
That couldn’t be right. This show was the biggest thing to happen to Emerson—her career—all year. There’s no way she’d leav
e. “She wouldn’t do that. Besides, I’m here.”
Alex shook her head. “I’m guessing you passed one another on the road. She was heading to your place.”
Suddenly, Darcy did feel the need to sit down. Instead of indulging it, she tried to absorb this new information. And what it meant. And what the hell she was supposed to do about it. “I should go back there. Unless she gets there and realizes I’m here and comes back. I should—”
Lia interrupted her jumbled attempt at a plan. “You go. We’ll call her and let her know you’re on your way.”
“Okay.” Darcy didn’t like the idea of leaving. She hadn’t even seen all the paintings. But if Emerson left her show to see her, the least she could do was go to where Emerson was.
She looked down at herself, then around, like she might be forgetting something. Alex put a hand on her shoulder. “You’re fine. Go.”
She nodded. “Yes. Going.”
Lia grinned. “Good luck.”
She had no idea what she wanted to say to Emerson, much less what Emerson had to say to her. “Thanks. I think I’m going to need it.”
Chapter Thirty-two
Darcy’s car wasn’t in its usual spot, but lights shone in the window of her apartment. Emerson took the stairs two at a time and knocked on the door. When no one answered, she pressed her ear to it. She couldn’t make out anything specific, but heard the TV. Knowing Darcy wouldn’t leave the house with it on, she tried again. Still no answer. Would Darcy ignore her?
She turned to leave and had gone down the first couple of stairs when the door opened. She recognized Sara, Liam’s regular babysitter, standing on the other side. “You’re Emerson, right?”
Emerson smiled. Sara would be trained not to open the door for strangers. She was probably debating whether or not Emerson qualified. “I am. Hi, Sara. I was looking for Darcy, but I’m guessing if you’re here, she isn’t.”
“She went out. I’ve been trying to reach her, but she’s not answering her phone.”
Darcy always answered her phone, at least when Liam wasn’t with her. And Emerson guessed Sara didn’t call her randomly. “Is something wrong?”
Sara hesitated, glanced back into the apartment. “Liam’s sick.”
“Sick how? What’s wrong?” Emerson was in the doorway in a flash. She looked around, but saw no sign of Liam. “Where is he?”
“He’s in the bathroom. He’s throwing up.”
Without asking for permission, Emerson headed straight for it. She found Liam sitting next to the toilet, looking green and a little woozy. “Hey, buddy.”
He half-smiled. “Em—” A stream of vomit interrupted his greeting.
Most of it landed in the toilet. Unfortunately, it came in tandem with a burst of diarrhea. The sound came first, followed in quick succession by the smell and visual evidence all over Liam’s khaki shorts.
“Oh, God.”
Emerson turned to find Sara in the doorway, a look of horror on her face. She returned her attention to Liam. Whether it was Sara’s comment or his own realization, the scales tipped toward chaos and he began to cry. Without thinking it through, Emerson took charge. “It’s okay, buddy. You’re going to be fine. I’ll take care of you. I promise.” She looked at Sara. “Can you get me a couple of trash bags and a roll of paper towels? Then fresh underwear and a set of pajamas from Liam’s room.”
“Got it.” Sara seemed grateful for something to do that didn’t involve coming back into the bathroom.
“Okay. We’re going to get you out of these clothes. Do you think you can stand up?” Liam sniffed and nodded. Emerson started removing his clothes. “If you need to be sick again, aim for the toilet as best you can.” Another nod.
Emerson managed to get him naked and sitting on the toilet before the next round of diarrhea hit. She grabbed the trash can and handed it to him. As was so often the case with kids and stomach bugs, he spent the next half hour like that. Sara returned with the things Emerson requested, then disappeared. When Liam seemed to be done, at least for the time being, Emerson helped him into the shower. After promising not to leave him, she filled one bag with dirty laundry and another with trash. The mess wasn’t the worst she’d seen by a long shot. Med school had helped her build quite a tolerance.
“I finally got through to Ms. Belo. I told her Liam was sick. She’s on her way.”
Even if Emerson felt like she had things under control, that was for the best. Sick kids always wanted mom more than anything else. She wondered if Sara had mentioned her presence, but she didn’t ask. She wasn’t entirely sure she’d be welcome. She’d worry about that possibility later. “Great. I’ll finish cleaning up in here. Could you see if there’s any ginger ale in the kitchen?”
“Sure.” Sara started to walk away, but turned back. “Thanks. I’m glad you were here.”
Emerson nodded. “Me, too.”
Sara headed to the kitchen. Emerson found a can of disinfectant spray under the sink. She gave the toilet a spray and a quick wipe down. Not perfect, but an improvement. The water stopped and a tiny voice came from behind the curtain. “I’m done.”
Emerson helped Liam dry off and put on his pajamas. He looked worn out, but his color was better. “How are you feeling?”
His sigh spoke volumes. “Better, I guess.”
Emerson opened her arms and wrapped him in a hug. He lingered there. “Let’s hope the worst is done. How do you feel about getting into bed?”
He stepped back and looked down. Emerson feared he was about to puke again. Instead, he looked up at her with a mixture of embarrassment and longing. “Will you stay with me?”
Emerson fought to keep the emotion from her voice. Tears pricked her eyes. She blinked them back. “Not going anywhere.”
They met Sara in the hall. She’d found ginger ale and had poured Liam a glass. Emerson thanked her and took it. She encouraged Sara to hang out in the living room and wait for Darcy while she walked Liam to his room. Emerson got him situated in his bed, then sat next to him. Without a word, he curled up against her and put his head in her lap. Emerson rubbed his back gently, hoping he was, in fact, through the worst of it.
She heard the front door and the sound of voices. A moment later, Darcy was in the doorway and then kneeling next to the bed. “Liam, honey, are you okay? I’m so sorry I wasn’t here. And the stupid traffic on Route 6 was a nightmare.”
Liam sat up and offered her a weak smile. “I’m okay, Mom. I was really sick, but Emerson was here.”
Darcy made eye contact with Emerson, but for the life of her, Emerson couldn’t read Darcy’s thoughts. “It looks like she took excellent care of you, too.”
“It was so gross. I was pooping and puking at the same time.”
Darcy closed her eyes. “That sounds awful.”
“He was such a trooper about it,” Emerson said.
“Is that so?” Darcy put her arm on his leg.
Liam looked at Emerson, then his mother. “I guess so.”
“How are you feeling now?”
“Okay. Better. I’m glad you’re back.”
Emerson smiled. No substitute for mom. “How about I take Sara home so you can stay with him?”
Liam grabbed her hand. “Will you come back?”
“Emerson is supposed to be at her art show, tonight. I think she probably should be there.”
Liam’s face was crestfallen. “Oh, yeah.”
“I’d like to come back, if that’s okay with your mom.”
Darcy narrowed her eyes. “You don’t—”
“I want to. If it’s okay with you.”
Darcy looked to Liam, then back at Emerson. She needed to stop pushing Emerson away. She nodded. “Of course. If that’s what you want.”
“It is. I won’t be long.”
When Emerson left, Darcy turned her attention back to Liam. He sat on the bed, looking far more interested in her conversation than his stomach. When Sara got through to her, she mentioned that Emerson had shown up and wa
s with Liam. On what felt like the infinitely long drive home, she wrestled with that bit of information. She’d fought it for so long, but Darcy knew in her heart Emerson would take care of him, probably as well as she could herself. “Are you really feeling better?”
He nodded affably. “I really am. My stomach hurts a little, but not like I’m going to puke again.”
She sat on the edge of the bed and ruffled his hair. “That’s good.”
“I felt fine and then boom. It was like an explosion. Both ends, Mom.”
“Liam.”
“I’m serious. It was the grossest thing ever. I pooped my pants. Like, seriously pooped them.”
Sara hadn’t mentioned that part. Darcy added that to the list of details of the evening. She needed to track down said pants for washing ASAP. She also had to acknowledge just how much Emerson had taken on in her absence. “Sounds rough.”
“I was kind of scared, but Emerson was cool. I’m glad she was here.”
“I’m sure Sara was glad, too.”
“She was freaking out.”
Sara was a great babysitter, but a sick kid would be enough to frazzle even an adult. Hell, it frazzled her. “I really am sorry I wasn’t here.”
He shrugged. “It’s okay. Emerson was the next best thing.”
The meaning of his words sank in. She’d accepted that she’d allowed Liam to get close to Emerson, and that he’d fallen hard for her. Only now did she realize how deep that feeling was. Sure, Emerson was fun and smart and cool to hang out with. More importantly, Liam felt safe with her. Knowing that made it easier to think about her own feelings, and where they might lead.
“Hey, Mom?”
“What, honey?”
“What was Emerson doing here?”
In the frenzy of the moment, she’d forgotten that’s what she’d been trying to sort out. On such an important night, it made no sense for Emerson to leave her show to stop by for a visit. “You know what? I don’t know.”
Liam made the face he did anytime he tried to solve a puzzle or sort out a problem. “Didn’t she have her art thing? Isn’t that where you went?”
“It is.”
“That doesn’t make sense, then. Didn’t you tell her you were coming?”
