“How could I not? You know how you took care of Walter’s family for me because you love me? I feel the same way about you. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do. All you need is to ask,” she said, shivering again.
“Come on, let’s get you to the house. You’re freezing,” he said.
As they turned the corner, Emmie’s heart sank as she noticed that Silas’s family was getting into their cars.
“I suppose you will be leaving with them?” she asked, nodding to his family.
“Yes, but I’ll be back for you early in the morning. I’ve made plans for you to see Chicago tomorrow. That is unless you’d rather sit around here,” he answered with a grin.
“No, but what about Ava?” Emmie asked.
“She and her mother are going to meet you there tomorrow afternoon,” he said, giving her a playful slap on the leg.
She was going to spend most of tomorrow alone in Chicago with Silas. This day was looking up.
Chapter Twelve
Trick and Jemma were sitting in the back of the shiny black car. Okay, so maybe not a day alone in Chicago with Silas. Emmie wondered why his brother and sister were tagging along if it was supposed to be such a special day for the two of them. Not that she minded; she liked his family. It just seemed strange for Silas to want an entourage. She was thankful that no one had brought up her outburst from yesterday. Emmie wondered how Silas and Trick had resolved the situation. Maybe they had blown it off as a dramatic overreaction by Emmie. Whatever they had done she was thankful. Jemma seemed relaxed and easy again. When she entered the car it was polite smiles and pleasantry. All signs of yesterday’s tension were gone.
Ava stood at the door and waved until they reached the end of the drive. Emmie hated leaving her behind, but Ava seemed excited with the idea they would meet up later. It would be her first day not locked up in the house in weeks. She and Ava had never gotten to talk about all of the information Emmie had shared in her outburst. After everyone left Molly and Al had spent most of the evening talking privately to Ava in her father’s office. Emmie couldn’t help but wonder if it was about Gabe or the impending wedding. Unfortunately, the two girls were never alone to question one another on either topic. Emmie knew the next time they were together, they would each get an earful of information.
“Go with him. He’s planned this day for you,” Ava had whispered as she hugged her friend goodbye.
It seemed that everyone but Emmie had known he planned to take her away. She had no idea what was on the agenda for today. She had asked three different ways as they drove toward Chicago, but Silas gave the same mysterious reply.
“I’ve already told you. Just trust me.”
She sighed. “I’m not a fan of surprises.”
He glanced over at her, tilting his head to the side as he said, “Have you ever had a good one?”
Emmie looked out the window. “Of course,” she thought for a moment before adding, “when Ronnie gave me Spotty. That was a complete surprise. I sure am missing that old dog.” How odd it was that her first thought of a happy surprise came from Ronnie. She supposed Silas was right in what he’d always told her. People weren’t all good or bad.
Silas laughed, bringing her out of her thoughts. “Well, I promise there is not a puppy waiting for you in the city.”
Emmie snapped her fingers in fake disappointment then grinned, looking out the window. The horizon ahead was changing. The buildings in the distance seemed to grow straight up from the earth and touch the sky. They must be miles from the city, but you could already see it. She was in awe.
“It’s a different kind of beautiful here, you know? It’s not hills and nature but it’s just as amazing,” Emmie said.
“Are you thinking of becoming a Yankee, Emmie?” Trick asked in a mixed country-southern accent that was almost spot on.
“You’ve been spending too much time with those Johnsons. You are starting to sound like one.” Emmie giggled.
“You have no idea,” Silas said dryly.
Emmie frowned up at him. She wondered what that was supposed to mean. She remembered the way Trick had said something about Millie, Bo’s sister, being a beauty their last day in Kentucky. Was Trick carrying a torch for Millie? That was an interesting question. She made a mental note to file that conversation away for another time when she and Silas were alone. Emmie wouldn’t embarrass him by bringing it up now in front of his sister.
“Who are the Johnsons?” Jemma asked.
“Close your eyes and picture the word hillbilly. You’re looking at the Johnsons,” Silas said, turning onto a street encased by two of the tallest buildings Emmie had ever seen. Then he added as an afterthought, “They are no one you will ever meet.”
“That doesn’t sound like a kind description of them. Especially when you think of the way Bo put himself out there for you.” Emmie chastised him and then turned her attention to Jemma. “They are a nice large family that lives a few miles from me.”
“More like a clan,” Trick added, laughing from the back seat.
Emmie ignored him and continued, “They are good people. Well, most of them are good people and Bo has been my friend for years. He has a sister named Millie. She’s about your age.”
Trick frowned. Deep creases set in the corner of his mouth like he’d sucked on a lemon. “Millie’s not Jemma’s age.”
“Jemma, how old are you?” Emmie asked.
“I just turned eighteen last month,” she answered.
“Yeah, Millie’s nineteen. I’m fairly sure of it. She was just a little behind me in school,” Emmie said.
“She’s older than Jemma,” Trick said, looking at his sister like he was convincing himself.
“Yeah but only about six months or so,” Emmie corrected.
Silas snickered as he pulled up to his building.
“Oh, dry it up, Silas,” Trick said, annoyed. He sure seemed to be in a sour mood.
Jemma looked at Emmie and shrugged her shoulders as if to say she no idea about the unspoken conversation that had just passed between her brothers. Emmie had a pretty good understanding about what had upset Trick but knew it wasn’t the right time to bring it up.
“So, we’re heading up to your apartment?” Emmie asked, recognizing the tall building.
“I thought we’d head up for an early lunch. Is that okay?” he asked.
“Sure. It’s going to be a really early lunch. It’s not even ten yet, Silas,” she laughed.
They stepped out of the car. Silas handed something to a valet and walked around to meet Emmie.
“Are you giving that man your car?” she asked, barely paying him any mind.
Trick and Jemma laughed, walking ahead of them in the building.
“He’ll be back with it when we need it; come on,” Silas said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
As they headed upstairs he nodded or spoke to everyone along the way. The last time she’d been here the place had been vacant. Today it was mid-morning and the place was bustling. Emmie noticed that everyone seemed to know Jemma and Trick too. They must come here to visit Silas frequently. When they reached his apartment and the door opened she was met with the warm smell of home. Silas grabbed her hand and pulled her into the kitchen. There she found two women dressed in the same black and white uniform that she’d seen at Ava’s family’s Chicago home. Emmie’s mouth fell open. One woman was buttering thick slices of cornbread and the other was ladling pinto beans into fancy bowls. Searching the counter she found a pitcher of freshly brewed tea.
“Is that sweet tea?” Emmie giggled.
“I know it is early in the day for this kind of meal but it’s one of your favorites, right? Trick and I tried to explain that tomato gravy to about five different cooks and no one had ever heard of it. I hope this is okay,” he said, rubbing his jaw.
“Okay? This is better than okay. This is going to be even better than Thanksgiving.” She poked his arm playfully as she spoke. Then she turned to the two women working fev
erishly. “Thank you both so much. I appreciate it. If you want to leave the dishes, I’ll take care of them.”
One woman looked flustered at the suggestion. She turned to the other who was watching Silas’s reaction with a smile. It was the latter woman who spoke to Emmie. “You go enjoy your meal, child. Let us worry about the dishes today.”
Silas grinned at the woman. “Thanks, Miss Ann. Emmie, did you see what’s for dessert?”
Miss Ann grabbed one of the pots still simmering on the stove and tilted it to the side so Emmie could see the contents.
Emmie laughed. “Wow, Silas. Looks like you planned for all of my favorites.”
“Miss Anne makes great applesauce,” he said.
The older woman smiled and shooed them out of the kitchen. Emmie turned to face Silas before they reached the dining room where Jemma and Trick were waiting. She rested one hand on his cheek as she said, “You are so thoughtful. This is a nice surprise. You hate beans and cornbread though.”
“It’s fine. I suppose it’s a taste I’ll need to acquire,” he said. “Besides, I told you. Today is for you.”
Emmie leaned up on her toes and kissed him. Silas picked her up off the ground, balancing her weight in his arms. “I love you, Mo Chuisle.”
*
The food was great. Of course, Emmie ate like a lumberjack and the other three picked at the beans and drank more of their water than tea. They were all good sports. Emmie would find some way to make the meal up to them. After they’d eaten, Jemma led her into a small bedroom to freshen up. The room had only one window and was decorated in varying shades of pink and red. It was a very girly room for a man’s house. Jemma opened a door revealing a closet full of clothes—girls’ clothes—and pulled out a pair of gloves and a scarf.
“I volunteer in the city a couple of days a week. It started out as a summer adventure but I liked it so much I managed to talk one of my teachers into counting it as credit hours for my teacher’s prep classes. Silas fixed this room up for me. He’s a good brother,” she said with a smile.
“I can see that. It’s a beautiful room,” Emmie agreed.
“This is for you,” Jemma added a little sheepishly as she pointed to the bed.
Emmie was surprised to find a brand new navy wool dress in the latest style with coordinating stockings and headband laying across the bed. The dress was nearly the same color as Silas’s suit, minus the pinstripe. Jemma explained that Silas had been worried her clothes weren’t warm enough.
As if the new clothes weren’t enough, right before they left he’d dropped a coat across her shoulders. It was much the same motion as the one he had used the day he’d met her at Ava’s pool all those months ago. Only this time the coat was much heavier. It was a proper winter coat. Red. Warm. Lush. She’d never had anything like it.
“You shouldn’t have done all this,” she said, looking up at him as they made their way back to the lobby. “It was too expensive. I’m feeling a little like Cinderella.”
Silas didn’t say anything; he only grinned.
“Give it a rest.” Trick laughed, walking past them.
A man drove up with the car just as Silas had said he would. Jemma hopped into the backseat. “I’ve got to go to work today. That’s why we needed to eat early. Trick and I need to do a few things in the office. We are going to meet you later. Jemma knows the plan, and your driver, Nick, is a friend of mine. He’ll take good care of you girls while we are gone.” Silas pulled out his wallet and handed Emmie a stack of cash. “Buy anything you like, it’s on me. Today is your day, okay?”
Emmie stood there dumbfounded, looking at the cash wondering what was happening. He brought her into the city, made her feel like a princess, and then sent her off with his sister while he went to the office. She opened her mouth to tell him what she thought of his here’s cash, now off you go plan but didn’t have the chance. A car behind them was in a hurry and the driver was yelling something. Silas ushered her into the front seat and slammed the car door. He stood there waving for a moment, then turned and walked in the opposite direction with Trick. Emmie stared down at the cash in her hands again, unable to speak. She sat there fuming and feeling like a fool.
Chapter Thirteen
Silas had no doubt that Emmie was mad. He could tell by the way she had crumpled the cash in her tiny fist that she was fuming at him. He laughed to himself as he made his way to the law firm with Trick. He thought about telling her where she was going but decided not to. Emmie deserved fun and good surprises. He wished he could see the look on her face when she realized what the money was for. He snickered again to himself.
Trick looked over at him like he was a mad man. “You know she’s angry, right?”
“Yeah, she won’t be though, when she figures it out,” he said.
“Why not just tell her? Then you could see her enjoy it,” Trick asked honestly.
Silas shrugged and pulled a cigarette from his vest pocket. “It’s a part of it too, I guess. Emmie loves to figure things out.” His mind flashed back to the way she had studied the newspapers trying to help him with the revenuer. “She will enjoy it more this way. I’ve told Jemma not to explain until they get there.”
“You sure are going to a lot of trouble for this,” Trick said.
“She’s worth it. Her light’s starting to come back,” Silas said.
“You know none of that was your fault. She’s a strong girl. She can hold up to it,” he said, looking at his older brother.
Silas nodded as he took a draw from his cigarette.
“Have you given any thought to the fact you don’t have much of an excuse to go back to Kentucky anymore?” Trick asked.
“I have,” Silas answered. “Have you?”
“I have,” Trick repeated his brother’s words. He paused for a moment and then added, “But Millie and I aren’t like you and Emmie. We’ve not been sharing a bed for the past two months.”
Silas stopped in the street and turned to stare down his brother.
Trick put his hands up in surrender. “I didn’t mean for that to sound that way. I just meant . . . I don’t know. Just forget about it. It’s none of my business anyway.”
“You’re right. It’s not any of your damn business,” he said, beginning to walk again. “She’s still pure though. I’m only saying it to you because I don’t want you thinking things that aren’t true about her.”
Trick was at a loss for words. He didn’t know if he was more surprised that Emmie was a virgin or that Silas had told him.
“You’re kidding me,” he said without thinking. “Look, I’m sorry. Let’s just stop this little heart to heart, okay?”
“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Silas said, stomping out his cigarette. They walked for a few more blocks before either spoke.
“Are you holding out because you’re not sure she’s it for you?” Trick asked.
Of course Trick couldn’t leave it alone. It took Silas a moment to process what his brother was asking. He sighed and rubbed his jaw before he answered.
“She’s it for me,” he said with resolve.
“What is it then? Are you just trying to do right by her so she doesn’t end up like Ava?” Trick asked.
“I guess,” Silas said, rubbing his jaw again. He was not enjoying this conversation but he continued because it was a decision he needed to make. Trick’s easy way with words often helped him think through things he would have otherwise avoided. “I just don’t want to take anything else from her that I can’t give back.”
Trick didn’t have a reply for that statement. So, he took a play from Silas’s book. He was quiet until his brother started to speak again.
“If we get married she can’t teach. You know that. They aren’t ever going to let a married lady be a teacher. I’ve checked everywhere from here to Kentucky. Every school system seems to have the same guidelines. Last week I managed to call some superintendent in Louisville. Thought I’d check to see if there was any amount of donation tha
t would persuade him or his schools to change the rule. He was so upset he nearly hung up the telephone on me. It’s a ridiculous rule, isn’t it? What do they think? She might fill the kids’ heads with all the secrets of being a married woman,” he said sarcastically. “So here I am. Walking around in Chicago with no clue what to do next. I can’t move my life to Bowling Green.” Silas had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk in front of the law office. He paced the length of the doorway before he finished his thought. “I cannot expect her to move up here with no promise of a future. So I guess I know the right thing to do. Support her through school and just wait around until she’s tired of teaching.”
“Well, that’s one plan I guess,” Trick said. “Does she know about the rules?”
“I’m not sure. If she does she’s never brought it up,” Silas said.
“Maybe you should give her the choice,” he suggested to his older brother.
“What . . . say me or your dreams? I can’t do that.” Silas frowned.
“No, that’s not what I meant. I just mean maybe she has changed her mind,” Trick suggested. “I haven’t even heard her talk about school lately.”
“Because she’s been making apple pie moonshine. That’s my point. She needs something to do. She’s never just going to be a kept woman. She wasn’t raised like Jemma,” he explained.
“I know but I’m saying this sounds like something you should talk to her about. You’ve obviously been thinking a lot about it,” Trick retorted.
Silas rubbed his face and nodded toward the door of the firm. “Come on. We’re late.” He was dismissing the conversation and they both knew it. Trick didn’t fight it though. It really wasn’t any of his business. Never in his life had he seen his brother go to so much effort for a girl.
*
Emmie and Jemma were let out of the car in front of a store just as she had expected. What she hadn’t expected was the type of store. It was just a small general store that was not so different from Mr. Thomas’s back home on the square. It seemed to have a little bit of everything.
Come Rain or Shine (Shine On Series, Book Three) Page 6
