by Tamie Dearen
Emily was special. She was a really good friend. He knew they were only friends, and it’s all they’d ever be. She’d made that perfectly clear. He knew it in his head, but his body kept thinking about other possibilities. Last November, when she was visiting her mom in New York for the first time, he’d actually hugged her. He’d had a great excuse, sharing his warmth by wrapping her inside his coat on a windy water cruise. But he’d enjoyed it immensely. Now, all these months later, he could still remember exactly what it felt like to hold her tight, as she snuggled against him. The tingle of her arms around his back. The clean scent of her hair. The awareness of her soft areas pressed against his firm muscles. If he closed his eyes, he could almost feel it like it was happening now. He imagined her huddling against him. He sensed her body relaxing against the warmth of his chest. He remembered how his heart swelled with the knowledge he was protecting her.
“Spencer. Are you listening?” His mother’s voice invaded his mind.
“Oh, sorry. What did you say?” His face flamed.
“I was telling you the back burner isn’t working any more.”
“Okay, thanks. I’ll work around it. Are you getting it fixed?”
She groaned. “Maybe after I get a job. I’ve had several interviews, but new RNs get the worst schedules. Everything I’ve been offered has been working nights. I’d never get to see your dad.”
He gave her a hug with his arm, holding his shrimp-covered fingers away from her. “I’m so proud of you, Mom, for finally getting your RN. Surely you’ll find a good job soon.”
“So… Tell me about this girl who’s coming to dinner.”
Grace grinned. “Yes, Spencer. Tell us about Emily.”
He glared at Grace. “You invited her. Why don’t you tell us about her?”
“Oh. I’m confused. Hannah told me she was Spencer’s new girlfriend.” His mother scratched her head.
Spencer switched his glare to Hannah. “She’s just a girl I work with. She’s a friend.”
“Maybe,” said Grace. “But I don’t think so. At least, I think you like her more than that. I’m not sure how she feels, but I intend to find out.”
“Grace, I’m warning you. If you do anything to—”
“I’m not going to do anything. I’m merely going to observe.”
“Grace—” Spencer began.
“Well,” his mother interrupted. “I’m just glad your friend is coming to dinner. You’ve dated all those girls, and you’ve never brought a single one to the house before. I was beginning to think you were ashamed of us.”
“Mom, please don’t say stuff like that around Emily,” pleaded Spencer.
“Like what?”
“Stuff about me dating so many girls. I don’t want her to think I’m a player.”
“What’s a player?” she asked.
Olivia jumped in. “But you are a player. Aren’t you, Spencer? At least you’ve never minded us saying it before.”
“You may not bring them home, but every time we see you, you’re with a different girl,” said Claire. “What are we supposed to call you?”
“The important thing is he doesn’t want us to call him a player around this girl. Like I said, Emily is different. Sorry Bro, you can’t hide anything from me.” She whispered in his ear, “Even if you’re hiding it from yourself.”
“And this,” said Spencer, “is why I’ve never brought a girl to dinner.”
*****
Anne woke up once when Steven was carrying her. But her head hurt, and she squeezed her eyes closed again.
When next she opened her eyes, she was staring at a fluorescent light. She considered the unattractive fixture. One of the bulbs was dark at the end. What did that mean? Maybe she needed to tell Steven to change the light bulb. Would he do it himself? Or would he call someone from maintenance? She opened her mouth to call out his name, but no sound emerged. Was she dreaming? Maybe this was one of those nightmares where you try to call out for help, but you can’t make anyone hear you.
“She’s awake.”
Anne turned her head toward a woman’s voice.
“Do you want me to explain it to her? Or do you want to tell her?”
She heard Steven say, “I’ll tell her.”
Steven, the light bulb is going out. He couldn’t hear her. Or he was ignoring her. He was talking to that woman.
“I’ll be back tomorrow morning, early, before I go to my office. And we’ll decide our next step. Okay? And now you have my cell number. You will call me if anything changes. Do you understand?”
“Yes. And thank you.”
Anne drifted back to sleep.
*****
Emily’s palms were sweating. Why was she nervous? She was simply going to dinner with a friend. In fact, she was really going to dinner with a female friend. Grace was the one who’d invited her to dinner. Spencer was only a guy who was going to be at the dinner. Not that she had any reason to be nervous about dinner with Spencer anyway. And even it she wanted to date him, she wouldn’t, because he was a player.
And besides that, she wasn’t a risk-taker, like Spencer. He liked every adrenaline-pushing sport that existed. He’d be bored with her in a week. No, tonight she was simply going to dinner at Grace’s house. In fact, she planned to be certain she sat between two of the sisters, to play it safe. If she sat next to Spencer and he accidentally brushed his hand against hers, she’d probably spill her drink or break something. She still hadn’t gotten used to that tingly thing that happened when he touched her.
She paused before she knocked on the door. Maybe she should check the dessert one more time. She lifted the lid, and the sweet scent of chocolate assaulted her nose. Assured her treats were intact, she closed the lid tight again and steeled her nerves. She raised her fist to knock when the door flew open and a slim arm snaked out.
“Here she is!” Claire grabbed her hand, pulling her inside, her brown bob bouncing as she led her into the dining room.
“Hi, Emily.” Hannah glanced up from setting the table. Her dark red curls were confined to a braid.
“Are these the Hello Dolly Bars?” Olivia took the dessert from her hands, popped the lid open and pinched off a piece of the chocolate dessert to pop in her mouth.
“Olivia.” Grace spoke sternly up at her sister, who quailed despite her superior stature. Grace took the plastic container away. “Come meet Momma and Papa.”
Emily obediently followed Grace into the kitchen where she spied Spencer busy at the stove. He had on shorts and a t-shirt, and she couldn’t help but note his leg muscles again. He really looked good when he was cooking. Wow, she was thinking like a female chauvinist pig. She tore her eyes away to greet his mother, busy washing a pan in the sink.
“Momma, this is Emily... Uhmm what’s your last name?”
“Hi, I’m Emily Best. It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Marshall.”
“Connie. Call me Connie. And this is Joe.”
“Hi, Emily. We’re glad to meet you. I’m sorry it’s so chaotic around here,” said Joe. “But to tell you truth, this is normal.”
“Especially on Sunday night when Spencer’s here,” said Grace.
“Oh no. You’re not blaming this noisy mess on me; I’m just the cook,” said Spencer.
“Table’s set,” announced Hannah. “Everybody get your own drink.”
“Except you,” Claire told Emily. “I’ll get yours. Is ice water okay? Or we’ve got milk or juice?”
“Ice water,” agreed Emily.
In a seeming frenzy, the family scurried around getting glasses and ice and drinks and moving the food to the table. Emily found herself sitting at the table between Spencer and Grace. Hannah, Olivia, and Claire sat across, with Joe and Connie at the ends. Her heart raced. What if they touched? Would the sisters notice her reaction? She practiced the breathing exercises she used to calm herself before a test or a dance recital. In-two-three-hold... Out-two-three-hold...
Joe said a blessing before the group dov
e into the food.
“Shrimp scampi—woo hoo!” said Claire.
“Pass the rice, please,” said Olivia.
Emily and Spencer reached for the bowl of rice simultaneously. Their fingers touched, and Emily felt a tingle. She twitched at the sensation, but she didn’t pull her hand away.
“Sorry,” mumbled Spencer, as he allowed Emily to pass the bowl across the table.
“Son, dinner’s delicious, as always.” Joe smiled at Emily. “We all got used to his cooking—took it for granted all those years. Now he’s moved away from home, we only get to enjoy it on Sundays.”
Connie said, “The rest of the week, they have to suffer with my cooking.”
The whole family laughed, but Grace explained to Emily, “She’s only joking. Momma hates cooking. When it’s not Spencer, it’s me or Papa.”
“Sometimes I cook,” declared Hannah.
“Hannah does brinner,” said Olivia. “You know, breakfast for dinner? Eggs, toast, pancakes, bacon—she loves cooking breakfast food.”
“I bake,” said Claire. “And I want your recipe, Emily.”
“Shouldn’t you try them first? You might not want the recipe.” Emily chuckled.
“So... Emily,” Grace spoke in an intentionally casual tone. “Who are your parents?”
“Grace,” Spencer warned. “That’s none of your business.”
“Why? She met my parents. Surely she’s not ashamed of her parents.”
“Grace.” Spencer said the name between clenched teeth.
Connie said, “Grace, if Emily doesn’t want to talk about—”
“It’s okay. Really, it’s okay. It’s no big deal, really.” Emily steeled herself against the embarrassing reaction people always gave when she revealed who her stepfather was.
“Aunt May lets her parents sit in the back room, so I know they’re famous or important or something.” Grace waited with rapt attention.
Spencer studied his plate while the rest of the family gazed expectantly at Emily.
“Uhmm, my mom’s name is Anne, and she’s been a widow for fifteen years. My dad died in a car wreck, along with two of my grandparents.”
Connie gasped. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’m really okay. It’s been fifteen years, so it doesn’t really hurt any more—not much.”
“So is your mom rich or famous or something?” asked Grace. “What’s her last name?”
“Her mom is married to my boss,” said Spencer. “Okay? Now you know.”
“Your boss, as in, your immediate boss? Or the one who owns the company?” asked Joe.
“Steven Gherring,” said Emily. “She’s married to Steven Gherring.”
“Wow,” Claire spoke into the ensuing silence. “You’re rich, huh?”
“Claire!” scolded Connie.
“I don’t live with them, so it’s not my money.” Emily knew her face was glowing red.
“I’m sorry,” said Spencer miserably. “This whole thing was a bad idea. I shouldn’t have let you come.”
“Nonsense,” said Connie. “Now we’ve gotten over the shock of the idea, we won’t embarrass you again, Emily. I imagine you were a little shocked yourself when it first happened.”
Emily let out a breath, and smiled gratefully at Connie. “Actually, my sister and I were both a bit shocked at the whole thing. That’s a long story. But Steven’s a really great guy, and he’s nothing like they say in the tabloids. He’s super nice, and he really, really loves my mom.”
“I told you guys when I met him six months ago he was nice and down-to-earth. I told you he didn’t act like a billionaire,” said Spencer.
“Yes,” said Olivia. “But you didn’t tell us you were dating his daughter.”
“We’re not dating,” he corrected before Emily had a chance to respond. “We’re friends. Right, Emily? At least I hope we’re still friends, after this.”
“We’re still friends.” Her heart broke a little at his apologetic smile. He was trying so hard to protect her. Not that she would ever need protecting by a man. She was self-sufficient.
*****
Anne opened her eyes again. She was shivering. There was a metal rail on her bed. Hospital. She must be getting her IV. How did she get here?
“Are you cold?” Steven said, adding a white blanket to her covers. “You’ve got like four blankets on.”
“Did I get my IV?” she croaked. “Can I go home now?”
“Well, we need to talk about that,” he said, coming to sit beside her and hold her hand. “The doctor met us here. It turns out she was angry we didn’t call her earlier. We discovered you don’t have morning sickness. She said you have something called hyperemesis gravidarum. It can be really dangerous—to you and the baby. Since you didn’t respond to the Vitamin B6 and anti-nausea meds, you’re probably going to need to stay in the hospital.”
“But I feel better now. I don’t even feel nauseated.”
“That’s because they gave you medicine in your IV. You were throwing up your oral meds before they even got into your system. You need the IV.”
Now fully hydrated, her eyes were swimming in tears that pooled and flowed down her face in rivers. “Please, can I go home? I don’t want to stay here.”
He squeezed her hand. “First, we’re gonna talk about something else. I have to call Emily and Charlie. They have to know you’re in the hospital. They’ll have to deal with keeping your secret.”
She nodded. He was right, of course. She couldn’t put it off any longer.
“Okay. Just get Emily here. I’ll tell her in person. But don’t scare her, okay?”
Steven rolled his eyes. “Dealing with you Best women can be so difficult.”
*****
The food disappeared quickly. With so much laughing and teasing and conversing, Emily was surprised anyone managed to eat at all.
“Time for dessert.” Olivia emerged from the kitchen with the Emily’s container in hand.
She set the Tupperware in the middle of the table after snatching a bar for herself and taking a bite.
“Yum!” said Claire, her expression ecstatic as she relished the chocolaty dessert.
“These are really good,” Spencer confirmed.
Emily watched the Marshall family devouring the sweet bars. “I’m so full from dinner. I can’t even imagine eating dessert.”
“That’s why you should always eat dessert first,” Olivia declared.
Grace had been quiet during the last part of dinner. “Are you mad at me for being nosey about your parents?”
“Of course not. I had fun tonight.”
“But I’m still mad at you.” Spencer crossed his arms. “I told you not to be so nosey, and you wouldn’t listen.”
“Let’s change the subject,” suggested Grace. “Momma, how’s the job hunt going?”
“Nothing so far—at least nothing that doesn’t involve working the midnight shift.”
“Momma’s been an LVN for years, but she went back to school and graduated with her RN two weeks ago,” Grace boasted.
“Congratulations,” said Emily. “Oh! My phone’s vibrating.” When she saw Steven’s name, she felt the blood drain from her face.
“It’s Steven,” she whispered to Spencer as she ran quickly to the den.
“Hello? Steven? Is something wrong with Mom?”
“She’s okay. But they’re keeping her in the hospital tonight. She... she got dehydrated again. Can you come and see her tonight?”
“I’m coming right now. What’s the name of the hospital?”
She heard Spencer’s voice behind her. “I know where it is. I’ll get you there.”
Steven said, “Is that Spencer?”
“Yes, he said he’d bring me.”
“It’ll take fifteen minutes if we leave right now,” said Spencer.
“Don’t panic getting here. It’s not an emergency—she just wants to see you. Okay?”
But Emily couldn’t stop crying. Spencer took the phone
from her trembling hand. “I’ll take care of her, Mr. Gherring. We’ll see you in a few minutes.”
He ended the call and opened his arms, and she fell against him, sobbing. He held her until she quieted.
She sniffed. “I... I’m s-sorry. I d-don’t know why I’m cr-crying.”
“What happened? What did he say?”
“J-just that sh-she’s in the h-hospital.”
“Okay. Did he say it’s bad? Did he tell you what’s really wrong?”
“N-no. He didn’t say.”
“Well, let’s go. Let’s get there and see what’s going on. She’s going to be fine.”
Emily was suddenly conscious Spencer had his arms around her. And she had her arms around him. She stiffened and pulled away, but immediately felt the loss. Vaguely, she worried she’d sought and found comfort so easily from Spencer. But that’s what friends were for, right?
She saw Grace watching from the doorway of the den. Spencer followed Emily’s eyes to his sister. “Her mom’s sick, so I’m taking Emily to the hospital. This information doesn’t leave this house. Understand?”
Emily moved woodenly as he led her out the door. She attempted to reinstate the brave, fearless front behind which she’d hidden so successfully for years. She detested herself for her lack of control, and determined not to show weakness again. She had to be strong.
*****
Anne tried desperately to stay awake, but failed. She didn’t see Emily when she entered the room. She didn’t get to give her an assuring smile, and she didn’t get to prime herself to look strong and healthy. Instead, she woke up to her daughter’s tear streaked face.
“Baby, I’m okay. Don’t cry.” She held up her arms to invite a hug. “I’m just worn out. But I feel better already.”
“You don’t have an ulcer, do you?”
