Imagine That

by Kristin Wallace

  Aurora’s lips twitched with a hint of a smile as she lowered her cane to the floor. “As the woman who boils little children in a black cauldron for lunch, no doubt.”

  “Think scales and fire breathing.”

  “A dragon?” Aurora hmphd, but there was no heat in the sound. “You picture me pillaging small villages if they don’t hand over their firstborn?”

  “I don’t think you’re a dragon at all,” Emily said, taking Aurora’s hand. “Just a woman who has endured a horrible tragedy that would make anyone cranky.”

  Aurora flipped her palm over so she could hold on. “You don’t have to go. Stay. Please.”

  The unexpected plea emerged like a dart in the quiet of the room. Emily had never pictured the word spilling from Aurora’s mouth.

  “You can’t leave me now,” Aurora said, voice quivering.

  To keep from dropping to her knees and sobbing into Aurora’s lap, Emily chuckled. “Why, Ms. Johnston, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were going to miss me.”

  “Miss you? Don’t be silly.”

  Since there were tears in the old woman’s eyes, Emily ignored the words.

  “Who else would put up with me?” Aurora asked.

  “I think you could win a whole town full of friends if you wanted to. You locked yourself up in here of your own accord. You’ve got the key to let yourself out again. I hope you do. There’s a big world out there, and you should see some of it before you’re incapable of getting around.”

  “Polly will get impossibly fat again.”

  “So hire one of the neighbor kids to walk her.”

  Aurora chuckled. “An answer for everything.”

  “If I had all the answers, I probably wouldn’t be leaving.”

  “Your Nate is a fool.”

  “He’s not my Nate, but yes, he is. He’s got reasons for his foolishness, though. I’m just not going to be that woman who thinks she can fix a man or make him into someone he’s not. That’s a lesson we modern girls have to learn the hard way.”

  Emily tried to pull away, but Aurora tightened her grip. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Emily had to lean forward. “For what?”

  “For showing me how to live again,” Aurora said. “For coming back, even after I sent you away.”

  “Like you said, I’m obstinate.”

  “No, I think you were brought here for a purpose. You saved what’s left of my life.”

  “Maybe you saved mine, too.” Emily lowered her head next to Aurora’s ear. “And don’t worry. I won’t ever tell anyone you’re a sweet old lady.”

  She gazed at Emily, all remote haughtiness vanished. “I like to think my Madalynn would have been just like you.”

  “Aurora, I made a vow to stop crying.” Emily half laughed, half sobbed. “You’re ruining everything.”

  “I’m not sorry,” Aurora said, not bothering hide her tears anymore.

  Emily smiled. “Neither am I.”

  “I wish you’d change your mind.”

  “I think it would take something of a divine nature to do that.”

  “You never know.”

  “Don’t.” Emily stood up. “I have to go finish packing.”

  She made it to the doorway before Aurora called out. “What kind of divine action do you need?”

  Emily glanced over her shoulder. “Aurora—” she said in exasperation. The woman wouldn’t give up.

  “Just so I know what to pray for.”

  “Goodbye, Aurora.”

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Speaking of confrontations, Emily should have expected Julia to show up at the apartment.

  “So, you are packing,” she said from the doorway.

  “As you can see.” Emily dropped the last of her clothes in her suitcase. “I suppose you’ve come to talk me out of it.”

  “If I thought it would help, I’d give a brilliant speech. Unfortunately, I think Nate is the only one who can change your mind, and I don’t see him here.”

  Emily placed the last T-shirt into her suitcase. Finished. “He probably doesn’t even know.”

  “You haven’t told him?”

  “What’s the point?” Emily asked, closing the top and snapping the locks in place.

  Julia rolled her eyes. “Oh, I don’t know. What could be the point of telling the man who loves you that you’re leaving?”

  “If Nate ever loved me, he doesn’t now,” she said, heading for the bathroom.

  Julia followed. “If he didn’t love you, he wouldn’t be so hurt, and he wouldn’t be acting like such a stubborn mule.”

  “Pretty twisted logic.” She spilled the contents of the makeup drawer into her open toiletry bag. “Anyway, the flip side of love is hate, and right now, Nate hates me.”

  “He couldn’t possibly hate you.”

  Emily opened the medicine cabinet. “Of course he could.”

  Julia slammed the mirrored door shut. “Will you please stop packing for a minute?”

  “I can’t stop,” Emily said, hating the trembling in her voice. Blubbering and crying seemed to be her only two emotional gauges right now. “If I do, I’ll fall apart. Or I’ll keep running over to Nate’s house. I’m not about to stand there for him to slam the door shut in my face again and again.”

  “Maybe you should go over there,” Julia said. “Maybe he deserves one more chance. I know you do.”

  “What’s the point?” Emily asked, pain slicing into her like a thousand needles.

  “The point is nothing worth having is ever easy. You think it was easy for me to let Seth into my heart? My parents have eight marriages between the two of them. I was pretty much abandoned by both of them when I was a teenager. My father cheated on Grace, and the woman got pregnant. He left because she threatened to expose the affair.”

  Emily blinked in astonishment. “Wow. Seriously?”

  “Deadly. I only found out when I came back. I never knew the real reason why my dad left Grace. When I found out, I decided to run away, too.”

  “I’m not running—”

  “Don’t try to con a con,” Julia said. “I ran because I was sure no one could ever get past what my father did. Not Grace, not Seth, and not the people in his church. I would have left too, if not for Grace.”

  “What did she do?”

  “She called Seth and told him to find me before it was too late. And he did.”

  “Nice story, but you hadn’t done anything to hurt Seth personally. Not like I did.”

  Julia tossed her hair. “Hurt is hurt. Doesn’t matter who’s responsible for dishing it out.”

  “I snuck Nate’s father in to see Rachel. I invited him to the funeral. I even took Zach to see Dale.”

  “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why did you do all those things?”

  “Because people kept asking me to,” Emily cried. “I didn’t set out to become a peace negotiator in the ongoing war between the Coopers.”

  “No, you helped because you knew it was the right thing to do. You weren’t trying to hurt Nate. You were helping Rachel die in peace. You were trying to help Nate find his own peace, just as you were for Zach. Nate needs to know that. You’ve got to tell him.”

  “He won’t talk to me,” Emily said through gritted teeth. How many times did she have to explain? Did they want her blood?

  “Then make him,” Julia demanded. “Give Nate one more chance, and if he doesn’t respond, then you know. You can leave, and I won’t blame you one bit.”

  “I don’t think I can,” Emily said, closing her eyes in an attempt to shut out any more friendly advice.

  “Of course you can.”

  Emily leaned against the sink and dropped her face in her hands. “Fine, fine. I’ll go get stomped on one more time.”

  ****

  A car door slammed and Nate stopped to peek outside. Emily was wearing the rainbow shorts again. No doubt the choice was deliberate. He let her ring the bell four times. Not
to be mean, but because it took that long before he could be sure he wouldn’t kiss her the minute he opened the door.

  Nate had been in counseling with Seth to get a handle on his anger issues, but the sight of Emily could still make his blood boil. In more ways than one. His continued attraction only made his temper flare brighter.

  “What do you want?” Nate asked, when he finally worked up the courage to answer.

  Emily stuck her foot in the door, as if to keep him from slamming it shut. “Before you grab a pitchfork and chase me off, I have a few things to say. Then you’ll get your wish, and I’ll be out of your hair for good.”

  One of Seth’s tenets was to take deep breaths and think before speaking. Nate did both.

  “Fine,” he said. “Let’s hear it.”

  “Oh…” Her eyes widened in surprise and she stumbled for words, as if she’d been prepared for more arguments. “Right. Okay, here goes. I saw Dale outside your house and then at the restaurant. I knew who he was the second I got a good look at his face. So, I went looking for him. To confront him. I went in with guns blazing, but when I heard the truth, I changed my mind.”

  “I know. His charm—”

  “Be quiet and let me finish,” Emily snarled. “I’ve listened to your bellyaching enough times to make me sick. It’s my turn now.”

  He cleared his throat and nodded. “Sorry.”

  Emily’s cheeks puffed out as she gathered herself to continue. “First off, your father didn’t charm me. It wasn’t like that. I won’t pretend to understand why a man would leave his wife and children, but after hearing his story, I began to see why Dale felt it was necessary. Even more importantly, I knew your mother needed to know the truth.”

  “What truth?”

  “That Dale always loved her. His personal demons drove him away. It was nothing she, or you, did. He wanted to tell her before it was too late.”

  “You thought it would matter to her?”

  “Of course it mattered,” Emily said, her eyes softening. “She still loved him.”

  “That’s impossible.” Nate’s gut clenched, and heat prickled his neck. “How could she have loved him after what he did?”

  “I’ve come to realize it’s possible to still love someone even when they’ve broken your heart.”

  Despair seemed to roll off her, and Nate knew she wasn’t only talking about his mother.

  “Rachel was days away from dying, and if she’d left this earth thinking Dale had abandoned her because of another woman or so he could have a more exciting life, I never would have been able to forgive myself,” Emily said, twisting her hands in her shirt. “I wish you could have seen them together. I think… I know… Rachel felt blessed. She told me so afterward.”

  “She died a few days later.”

  “I know. I think maybe subconsciously she was holding on, hoping Dale might return. It was the only unresolved issue in her life. Once the burden had been lifted, she could go in peace. But Nate, she asked me to do something else. For you.”

  “What?”

  “She wanted me to try and get you and your father to reconcile.”

  Shock nearly knocked him over. “My mother wanted him at the funeral?”

  “No, I invited him, and I apologize for the timing,” Emily said. “But it was her final wish to see her family reunited. She felt like you would never find true happiness unless you learned to forgive your father. After seeing your reaction, I have to agree with her. You’re more like him than you realize.”

  “I’m nothing like him,” Nate shot back.

  “I’ve seen a lot of Dale in you the last couple weeks,” Emily said, hurt clouding her features. “At least the man he used to be. You’ve got a poison in you, Nate, and it’s threatening to ruin everything good in your life.”

  “You think this so-called poison justifies what you did?”

  She lifted her chin and stared him down. “Yes. I’m sorry I hurt you, but I’m not sorry I brought Dale back into your mother’s life or yours.”

  “And Zach?” he challenged. “You thought it was all right to take my little brother into the lion’s den?”

  “Maybe you should try talking to Zach, and you’d find out why,” Emily said. “He’s not half as naïve as you think. Sometimes I think he’s the most mature of all of us.”

  “Is that all you came to say?”

  Emily’s lips thinned to a tight, white line. “No, as it happens. I also came to tell you I’m leaving.”

  “Leaving?”

  “Yes, as in getting in my car and driving off into the sunset. Or sunrise, to be more accurate.”

  Emily waited. Searched his face. “Now would be a good time for a hallelujah moment. You know, you come sweeping across the field and declare your feelings. Beg me not to go. Say you can’t live without me.”

  Nate’s heart clenched at her words, but his lips couldn’t part enough to say anything.

  She chuckled to herself. “Give him one more time, she said.” Emily gazed at him, shadows haunting her blue eyes. “I’ll be heading out tomorrow morning, so if you find it within yourself to forgive me for such a grievous injury, you know where to find me. I won’t come begging anymore. As you requested, I’m going to stop.”

  His chest ached as he watched her go. “Emily.”

  She paused. Turned. Waited.

  “I’m sorry,” Nate said.

  “So am I.”

  Then she was gone.

  The door slammed. A moment later, Zach appeared. “You are the biggest idiot on earth.”

  “Shouldn’t you be in bed?”

  “It’s only eight-thirty.”

  “Homework to do then?”

  “Already did it… Are you really gonna let her go?”

  “It’s none of your business.”

  “As long as I have to live with you, it is my business,” Zach retorted. “I feel like I’m living with an angry bear.”

  Nate’s frustration grew to a boil, and he snapped. “What do you want me to do? I told you I’m talking to Seth, trying to work out my anger.”

  “It’s not Seth you need to confront.”

  “Who then?” Nate asked. As if he didn’t know.

  “Go talk to Dad,” Zach said. “He’s staying at a cheap motel on the highway. Duke it out if you have to, but talk to him.”

  “Nothing he could say will change what he did.”

  “No, but you might at least understand why he left. Plus, you might not screw up the best thing to ever happen to you. I swear, if you let Emily leave, I’ll track her down the day I turn eighteen and marry her myself.”

  “Over my dead body.” Nate growled before he could stop himself.

  “I could probably get her to accept, too.”

  “Shut up.”

  “She obviously likes your looks. Plus, I’m younger and faster. I hear older women go for that.”

  Nate threw a cross-stitched pillow at him. “I said shut up.”

  “Nice to have you back, bro,” Zach said with a grin.

  Nate grabbed his keys. “Just pray we don’t end up killing each other.”

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Emily tossed her suitcase in the trunk and slammed it shut. Wordsworth was secure in his carrier. A cooler filled with drinks and two roast beef sandwiches rested in the back seat. The picnic came courtesy of Grace, who’d slipped out her screen door before Emily could make an escape.

  “Are you sure you have to rush off?” Grace asked. “The sun’s not even fully up. If you wait a few more minutes, I’m sure—”

  “Nate’s not coming,” Emily said as she walked around the car. “I didn’t expect him to.”

  The woman smiled in a gentle, but firm way, which said she knew all secrets. “Of course you did.”

  Emily lowered her gaze before she betrayed herself. “Silly of me.”

  “It’s never silly to try when you love someone. I’m sorry you feel you have to go.”

  “So am I.”

  “I ho
pe you’ll call when you get— Where are you going?”

  “Home. I think it’s time to face those demons. No more gallivanting across the world.”

  “Are you sure?” Grace asked, smoothing a lock of Emily’s hair back from her face. “Perhaps you’re meant to settle here.”

  Emily pulled away. “All of you must read from the same script. You never give up.”

  “We try never to give up on people in Covington Falls.”

  Emily smiled. A real smile from the heart. “Thank you for sharing your apartment with me. It is indeed special.”

  “I’m so sorry things didn’t work out.”

  “I think maybe they did, just not the way I imagined.”

  After one last hug, Emily jumped in her car. Backing out of the driveway took more willpower than she’d ever imagined. She refused to look in the rearview mirror. Refused to take her eyes off the road as she drove through town. She certainly didn’t look in the direction of Nate’s street.

  Lake Rice ruined everything.

  How could Emily not look at the small oasis? How could she not pull over? Especially since she couldn’t see well enough to drive?

  A thin blanket of fog enveloped the surface, with the first glimmering rays of gold breaking over the horizon. Ethereal. Otherworldly. A land formed in the imagination, for surely it couldn’t actually exist.

  Emily closed her eyes. Hey God? Yeah, I know what You’re thinking. How come she only prays when she’s desperate? As many people would attest, I’m obstinate. I don’t have any excuse. I always think I know better, but it seems like the more I try, the more I mess things up. So, here’s the deal. I’ll leave everything up to You. Everyone says You have a plan, so now’s the time to reveal a bit of it.

  She opened her eyes. The fog was beginning to lift now. Suddenly, the scene shifted.

  Out of the mist rode a figure. A man. On a white horse. Not a great steed, but a faithful old workhorse. A horse once used in a field, not in battle. The man was a scarred veteran of many wars. A hero who no longer wanted to be a hero.