The Game (Carolina Connections Book 4)

by Sylvie Stewart

  “Hello, Mr. Scott. I’m guessing I don’t need to introduce myself.” He gave a little scoff but I soldiered on. “I’m not here to plead my case, so don’t worry. I just want to talk to you about Emerson.”

  His eyebrows rose almost to his hairline. “And you think you know things about my daughter that I don’t? You’ve been in her life for all of a few weeks.”

  I took a second to remind myself to stay calm. “I understand. I just wanted you to know it was a colleague who got her fired, not anything Emerson did or didn’t do. She doesn’t even know the full extent of it yet, but even if she did, I knew she wouldn’t tell you. She’s not one to pass blame.”

  “I should hope not.”

  “But, I assure you, this was not her fault.” I refrained from adding it wasn’t my fault either. I just didn’t get this guy. Aren’t parents supposed to be unconditionally loving and supportive? From everything I’d suspected and Ari had confirmed, this guy’s love did not come cheap.

  “Why are you telling me this?” He tried to look bored but his jaw was tight.

  “Because, like I said, I knew she wouldn’t. And she’s working her tail off trying to get a new job, trying to salvage her career. I figured it was worth appealing to you to help her. Even if it’s just emotional support.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you’re taking care of the emotional support in your own special way.” He practically sneered at me. This guy took dickhead to a whole new level.

  “Actually, you’ll be happy to know that we broke up so she can focus on her professional life and her brother.”

  He huffed. “She wouldn’t have to worry about Jay if her mother hadn’t shirked her own responsibilities. I’m happy to hear Emerson isn’t letting herself follow Naomi’s path to mediocrity anymore.” Then something seemed to occur to him. “If you broke up, why are you here, pleading her case?”

  I didn’t understand this man one bit. “Just because we broke up doesn’t mean I don’t care for her. That’s not how relationships work.”

  He sniffed. “If that’s all, I need to get back to work. I’m sure you can see yourself out.” He turned to go.

  I couldn’t stop the next words from coming out. “Emmy shouldn’t have to earn your love. She’s your daughter.”

  He stopped and turned momentarily. “It’s not my love Emerson has to earn. It’s my respect.” He resumed his steps down the hall.

  Jesus. This guy.

  “If that’s how you feel, maybe it should go both ways.”

  I didn’t look to see if he even heard me. I just walked out the door and closed it behind me.

  Then I made a mental note to call my parents.

  With help, I’d done everything I could to ease things for Emmy. Now I just had to wait and hope it was enough.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Sometimes Brownies Are the Best Medicine

  EMERSON

  Day three with no job and I was going nutballs.

  And the worst part of it was, now that I was down to applying for the dregs of potential job opportunities I had more time to think. Of course, my thoughts liked to wander to all things Gavin. I was so conflicted. I knew I’d made the right choice to end things, but I also knew he wasn’t to blame for the situation I was currently in. And I missed him.

  The oven timer beeped, and I went to retrieve the pan of brownies. No matter how many times I’d tried to make brownies from scratch—okay, the two times I’d tried—they always tasted better from the boxed mix. This was one area where I wasn’t ever going to be an overachiever.

  “Oh, wow,” came Jay’s voice from the entry to the kitchen. “I’m sorry if this is totally insensitive, but I hope you never get another job.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. I’d finally had to tell Jay about my job, but I glossed it over by saying I had numerous offers on the way. I couldn’t remember ever lying to my brother, with the exception of the existence of Santa and maybe sasquatches, but I didn’t want him to worry. Knowing him, he’d be on the next bus to Mom and Aldo if he thought I was at all struggling.

  Which I wasn’t, technically. Like any responsible adult with a good-paying job, I set aside money each month for savings and retirement. And I had an investment portfolio. Suffice it to say, we weren’t going to starve anytime soon, but I needed a job. Not just for income, but for my sanity.

  “Well, give it a minute or you’ll burn a hole in your esophagus.” I looked around at the counter and saw the crock pot bubbling away with chicken tortilla soup, as well as the stack of cookies I’d baked earlier, the soda bread that had turned out a bit dry, and the chocolate chip banana bread I was planning on giving to Ari. Hmm, perhaps I’d gone a little overboard.

  But offers were not flooding in and I needed a distraction. It turns out it’s next to impossible to get a job with a reputable firm when you’ve been fired from another one. I needed somebody with clout to recommend me, and my one letter from Travis wasn’t going to cut it. His firm wasn’t hiring, but he’d kindly written me a reference and wished me luck. I tried not to think too much about the step down he’d had to take when he switched firms after getting the ax like me.

  Jay hovered over the brownie pan, inhaling the scent. “Please try not to drool on those,” I said with very little hope.

  “No promises,” he responded.

  I took another look around. “Do you have any hungry friends you could invite over? I need my counter space back.”

  He gave me a sharp look of betrayal. “No way. These are mine.” One arm reached toward the cookie plate to bring it closer for protection. “Well, you can have a few, I guess.”

  “Gee, thanks.” But I wasn’t hungry. I just needed something to keep my hands busy so they didn’t dial Gavin’s number. I had yet to hear from him, but that was what I’d wanted, right?

  As if my thoughts had triggered it, my phone rang from its spot on the counter. I froze. Jay leaned over for a look. “It’s your dad,” he said.

  I groaned. I hadn’t called my dad yet, but I had no doubt he knew all about my current predicament. He had too many friends in the law community not to know all the comings and goings. I didn’t think I could stomach it if this was an “I told you so” phone call, but the last time I’d avoided him hadn’t turned out so well. I sighed and went to grab the phone before it went to voicemail.

  “Hi, Dad.” I tried to sound chipper, God knows why.

  “Emerson. How are you holding up?”

  Huh, maybe this wouldn’t be so awful. I walked into the living room and toward the hallway, leaving Jay to stand sentry over the baked goods.

  “Well, obviously things could be better, but I’m doing my best to find a new position.”

  “Yes, well. That’s actually why I’m calling. I had an interesting conversation with Larry Henderson, and he said he would be open to an interview.”

  I stopped in my tracks at my bedroom door. Larry Henderson? I’d already gotten a “Thanks, but no thanks” reply from his firm. “Really?”

  This was the dad I loved—the one who supported me in my pursuits and didn’t throw judgments in my face.

  “Yes, but it would be with the understanding that you’re ready to re-focus.”

  Oh.

  That burned a little, but I swallowed it down. “Of course.”

  “It wouldn’t be just your reputation on the line; it would be mine. I can’t tolerate any more of this careless behavior or galivanting around with local nobodies. If you want a boyfriend, I have plenty of suitable suggestions for you. Ones that won’t cause you to lose your head and your job.”

  I had definitely spoken too soon. My dad was tossing the judgments around like confetti. I bit my tongue hard and my blood began to simmer. Yes, I’d been careless, but this was going too far. Who was he to condemn me so harshly, just because I carried half of his DNA?! This was humiliating.

  But I couldn’t afford to stand on my soapbox, could I? Not if I wanted a job. Not if I wanted Jay to stay with me.

&nb
sp; I was beginning to feel like a child again, and that wouldn’t do. I still had some of my pride. “That sounds a little ruthless, to be honest. I am an extremely hard worker as you know, and I made one mistake. It’s hardly grounds to condemn me. Having said that, I appreciate your offer of help and I’ll do my best not to disappoint.” There. I’d said enough but not too much.

  “I suppose I’ll have to accept that. It’s true that you’ve always taken after me more than your mother, thank God. I suppose I was afraid you were beginning to lean in the other direction. I’m pleased to hear I was mistaken.”

  He just had to go there, didn’t he?

  I leaned against my doorframe. “Dad, can I ask you a question?”

  “Certainly.”

  “If you abhor everything about Mom, why did you marry her?” I wasn’t used to being so bold with my father. Neither was he, apparently.

  He tsked in my ear, but finally answered. “Because it was the right thing to do, of course. You know that.” I did know that. My mom had been pregnant with me when they got married.

  “Maybe that was the wrong question. Why were you with her in the first place? I mean, you must have found some of her qualities redeeming.”

  He paused for a few moments and then I heard a sigh before he answered. “Because I was young and didn’t understand how the world works.”

  It was next to impossible to imagine my dad ever being open-minded enough to mesh with my mom, much less convince her to be with him. But he must have been at some point, I realized, or she wouldn’t have given him the time of day.

  The other thing I was beginning to realize was that perhaps there was more of my mom in me than I’d ever acknowledged.

  “So, should I have Henderson’s assistant call you?” Back to business.

  “Please,” I answered. I was not in a position to pass up help of any kind. “Thank you.”

  “And I’ll invite a suitable young man over next time you come for dinner.”

  I didn’t want to get into an argument so I just said goodbye and hung up. I knew my dad’s version of suitable, and it was the polar opposite of Gavin Monroe. Unfortunately.

  A brownie was suddenly sounding better and better. I headed back to the kitchen and found Jay at the table, brownie pan in front of him and a fork in his hand.

  I snatched it from his fingers.

  “Hey!” he protested.

  “You could at least eat like a human,” I told him, coming back to the table with a knife and a couple plates. “And just for that, I’m texting Ari to come over for dessert.”

  “Let me look at you!” my mom said as she held Jay’s hands and took him in from head to toe. He rolled his eyes but let her look her fill. “You’re more handsome than ever.”

  “Hi, Aldo,” I said as I hugged my step-father and we both grinned over my mom.

  Yes, as if the universe had some grand plan I had no hope of understanding, my mom and Aldo arrived on my doorstep the next afternoon. I hadn’t yet told them about my job, but I had managed to get that interview with Larry Henderson set up for the following Tuesday. I wished it were already over so I’d have a better idea of the outcome one way or the other.

  “And Emmy!” My mom turned to me with her bright smile and began to approach, no doubt to give me the same treatment as Jay. But her smile fell, along with her arms. “You look terrible.”

  “Wow. Don’t shower me with so many compliments, Mom. I’ll get a big head.”

  “Naomi,” said Aldo, but she ignored him.

  “What’s wrong? Haven’t you been sleeping? You’re working too hard! I knew it! You need some down time, sweetie.”

  The irony of that caused a slightly maniacal laugh to escape from my throat. Everyone fell silent. Crap. I was losing it. Mom and Aldo both eyed me with suspicion and concern.

  Jay struggled for something to say, finally settling on, “So, Asheville. I love that town.”

  They both turned to him. His hands were in his pockets and he was rocking on his heels. This was not going well.

  “Somebody better tell me what the hell is going on here,” our mom said, her mouth forming a straight line and her eyes pinning us.

  I put a hand out. “It’s fine. I lost my job.” My mom and Aldo both inhaled sharply. I sighed and steeled myself to continue. “But, I’m getting a new one, so we don’t need to talk about it. Or worry about it. Okay? Okay.” I answered for everyone, essentially closing the subject.

  Nothing could have held my mom back from hugging me after that, so I took it and even squeezed her back. “My poor baby! What happened?”

  Oh, no. I wasn’t getting into this with her.

  Aldo, bless his heart, took pity on me. “So, do you have anything to drink around here?” He clapped his hands together and I extracted myself from my mom’s tight embrace. I wasn’t going to cry.

  “Of course! Let’s go to the kitchen.”

  My mom gave me a look that promised this conversation wasn’t over, then followed us to the kitchen where the blessed alcohol lived.

  We ate leftover chicken tortilla soup for dinner, along with some bread I’d baked and a frozen burrito for the human garbage disposal I called Jay. Mom and Aldo told us about some of their adventures thus far, entertaining us with stories of new friends they’d made and some mishaps they’d had along their craft-fair journey. They were both practically glowing. Our mother had always been beautiful, with her long strawberry-blond hair and her golden-brown eyes. Her skin was radiant and she had somehow managed to stave off many of the typical symptoms of aging. Aldo was his typical laid-back self, and he was the picture of contentment sitting in my kitchen basking in the presence of family.

  “Oh, and Emmy, I got into juicing,” my mother said, nodding as if this were something I must make a note of immediately.

  “Okay,” I said, not sure what response she was looking for.

  “It’s terrific for your body. It cleanses you and makes you feel completely revived. We’re going to get you juicing before we leave.” She patted my hand. I looked to Aldo for help, but he just shook his head.

  “Actually,” I said, “I already juice, so I’m all set.” Total lie. I just couldn’t handle anything revolting right now.

  “Drinking wine is not juicing,” Jay mumbled.

  I gave him a death glare.

  “Although technically, I suppose it’s grape juice, so…” he tried to redeem himself. Too late.

  “No more brownies for you,” I told him sternly.

  He responded with a ridiculous pout. “Hey, that’s just mean,”

  “I brought brownies,” Aldo volunteered.

  “No!” my mom and I yelled in unison.

  Three hours later, I’d put Mom and Aldo’s things into Jay’s room and made up the pull-out couch for Jay in the office I never actually used. He’d gone off with Aldo to watch some zombie show, and my mom and I sat curled up on the couch with pillows and glasses of wine.

  “It’s so good to have us all in one house again, isn’t it?” She sighed, making me genuinely smile for probably the first time all week.

  “It is. Definitely.”

  “So, since you don’t want to talk about you, tell me, how has Jupiter really been? He sounds great on the phone, but we all know how good he is at sweeping things under the rug.”

  I thought about it before answering, “I think he’s happy. At first, I was worried. He tip-toed around the place as if his mere presence was a bother, but he’s definitely loosened up. And you should see him play ball!” I pretended to swoon. “He’s gotten so good, and he’s having the time of his life out there.”

  “So this training with Gavin has turned out to be a blessing—in more ways than one.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

  Well, I’d walked right into that one.

  “Jay loves it. He says he’s learning techniques he’s never even heard of before. It seems pretty remarkable, and his head trainer is a former major leaguer.” I took a sip of my wine, hoping that would end
the subject.

  “And what about you? A little bird told me you’re seeing Gavin for some extracurricular activities of your own.”

  I gasped. “Mom!”

  “What? We’re both adults.”

  “I am not talking to you about this.” I shook my head.

  “Emmy, it’s perfectly natural. Women have needs just as—”

  I threw a hand out to cut her off. “Please. No more.”

  She sniffed. “Fine.”

  Truthfully, I didn’t even know what I would say. Last night, Gavin had started texting me again—just a few short one-liners over the last twenty-four hours, but they had the effect I’m sure he intended. Doubt was creeping in and trying to overtake my resolve. Regardless, the last thing I needed was to tell my mom about Gavin and me. That would propel her into an unavoidable line of questioning I’d never be able to work my way out of.

  “I had hoped you’d be more open to talking to me about these things the older you got. But you’re allowed to be whoever you are, even if that means we’ll never have a conversation about orgasms.”

  I chugged the rest of my wine. “Need another?” I asked, standing up and gripping my glass.

  “No. I’m all right,” she answered, completely oblivious to the fact that I was quickly losing my mind.

  I returned with a refill and sat back down, pulling a pillow over my lap. It wouldn’t kill me to open up a little, I supposed. Just not about Gavin. And certainly not about sex. Good God.

  “So, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking this week—you know, since I’ve had some free time.” I sent her a self-deprecating smile. “We’ve never really talked about how you and Dad got together. I mean, I know you got married because you were pregnant and he was…Dad. But I don’t get how you ever got along in the first place.”

  She bobbed her head back and forth as if weighing what she wanted to say. “Truthfully, it’s kind of hard to remember, it’s been so long. And time warps your memories anyway. But he was a different man in a lot of ways back then. Not so concerned with appearances.”