by Winnie Reed
“Can you get that, Dad?” I asked, suddenly way too busy with chopping and such to be bothered to go the five feet to my front door. I said every prayer I knew in the few seconds it took for him to cross the kitchen.
“Who could it be?” he murmured, puzzled, before opening the door. And coming face-to-face with Darcy.
“Hi, Dad,” she managed to choke out.
“Darcy,” he breathed. “Oh, sweetie.” I couldn’t see his face, but I could guess what he looked like. Awestruck? Relieved?
“I thought I’d come for dinner, since Emma was having you over. I thought… here.” She thrust a gift bag his way. “An early present for the baby.”
He didn’t take it right away. Instead, he wrapped her in a hug.
“Come on.” Joe took my arm and led me to the living room window, away from the kitchen. Holly followed, wiping her eyes on her apron.
“Like my emotions aren’t already off the wall,” she chuckled, dabbing carefully so as not to mess up her eye makeup. “This has been a rollercoaster of a few days.”
“Right? And I don’t even have a baby to blame my mood swings on,” I reminded her, also dabbing my eyes.
Dad had managed to pull Darcy into the apartment and close the door, but he hadn’t let go of her yet. I wondered how long it would take. Maybe he’d eat dinner that way.
Not that I’d complain. And from the smile on my sister’s face, I didn’t think she would, either.
“You got what you wanted,” Joe observed. “She made the first move.”
“It’s about time,” I muttered, shaking my head. “Stubborn as a mule.”
“It’s a family trait.”
“I know you’re not suggesting I’m stubborn, Detective.”
“No. I’m flat-out saying you are.”
“You two,” Holly sighed, rolling her eyes, before wiggling her eyebrows up and down at me when Joe wasn’t looking.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I was glad for the distraction, since Holly was just as determined as everybody else to make something out of Joe and me. Why couldn’t we just be good friends who joked about killing each other and maybe flirted a little every once in a while? Why couldn’t people leave it alone?
“Speaking of people who won’t leave it alone,” I muttered softly when I found a text from my mother waiting for me.
“What?” Joe asked.
“Nothing.” I opened the app to read her message.
I’ve been thinking about that whole online dating thing. How does that work?
I closed my eyes. It had begun. Darcy would laugh herself sick when she found out, but she was still busy making up for several years of lost hugs.
It can’t be that hard. Plenty of people do it. Some people even find real relationships on there. Are you seriously thinking about doing this? That’s great!
She got back to me maybe three seconds later. I’m too old for this.
You are not! I replied. I saw the way Charlie Welburn was eyeing you the other day. Like you were a snack.
Emma Jane!
Good. Let her be scandalized after all the embarrassment she’d put me through over the years. This would be fun.
“What are you smiling about?” Joe asked.
“Mom wants to start online dating,” I whispered. “I can’t wait to torment her. I’ve got years of ammunition waiting to be used.”
“Careful with that, though,” he warned, though he was grinning. “It takes guts to get back out there. This is a huge step.” I wished I didn’t feel like he was talking about himself, somehow. And that he wouldn’t look at me the way he did.
And that I wouldn’t look right back at him the same way. Oh, boy, he had nice eyes. And nice everything else.
“Hey, there. Detective,” Dad called out from across the room. “Did you tell Emma the good news?”
“What good news?” I asked. “I didn’t hear any good news. What’s the good news?”
“If you’d take a breath, I’d have the chance to tell you.” Joe chuckled. “I worked it out just today, with your dad’s help. I’m transferring to Cape Hope for the foreseeable future. To help with my stress. I rented an apartment for six months with the option to extend.”
Transferred to Cape Hope. A six-month lease. To help with his stress.
His stress?
His stress?
What about my stress? Having him in town all the time, bumping into him in random places, having no excuse to stay away from him when he was right there. At least when he was in Paradise City, there were miles and miles between us. I had a reason to stay away.
Now, he’d be there in front of me.
Maybe right in front of me with other women. Did I want that to happen? No, I most certainly did not, but I didn’t have a claim on him, either.
His stress?
Another message came through. I looked down, distracted.
I need you to help me make up one of those profile thingies. I want it to be just perfect, but not too eager or desperate sounding. Can you come over later tonight to make it up with me?
“Emma? You okay?” Joe took my arm. “You don’t look so good.”
“Oh, I’m fine,” I lied with a carefree laugh as the man I might’ve been half in love with smiled in relief and my wounded dog hobbled past and my dad beamed with joy at the thought of me getting together with a detective and my mom waited for a reply and I understood nothing in my life would ever run easily for more than a few minutes at a time. “Things couldn’t be better.”
I hope you enjoyed Cape Hope Capers!
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