and more likely, end. Heather and Daryl. Daryl and Heather. The names repeated themselves over and over in her mind.
“Go to bed, Emma,” Blake said quietly. “We can’t resolve anything tonight. And if I sit here watching you in the moonlight any longer, I’ll just end up adding more complications to the situation.”
“Like kissing me again?” She was losing her sanity, saying those words aloud.
Blake chuckled. “I thought you kissed me.”
Her head was whirling, half with delight at the anticipation of feeling his lips on hers again, half with dread for the dark hours of the night when she was bound to wake up and start worrying all over again. It was so much easier to give advice on the radio. There she was in control. She could tell her callers what she thought was best for them and be fairly confident she was right.
But this was different.
This was her life, and damned if she knew what was right.
He stood up, pulling her with him. There would be no kiss, she could tell, and bit back a sigh of mingled disappointment and relief. He wasn’t going to solve her dilemma for her. She was going to have to do that for herself. He turned the key she’d left in the old-fashioned lock and opened her door on silent hinges. He gave her a little push inside and closed the door.
“Good night, Emma,” she heard him say, very softly, as he headed down the hall. “Tomorrow we’ll talk.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
E MMA WAS UP EARLY the next day, and like the coward she felt herself to be, sneaked out of the inn through a side door, ignored the beauty of the cool morning that was exactly suited to a brisk walk into town and drove her car straight to her grandparents’ house.
Her grandmother was opening the garage door. She was dressed in wool slacks and the turquoise all-weather coat she’d worn to church the day before. “Want a ride?” Emma asked, rolling down the window.
“You don’t even know where I’m going,” Martha responded with a smile.
“I don’t care. I’ll drive you to the ends of the earth.” Away from the two men she was caught between.
Martha put her hand over her heart and rolled her eyes. “What a dutiful granddaughter you are. I’m just going to the hairdresser and the market, so you’re off the hook. But you might ask if your grandfather wants a ride. He’s going out to make a few house calls this morning.”
“I imagine the AMA frowns on retired doctors making house calls.”
“He calls it visiting old friends, but he always takes his bag. I think he’s going to check on Ed Taylor and one or two others.” She waved her hand in the air. “I’ve forgotten who. Must be the beginning of Alzheimer’s.”
“Or maybe you’re thinking of errands you’ve got to run two hours from now, and whether or not you should take the pork chops you’re planning to have for dinner out of the freezer before you leave, right?” Emma said, laughing.
“That might be the case, too.”
“How would you like a houseguest for the rest of the week? I promise to help with the dishes.” She wasn’t going to spend any more nights alone at the inn, no matter how much she liked the place or the people who owned it.
Her grandmother refrained from any overt comment on her leaving Twin Oaks, although her smile was tinged with relief. “I have to admit I’ve missed you staying with us your last few visits. So has your grandfather.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
“Your room is ready whenever you want to move in.” Martha’s eyes shone at the prospect of having Emma to herself for five whole days.
“I have to tell Maureen I’m leaving. I’ll bring my things with me this evening. Is that okay?”
“Wonderful.” Emma watched as her grandmother maneuvered the little import out of the garage and onto the street. She rolled down the window and called to Emma. “Will you join us for dinner? That is, if you don’t already have plans?”
“I’m free as a bird today.”
“We’ll eat at eight,
“Go to bed, Emma,” Blake said quietly. “We can’t resolve anything tonight. And if I sit here watching you in the moonlight any longer, I’ll just end up adding more complications to the situation.”
“Like kissing me again?” She was losing her sanity, saying those words aloud.
Blake chuckled. “I thought you kissed me.”
Her head was whirling, half with delight at the anticipation of feeling his lips on hers again, half with dread for the dark hours of the night when she was bound to wake up and start worrying all over again. It was so much easier to give advice on the radio. There she was in control. She could tell her callers what she thought was best for them and be fairly confident she was right.
But this was different.
This was her life, and damned if she knew what was right.
He stood up, pulling her with him. There would be no kiss, she could tell, and bit back a sigh of mingled disappointment and relief. He wasn’t going to solve her dilemma for her. She was going to have to do that for herself. He turned the key she’d left in the old-fashioned lock and opened her door on silent hinges. He gave her a little push inside and closed the door.
“Good night, Emma,” she heard him say, very softly, as he headed down the hall. “Tomorrow we’ll talk.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
E MMA WAS UP EARLY the next day, and like the coward she felt herself to be, sneaked out of the inn through a side door, ignored the beauty of the cool morning that was exactly suited to a brisk walk into town and drove her car straight to her grandparents’ house.
Her grandmother was opening the garage door. She was dressed in wool slacks and the turquoise all-weather coat she’d worn to church the day before. “Want a ride?” Emma asked, rolling down the window.
“You don’t even know where I’m going,” Martha responded with a smile.
“I don’t care. I’ll drive you to the ends of the earth.” Away from the two men she was caught between.
Martha put her hand over her heart and rolled her eyes. “What a dutiful granddaughter you are. I’m just going to the hairdresser and the market, so you’re off the hook. But you might ask if your grandfather wants a ride. He’s going out to make a few house calls this morning.”
“I imagine the AMA frowns on retired doctors making house calls.”
“He calls it visiting old friends, but he always takes his bag. I think he’s going to check on Ed Taylor and one or two others.” She waved her hand in the air. “I’ve forgotten who. Must be the beginning of Alzheimer’s.”
“Or maybe you’re thinking of errands you’ve got to run two hours from now, and whether or not you should take the pork chops you’re planning to have for dinner out of the freezer before you leave, right?” Emma said, laughing.
“That might be the case, too.”
“How would you like a houseguest for the rest of the week? I promise to help with the dishes.” She wasn’t going to spend any more nights alone at the inn, no matter how much she liked the place or the people who owned it.
Her grandmother refrained from any overt comment on her leaving Twin Oaks, although her smile was tinged with relief. “I have to admit I’ve missed you staying with us your last few visits. So has your grandfather.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
“Your room is ready whenever you want to move in.” Martha’s eyes shone at the prospect of having Emma to herself for five whole days.
“I have to tell Maureen I’m leaving. I’ll bring my things with me this evening. Is that okay?”
“Wonderful.” Emma watched as her grandmother maneuvered the little import out of the garage and onto the street. She rolled down the window and called to Emma. “Will you join us for dinner? That is, if you don’t already have plans?”
“I’m free as a bird today.”
“We’ll eat at eight,
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