A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn(56)
Jay was so struck by what had just taken place between them, he had to force himself to remain in the here and now. Otherwise he would be too tempted to reflect how one day had changed things completely for him.
As they stared at each other, the air was warm with the intangible heat of their new awareness. Emma’s lips were slightly parted, her cheeks flushed. In the dim light, she looked as young as Tricia and just as hopeful and naïve. The sight before him made him want to pick her up and twirl her around and make a dozen promises about how he would always make her happy.
Though his mouth had suddenly become dry, he said, “Emma, may I take you out to supper on Friday night? Just the two of us?”
“You may.”
“I’ll come get you at six o’clock?”
As if she was too overcome to talk, she nodded.
He was pleased. Really pleased. He reached out, needing to touch her, needing to skim a finger over her lightly flushed cheeks . . . when the back door opened and a pack of kids came roaring inside.
Instantly, the subtle tension dissipated into happy smiles and teenaged needs. Quiet had ended, replaced by talking and laughter, chattering and interruptions. Noisy boots on the hardwood floor, the clattering of bags on chairs and tables.
Life with children. Something that was just as precious to their lives as hope and romance and quiet moments filled with shy flirting.
“Emma, I’m mighty glad you came over,” Mark fairly called out over the din. “Any chance you brought us some cookies?”
“As a matter of fact, I did,” she teased. “I brought all of you lots of them.”
As Jay watched Emma hand Mark a cookie from a plastic container before passing them out to all the kids, he stood to one side and smiled.
He had a date with the prettiest girl in Pinecraft on Friday night.
He felt like the luckiest guy in town.
Chapter 19
Beverly was in the kitchen making loaves of zucchini bread on Thursday morning when the phone rang. Thinking it was sure to be Eric, she debated answering it. Recently, she’d discovered that his phone calls had become the highlight of her day. She had also, to her dismay, even begun to wonder if their friendship could eventually evolve into something more romantic. Which was just silly.
Really not good!
After all, Eric was an Englisher, and a successful financial planner. He was worldly, and had obviously dated a lot. He would never be remotely attracted to her, and she would be a fool to entertain such thoughts.
In fact, it would be best to start distancing herself from him.
On the other hand, anyone could be on the line. And, well, she was the innkeeper, which meant she had no business ignoring a ringing telephone.
“Hello?”
“Hiya, Beverly,” her older brother Edward said. “What is going on out there in Sarasota?”
Oh! This was what she got for hoping and praying that it wasn’t Eric on the line. It was worse! Now she was going to have to walk the line between defending her abilities to look after Tricia and taking the blame for letting the girl fall in love and get engaged.
Then there was the fact that she was somehow going to have to try to be supportive of both her niece and her brother, which was likely going to be impossible.
“Beverly, you there?”
“Everything is, um, moving along,” she said at last. “I’m busy keeping the inn going. Which is, well, a busy job.”
“Sounds like you’ve been far busier than that.” There was a definite edge to his voice now.
“Hmm?” Growing up with Edward, she’d learned it was helpful to play innocent.
“Beverly, who is this Ben? Is he really everything Tricia says he is?”
“Well, um . . .”
“And what about his family?” he added. “Tricia said his father is a widower. When did his wife pass away? What happened to her?”
“Edward, that ain’t something that’s any of our—”
“She said they just moved to Sarasota, too. What brought on the move? And where do they hail from?”
She was starting to realize that not only had she not done a very good job of looking out for Tricia, she had definitely not asked enough questions about Ben. “Edward, if you have so many concerns, you should simply come down here and get the answers yourself. I’m the girl’s aunt, not her parent. And I’m, you know, busy with the inn.” There, that would show him!
“That’s why I called you. Me and Kathleen are getting on the bus tomorrow. We’ll be there on Saturday.”
“You’re coming out here to visit?” As she heard her voice, she grimaced. She’d practically squeaked.
“Jah. That’s what I just said,” he said impatiently. “What’s wrong? Do you not have room in that busy inn of yours? If not, tell me where I should stay.”