Reckless: Shades of a Vampire(60)

“I don’t understand,” her father says. "Emma goes to church."

“No," Michael says. "It's like Emma. You know. She went to high school, but she was home schooled.”

“I studied the Bible, but I was home schooled for church.”

“Huh,” her father grunts. “Is that so? I never thought of it that way.

“Well, I guess you can come on in. I’ll fetch Emma.

“Emma,” her father shouts toward the back of the house. “Emma, come on up honey. Someone is here to see you.”

Emma finishes folding a towel, the last from the basket of clean, and puts it neatly on top of a stack she’s made. She clears her throat, smoothes her dress with her hands, and walks to the parlor.

She turns into the room and sees not the sheriff but Michael standing in front of the couch.

He is holding the yellow roses.

“Hello, Emma,” Michael says.

She drops her face into her hands, and cries.

He pauses.

She looks back up.

“Michael,” she says.

“I’ve come calling on you,” Michael says. “I was hoping we could spend some time in the parlor. Get to know one another. See where it goes from there.”

Emma looks at her father, standing beside Michael.

“I’ve asked his permission,” Michael says, nodding toward her father. “He said it is okay, more or less.”

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Emma’s father says, turning and walking out of the room.

Emma walks to Michael. He extends a hand with the flowers.

“For you,” he says.

She dips her head to them, and inhales deeply, and slowly.

“Ahhhh,” Emma says. “I love them Michael.”