with a newborn daughter in tow that she’d taken off for a commune in Oregon. She’d carted Emily with her, but before reaching the ripe old age of five, Emily ended up living with Grandy and Pop, where she’d remained much of her life. At least until those rare occasions when her mother’s latent maternal instincts made an uncharacteristic reappearance.
How Emily had hated those times. Unlike her mother, she enjoyed knowing where she’d be sleeping each night, preferably in her own bed, in her own room. By the time she’d reached puberty, the animosity between mother and daughter had grown to suchan uncomfortable level, Glynis declared it better for “everyone’s spirit” if Emily remained permanently with her grandparents. An arrangement which had suited Emily just fine.
Her half siblings, Duke and Justine, had inherited more of their mother’s adventurous spirit and had remained with Glynis for much of their childhoods, but occasionally there would be times when they, too, would be sent to stay with Grandy and Pop. Every once in a while, Duke or Justine would be shuttled off to their respective fathers, but those visits rarely lasted longer than a week or two before her brother and sister would end up back at Grandy and Pop’s again.
Emily loved those times. She adored her younger brother and sister, and regretted that she’d not seen them much since she’d moved to New York under the obviously misguided impression that she’d conquer the advertising world. Duke called Alabama home, but traveled on the auto-racing circuit. The guy was an absolute whiz with engines and was currently the pit-crew chief for one of the country’s top stock-car racing teams. A longing for roots had eventually tamed Justine’s adventuresome spirit. For the past two years she’d been happy working as a ranch hand in Wyoming. Last Emily had heard, her mother was an artist’s assistant in New Mexico. But that was over three months ago. Knowing Glynis as she did, she figured her mother could be anywhere by now.
She’d already spoken to Justine, who’d promised to track down Duke and let him know about Grandy. Emily’s two uncles, Tyler and John, lived out of state andhad promised to come right away if necessary. Her cousins were scattered around the country, so for the moment, the responsibility of seeing to Grandy’s needs fell to her.
And so she quietly sat while her grandmother slept off the effects of anesthesia. Drew seemed to be dozing in the reclining chair in the far corner of the room.
She simply didn’t understand this man. Not only were they strangers, he was technically investigating her grandmother as a possible arsonist, yet he’d remained by Emily’s side, stoically offering her his silent support when he could be otherwise occupied with at least ten other women…literally. Yet, not once had he expressed an ounce of impatience or so much as a hint that he wanted to be anywhere but with her while she kept vigil over her grandmother.
She made a little huffing sound. Charlie would’ve made sure his cell phone was turned on and told her she could call him if she wanted to should Grandy’s condition worsen.
A very young and pretty nurse came quietly into the small room, moving silently around Grandy’s bed, checking monitors, thermal graphs and the IV drip, taking care not to awaken the sleeping patient. The nurse smiled warmly in Drew’s direction. No surprise there since women apparently fell at the man’s feet. Emily included, if she counted her fainting episode yesterday.
The nurse nodded to her, signaling all was well, then slipped out of the room as quietly as she’d entered, shooting one last adoring glance in Drew’s direction.
The unsuspecting male stirred, opened his eyes and looked directly at Emily. A sleepy smile tipped his mouth, making her grateful she wasn’t the one hooked up to those monitors. The lines on the thermal graph would’ve zigzagged straight off the narrow little
How Emily had hated those times. Unlike her mother, she enjoyed knowing where she’d be sleeping each night, preferably in her own bed, in her own room. By the time she’d reached puberty, the animosity between mother and daughter had grown to suchan uncomfortable level, Glynis declared it better for “everyone’s spirit” if Emily remained permanently with her grandparents. An arrangement which had suited Emily just fine.
Her half siblings, Duke and Justine, had inherited more of their mother’s adventurous spirit and had remained with Glynis for much of their childhoods, but occasionally there would be times when they, too, would be sent to stay with Grandy and Pop. Every once in a while, Duke or Justine would be shuttled off to their respective fathers, but those visits rarely lasted longer than a week or two before her brother and sister would end up back at Grandy and Pop’s again.
Emily loved those times. She adored her younger brother and sister, and regretted that she’d not seen them much since she’d moved to New York under the obviously misguided impression that she’d conquer the advertising world. Duke called Alabama home, but traveled on the auto-racing circuit. The guy was an absolute whiz with engines and was currently the pit-crew chief for one of the country’s top stock-car racing teams. A longing for roots had eventually tamed Justine’s adventuresome spirit. For the past two years she’d been happy working as a ranch hand in Wyoming. Last Emily had heard, her mother was an artist’s assistant in New Mexico. But that was over three months ago. Knowing Glynis as she did, she figured her mother could be anywhere by now.
She’d already spoken to Justine, who’d promised to track down Duke and let him know about Grandy. Emily’s two uncles, Tyler and John, lived out of state andhad promised to come right away if necessary. Her cousins were scattered around the country, so for the moment, the responsibility of seeing to Grandy’s needs fell to her.
And so she quietly sat while her grandmother slept off the effects of anesthesia. Drew seemed to be dozing in the reclining chair in the far corner of the room.
She simply didn’t understand this man. Not only were they strangers, he was technically investigating her grandmother as a possible arsonist, yet he’d remained by Emily’s side, stoically offering her his silent support when he could be otherwise occupied with at least ten other women…literally. Yet, not once had he expressed an ounce of impatience or so much as a hint that he wanted to be anywhere but with her while she kept vigil over her grandmother.
She made a little huffing sound. Charlie would’ve made sure his cell phone was turned on and told her she could call him if she wanted to should Grandy’s condition worsen.
A very young and pretty nurse came quietly into the small room, moving silently around Grandy’s bed, checking monitors, thermal graphs and the IV drip, taking care not to awaken the sleeping patient. The nurse smiled warmly in Drew’s direction. No surprise there since women apparently fell at the man’s feet. Emily included, if she counted her fainting episode yesterday.
The nurse nodded to her, signaling all was well, then slipped out of the room as quietly as she’d entered, shooting one last adoring glance in Drew’s direction.
The unsuspecting male stirred, opened his eyes and looked directly at Emily. A sleepy smile tipped his mouth, making her grateful she wasn’t the one hooked up to those monitors. The lines on the thermal graph would’ve zigzagged straight off the narrow little
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