Chapter Four
Emerson woke with a pain in her neck and no recollection of going to bed. She blinked a few times and looked around. Sunlight streamed through the window, confirming that it was morning. She rolled over and realized the pain in her neck had nothing on the one radiating down her arm.
The night before flashed into her mind and she bolted upright, looking over to where she left the painting, as though it might have disappeared during the night. It sat on the easel. Emerson dragged herself out of bed and walked over to it. Not only was it still there, it was stunning.
Emerson didn’t consider herself a braggart, but she also had no use for false modesty. She’d been born with a degree of innate talent. She didn’t pretend otherwise and she didn’t take it for granted. She’d also spent years working on her craft. So, when she finished a painting, she didn’t hesitate to be pleased with it. When doing so came in a massive burst of energy that kept her up half the night, the satisfaction was even more keen.
Emerson raked a hand through her hair as she moved back and forth, studying the painting from different angles. The woman, inspired by a snapshot she took of someone on the beach, lounged in the sand. Although the woman in her photo had been wearing a barely there bikini, Emerson had given the one in her painting a more vintage suit. The two pieces revealed only a fraction of her midriff; red and white polka dots made the look more playful than sexy.
But still. Something in the woman’s posture, her face, radiated a kind of sensual confidence. Emerson picked up the photo she’d used as a guide. The woman in her photo was beautiful, but didn’t have the essence Emerson had managed to convey. She glanced back at the painting. The image of Darcy popped into her mind and a slow smile spread across her face. That’s where it had come from. The painting bore no physical resemblance to Darcy, but the mood reminded her of the way Darcy posed and flirted with her in the kitchen at the wedding.
Emerson stepped away from the painting and headed toward her bathroom. She rotated her shoulders and wrists, trying to loosen the muscles that ached. Her desire to ask Darcy on a date was joined by a desire to paint her. She turned on the water and stepped under the hot spray. Hopefully, she’d have the chance to do both.
After dressing, Emerson spent another few minutes admiring her work. Unless some stroke of brilliance hit, she’d likely use this as the centerpiece of her show in July. She had no doubt that it would sell, and give her a nice cushion going into fall.
Feeling upbeat and confident, Emerson jogged down the stairs of her building and walked along Commercial Street. She’d stop by The Flour Pot for some breakfast and see if she could catch Darcy on a break. Although the morning was sunny and promised a warm day, there were only a handful of people on the street. Weekends were getting busy, but the real onslaught of summer traffic wouldn’t hit until late June.
It was nearly eleven when she strolled into the café. Most of the morning crowd had cleared and Alex sat at the register doing a crossword puzzle. Lia sat at her usual table, typing furiously—so much so that she didn’t even glance up when Emerson waved. Alex did, however, and offered her a smile. “Morning, Em.”
“Morning. How’s business?”
“Picking up, enough that Lia has resorted to ear buds to get work done. She’ll be abandoning me for the library before long. Coffee?”
“You know it.” Emerson surveyed the case. “A muffin, too. Chocolate chip.”
“Coming right up.” Alex got her order and set it on the counter, then refused Emerson’s money.
Emerson had a feeling it would become a ritual. She planned to let it go for a couple of months before insisting on paying again. “Is Darcy in today?”
Alex smirked and gave her a mischievous look. “She is.”
“Might she be due for a break soon?”
“Due? No, but if she’s at a good stopping point, you might be able to snag her attention for a few minutes. Do you want me to ask her?”
The last thing Emerson wanted when she asked Darcy out was an audience. Or to have Alex running interference like she needed a wingman to get a date. “Would you mind if I popped into the kitchen?”
Alex gestured to the swinging door. “Be my guest.”
Emerson hesitated for a moment, then picked up her coffee and muffin. Even if it felt awkward, it was probably better than looking like she showed up solely to interrupt Darcy at work. She skirted around the counter and bakery case and pushed her way into the kitchen. Darcy stood at the stove with her back to the door. Not unlike the first time Emerson saw her, but now she wore an apron over a T-shirt and jeans instead of a chef’s coat. Emerson felt that same stirring and wondered if Darcy had some crazy pheromone thing going on that affected her so immediately.
“I think this Buffalo chicken mac and cheese is going to be a hit.”
Clearly, Emerson’s mere presence didn’t have the same kind of impact on Darcy. “It sounds good to me.”
Darcy whirled around. “Sorry. I thought you were Alex.”
“No need to apologize. And I meant what I said. It does sound good.”
“It will be ready in about an hour if you want to try it. You’re Emerson, right?”
Emerson smiled, glad that Darcy at least remembered meeting her, and her name. “I am. And you’re Darcy.”
Darcy smiled and the stirring intensified. “That’s me. Are you looking for Alex? She’s out front, I think.”
“Actually, I was looking for you.”
Darcy’s face didn’t give anything away. “Hoping for more samples?”
Saying she’d like to sample Darcy was probably too forward, at least at this point. “Not exactly. I really enjoyed talking with you the other night. I was hoping we could talk more when you’re not otherwise occupied. Over dinner, perhaps.”
Darcy considered, again giving nothing away. Emerson couldn’t tell if she was formulating a clever reply, or looking for a way to let her down easy. Normally, she didn’t mind being rejected. Well, didn’t overly mind. Something about Darcy was different; the idea of not getting to know her was keenly disappointing.
“I think that could be arranged.”
The answer interrupted Emerson’s internal monologue and almost caught her off guard. “Great. My schedule is flexible. You name the day and time.”
“I can let you know tonight or tomorrow. I’ll need to arrange a sitter.” Darcy tilted her head to the side, narrowed her eyes slightly. “Do you know I have a son?”
Emerson didn’t want to reveal that she’d been snooping, but she also didn’t want to lie or to make Darcy explain. “Alex mentioned it.”
A good enough answer, because Darcy nodded. “Okay, well, how about I text you later? I need to get back to work.”
“Right. Sorry. I didn’t mean to pull you away from it.” She glanced around, realized she was still holding her muffin and coffee. “I’ll jot down my number and leave it at the front counter.”
“Sounds good.” Emerson turned to leave, but stopped when Darcy said her name. God, she loved the way Darcy said her name. “Yeah?”
“I meant what I said. The mac and cheese is going to be amazing.”
Emerson flashed a smile. “It always is.”
Darcy returned her attention to the stove and Emerson left the kitchen the way she’d come. Alex was helping a customer, but Lia’s eyes were trained right on her. She wondered if Alex had gone over and given her an update while she was in the kitchen. Lia’s look turned expectant and Emerson flashed a thumbs up. Lia proceeded to wave her over. Emerson joined her and took a long sip of her coffee. “Good morning.”
“Good morning. So, you asked her? She said yes?”
“Yes and yes.”
“Excellent. I think y’all will totally hit it off.”
Emerson broke off a piece of her muffin and popped it in her mouth. “I agree, obviously, but I’m wondering what makes you think so.”
Lia shrugged. “I don’t know. Y’all are both creative types, good energy mixed with a sarcastic streak.”
“High praise.”
“Every time I turn around, you two have your heads together,” Alex said as she joined them. “What are you plotting now?”
Lia beamed up at Alex. “Darcy said yes. They’re going on a date.”
“Nice. What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure yet. She’s going to line up a sitter and we’ll go from there.”
“Oh.” Lia’s eyes lit up. “I’ll volunteer. I know she has a usual person, but I haven’t seen Liam much lately.”
Alex nodded. “Agreed. We can do it at her place or ours.”
Lia stood just as Darcy came out with a large metal crock of soup. “Oh, hey. We were just talking about you.”
Darcy set the crock into the warmer and turned. “That sounds dangerous.”
“All good stuff, I promise. Alex and I want to hang out with Liam when you go out with Emerson.”
“You really were talking about me.”
“Sorry.” Emerson tried not to worry about being caught. “I did consult with them before I asked you out, so I had to tell them you said yes.”
Darcy lifted her hands. “I’m not mad. You look like a bunch of hens is all. I’m amused.”
That was a relief. Emerson didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot even before they got started.
“We’re totally free this weekend,” Lia said.
Darcy shook her head, but smiled. “I guess it’s settled, then.”
Emerson suddenly felt awkward about being part of the conversation. She couldn’t decide if it was babysitting arrangements being made or because her friends were becoming so involved in the whole thing. “I should get to work. I’ll leave you to sort out the specifics.” She looked at Darcy. “Text me?”
“I’ll get your number from Alex.”
“Perfect.”
Emerson picked up her coffee and the rest of her muffin and headed for the exit. She stood on the street for a moment, debating her next move. Since she’d just finished a painting, she didn’t feel ready to start another. She usually took a couple days of downtime in between. But since she’d just said she needed to get to work, she felt guilty blowing off work altogether.
She meandered back toward her apartment, soaking up the spring sunshine. By the time she got there, she had a plan. She grabbed her camera and car keys, then made the short drive to Herring Cove Beach.
In the summer, she gravitated to Race Point. It was a buffet of inspiration—women and men, folks all along the gender spectrum, teenagers and little kids. Some came with nothing more than a towel; others arrived in packs, complete with coolers and colorful blankets and umbrellas. Unfortunately, Cape Cod remained a good month away from true beach weather. But since Herring Cove offered calm water and easier parking, it drew people year-round.
Today was no exception. An older couple strolled hand in hand, a young guy jogged along the water’s edge. Emerson snapped photos, enjoying the way the late morning light reflected off the water. She made her way down the small incline, letting the camera rest on the strap around her neck. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
The ocean never failed to calm her mind, even when she didn’t feel restless. It was one of the main reasons Emerson chose Provincetown. That and its history as an artists’ colony. The gay thing didn’t hurt either. When she decided to make painting her living and not just a pastime, she wanted a place that would nurture that. And not let her become a hermit in the process. At the time, she hadn’t known if it would be a permanent decision. And while she specifically refused to limit her possibilities, she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
*****
When Darcy finished her shift, she went in search of Alex and Lia. Neither were anywhere to be found. With much of the seasonal staff already hired, Alex made a point of handing over the reins to her afternoon manager at a set time. Before Lia came along, Alex would often linger, saying there was always something to be done. Now, though, they had a routine. Lia would pack up her work and both of them would clear out by three.
Darcy commended her for it. Owning a business had a way of becoming all-consuming. Even though Liam consumed much of her non-working time, she felt like she had a good work/life balance. It was one of the main reasons she loved her job so much.
She contemplated knocking on their apartment door on her way out, but decided not to. Given they were in the honeymoon phase of being married, she didn’t want to chance disturbing anything. She needed to get home to Liam anyway. She could confirm details later.
On the drive home, Darcy rolled down her window. With the sun out, and the temperature approaching eighty, she reveled in the approaching summer. Without a doubt, summer was her favorite time of year. Although the café got busier, the additional staff Alex brought on meant Darcy had a lot more flexibility with her schedule. Paired with Liam being out of school, it sort of felt like freedom. Even having to juggle how Liam would spend his time while she was at work didn’t faze her. He’d have camp and time with his grandparents, a few days at the café. Any whining about getting dragged around with her would be made up for by the number of adventures they’d get to have. But they needed to get through the rest of the school year first. Just a few weeks to go.
And then there was her date with Emerson. Darcy smiled at the thought. She hadn’t been on a date for a few months, and even then, the last few had been busts. She’d broken her rule about worlds colliding and had gone out with another single mom, a woman whose son was in Liam’s karate class. Tina had been nice, if a little feminine for Darcy. Unfortunately, Tina and her ex—Noah’s other mom—had only broken up a few months before and Tina was far from over it. Then there was the bartender. Darcy had known from the get-go that wouldn’t amount to much. It had been fun, mostly. But since they worked opposite schedules, the stress of trying to make plans hadn’t been worth it.
Emerson seemed different. In addition to her being gorgeous, Darcy felt drawn to her creative energy. Not that she would ever call herself an artist, but Darcy liked to think she had the soul of one. And while cooking satisfied that some, she missed the charge of art and her design-fueled college days. Maybe spending time with Emerson could feed that.
Darcy got home a few minutes before Liam. She took a quick shower and threw on leggings and a T-shirt for the evening, emerging from the bedroom just as Liam walked through the door. They chatted about his day and she slid the lasagna she’d made the day before into the oven. After throwing a quick salad together, she joined Liam at the table to check on his homework. After zipping through the math and vocabulary worksheets, talk turned to the upcoming science project.
“Mom, it’s going to be epic. We got to pick an animal and we can do whatever we want. Like, whatever we want. I picked snapping turtles. And when we’re done, they’re going to hang them up around the school and the best ones are going to be displayed at the library.” He lifted both hands in the air at the significance of this latest development. “The public library.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
He sighed. “I have no idea. I mean, I’m going to do my report. Everyone has to do a report.” He swept his hand in front of him. “I need something visual.”
“Maybe you can draw a turtle. The drawing you did the other day of the cell was really good.”
“Maybe. I think I need something bigger, something that will stand out. I want to win.”
Other than chess, Darcy had begun to think Liam didn’t have a competitive bone in his body. Not necessarily a bad thing, but she’d always thought a little healthy competition was good for character development—including the winning and the losing that came with it. Leave it to her son to get competitive about a science project. “We’ll think of something.”
They ate dinner and Liam dragged himself off to the horrors of the bath tub. Darcy put the kitchen back together and curled up on the sofa. She texted Lia to confirm that she and Alex really were free and wanted to watch Liam. The instant and emphatic response allayed her fears. She then texted Emerson to sort out the details.
Liam emerged in his pajamas, announcing he was all clean. Darcy called him over, slightly suspicious of how long he’d been gone. “Turn around.”
He did so, slowly. “What?”
“If you’re going to fake wash your hair, you’re going to have to do a more convincing job of getting it wet.”
He finished turning a circle and looked at the ground. “Sorry.”
Of all the problems to have, having a kid who hated baths ranked pretty low. It didn’t mean she wouldn’t give him a hard time. “I should make you start over.”
“Mom.” He drew out the word, teetering on the edge of a full-on whine.
“And you’re talking back?” She was sure to keep her tone light so he’d know she wasn’t actually angry.
He straightened his shoulders and made a sheepish face, but still didn’t make eye contact. “No. I’m not.”
Because he wouldn’t look at her, he didn’t see her smile. “I didn’t think so. No redos tonight. You’ll just have to take another bath tomorrow and scrub extra hard.”
He glanced up, eyes hopeful and with a lopsided grin. “Okay.”
“Come here and give me a hug. We’ll watch some TV before reading time.” He piled onto the sofa and curled up against her. She kissed the top of his wet, unshampooed head and picked up the remote. “Let’s see what’s on.”
They settled on a soccer match on ESPN. Darcy had no interest, but since it was the only sport he liked beyond karate, she didn’t mind. Seeing she had a reply from Emerson, she picked up her phone and shot a quick text back.
*****
Emerson’s phone pinged again and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes, even though there was no one around to see her. The first text from Darcy had been to confirm that they were good to go on Friday night. The second informed Emerson that Liam would be at Alex and Lia’s, so Darcy would just meet her in town. The third suggested they go to Tin Pan Alley, which Darcy had been wanting to try. Emerson didn’t have a problem with any of that; it felt like typical date planning territory.
They were on text number eleven, though, and it was starting to feel less like a date and more like a high-stakes negotiation. They’d agreed to both a start time and an end time, the fact that they’d meet at the restaurant, and several other details that were making Emerson wonder if she’d misread Darcy. Not that she could have immediately known Darcy was a control freak, but still. Emerson tried to shake off the hesitation the exchange caused. It might be nothing. And if it turned out to be something, well, there didn’t have to be a date number two.
She set down her phone and picked up her brush. The painting was nice, if nothing to write home about. This one included the lighthouse at Long Point and a sun-drenched beach. Emerson rarely found landscapes inspiring, but they sold well. They didn’t require much thought at this point, either, and that meant they helped to pay the bills. She might be an artist, but she was practical, too. She’d rather supplement her income with beach scenes than a day job, or by making Ramen a staple of her diet.
She heard her phone again, but didn’t pick it up. At this point, Darcy could wait. When she finished working an hour later, she took her time cleaning brushes and putting everything away. She picked up her phone with hesitation, half dreading what might be waiting for her.
Sounds great. Really looking forward to it. Have a good night.
Emerson did roll her eyes then, but at herself. Maybe she was being too hard on Darcy. It’s not like she had a structured job and a child to juggle. She should cut Darcy a little slack. At least for now. She’d find out quickly enough if it was going to be more trouble than it was worth.