Chapter Twenty
Instead of texting or calling Darcy, Emerson showed up at the café. Darcy would be more inclined to say yes if Emerson presented her idea in person. When she got there, Lia was at her usual table, the one she’d abandoned more days than not lately to free up space for customers. Emerson walked over. “How’s my favorite newlywed?”
Lia smiled and blushed. It never failed to amuse Emerson that she seemed to both enjoy attention and be embarrassed by it. “I’m good. We’re good.”
“That’s good. Since you’re my role model for true love, I’m invested in you being blissfully happy.”
Lia’s face grew stern. “Stop.”
“You’re right. That’s not fair. It’s a lot of pressure. But still, I’m happy you’re so happy.”
“What about you?” Lia angled her head and studied Emerson. “How are you in the happy department?”
Emerson nodded slowly. “Better than I’ve been in a long time, actually.”
“Things with Darcy going well?”
“They are. Not what I expected, but in a good way.” Not that Emerson had clear expectations to begin with, but being with Darcy—and Liam—was uncharted territory for her. And she liked it. “And I love that Will has decided to stick around for a while.”
“That’s great.”
“She loves working for the Dolphin Fleet. She’s made friends.” Friends that weren’t Kai. “She’s even found a place.”
“That’s awesome.”
“Right? Anyway, I don’t want to keep you from your work. It’s always good to bump into you.”
Lia smiled. “You should do it more often.”
“I will. Promise.” Emerson glanced over at the register. Behind it stood a twenty-something she’d never seen before. She looked back at Lia. “Is it okay if I go on back?”
“Of course.”
Emerson skirted the counter and went to the swinging door that led to the kitchen. She opened it slowly, always afraid of colliding with someone coming from the other side. She found Alex pulling a tray of something out of the oven and Darcy chopping vegetables at the work table. She’d never been one for still lifes, but the rainbow of colored peppers and purple onions struck her. And not only because Darcy’s capable hands were masterfully arranging them. “I hope I’m not popping in at a bad time.”
Both Alex and Darcy looked her way and smiled. “Not at all,” Alex said. “Although I’m guessing you’re not here to see me.”
“It is always nice to see you,” Emerson said.
Darcy set down her knife. “Is everything okay?”
“Completely. And I don’t want to interrupt your work. May I hover and chat with you for a minute?”
“Sure.” Darcy smiled, but looked wary.
“I’m going to take these out front.” Alex picked up a tray of muffins.
“You don’t have to—” Emerson stopped because Alex was already gone. She returned her attention to Darcy.
“What’s up?”
“I don’t want to step on any toes, but I was wondering if you might like company for the drive this weekend?”
“To Boston?”
“Yeah. I love the ride along Route 6. And I don’t make it to Boston nearly as often as I’d like to.”
“That would be nice.” Darcy wondered if there was a motivation behind Emerson’s offer. Not if there was a motivation, really, but what it was. Did she want to spend even more time with them? Was she curious about Liam’s dad?
“How would you feel about a night or two in Boston after we drop Liam off?”
Oh. That wasn’t what she expected. Darcy blinked at her. “You mean together?”
Emerson laughed. “Well, I don’t mean apart.”
Darcy gave her a look of faux exasperation. “You know what I meant.”
“Is it the Boston part that’s giving you pause, or the together part?”
That was a good question. She loved Boston. And the idea of spending a couple of days with Emerson certainly had its appeal. It was the idea of a weekend away that made her hesitate. Going away together implied things. She wanted to be clear about what Emerson meant—or didn’t mean. “Neither.”
“So, is that a yes?”
“It’s a definite maybe.” As much as she might be tempted to agree to anything Emerson had in mind, she couldn’t. Or didn’t want to. At least not without understanding the parameters.
Emerson looked at her. “Anything I can do to turn that into a yes?”
“Describe what you have in mind.” Darcy realized how much she wanted to be talked into it. She tilted her head slightly and narrowed her eyes. “And why.”
“Fancy dinner, nice hotel, maybe some sightseeing. P-town is great, but when you live in it, it’s not really a vacation. I haven’t gotten away in like two years and this is a good excuse.”
Darcy nodded. It sounded perfect. “And do you ascribe meaning to going away with someone?”
Emerson laughed, but quickly stopped. She folded her arms and regarded Darcy seriously. “Sorry. I know you didn’t mean that in a humorous way.”
“It’s okay. It was very process-y of me.”
“But a fair question.”
“So?” As much as she didn’t want to be the lesbian who processed everything, she wanted Emerson’s answer.
“So, it means I’m really into you and I’d love the chance to spend a couple of days with you.”
“Okay.”
“What does it mean to you?”
Another good question. “The same, I think. I was just checking.”
“Do you want it to mean something more?”
Darcy shook her head. “No. I think, if anything, I wanted to make sure it didn’t.”
Emerson looked at Darcy. She didn’t mind that Darcy liked to talk through everything before they did it. Or while they were doing it. It felt honest, earnest even. Emerson wasn’t looking for commitment or big, showy gestures, but she liked where things with Darcy were going. Unfortunately, some of Darcy’s road signs felt more like speed bumps. Darcy seemed to do it as a means of keeping her at arm’s length, a fact she found discouraging. “Well, as long as we’re in agreement.”
“And we split the cost of everything.”
Emerson shook her head. “Sorry. That’s where I draw the line.”
“Seriously?”
“It’s my idea. And I want to be a little indulgent. I’d be all weird and self-conscious if you were on the hook for half.”
It was Darcy’s turn to fold her arms. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Stubborn. It’s different.” Emerson had a feeling she didn’t want to, but Darcy cracked a smile. “How about I arrange our digs and you can buy dinner?”
Darcy shook her head, but chuckled. “Deal.”
*****
Darcy eyed Liam in the rearview mirror. Only last summer, he still needed a booster seat in the car. He’d been excited to finally grow out of it and she, in true mom fashion, had cried. Only a little, though. Now, he sat on his own with a book in his lap, chatting away with Emerson.
“So, what’s your favorite thing to do in Boston?” Emerson asked him.
“The aquarium.”
Emerson nodded. “And what’s your favorite animal?”
Liam thought for a moment. “The rays are really cool. The sharks, too. But Myrtle is my favorite.”
“Myrtle?”
“The sea turtle,” Darcy said.
“She’s eighty years old.” Liam set the book aside. “Maybe eighty-one now.”
Emerson nodded. “Wow. I might need to meet this grand dame.”
“She’s so cool. She’s, like, this big.” Liam spread his arms.
“And what else will you do?”
Liam rolled his eyes. “We’ll go to a baseball game. Julien loves the Red Sox.”
Darcy couldn’t suppress a grin. Liam loved Nick’s husband, but not his obsession with baseball. Emerson turned around in her seat and looked at Liam accusingly. “You don’t like baseball?”
Liam shrugged. “It’s kind of boring.”
“Boring?” Emerson’s tone radiated dismay. “Dude, there is so much science in baseball.”
“Science? What kind of science?”
Darcy bit her lip. Emerson knew every button to push to get Liam’s attention. Almost more than the time they spent together, that meant something to Darcy. It told her Emerson made the effort to get to know Liam, not just play along when he was around.
“Physics, statistics, psychology. You name it.”
“Really?” Liam was hooked.
“Ask Julien about the different kinds of pitches. Then when you get home, I’ll show you how they work and why.”
“You mean I could throw them myself?”
“Absolutely. And if you like it, we can practice until you’re so good you’ll want to play for real.”
“Huh.”
Darcy glanced at Liam again and found him nodding thoughtfully. He’d never shown the slightest interest in playing baseball. Except for karate, he’d shown little interest in any sport. And while she had no interest in raising a jock, she did want him to be well-rounded. Not only did that make for a more fun childhood, it made for an easier one. “There’s a standing offer to sign up for Little League if you’re interested.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Mom.”
Darcy laughed, as did Emerson. The phrase was one Darcy used when Liam’s enthusiasm—never about sports—got a little out of hand. “Fair enough.”
Because it was a Friday afternoon in the summer, traffic wasn’t bad heading into Boston. Everyone seemed to be leaving instead of arriving. Darcy made her way up I-93 into the city, giving Emerson a primer on the two men she was about to meet. “Nick and I went to school together, which you know. He works for an ad agency. Julien is from Senegal and is a professor of African Studies at Harvard.”
“Impressive.”
“You’d never know it by talking to them, though. I mean, their house is to die for, but they’re both easy-going, down to earth.”
Emerson nodded. “I’m sure they’re great. I’m looking forward to meeting them.”
Darcy wound her way to the Back Bay neighborhood where Nick and Julien had a townhouse. As usual, they had invited her—them—to stay for dinner. Even though Darcy hesitated to include Emerson in the family-esque ritual, she hated to give up the opportunity to see Nick and catch up. So instead of pulling up for a quick drop-off, she began the hunt for a parking space.
In a stroke of pure luck, she found one only a block away from their place. With the three of them each taking a bag, they easily carried all of Liam’s things. Before she could knock, the door flew open. Nick stood on the other side with open arms. “Family. I’m so glad you’re here.”
Liam got squeezed first, then Darcy. “Hi, Nick.”
“Hi, Dad.”
When Nick’s gaze fell upon Emerson, he offered an appreciative smile. “And you must be Emerson. I’ve been dying to meet you.”
Darcy poked him in the side. “Don’t be dramatic.”
“I’m never dramatic,” he said.
“Well, we all know that’s a lie.” Julien stood slightly behind Nick in the foyer. “Darcy, it’s always lovely to see you.”
“Hey, Julien.” Liam offered him a hug.
Julien returned the embrace. “Liam, you’re going to be taller than me any minute. You must stop growing so fast.”
“You wish.”
He sighed. “Actually, I wish I could start growing again. Then we could be six feet tall together.”
Darcy shook her head. “Could we not rush things, please?”
They brought Liam’s things to his room, then went out to the back deck. The table was already set for five and a bottle of wine sat in a bottle chiller on the table. For the briefest moment, Darcy felt a pang for how grown-up and sophisticated it was. She didn’t regret a single meal she shared with Liam at their little kitchen table, but she realized how much her life was split between that and dinners out on a date. This felt adult, but also homey. She shook off the feeling and turned her attention to Emerson, who appeared to be sharing state secrets with Julien.
“What are you two whispering about?”
“We aren’t whispering at all,” Emerson said, but with a wink that told Darcy otherwise.
Nick opened the wine and poured four glasses, then went to the kitchen for a glass of milk for Liam. Dinner followed and they sat down to eat like old friends. No, that wasn’t quite it. They felt like the family Nick alluded to when they arrived. The reality of that struck Darcy with a mixture of wonder and alarm.
“Are you okay?” Emerson placed a hand on her leg under the table.
“Yeah. Sorry. My mind wandered for a moment.”
Emerson smiled. “No need to apologize. I was just checking. You looked like you were a million miles away.”
Darcy gave Emerson’s hand a squeeze. “Right here.” Then, allowing herself a moment of indulgence, she added, “Nowhere I’d rather be.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
They finished dinner, but lingered at the table. Darcy gave Nick a few details of note since their last visit, including Liam’s new fascination with painting. “Maybe we’ll have to check out a museum or two while you’re here,” Nick said. Liam nodded eagerly.
After hugs and good-byes and promises to be good, Emerson and Darcy made the short walk back to Darcy’s car. Emerson studied her. She didn’t seem upset, but she’d gotten very quiet. “Is it hard to leave him?”
Darcy let out a small chuckle. “It is. It’s good for him, not just to see his dad but to have time away from me. It’s good for me, too.”
“But it doesn’t mean it’s easy.”
“The drive home is usually hard. I’m glad to have a distraction this time.”
Emerson smiled. “I’m glad we’re not getting right back on the road. And I promise to do my best to distract. Would you like me to drive since I know where we’re going?”
Darcy handed over her keys. “I’d love it.”
“Excellent. It’s not too far from here.” Emerson pulled up directions on her phone and handed it to Darcy. “We shouldn’t need this, but hold onto it just in case.”
“Where are we staying?”
“It’s a hotel that used to be a prison.”
Darcy raised a brow.
“In a cool way, not a creepy one.”
When they arrived, Emerson pulled up to the front door and gave the keys to the valet. She handed Darcy her overnight bag from the trunk, grabbed her own. As promised in the pictures, the lobby of the hotel was a huge vaulted space in the center of the building. Dark wood and heavy light fixtures maintained the aura of a prison in spite of the plush chairs, sleek reception area, and concierge desk.
Emerson handled the check in, stealing glances at Darcy while the guy behind the counter sorted out the reservation and keys. It didn’t seem to matter what the surroundings were. Darcy always looked at ease. And beautiful. Even after spending the entire day with her, Emerson found her striking. After getting their key cards, Emerson led them to the elevator and up to the fourth floor. Once in the room, Darcy set down her bag and turned a slow circle. “This is way too nice.”
“One, there is no such thing. Two, with school out and the Sox on the road, I got a great deal. I promise.”
Darcy raised a shoulder. “I’m not in the mood to argue. I’d much rather focus on enjoying it.”
They spent a few minutes unpacking and settling in. Emerson came out of the bathroom and found Darcy sitting on a corner of the bed with a blank look on her face. “Are you okay?”
Darcy looked up, seemingly startled by Emerson’s presence. “Yeah.”
Emerson eyed her with suspicion. It didn’t sound like it. “Are you sure? Do you want to go out for a drink?”
Darcy’s smile reassured Emerson more than her words had. “I hate to seem old and boring, but I’m exhausted.”
Thank God. Emerson was, too, but hadn’t wanted to admit it. “Same. What if we veg tonight and make up for it tomorrow?”
Darcy bit her lip. It was a rare display of indecision that Emerson found charming. “You really don’t mind?”
“I’m beat, too. I’d rather sleep now and have twice as good a time tomorrow.”
“And by good time, you mean—”
“Sightseeing, of course.”
Darcy nodded slowly. “Right.”
Emerson lifted a brow. Given what Darcy had asked her to pack, she had every intention of spending as much time in the luxurious and mammoth bed as she did looking around the city. “And some other things that maybe don’t involve leaving the room.”
Darcy smiled. “I like the way you think.”