Chapter Six

        Back in her room, Emma Jean picked up her cell phone and let out a tortured breath. The voicemails her mother had left her were filled with worry bordering on desperation. She said a silent prayer for strength and tapped her mother’s contact information on the screen.

        It only rang once.

        “Emma Jean?” Melissa Barker’s hopeful voice came on the line.

        “Hi, Mom,” Emma Jean’s own voice was hesitant and unsure.

        “Oh, baby!” her mom cried before yelling for her husband, Brian.

        Emma Jean could hear her mom telling her dad that she was on the phone and then briefly argue over who was going to take over the conversation. Emma Jean had no doubt her mom would win that round. Brian Barker might be the man of the house, but it was Melissa who was in charge.

        “Baby girl, where are you?” her mom asked, her tone morphing into that mom-voice that every child, regardless of age, abided by for fear of repercussions.

        “I’m at Tally’s.”

        “Oh, thank God,” Melissa muttered. “And you’re okay? Do you need to come home?”

        “I’m okay, mom. Please don’t worry.” She paused to clear her throat. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you back before.”

        “Nevermind that, sweetheart. Your father and I are so happy you’re okay. We heard a rumor, and we thought…”

        “I know, mom. That’s why I called. I’m okay. Really.”

        “Oh. So, then the rumor isn’t…”

        Emma Jean hesitated, tempted to lie, but ultimately decided that if she was going to be honest with anybody, it should be her mom. “It’s true, mom. I’m so sorry.” The tears came hot and unhindered. “I’m so sorry I let you down,” she sobbed.

        “What?! No! Emma Jean, you listen to me, young lady. You did not  let me down. Me or your dad.”

        Emma Jean could barely hear through her own sobs, but she suspected her mom was now crying, too.

        “We just want you to be healthy and happy, baby girl. That’s all that matters. Please come home,” Melissa begged.

        “I can’t, mom.”

        Melissa’s choked sob broke Emma Jean’s heart right in two.

        “Not yet,” she added. “I will. Just not right now, okay?”

        “Emma Jean?” Brian Barker’s voice suddenly came on the line.

        “Hi, Daddy,” she whispered.

        “Your mother and I want you to come home. We can take care of you here.”

        “I know you can, Daddy. But I need to take care of myself right now. Please just let me have that.”

        Brian’s defeated sigh echoed in Emma Jean’s ear.

        “I promise to call. Every day, if that’s what you want.”

        “You call your mother every day. No exceptions.” His voice was stern, but on the verge of cracking, and Emma Jean knew in that moment, she’d agree to just about anything he asked of her, so she decided she needed to end the call before she did just that.

        “I promise, Daddy. I swear .”

        “Barkers never break a promise,” he reminded her of the unofficial family motto. It was something he was fond of saying when she was growing up, reminding her of the value of one’s word. “Don’t care what your last name is now. You’re a Barker through and through. You remember that.”

        “I will, Daddy.”

        Her tears started up again as they said their goodbyes. She swore she heard her father mutter something about cleaning his shotgun before the call disconnected.  After hanging up, she took several moments to get her breathing under control and moved to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face. Just as she thought, her reflection revealed red cheeks and puffy eyes.

        “Ugh,” she grunted as she tried in vain to get the swelling to go down.

        She did the best she could and debated over whether to hide up in her room or join the rest of the household wallowing in their tryptophan-laden carb comas downstairs. Thinking that she was getting pretty sick of hiding, she straightened her spine and marched down to the living room, where everyone was gathered around the T.V. There, unfortunately, was nowhere to sit.

        “Hey,” Noah called softly. Patting the few spare inches of couch cushion next to him, he beckoned her over.

        She cast a glance around the room in the hopes that another option was available, but nobody else moved or offered her their seat. She shuffled over to the couch and waited for Noah to scoot closer to Tally, who was sandwiched between her brother and her fiancé. It wasn’t as tight of a fit as she feared, but Noah was definitely in her personal space, and it caused those conflicting wants to bubble up once again. Did she want to pull him close or push him away?

        “You okay?” he whispered in her ear.

        She nodded, causing his nose to brush her temple and sending a shockwave of desire straight to her core.

        Cody had never done that to her. Granted, Cody and Noah were like night and day, and when they were young, Cody was full of energy and excitement. But, he’d never set her on fire with such an innocent touch. And, lately, none of Cody’s touches were  innocent.

        Forceful.

Painful.

Depraved.

But, never innocent.

        

***

        It was obvious she’d been crying. He guessed the phone call with her parents took a lot out of her. He didn’t know what her relationship with her parents was like, but what he knew of the  Barkers, they were good people. He was also aware of Emma Jean’s insecurity and diminished self-worth surrounding her current predicament. So, if he had to guess, he’d say that Mr. and Mrs. Barker had asked her to come home, and she refused.

        He repositioned himself so his body was angled toward her and stretched his arm along the back of the couch to curl around her shoulder. He felt her stiffen slightly before she relaxed into the curve of his body, and he couldn’t help the sense of satisfaction that overcame him. She was beginning to become more comfortable around people, in general, but more so with him than anyone else. Considering the plans he had for the two of them, it was a good thing, too.

        “Do you want to talk about it?” he whispered.

        She shook her head rather than answer verbally.

        Noah was okay with her refusal to open up, for now, especially considering the current setting. There were too many ears around, and it wasn’t really the time or place for a heavy talk. But he was determined to learn everything there was to know about Emma Jean, and he’d be damned if he let her shut him out for much longer. So, for now, they could be casual friends, if that’s what made her feel safe. Eventually, she’d learn to let him take care of her the way he wanted to.