Chapter Nine

        

        “I want my things.” In the two days that she’d been staying with Noah, she’d managed to file for divorce and file the restraining order Deputy Tremont suggested. She did both of those things with Noah hanging over her shoulder. She appreciated his concern, but she was ready to have a bit more control, and having her belongings would help her feel like less of a mooch.

        Noah’s sandwich paused halfway to his mouth. “Right now?”

        “Well, no. You can finish eating.” Emma Jean rolled her eyes playfully. “But, when you’re done, I need you to take me home.” She winced at her own words. The house she had shared with Cody was no longer home. She supposed she no longer had a home. She couldn’t go to her parents, Tally had essentially kicked her out, and Noah’s apartment was a temporary solution. She thought it was funny how not belonging anywhere made her feel both free and trapped. She had no real responsibilities, and yet, she longed for those tethers that required one to be present. Otherwise, she was an island, and that was lonely. She shook off her philosophical wonderings when Noah spoke.

        “Are you sure he won’t be there?”

        She nodded. “He’ll be at work. At the car lot.” Or maybe he was in jail if he wasn’t already out on bail. She didn’t really know how those things worked or how quickly the wheels of justice moved. She didn’t really care at that point, she just wanted her stuff.

        “Okay. I think I have a few boxes we can use. I’ll get them out of the closet.”

        “I don’t have much. My clothes. A few mementos from when I was younger. There isn’t anything else there that I want.” She had taken her engagement and wedding ring off at the hospital when Tally had come to her rescue and never put them back on. She thought about throwing them directly into the trash, but she needed the money. The rings weren’t worth much, she knew, but every penny counts when you have nothing.

        “Okay. We can go whenever you want.”

        Emma Jean smiled at him, grateful for his naturally accommodating nature and surprised that he had managed to remain single for this long. In fact, now that she thought about it, she remembered him briefly dating a girl or two in high school but hadn’t heard about him being with anyone since. She supposed he might have dated while he was away at college, but he came back to Medicine Wheel unattached and remained so. Her curiosity got the better of her.

“How come you’re single?”

Noah’s cheeks puffed out comically as he began to cough.

“Oh, God, are you alright?” She rounded the table to rub circles on his back. “I’m sorry; it’s none of my business. I was just curious,” she said softly, embarrassed that she had brought it up.

“No.” He coughed once more. “It’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting that.” He inhaled deeply before answering. “I guess...I was just waiting. For the right one, you know?”

Emma Jean cocked her head slightly as she returned to her seat. “Who is she? The right one?”

“Uh…” Noah, flustered, chuckled awkwardly. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you said ‘I was waiting.’ Past tense. Not, ‘I am waiting.’ So, who is she?” The question was asked with genuine curiosity, but she dreaded hearing the answer as a sharp pang of jealousy struck her.

Noah frowned at her across the table. “Isn’t it obvious?” he asked quietly.

Awareness settled over her. “Noah-” she began but paused.

“If it’s not obvious, I clearly need to work harder at it.”

She didn’t know whether to discourage him or encourage him and the frustration at her own indecisiveness overwhelmed her. “I honestly don’t know what to say,” she huffed, shoving away from the table.

Noah sighed. “Wait,” he pleaded, grabbing her hand before she got too far away from him. “I know this isn’t the ideal situation and probably not the best time to have this discussion, but I’ve waited for years to say this to you.” He exhaled with a heavy whoosh . “You’re the one. I want you to be mine.”

Emma Jean’s heart broke a little. His words came a little too late. Timing obviously wasn’t going to be their strong suit. “ I’m just beginning to be mine. I can’t belong to anyone else right now.”  She tugged her hand away and ran to her room. The disappointment in his eyes was too much to bear.

***

Noah carried all of Emma Jean’s belongings from her old house to his SUV, refusing to let her help in any way. He was still kicking himself for his impulsive words from earlier. What he’d said was true, he wanted her to be his, but that didn’t stop the regret he felt at the fear he’d seen on her face. If he needed to take his time with her after all she’d been through, he’d do just that. Prove to her that belonging to him wouldn’t include pain or ridicule. He wasn’t Cody. She had to see that.

“That’s the last of it,” he declared, dusting his hands. “Ready to go?”

“More than ready.” She gave her former home one last glance before climbing into the SUV. True to her word, she’d only packed up the rest of her clothing and what few personal effects she’d chosen to keep. Anything related to her life with Cody stayed behind. Now, she had a new life to build. “Can you take me someplace?”

“Sure. Where do you want to go?”

Her gaze was focused on something outside her window rather than on him, and for some reason, it sent a feeling of unease down his spine.

“Fetterman Animal Care.”

“Dr. Fetterman’s office? You got a pet I haven’t noticed?”

A small smile tipped the corners of her mouth. “I want to apply for a job.”

The feeling of unease intensified, and Noah did his best to ignore what having a job would mean for Emma Jean.

Independence.

She could eventually move out. He didn’t want her to move out; he’d just gotten her moved in. “Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” In that moment, he didn’t care how selfish he was being. He knew he was letting his own insecurity get the better of him, but he’s already missed one chance with her; he wasn’t ready to lose again.

The steely look of determination she shot his way sealed his fate. He pulled the SUV away from the curb and pointed it in the direction of Dr. Fetterman’s office.

***

Emma Jean stood in the reception area of Fetterman Animal Care and filled out the job application. It was only for the front office position, but it would allow her to gain some office experience, and she could hopefully learn from Dr. Fetterman on the side while she looked into going back to school.

“You’re hired,” Dr. Fetterman declared the moment she handed over the piece of paper.

“Aren’t you going to interview me?” she asked after a startled laugh.

“Can you answer the phone?”

“Yes.”

“Learn the computer system so you can help me maintain patient records? Do some basic filing? Help me maintain my sanity five days a week?”

“I-I think so. I mean, yes,” she said more firmly when he raised a brow.

“Then, like I said, you’re hired.”

“When do I start?”

“You free Monday? You’ll have to learn on the job. I don’t have anyone to train you. Marissa, my tech, can help with some things, but I’ll need her to assist me during exams and surgeries, so she’ll be available to you on a very limited basis.”

“Okay. I can do this.”

Dr. Fetterman gave her a wide smile. “Great. See you Monday. Eight AM sharp.”