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“Let’s just…hang out. Who knows the next time we’ll be alone.”
“Okay.” She settles into the cushions, and she’s inching closer to me. All I have to do is reach out and I can brush her shoulder. “Best thing to happen in the last ten years?”
“My dental missions. To Costa Rica.”
“You went on more?”
I nod. “I wish I could go for longer. I love my hometown, but Costa Rica is my happy place. The people are so kind and giving. They need good dental care, but in those rural areas, they don’t have a lot of access. Whenever I get on the plane to come home, I’m itching to go back. I couldn’t go the last couple years.”
“Why not?”
I shrug one shoulder. “We’ve been really busy, getting ready for the handover. It was important that Noelle and I went away together, so with that, I couldn’t go last year.”
“So, this is kinda your first vacation in a while. If you can call it that.”
“It is absolutely a vacation. I get to hang out with you and this really cool kid. Never thought I’d stay at a tiny house. Got to see more of this town that holds so many memories.”
“Aww,” Emily coos, taking a drink of beer. “I am pretty awesome.”
“Look at you. You have this awesome house, an awesome kid, the most awesome baby daddy.”
“I’m the complete package.”
“Totally,” I say. “It’s just—”
“What?” Emily asks, her eyes wide.
“It wasn’t over. Not for me. I hope you know that.” Balancing my glass on the back of the couch, I look everywhere but at her.
“It wasn’t for me either.” Emily mirrors my body language, balancing the pint glass near mine.
“I’m not going anywhere. I promise.” My throat tightens.
“We’ll see.” She stares at a spot of the couch for moments. All I can do is prove to her that I will be here. I will come back. “If you did come here, I know you could set up a dental practice easily. One that allows you to do your charity work. You could see us all the time and go to Olive’s sports and dance.”
“That would be nice. It’s just my dad’s practice…”
“Yeah,” she says, quickly. I know staring at the couch spot feels safer, so I look away as well. “Is that something you want?”
That makes me pause. “Huh. No one has really ever asked me that.”
“Really?”
“Really,” I say. “It was always assumed I would take over. I mean, my dad has done so much for me that I want to continue his legacy. He helped my mom when she was a broke single mother, and that’s the least I can do.”
“You don’t have to take it. You don’t owe him anything,” she says. “Dreams change.”
That line hits me in the gut. Emily’s whole world changed because of me. Her new dream is to make a good life for our daughter, for her to be happy. I admire the hell out of that.
Emily touches my knee. “Just think about what you want. Is your stepdad worthy of a legacy?”
I freeze and grind my jaw. “He is. He’s the best man I know.”
“Okay,” she says. “I’m just making sure.”
“I appreciate your concern, but yes. My dad deserves the world.”
She smiles sadly and looks at her beer.
