Chest heaving, she pushes past me, making as though to leave our make-believe set, shooting her parting shot over her shoulder. “Never.Again.”
We both stand in silence for a beat until she pivots with a bright smile.
“That was wonderful. Thank you, Mr. Holloway.”
I grit my teeth at the formality between us, knowing I don’t even deserve that, and nod in acknowledgment.
We get through a handful more scenes without mishap, and as we wind down for the evening, Emmy is less guarded than in any of our interactions these past few days. The feeling is like a balm to my soul, soothing wounds I’ve never allowed to heal.
“Did you need me to run through anything else?”
I skip forward to another highlighted section of the script, but Emmy deftly slides it out of my hands.
“We’re all good! Thank you for your help today. In fact, thank you for everything, Mr. Hollo—” She stops, a small frown appearing on her face before her lips inch upward. “Thank you,Ford.”
The olive branch is tentative, but considering how little she must think of me and how I left her with more questions than answers, at this moment, it’s everything.
My smile reaches my eyes when our gazes meet and hold until Emmy drops her head, moving toward her bedroom with a soft, “Goodnight.”
She stops when I call out after her. “There’s fresh cherry juice in the refrigerator.”
But I’m surprised when she smiles over her shoulder. “Thank you…Though I don’t think I’ll need it tonight.”
Her admission makes my chest feel lighter. “Sleep tight, Emerson.”
“You too.”
I wait until I hear the soft click of her bedroom door, telling me that she’s settled in for the night before I grab a glass of water and amble toward my own room.
Once I’ve retreated behind the door, I quickly strip down to my Calvins and lie back against the headboard with my hands crossed over the ink on my chest.
I inhale deeply, filling my lungs to capacity before expelling the breath as a sense of calm descends over me, not unlike the one I experienced when I first moved to the city.
Back then, it was the same woman who soothed my demons, fears, anger, and self-doubt. Now, being in a place where I can somewhat repay that kindness makes me feel as though the universe truly does have a plan for us all, just like she told me.
My feet feel heavy as I climb the steps to Emerson’s brownstone, barely able to make the final distance. I feel weary down to my soul and a million times older than my twenty-three years when I ring the doorbell.
Blessedly, it’s Emerson who answers, though right now, I wouldn’t care if it were Easton and he found out about our secret relationship before we’ve decided how to tell him. All I know is that I need the solace only my Tink can provide.
And I’ll be forever grateful to Sutton North, the man who’d made my escape to Manhattan a possibility.
As the door opens, my legs weaken, and I drop to my knees just as Emmy’s eyes meet mine.
Her hand flies to her breastbone in shock. “Ford?”
My name escapes on a gasp before she propels herself closer, enfolding me within her hold. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
She pulls back enough to find my eyes, and it’s then I finally allow the tears to fall, knowing she’ll catch me. “It’s my dad. He’s been arrested. He?—”
A passing car honks, cutting me off, and Emmy quickly stands, pulling me up alongside her to move us both inside the house.
Once she’s settled me on the couch, she grabs some iced tea and presses a glass into my hand before she sits beside me, watching me with worried eyes.
“Do you know if he’s innocent or?—”
“He’s guilty as fucking sin, Em. Racketeering, fraud, bribery, conspiracy tomurder– the list goes on. My family would behomelessright now if Whispering Willows hadn’t stayed in Momma’s name after Grandpa passed away, for fuck’s sake…”
Emmy slips the iced tea out of my grip, placing it on the side table to her right. Then she kneels beside me, gathering me close. I press my ear over her heart, taking comfort from the steady cadence that sounds like Marshal's soothing beat as we drive the herd out to pasture.
