“It probably wasn’t the seminal moment for you that it was for me. Tessa was sick, so I guess I was the next best thing.”
He scoffed at that. “You are the only thing, Kate Wylie.”
Turning, he cupped her face in both hands and kissed her—slow and thorough. The kiss made the Gulf disappear and the sunset irrelevant and every complicated question between them fade into something that could wait.
“Let’s find Emma,” he whispered. “We’ll decide yes or no when we see how she is.”
“I’m surprised I don’t hear her wailing from here,” Kate murmured as they reached the pool and took the spiral steps to the upstairs deck.
They found her there, alone on the sofa, all the others gone. She had her head back, eyes closed.
“Hi, honey,” Kate said gently. “Are you okay?”
She straightened and blinked at them, her eyes remarkably dry. “I’m…yeah. I’m good.”
Eli and Kate exchanged a quick look, but not so quick that Emma didn’t notice.
“Why?” she asked.
They both came closer, and Emma sat next to her, while Eli took the chair across from them.
“Em, I have a confession to make. I?—”
“Talked to Matt. I know. He told me you…you know about the team.” She swallowed hard, fighting emotion if not actual tears.
“Oh, honey.” She reached for her. “I’m sorry.”
Emma hugged her but didn’t dissolve. “I’m not,” she said. “I’m fine, really.”
Kate drew back and searched her face. “It’s wrong.”
“Yeah,” she said, lifting a shoulder. “But it’s just…” She let out a long, slow exhale and turned to Eli, an expectant look in her eyes. “I’ve been reading.” She put her hand on a book next to her that Kate hadn’t noticed.
Notabook.Thatbook.
“And did that help?” Eli asked.
“It did,” she said. “Those dumb girls don’t get the final say. Sometimes things happen for a reason. A good reason.”
Eli nodded. “He works all things together for the good of those who love Him.”
Kate didn’t react, but Emma beamed at him. “I’m choosing to think something good might come of this,” she said. “And I’m not wasting tears on those mean girls.”
Kate felt her jaw drop. “Really? You’re not upset?”
“Oh, I’m upset. Next level.” She gave a mirthless laugh. “But they don’t get to win. Now, tell me. Are you two going to celebrate romance on a glass-bottom boat or what?”
Still stunned, Kate looked at Eli, who took her hand.
“We sure are,” he said.
Kate squeezed his hand, beyond grateful for this outcome. Whatever Emma had found in that book, it was holding her together in a moment that should have broken her apart. And that helped her mother’s heart.
The Grind was packed when Jonah cruised in after Broussard’s class. The campus coffee shop occupied most of the student center’s second floor, filled with mismatched tables and chairs, a chalkboard menu, and the siren call to students—permanently burned espresso.
He had just enough time for caffeine and a review of his notes for his lab, which he hoped would be an open cook day. That way, he might be able to practice the recipe he’d been tweaking for the Driftwood kitchen test.
If not, he’d book time in the next few days.
