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‘It might to him,’ Marty pointed out, and she frowned again.
‘Why?’
He studied her for a moment.
‘Well, from all you’ve told me, you could hire a housekeeper. It’s a big house, so she could live in, be around for you and the boys, satisfy your father that there was someone there for you.’
‘But…’ She shook her head as if trying to dislodge the words she needed. Tried again. ‘But she wouldn’t be a father to the boys.’
‘You haven’t thought this through at all, have you?’ Marty asked, more than slightly bemused by the situation. ‘If this unknown man is to be a father to your boys, he’d have to be your husband. You should be thinking of a man for yourself, not the boys. Thinking of what you want first.’
He saw the colour creep into her cheeks.
Embarrassment or anger?
‘I do know I’d have obligations,’ she said, obviously embarrassed now. ‘I’m not completely stupid. I’d probably even enjoy the kind of closeness sex brings.’
She’d dropped her voice before mentioning the ‘s’ word but the boys were further down the veranda now, wrestling with the dog.
‘And love?’
‘What about it?’ she demanded, looking directly into his eyes, as if daring him to continue the conversation.
He shrugged, sure she knew exactly what he meant.
They sat in silence for a minute, then she reached out and touched his hand where it lay on the table by his tea-cup.
‘I’m sorry, it’s just the love thing, the risk of it. I don’t know if I could do it again. But I shouldn’t argue with you of all people. You’re the only real friend I feel I’ve made so far in Braxton.’
Marty’s hand burned from the touch but he knew he was an inch away from quicksand.
‘It’s what I hang around for,’ he said, hoping he sounded far more disinterested than he felt. ‘Just someone to be snapped at, and thank you for the friend part. Friends are precious.’
Unsure he could maintain his air of detachment, he stood up, collected both cups, and walked through to the kitchen.
‘I’d better be going,’ he said as he returned to the veranda. ‘Only called in to say I’m happy to drive you and Ned to the barn dance on Saturday night. I’ll come by at about six-thirty. It’s a twenty-minute drive out along the Wetherby road. Wear jeans, check shirts, straw-in-mouth kind of gear.’
He paused before adding, ‘Oh, and we all bring our own picnic supper. Izzy and Mac will be joining our group, so Carrie will probably arrange who brings what. She’ll be in touch.’
‘We’ll be ready,’ Emma said, but all emotion had been wiped from her voice, and her face was pale and still.
Had he hurt her with his talk of love? The thought made him uncomfortable in a way he didn’t want to think about.
Deep down uncomfortable…
A whole new emotional discomfort he’d never experienced before…
Love?
No way!
‘Then I’m off,’ he said, and called out goodbye to the boys.
That gave her time to get to her feet and come to the top of the steps.
‘You’re right, friends are precious,’ she said, taking his hand and holding it as she reached up to kiss his cheek. ‘Thank you for being mine.’
He walked down the steps, his mind keeping pace with his feet. I will not touch my cheek. I am not sixteen, and bowled over by a first kiss. And I won’t turn around, for all I know, she’s watching me.
He lasted until he reached the gate, when he did turn, and wave, and if his hand accidentally touched his cheek as it dropped back into place, well, that wasn’t all that adolescent!
CHAPTER SIX
SATURDAY FINALLY ARRIVED, and although Emma was secretly dreading this first social event of her life in Braxton, she was excited as well.
And, no, she told herself firmly, it had nothing to do with seeing Marty again.
He’d been conspicuous by his absence at the hospital all week, although she knew two new patients in the post-op ward had been brought in from outlying properties by the rescue helicopter.
She’d even looked out for him in case he came to visit the new patients, then chided herself for caring.
But as she made a large salad on Saturday afternoon, and phoned Carrie to ask if she needed to bring plates and cutlery, her excitement grew.
Because she’d be seeing Marty?
She blanked the thought, replaced it with the knowledge that her father would enjoy meeting up with old school friends again, and maybe get involved in more local activities. Marty had been right, she could get a housekeeper, even part time. That would free up her father to pursue a new life.
