Page 13 of Speak from the Heart

Rule 4

Listen. You might hear more than what’s said.

[Jess]

Ten minutes after Emily’s call, I enter her grandmother’s home to a mess. Elizabeth answered the door for me and leads me to the kitchen entrance.

This house has good bones, and it’s one I’ve always admired. I’d love to own a place like this one day.

As I enter the kitchen, I can tell the place needs more work than I could ever afford, and from the looks of the sink, there’s a steep bill coming Elizabeth Parrish’s way. The cold water tap is missing. The contents of the cabinet underneath stand outside scattered across the counter. The sink is almost a hundred years old, and I imagine I won’t find a replacement part. It’s not a quick fix after all, and I don’t know why I’m disappointed.

Because you want to get out of here.

Because you want to stick around.

My mind can’t make itself up.

Emily hasn’t made an appearance, and I consider the possibility she isn’t here until I see her in another pair of shorts. They look like men’s pants cut off at the top of the thigh, and she’s wearing another T-shirt that has grandpa written all over it. Is she wearing her grandfather’s old clothes? I stare at her attire and realize she’s soaking wet again.

“What happened?” I question with a chuckle.

“That,” she hisses, waving a hand at the sink.

“I think you won, killer,” I tease, but her face is stern today. She looks tired. She’s out of her element, taking care of this home.

“Clearly, the faucet is the victor.” She tugs at her shirt, which lowers the neckline and exposes her cleavage to me, repeating the events of yesterday. Only today her bra is red, and I’m seeing more skin than fabric down the front of the stretched V-neck.

Do not think about her breasts.

Do not think about her bra.

Do not consider red your new favorite color.

Releasing her shirt, she nods toward the sink, dismissive in the way her chin lift to me was last night. “What’s the damage?”

She’s a haughty thing when she wants to be, acting all prim and proper as if she’s better than others here. She came across as so stuck-up when she brought that radio into Sound Advice. I’m actually loving the challenge that thing has presented, but I’m not going to admit that to her.

“I don’t know. This might take a while.”

“Do you have two jobs?” There’s a hint of revulsion in her tone as if it’s not right for a man to work for two places. Not that I owe her an explanation, but I feel the need to defend myself.

“QuickFix is Tom’s original business. He’s a plumber by trade. He’s out this morning, and you’re in a pickle here.” I tip my head to the sink. “But I can always call him and ask if he can come tomorrow if you don’t think I’m good enough.”

My voice roughens, and she shakes her head, dismissing a call to my brother. Her eyes shift to the kitchen table.

“I see you brought a partner with you today.”

I hate that I have to occasionally drag Katie to some of my appointments. My youngest sister, Tricia, is a teacher and had a summer teacher thing today, and my mother had to work. That left my other sister Pam, who also had to work, and Tom is out today. My brother’s good about me sometimes bringing Katie to the shop or along to odd jobs. He understands.

Of course, Katie doesn’t respond to Emily’s comment.

“I know just the thing to keep us busy while your daddy fixes my sink,” Emily says, leaning toward Katie like they are long-lost friends. I don’t get it. Why is she hitching herself to my child? In fact, I need to tell her outright to knock it off. I will as soon as I finish this job and hopefully rid myself of one Emily Post of Chicago.

Emily disappears after telling Katie she’ll be right back, and Katie doesn’t move from her seat. I always travel with a little bag of markers, paper, and coloring sheets. She’s good about sitting still when I need her to, but I hate needing to ask. I should have found a caregiver—the nanny-type—but I don’t want to put Katie under the supervision of someone I don’t know. It’s already bad enough whatever happened to her happened under her own mother’s care.

Emily returns and holds out a hand for Katie without even addressing me. Katie doesn’t blink but accepts the offered hand and follows Emily into the living room off the kitchen. They immediately disappear from sight.

So much for not kidnapping my child.