Page 77 of The Sound of Harmony

ChapterTwenty

“We’re going to be late,” Emma said. After spending the night at Kendrick’s, she’d retrieved the overnight bag she kept in her truck, showered and dressed as fast as possible, and was now trying to hurry Kendrick along.

“I didn’t realize that Saturday morning coffee with your sister was such a critical mission,” he said. “Should we synchronize our watches?”

“Punctuality is important.” Emma tucked her hairbrush and bottle of face lotion into the bag. The zipper got stuck halfway and she struggled with it in silence.

Kendrick took over the zipper, getting it back on track. “You know, things would go faster if you kept a few things here. I’ve got room.”

Emma slung the bag over her shoulder and made windmill arms toward the door. She wasn’t in the headspace to talk about this now. Nor did she want to hear the sentence she knew was coming next.

“Or you could let me sleep over at your place,” Kendrick continued. “Then you’d have everything.”

“If we were at my place, we’d be even later.” Emma’s apartment was twenty minutes out of town, while Kendrick lived right on the edge of it. “We’re barely going to make it as-is.”

As they left the house, she texted Gwendolyn. We’re running late.

We? came the prompt reply.

K is coming with.

Does he have to?

He wants to.

Emma put the phone in her bag, trading it for her truck key. Kendrick was already in the passenger seat. On a good day, they’d walk to town, but today was not a good day. Dark clouds muffled the sun, and a green musky smell hung in the air. Rain coming.

The bad weather seemed to have kept the students away from Hotshot, because several of the larger tables were free. But Gwendolyn had chosen a two-top in the front window. She wore dress pants and kitten heels topped with a thin sweater. She had a string of pearls around her neck and her hair was freshly done, as if she was on a first date instead of grabbing coffee with her sister. She sipped an iced latte. An identical one sat in front of her.

“Glad you could make it,” she said. “I ordered for you.”

Kendrick patted Emma’s shoulder. “Let me get another chair.”

“You only ordered for me?” Emma asked.

Gwendolyn shrugged. “You always get the same thing. I would have ordered for Kendrick but I didn’t know what he wanted.”

Emma held up her phone and wiggled it. Gwendolyn could have asked.

But Gwendolyn ignored the hint. “Where were you? You’re never late like this.”

“Five minutes,” Emma said.

“I thought something happened to you.” Gwendolyn pursed her lips as Kendrick dragged a chair over to them and squeezed his long legs under the tiny table.

“I texted. You knew I was fine.” Emma turned to Kendrick. “I’m sorry. Let’s get you some coffee. Just black, right?”

“I’ve got it.” Kendrick stood. “Actually, I just remembered we need eye hooks. Passing the hardware store on the way here made me think of it. I’ll run over there and—”

“I have eye hooks,” Emma said. She had a well-stocked toolbox in her truck.

“You ran out, remember?” Kendrick asked. “And since we’re hanging those planters…”

“Raymond’s is three blocks away,” Emma protested.

“I know, it’s so close,” Kendrick said, deliberately misunderstanding her. “Perfect opportunity to get this taken care of.”

Emma put her hand over his and tried to pull him back to his seat, but he leaned away from her. No, she wanted to say. Don’t do this. Don’t make me choose between you and Gwendolyn.