Page 44

###

Saturday morning, Kate invited Emmie for coffee. They often shared coffee on the weekends. It kept their friendship alive and had been a grounding time for both of them through the years.

“Any news from Tanner?” asked Kate, standing in her kitchen and handing Emmie a mug of black coffee.

“As a matter of fact, he’s taking me out to dinner to a Thai restaurant tonight,” said Emmie.

“Are you excited?” asked Kate.

“Yes and no. I want to get to know him better, but I don’t want him to think I’m so eager to go out with him that I didn’t mind a last-minute call.”

“It shows that you’re easy to get along with, nothing more,” said Kate. “Think of it as a logistical meeting, where you’re simply introducing yourselves to one another. It’s really nothing more than that. Right?”

Emmie sighed. “Honestly, the thought of dating is nerve-wracking. When I think of all it entails, I don’t know if I’m ready.”

“I heard through the grapevine that a number of women in town, mostly divorcés, are eager to meet him. In fact, he’s dating the mother of a boy on Derek’s lacrosse team for dinner next week.”

Emmie sighed. “One thing I’m not going to do is compete against younger women. I don’t need to do that. I am who I am.”

“You think you look and act old because you’re a grandmother, but people would never guess your age. You look like Reese Witherspoon, and she’s adorable.”

“It’s going to be interesting,” said Emmie. “I’m trying not to compare him to Ted McAllister. With him, there was an immediate connection between us.”

“Tanner is right in town, which makes a relationship with him easier,” Kate reminded her. “Still, I wouldn’t ever want to lose you as a neighbor.”

“I’m sure it won’t come to that,” said Emmie, shuddering at the thought.

###

Emmie tugged at the collar of a gray cashmere sweater, making sure the silver-and-turquoise necklace hung correctly. Her black slacks and black ankle boots completed the outfit.

Staring at herself in the mirror, she remembered Kate’s words about resembling someone well-known. It wasn’t exactly true, of course, but her shoulder-length frosted blond hair was cut in a fashionable style that definitely didn’t scream grandmother. And her trim figure helped to offset any notion of being old.

Her family liked her for who she was, not how she looked. Keeping that in mind, she gathered her phone and purse and went downstairs to wait for Tanner.

Minutes later, his silver Audi Q5 pulled into her driveway.

In the living room, watching him get out of the car and walk toward her front door, Emmie realized how attractive he was. Not handsome like Ted, but good-looking in a more subdued way.

She moved to the front door.

When she opened it, a broad smile crossed Tanner’s face.

A little shot of pleasure went through her. “Come inside while I get my coat. It’s chilly out there.”

He did as she suggested and then helped her with her coat.

“Ready?” he asked. “I hope you’re hungry. I’m starving.”

She chuckled. “I love Thai food.”

They left the house and headed to Main Street, where Emmie’s favorite Thai restaurant, Lotus Blossom, was located.

Tanner found a parking spot nearby, and they entered the building together.

Lotus Blossom was a fairly new restaurant that had taken over an old country-inn-style one.

The walls were painted a deep orange. A carpet with a tropical design sat on the floor. Wooden tables and chairs with deep orange cushions were spread throughout the main dining room. A number of bright-red ornamental designs were painted on the wall.