AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“There’s my best girls.” Liam walked up and put a hand on each of their shoulders. “Don’t worry about that boy, sweetheart.”
Charlotte sighed. “I’m going back inside.”
Liam and Emma watched as Charlotte hurried back through the main doors.
“Well, shall we go and get some ice cream?” Liam asked.
“Oh...” Emma put a hand on her full stomach. “Can I take a raincheck on that ice cream?”
Liam smiled. “Of course. It’s about time for my afternoon nap anyway.”
“Let’s head back to your house then.”
A few minutes later, Emma pulled onto the road and started off in the direction of Liam’s house. The road ahead meandered along the coastline, with sparkling blue waves on one side and quaint beach cottages on the other.
“Hey, Grandpa, how was Jeremiah today?”
Liam turned to her. “He was fine. Quiet, that one. Although he did say something to Charlotte that got under her skin.”
“Jeremiah’s mother, Luke’s wife, passed away two years ago,” Emma explained, her eyes on the road. “Ever since then, he’s had difficulty expressing his emotions, especially around his father. I’m sure you noticed how they don’t talk much.”
Liam pursed his lips, nodding slowly. “Yes, I saw. He’s a good kid deep down. I just wish he didn’t upset poor Charlotte.”
Emma chuckled. “Poor Charlotte indeed.”
“So, why do you care so much about Luke and his son?” Liam teased. “Are you trying to tell me something?”
“Grandpa, come on.”
“Where did you two run off to? Don’t think I didn’t notice.”
Emma blushed and looked out her window as they pulled into Liam’s driveway. “We just took a walk. It was nothing.”
Liam grinned. “Okay, Em. If you say so.”
Emma chuckled at her grandfather’s playful teasing and they said their goodbyes. As she left his house and arrived home, an energetic Riley greeted her at the door. After tending to Riley’s needs, she yawned and settled into a well-deserved nap on the couch.
A few hours later, refreshed, Emma tidied up the house before making dinner. She pulled out a bag of frozen vegetables and tofu to stir-fry. When she had thrown everything into the wok, her phone started buzzing. She rushed to grab it from the counter; it was a text from an unknown number.
Unknown: Hey, it’s Luke. I hope it’s alright if I text you.
The grin on Emma’s face spread from ear to ear as she added him to her phone contacts.
Emma: Of course, it’s alright. But how’d you get my number? And why didn’t you ask for it earlier? : )
Luke: I got it from Ada, who insisted I reach out to you, even though I told her I just saw you this afternoon. And I didn’t ask for it today because I didn’t want to seem too forward.
Emma: It’s not too forward. Text me anytime. : )
Luke: Okay, I will.
Sitting back, Emma clutched the phone close to her chest and read the message not once, but twice more. She wasn’t sure why she had done that, but it was clear Luke had sparked something in her that she hadn’t felt in a long time.
14
Luke
The gentle chirping of crickets filled the evening air, and Luke, standing on the porch, took a deep breath, letting the soothing sounds calm his restless mind. Glancing at his phone, he realized he had texted Emma impulsively. Although he had used his nosy neighbor as an excuse to start a conversation, the truth was that he wanted to talk to her.
