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“I think I can make that work,” Emma said. “Seven?”
“That sounds great to me. I suppose I’d better let you go now. Have fun with Lisa.”
“Good night, Luke.”
“Night, Emma.”
The gentle glow from the house guided Luke’s steps as he headed toward the patio. But just as he reached for the door, he was startled by a presence in the kitchen. Jeremiah.
“Who was that?”
Luke had to come up with something quickly. “Just a client I had to call back from earlier.”
“Oh.” Jeremiah didn’t ask any follow-up questions and headed out of the kitchen toward the stairwell. He stopped short of it and turned to face Luke. “Thanks for the pizza night, Dad.”
“Anytime, son,” he said, relishing the sound of the word Dad. “We’ll do it again soon.”
Luke’s heart swelled as he watched Jeremiah walk away. It had been a challenging journey, fraught with ups and downs, but moments like this made it all worthwhile.
The word Dad held a depth that Luke had missed hearing for years. It was a reminder of what he was fighting for.
Yet, his footsteps felt heavy as he went upstairs. A weight of guilt pressed down on him for lying to Jeremiah. It was inevitable that he would have to come clean, one day, about him and Emma.
But not tonight.
Luke found himself at a crossroads, torn between his son’s trust and the newfound happiness he’d discovered with Emma. To him, love and honesty were important, and he wanted to find a way to honor both without sacrificing either.
21
Emma
Emma’s heels clicked on the wooden floor as she burst into her bedroom. Hangers clinked and clothes flew in every direction as she rummaged through her closet. Dresses, skirts, and blouses swayed with each tug and pull, but none seemed right for her night out with Luke. There was the purple dress, but she’d need to pair it with a sweater, and it was too warm for that. There was also the green skirt and white blouse, but it was a little too casual. Each ensemble she imagined fell short in one way or another.
Browsing through rack after rack, she had almost lost hope when she pushed the last one over and saw it: a forgotten dress she bought last summer. A light sea-foam color with white lace along the bodice and the hem. Slipping into it, she caught her reflection in the mirror.
It fit like a glove.
She matched it with tan strappy heels and let her hair fall to her shoulders. Closing her eyes, she remembered the way Luke’s fingers, warm and gentle, had brushed a stray curl behind her ear. But her daydream was interrupted when a chill shot up her spine. The last time she’d worn this dress was the night Chad served her divorce papers.
She exhaled, pushing that thought aside as she stepped out of her bedroom and walked over to Riley’s dog bed.
“How do I look?” she asked, turning in a circle. “Think he’ll like it?”
Riley let out a whine and put his head down.
“Well, thanks for the encouragement, buddy.”
She walked into the kitchen, making sure his food and water bowls were full, then checked if the back door was locked. Afterward, she took a final look in the mirror and released a deep, steadying breath. The corners of her lips twitched into a smile as she made her way to the door and headed to Sea Breeze Tavern.
Emma arrived about fifteen minutes early, but decided to go in and get a table anyway. As she walked through the entryway, she came face-to-face with Charlotte and Jeremiah.
Masking her surprise, she smiled at them. “Hey guys! Small world, isn’t it?”
“Hey, Ms. Wright!” Charlotte said, while Jeremiah offered a more reserved nod. “So what brings you here?”
Emma laughed nervously. “Just picking up a takeout order.”
Charlotte looked Emma up and down. “You look awfully dressed up just to be picking up some food.”
