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“Of course not,” Ginger said.
“I wasn’t married,” Emma said. “He was the father of one of my students.”
“It was a long time ago,” Ginger said. “Everyone has things they’ve done that they regret.” She took Emma by the shoulders, her eyes intense and blazing. “You’re a good woman, Emma. You work hard, and you’re kind. You don’t have to carry your mistakes forever.”
Emma nodded, because she wanted to believe that. Deep down, she did. She’d been to church as a little girl and a teenager, and she’d learned that God forgave even the vilest of sinners. She’d tried to do the right thing. She’d operated within a sphere she knew and understood.
“She has a good life,” Emma said. “That’s all I ever wanted for her, and now everything might be compromised, and I don’t know what to do. I don’t know where to turn.” Fat tears slid down her face, and she made no move to wipe them away.
“We’ll figure it out,” Ginger said, and it sounded like a promise. “Together, okay?” Ginger reached up and wiped her tears for her, the kindest, most compassionate look in her eyes. “We’ll figure it out together.”
Emma nodded, utterly spent. She’d been so tired for so long. She kept everything laced so tight, and it was extremely hard to carry so much, day in and day out. She needed a reprieve. She needed help. She needed someone to take the burden for just a few minutes.
“Okay,” Ginger said, some of the hardness returning to her face and her voice. “Let’s get you to bed, because you look like you could use a good night’s sleep.”
Emma let Ginger walk with her into her bedroom and stay while she quickly changed into a pair of pajamas. She let Ginger stroke her hair off her forehead as if Ginger were her mother, and she looked up at her the way she’d been admiring her for so long now.
“Anything else I need to know?” Ginger asked.
“Not right now,” Emma said. Her friend got up, switched off the light, and left the bedroom. As the door shut behind her, Emma closed her eyes and thought of Ted Burrows.
Tall, strong, sexy Ted Burrows, with his warm skin and his musky cologne and those deep, caring eyes. Yes, she could keep him and their budding relationship a secret for a little bit longer.
Tomorrow, she’d face whatever she had to, and she whispered, “Please bless me and Missy and Fran and Matt that this will all work out. Please, Lord, I need to keep my daughter safe.”
