A Beautiful Fall (26 page)

Emma handed the baby back to Samantha, and she tucked his blanket around him in the bassinet.

“What time do you leave tomorrow?” Samantha asked, returning to her seat next to Emma.

“Six forty-five, but I’ll need to be at the airport by no later than six a.m.”

“Do you need someone to take you?” Noel asked, sitting straight-legged on the living room floor like it was just as comfortable as a chair. “That’s one trip I think I know by heart.”

“You know, I may take you up on that. My dad’s offered to take me, but he’s really not supposed to drive yet. I’d really appreciate that.”

“No problem. I’ll be there around five?”

Emma made a face like reality was really sinking in. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“Gosh, that’s sounds really early.” Samantha said. “How many more stops do you have to make tonight?”

“I want to stop out at Christina’s, and then spend a little time with Michael. I’m hoping to make it an early evening.”

“Well, good luck with that.”

After a moment of laughter came an extended moment of silence, the kind that signals there’s nothing left to say. Emma stood and straightened her clothing.

“Well, I’d better be getting on my way,” she said.

“This week has gone by so fast.” Samantha held Emma in a warm hug. “I can’t believe it’s already over. I’m so glad you came. Of course the reason for the visit wasn’t all that fun, but I know your dad is doing great and we’ll all continue to keep our eye on him.”

Samantha let go of her favorite cousin.

“Thanks for everything, Samantha. You made this week wonderful for everyone.”

Samantha smiled. Emma gave hugs to Jim and Beth, received their well wishes for safe travel and hopes for a speedy return. Emma waved at Noel.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, then headed out the door, down the front stairs, and across the yard through the fallen leaves. She felt certain that if she turned around, she’d see Samantha still standing in the doorway, watching her leave. She didn’t turn around for fear that she might start to cry. Instead, she stared at the ankle-deep leaves as she kicked through them on her way back to Old Red. When she reached the truck, she couldn’t help herself. Emma turned. But Samantha had already disappeared into the house. A small glowing lamp in the picture window was all that greeted her, and quiet melancholy rose inside Emma. Samantha was surrounded by her family, warm and safe in her home. But she was now alone.

o o o

Emma checked her phone messages as she sat in the idling truck. There were two, one from her dad, and the other from Christina.

Emma glanced up the street. A mint green Z28 sports car with two wide racing stripes across the hood passed by. The car was stuffed with laughing teenagers. It turned left on Ruth Street and continued up the hill. As the taillights faded into the distance, she wondered what sort of life those kids had ahead of them. Would they long to leave Juneberry someday as she had?

Emma clicked the message button on her cell phone.

“Hi, honey, it’s your dad. Christina just called. She said she’d tried to reach you on your cell, but couldn’t get through so she called here. She wanted to tell you she’s not going to be able to say good-bye to you tonight. She’s headed back to the hospital. I guess Bo’s in a lot of pain, so she wanted to get over there, but she said you can call her if you like.”

Emma pulled out the black knob on the dash, bringing Old Red’s headlights to life. Juneberry looked so pretty with the leaves blowing in the wind. She pulled away from the curb and drove off into the evening. She glanced down at her cell phone and dialed Christina’s number with practiced ease.

“Hi, this is Christina.”

“It’s me. How’s Bo doing?”

“Well, he’s been in a lot of pain. They just gave him something and it’s starting to kick in.”

“Oh, poor guy. It doesn’t sound fun.”

“No, but at least he’s comfortable now. His eyes are closed. I think he’s down for the night.”

“I heard we won’t be able to get together tonight. I’m sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to it,” Emma said.

“Me, too, but if you have a minute we can talk right now if you like.”

“Sure,” Emma said, taking the wide turn at Mill Road. The sunset streaked faded purple lines in the western horizon. The sky’s good night reminded Emma that her time in Juneberry had come to a close.

“Earlier today I was thinking about all that happened this week,” said Christina. “I know it was your dad’s health crisis that brought you down here, but then Bo had his accident, and Samantha had her baby … and … well, I just think it’s more than coincidence. I’m glad you were here for all of these things. Even though you’ve been away for a long time, you’re still my friend. It’s good when friends are here for our times of need, you know? We all needed each other big-time this week, and God worked it out so that we were all together.”

“I hadn’t thought of it like that.”

“If you hadn’t been here, Bo still would have fallen off the roof, Samantha would still have had her baby, but I would have been in that waiting room all alone.” Christina sniffled. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for staying with me.”

“It’s been a hard week, but a good week. It’s going to be hard to go back.”

“I know what you mean. I’ll admit this isn’t the way I’d like it to be, but I think everyone understands you’ve got a life outside of Juneberry. I know I can speak for Samantha too, we just really want you to come back soon.”

“I will. I promise.”

“Well, good. So do you want to hear the big news or what?”

“Big news? You mean there’s more big news?”

“Yes! Bo’s asked me to marry him.”

“Christina, that’s fantastic! He asked you at the hospital?”

“Uh-huh. There are so many details to work through, of course, but it’s official.”

“You said yes, then, right?”

“Duh, yes, obviously. We’ll need to get through this crisis first before we plan a wedding date, but I think it will be sometime this year.”

“I won’t miss it, Christina.”

“You better not. I love you, Emma.”

Emma pulled into the driveway and parked Old Red underneath the sheltering arms of the three weeping willows. Her father’s house, and hers, too. The lights were on inside, warm and inviting, and she could see Will cooking in the kitchen.

“I love you, too,” Emma said. “I’ll talk to you soon. Bye.”

~ Twenty-one ~

Baby, baby,
when first we met
I knew in this heart of mine
That you were someone I couldn’t forget.
I said right,
and abide my time.

—A
LISON
K
RAUSS

“Baby, Now That I’ve Found You”

Michael heard three knocks at his front door. He reached for the remote that controlled the stereo, turning down the volume on the Alison Krauss song as he walked through the living room.

Emma smiled at him when he opened the door.

She was beautiful. He wondered how many times he’d dreamed of moments like this. Her smile softened, her eyes connected with his like an answer to a prayer, and a slight breeze caught her hair, sweeping strands across her face.

“Emma … you look …”

“Cold?”

“I’m sorry … I was a little distracted there for a moment. Yes, come in, please.”

Emma stepped onto the entryway rug. A pair of Michael’s work boots toppled over as he shut the door.

“Have you decided what you want to eat?” he asked.

“Yes,” Emma said. “Anything edible … and portable. Let’s just grab something and come back here, if that’s okay. I really don’t want to face a crowd.”

After an awkward pause, Michael stepped toward Emma. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then stopped and instead wrapped his strong arms around her like he couldn’t last another minute without her. It felt good to hold her again. She brushed her cheek against his, and the moment blurred into a kiss.
Her
kiss. He was lost in a spell of dizzying perfection. The kiss ended, the spell was broken, but Michael continued holding her.

“What was that?” he asked, hoping she felt the powerful electrical current that had just passed through them like lightning.

“I don’t know,” she said, setting her forehead against Michael’s shoulder. “I don’t have words.”

Michael let her go and they both took a step back.

“I guess I was hungrier than I thought,” she said with a smile—the sweetest Michael had seen from Emma all week.

“Um … I think this would be a good time to go get some food then,” he said, collecting his truck keys from off the entryway table, and lifting his coat from a wooden peg next to the front door. He held the door for Emma, and she waited for him in the porch light until he’d locked up the house.

“So you really don’t have any specific thoughts about food?” Michael asked, once they’d climbed into the truck.

“Well … those shrimp we had the other night were pretty good. Where did you say you’d gotten those?”

“Allen’s Place. Seafood is a great idea,” he said, fishing his cell phone off a storage ledge on the dash.

“Then Allen’s Place it is.”

Michael pushed a button on his cell while he backed the truck down the slanted driveway.

“Hey, Jennifer, it’s Mike. Do you think I can get a to-go order for a dozen grilled shrimp …”

“You have their number programmed?” Emma teased. He nodded.

“… rice and hush puppies.”

“Can you ask if they have stuffed crab?”

“… an order of stuffed crab, and how about a pound of crab legs too … yes, to go … all right, Jennifer. Thanks, we’ll see you in a few minutes.”

Michael set the phone back on the dash, next to a package of peppermint gum. “About fifteen, twenty minutes.”

“That’s fast,” Emma said. “But what’s with the ‘Mike’ … and who’s Jennifer?”

“Jennifer? She’s my girlfriend, of course. I thought maybe you two should meet.” She punched his arm teasingly.

“So where is Allen’s Place? Or should I say Jennifer’s place? Is it off Main? I think I’ve seen it.”

“Yeah, it’s not too far from where we ran into each other a week ago today. We ran past it on our way to Meredith’s Bakery. It’s just down the street. If you like their shrimp, you’ll like the rest of their menu too. Allen’s is one of those places that manages to get everything right.” Michael turned on the radio.

“Mmm, I love this song,” Emma said, reaching over to turn up the volume. They had twenty minutes or so to kill before dinner would be ready. Michael just cruised around downtown. Shop signs on Main Street were lit in radiant neon cursive letters spelling out the names of the businesses. Emma hummed along with the song.

“You sound happy tonight,” said Michael.

“I am. And if I had to come up with a reason, I’d stumble. There are too many to count,” she said, still humming along with the sweet country tune.

“Hey, you’ll get no cross-examination from me, counselor. If you’re happy in more ways than one, I’m good with that.”

Michael turned the truck around in the town square; kids were hanging out near their cars, laughing and teasing one another. The officer in a nearby police car gave Michael a friendly wave as they drove past.

“You know everybody in Juneberry, don’t you?”

“Most, I guess,” he said, keeping his eyes on the road.

Emma turned to face Michael. “Is it just me or does this feel like a perfect night to take a stroll?”

Michael didn’t answer; he just slowed the truck and parked it underneath a gas street lamp on Main about two blocks from Allen’s. It was still early, though the town wore the look of a much later hour. Only a few people walked this part of Main Street.

“I feel like Christina. I just want to shout and say hi to everybody we meet!” Emma said, jumping down the sidewalk.

“Go crazy,” Michael said. “Don’t let me stop you.”

They strolled along Main Street, window shopping, though many of the stores were already closed. Emma threaded her arm through Michael’s.

“What is it about this place, Michael? It’s so far removed from the rest of the world. Things seem so simple, it’s almost perfect here.”

“I think it is perfect,” Michael said. “Well, not perfect, but people work hard and treat each other with respect here. That makes more of a difference than you might think.”

They walked beyond the awnings, past the St. Charles Pub.

“I’ll miss it,” she said.

“Really?” he said. “That surprises me a little.”

“Surprises you?” She tried looking into Michael’s eyes as they walked. “Why?”

“Because it’s a big change. I mean, you’ve obviously been through a lot this week, we all have. I would have thought you’d be missing Boston right about now.”

“I do miss Boston. I really like it there. But this is so peaceful, you know? Well, of course you know. Dad says that sometimes after church, when it’s been especially meaningful, he experiences a time of reflection he calls the afterglow. I love that word. That’s exactly what I feel like now. It’s almost as if the whole week’s been a church service and this is my afterglow.” Emma looked up at the stars, pinpoint specks of pure energy. “I think I’d classify it as a spiritual thing. I can’t really tell. I just know I feel it going through every part of me.”

Michael squeezed Emma’s hand. “We’re almost there.”

He meant “almost to Allen’s Place,” but another thought crossed his mind after the words spilled out. Almost.

What sort of “almost” would tomorrow bring?

Michael took Emma by the hand and they headed across the street. A single car’s headlights appeared, its loud muffler rumbling as it drove toward them. Michael pulled Emma as they ran between the white lines of the crosswalk. A blinking sign, an orangey-pink and white, instructed them: “Don’t Walk.”

“Michael, we’re not suppose to walk,” Emma laughed.

“We’re not walking, we’re running.”

On the other side of the avenue, they crossed one more street and walked downstairs into Allen’s. A three-hundred-gallon aquarium stretched the length of the rear wall, filled with exotic tropical fish swimming between underground ferns and treasure chests. The smell of butter and garlic filled the air.