“It sounds like you have found the one, my son. Don't be afraid to put your heart out there. If you don't, then you won’t get to experience the only reason to live. Love. Believe it or not when I met your father, I felt that way about him.” She smiled as if she was reflecting.
“I have tons of faith in you, and know you’ll be fine. You were my only child who got it, understood what the important things in life were. You have a good heart, Son. And if this is the right person, you will open it up to her and it won’t be something you can prevent.”
“She has already gotten into my heart.”
“I know.”
She raised her eyebrow and then smiled evilly. “Plus, don’t be a chickenshit.”
I laughed. And that was my dear mother.
19
BREIGH
The knock at my door shocked me and made me jump a foot out of my bed. I had been working but had moved my laptop to the bedroom, exhausted and ready to lie back on my fluffy pillows and feather down comforter. My back had been hurting from the hours I had spent at the office, trying to look for something: a document my boss had misplaced, an addendum that should have been added to an estate now missing. All wills should be printed, a hard copy and then electronic version saved in several different places to prevent this from happening. Bless Frank’s heart though, he wasn't used to having to save the electronic version. If it were up to him, he would still type everything on his typewriter.
I had decided to ignore the knock, until it sounded again and then the doorbell.
Annoyed and mumbling to myself walking to my door, I peeked out and saw my best friend.
“Emma, is everything okay?” I immediately took her in for a hug. She looked like death.
“I’m okay. I just am sick of being alone. Can I stay over tonight?”
“Yes, of course.”
Letting her in, she followed me to my bedroom and dropped her night bag on my hope chest, at the bottom of my bed.
“Oh crap, you are still working?”
“Yeah, but it’s okay. I am ready to call it a night.” I gathered up all the papers and folders I had spread along my white down comforter.
“While you are doing that, I’m going to go get us a drink. I want wine.” She pulled a bottle out of her bag. “Do you want any or do you want something else?”
“One glass and that is all.” I wasn’t sure she heard me as she walked out, which was what Emma always did. She loved to ignore me, going on fifteen plus years.
I lay back on my bed and propped myself up on my headboard.
She handed me a glass of wine and then sank into my bed, propping up on my headboard, careful not to spill the contents. Emma was a wine connoisseur, so the wine she brought tonight wasn't something I would have grabbed from the grocery store.
“So fill me in. What’s new?” I asked, giving her all my attention.
She took a long sip and swallowed slowly. “I’m just feeling down. Not for any particular reason. I think there is a point in your life when you just realize you are going nowhere, and you are going nowhere alone.”
“You aren't alone. You have me. Plus, you have an amazing career.”
“I know you mean well when you say that, but at this point it does nothing but agitate me.”
“Talk it out, my friend, I’m here to listen.”
“You know, like the whole Cash situation?”
“Yes, and please tell me you are not still thinking about that asshat.”
“I’m not…well kind of. But that’s not it. The problem is, he was just one more guy who said he was going to be something that he isn’t, wasn’t. I thought by the age of twenty-nine, I would be happily married—hell—already starting a family. I am so far from what I want.”
“It just hasn't been the right time yet. Everything is in the timing.”
She rolled her eyes at me.
“Now you are telling me Grammy’s words? Seriously?”
“Well, they are true.”
“Yes, they are but you aren't getting what I am saying. I’m just in a rut, I guess. I don't feel like I am getting anywhere, and I am sick of it. Yes, I have a good job that I love. But that is such a small part of my life. I want so much more. I want to share my life with someone.”
“You’re pretty lucky to have the job you have; you’re the boss, and the head of the marketing department.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
“And it will happen. You will find that person to share your life with. We both will. I have no doubt in my mind.”
I held up my glass to toast to her. “Emma, I love you…hang in there. I have every bit of faith that Mr. Right is waiting for you and so is the family you want.”
“I love you too, but I do wish it would hurry the hell up.” She took a drink and then smiled.
“Tell me what is going in your world? Work, I know, but tell me more about Wyatt?”
“He’s fantastic. He was there for me when I told him what happened with dear old Dad.”
”Oh hell, what did he do now?”
“He wanted me to get money from Wyatt for him. And I told Wyatt. He was so supportive and sweet. He told me not to worry about it. But he told me he was here for me. I could get used to hearing that, but I worry…”
“I know that he is full of it, just like all the others. But you can’t think that way.”
“Also…” I started again with a smile on my face bigger than Texas.
“You’re in
