“I agree with you about them being wonderful,” Emily said. “And B.J. looked fantastic. Mrs. Farmer, I understand you made his costume.”
Jodie looked nonplussed at being addressed directly, but she managed to utter a tight, “I did. Thank you.”
“Well, let’s get our budding star and head over to the restaurant,” Boone said, being determinedly jovial. “I’ve reserved one of the private rooms for our party.”
Jodie immediately shook her head, but Frank said, “We’re not going to miss this, Jodie. We can’t disappoint B.J. And you know you’re going to want our pictures taken with him wearing his costume.”
She looked as if she might argue, then backed down. “No, you’re right.”
Frank gave her an approving look. “We’ll meet you there,” he told Boone.
Emily gave Boone’s hand a squeeze. “I’ll ride over with Grandmother.”
Boone was tempted to tell her to come with him, but it made sense for her to accompany Cora Jane. “See you there, then.”
So far, the evening had gone according to plan. There had been no bloodshed. The combatants had been civil. It gave him hope that the party would go off just as well, especially if everybody there focused on B.J. and making it the perfect night for him.
And there, he thought dryly, was some of that optimism Emily seemed to think was going to be his downfall.
19
B.J. was wired up on too much excitement, probably combined with too much soda, Emily concluded as he tore around the private dining room at Boone’s Harbor with a couple of his cast mates who’d been invited to join the party. She had a hunch the outsiders were part of Boone’s plan to keep Jodie in line. His mother-in-law would never misbehave and air personal family feuds around strangers.
“At least she’s being civil,” Cora Jane acknowledged from her seat beside Emily. “I was ready to pop her one if she tried to take you on.”
Emily smiled at her grandmother’s feisty comment. “I really don’t think popping her one would help my case,” she said. “Civility is the goal for now.”
“Maybe I should spend a little time chatting with Frank,” Cora Jane suggested. “He’s a reasonable man.”
Emily shook her head. “Stay out of it, Grandmother. Boone needs to handle this. One wrong word and things could go terribly wrong. Who knows what might trigger an overreaction from Jodie? The last thing we want is to put B.J. through some ugly custody battle.”
Cora Jane sighed and sat back. “You’re right, of course.”
Just then B.J. came bouncing up to them. “Ms. Cora Jane, did you like the play?”
“I thought the play was excellent,” she told him. “And you didn’t miss a single line. I was very proud of you.”
B.J. grinned broadly. “Did you like it, Emily?” he asked, leaning into her side.
Instinctively, Emily put her arm around him to give him a squeeze. “You bet I did. I’m so glad I was able to come back to see it.”
“And, guess what?” B.J. said excitedly. “I’m going to be in the Christmas pageant, too.” He looked at her worriedly. “You won’t miss that, will you?”
“Absolutely not,” Emily assured him, though even as the words came out of her mouth, she wondered if she shouldn’t have been more cautious. She had a lot of small jobs lined up with regular clients to help them ready their homes for the holidays. That work often took her right up to Christmas Eve. Still, B.J. was clearly satisfied with her answer, so why spoil tonight by casting doubt on her own promise?
“See you later,” B.J. said. He started to run off, then came back and gave Emily a fierce hug.
After he’d gone, she noticed that Jodie had her gaze peeled on B.J., which meant that more than likely she’d witnessed the entire scene. From the tight expression on her face, she clearly disapproved. She headed in Emily’s direction.
“Uh-oh,” Cora Jane murmured. “Red alert!”
Emily chuckled, despite the impending confrontation. “Leave her to me, okay? Why don’t you check the desserts on the buffet table? Bring us back the most decadent things they have over there, preferably with chocolate. Something tells me we’re going to need it.”
Cora Jane looked uneasy. “And leave you alone with Jodie?” she asked worriedly. “Is that a good idea? I could keep my mouth shut. At least you’d have a witness, if she gets out of line.”
“It’ll be okay,” Emily assured her. “Please, Grandmother. She and I need to settle things.”
When Jodie reached her, Emily gestured to a chair, determined to be on her best behavior. Killing the woman with kindness was her mantra for the night. “Have a seat,” she said graciously. “I’m so anxious to get to know you better. I know how happy it’s made B.J. having you back home again.”
“Why do you care?” Jodie said, ignoring the olive branch. “You won’t be around long.”
Emily frowned at the confidence in her voice. “Why is that?”
“Because if you persist in this effort to get your clutches into my grandson, I will go to court,” she said as mildly as if she were talking about the weather. The threat was all the more potent because of her complete calm and her unwavering spite and determination.
Even though Emily didn’t have a doubt in her mind that no court would take B.J. from Boone, she didn’t want them to have to face the ordeal of a custody battle.
“Why would you do that, Mrs. Farmer? Do you really hate Boone that much? Or is all your anger directed at me? Or is it B.J.’s life you’re hoping to ruin? I’m just trying to understand your motivation here.”
“Oh, please. I wouldn’t waste my energy on you or Boone. I’m trying to protect my grandson,” Jodie responded with a huff of indignation. “Everything I do is for that boy.”
“Really?” Emily asked skeptically. “What exactly is the threat you think I pose? You don’t know me,
