She sat back with a sigh as her granddaughter left, hoping she’d given her the right advice, praying even harder that Boone would have the wisdom to listen not just to what Emily had to say, but to the unspoken longing that was plain, at least to Cora Jane.
22
“I can’t believe Emily’s home,” B.J. said excitedly. “She promised to play my new video game with me next time she came. Do you think she’ll have time tonight?”
“Maybe after dinner,” Boone told him. “Maybe you can teach Ethan, too.”
In the end, he’d gone ahead and invited his friend, convinced that it would be good to have a buffer between him and whatever was brewing with Emily. He wasn’t entirely sure why he was convinced tonight was going to go badly, but the feeling in his stomach hadn’t gone away. Knowing it was cowardly, he’d called Ethan and all but insisted he join them, at least for dinner.
“What’s going on?” Ethan had asked suspiciously.
“Why do you assume something’s going on? It’s been a while since you’ve been by for a meal.”
“And you have so much time with Emily these days that, what? She’s boring you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Are you coming over or not?” Boone asked irritably.
“I’ll be there, if only to try to solve the riddle of the man who doesn’t want to be alone with the woman he loves.”
In retrospect, Boone knew Ethan had been right. Inviting him had been ridiculous, especially since Emily had made her feelings about it plain.
As he was bemoaning his stupidity, he felt an impatient tug on his sleeve.
“Dad, are you listening to me?” B.J. demanded.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“I said I already taught Ethan,” B.J. said, then confided, “He’s not very good. I don’t think he pays attention.”
Boone smiled. He could see Ethan being a little too intense these days to get involved with a video game challenge, even though there’d once been a time when he’d accepted any dare. In Boone’s opinion, a little fun from time to time wouldn’t hurt his friend one bit. What Ethan really needed was a woman in his life, but every time Boone tried to broach that subject, Ethan shot him down. Emphatically!
Maybe Emily would have some ideas, assuming she planned to be around. That was Boone’s greatest fear, that she was about to announce that she wouldn’t be back for months, if ever. He fretted over the possibility that the complications were simply too much.
No matter how hard he tried to convince himself she wouldn’t make that sort of decision without discussing it with him, he couldn’t shake the dread that had settled over him when she’d appeared so unexpectedly this afternoon. What if she was here to talk over exactly that, an extended absence of some kind?
“Dad, Ethan’s here,” B.J. hollered, racing across the lawn, then slowing suddenly as he remembered that despite Ethan’s agility with his prosthesis, it wasn’t a good idea to hurtle himself at the Afghanistan war veteran. It was a lesson learned after they’d taken a few good-natured tumbles to the ground.
Ethan crossed the lawn, listening to B.J.’s chatter, but his gaze fixed on Boone.
“Buddy, go into the house and get Ethan a soda,” Boone suggested. “Or would you rather have a beer?”
“Soda’s good,” Ethan said. When B.J. was gone, he gave Boone a hard look. “Mind telling me again what I’m doing here? You have one night with Emily and you want to spend it with me? Are you planning to break up with her?”
“In front of you? I don’t think so,” Boone said, though his laugh sounded forced. “Okay. Here’s the truth. I think she’s about to deliver bad news, and you’re here to postpone it.”
Ethan stared at him incredulously, then shook his head. “Oh no, you don’t, pal. I am not getting mixed up in this drama.”
“But there will be no drama if you’re here,” Boone protested.
“And if there’s going to be drama ever, you need to get it over with,” Ethan said. “I’m leaving, and what I will do is take B.J. with me. He can spend the night at my place. I’ll even let him beat me again at that video game he loves.”
Boone grinned despite himself. “You’ve been letting him win?”
“Of course. You didn’t really think that little kid of yours could beat me, did you?” he asked indignantly.
“Actually, I did. He thinks you’re pretty bad.”
“Well, sure. I work at stinking, so he’ll build up his confidence. I thought that’s what you’re supposed to do with kids.”
Boone shook his head. “You might want to kick your game up a notch. Something tells me he’ll still be able to take you. He whips my butt every night, and, believe me, I’m trying.”
“Yes, but you’re you,” Ethan said, then raised his voice. “Hey, B.J., forget that soda! We’re going out for burgers.”
B.J. came running out the back door. “All of us?”
“Nope, just you and me,” Ethan said. “Your dad and Emily have grown-up stuff to discuss.” He glanced across the yard at the sound of a car. “And there she is now. Run and give her a hug, then hop in my car. We’ll play miniature golf after dinner, then go back to my place. I’ve been practicing that video game. I might be able to take you now.”
“No way,” B.J. responded. He glanced at Boone. “Is it okay, Dad?”
“Sure. Have fun. Grab your toothbrush and a change of clothes. Ethan says you can stay over and he’ll get you to school in the morning.”
There was no mistaking Emily’s frown when she spotted Ethan.
His friend didn’t miss the look, either.
“Not to worry,” Ethan told her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “I’m just here to pick up the kid, so you two can have some time alone.”
“I see,” she said, her expression brightening.
Ethan leaned down and whispered something in her ear that Boone couldn’t hear. Then B.J. emerged from the house, gave her a hug and raced off
