“Emerson Leigh! If you don’t hurry up, we’re going to be late. Everyone’s expecting us, and walking in tardy is tacky,” Mom yells from the kitchen.
Of course, everyone is expecting us, because last night, it wasn’t only my mom’s circle of friends that showed up for dinner, it was also her ladies’ luncheon crew and the self-appointed church welcome wagon—twenty women in all, plus Maren and me.
They came in droves, everyone with a dish or dessert until my mom’s kitchen looked like a Golden Corral Buffet. Dad even had a few friends over, but mostly, the men hid in the den or the back yard. Even the early March chill was better than hanging in a house with gaggling women.
As soon as Maren arrived, I shoved her back to my room, ready to give her a piece of my mind, but it never happened. Once she explained she had been dropping tidbits of information about me in order to keep her mom off her back, I understood. She used me for self-preservation. Then I realized this was the first time she was seeing these women as well since her break-up, so we banned together, held our heads high, and dealt with all questions thrown at us while sec
retly sneaking to my room to sling back wine.
It turned out to be awesome. Mom and Sylvia weren’t fooled, but as the night wore on, the questions became more bearable and a lot more humorous. When the last guest left, and it was only the four of us, Mom poured us all a hot toddy, with her own tipsy glow.
Maren and I didn’t get any work done, but we stole a few minutes during the night to plan our next moves with Justin.
I never got to actually speak to Walker, having to leave a message to say goodnight. This morning, I woke up and automatically reached for him, then remembered where I was. I tried calling him again with no luck.
It was the first time since I was in Myrtle Beach that I hadn’t seen him in twenty-four hours. Ridiculous and pathetic, but I missed him like crazy.
“Be right there,” I call to my mom and grab my phone to send a quick message.
Me- Sorry I missed you last night. Hope it was a success. We’re going to church so I’ll call you later.
There’s a response almost immediately.
Walker- Don’t be late for church.
My heart drops at the short message.
I adjust my necklace and think about messaging him again, but what if he’s still on a stakeout. Clingy is not my style, so I take one last glimpse in the mirror and head to the kitchen.
The instant I step into the living room, I freeze. My feet are planted in place as I search the area. Nothing is out of place, but it feels off. Mom’s back is to me as she cleans out the coffee pot, and Dad is nowhere to be seen.
Then I hear it, the low chuckle, the husky murmur, the cool gravelly voice as it gets louder.
My dad walks into the room, with Walker behind him, both men smiling as they chat. I can’t hear what they’re saying because my heart is thundering in my chest and roaring in my ears.
I stare, watching him talk casually with my dad. He’s dressed in black slacks and a grey button down that molds to his frame. His hair has been recently cut, shaved on the sides with the top still long enough for my fingers to run though.
He stops mid-step, his eyes doing a quick sweep of my body before meeting mine. I hold my breath, feeling the air crack between us.
Walker is here, in my childhood home, with my family. And he’s telling me something with just his eyes.
I take off, rushing to him, until I’m in his arms. “Walker.” The breath I was holding comes out in a whoosh.
“Morning, gorgeous.” He kisses my temple. “Surprise.”
I nod into his neck, unable to speak as I inhale deeply, smelling the mixture of his body wash, shaving cream, and cologne. My lips skim across the skin lightly.
“Emerson, your parents are a few feet away,” he says low enough for only me to hear, jarring me out of my Walker Scott trance.
I step into his side and turn to see my parents watching with approving smiles. “I take it you two met Walker.”
“Yes, seems so,” my dad responds.
“What are you doing here?” I tilt my face up to his.
“Going to church.”
“How’d you know where to find me?”