“Sounds good. Thanks.”
Lucas poured her a cup of the hot liquid and set it on the table across from his own. “How was your day?”
“Fine. But you haven’t answered my question. Did something happen to upset you?”
He shrugged. “I’ve been dealing with some bad memories. Did you talk to Caleb and Bobbie?”
“I talked to Aunt Bobbie. She said she and Uncle Caleb will come by to see you this evening. She was so thrilled to hear you’d come back, and really surprised that no one in town even knows you’re here yet.”
“I imagine the word will get out soon enough. I hope
there’s no unpleasantness for you when it does.”
Emily tossed her head. “Anyone who says anything ugly about you to me had better be prepared to deal with the consequences.”
He regarded her with a faint, somewhat bemused smile. “I don’t remember you being quite so ferocious fifteen years ago.”
“I wasn’t. I’ve only learned within the past year or so to stand up for myself and the people I care about. And you know what? It feels great.”
He nodded. “Good for you.”
“I even told Sam Jennings off a few weeks ago. He was so mad about failing to pin a theft charge on me that he said some really ugly things. He made some nasty cracks about you, and I finally had enough. I told him...”
“Wait a minute. You said Sam Jennings tried to pin a theft charge on you?”
She nodded. “One of his employees embezzled several thousand dollars from one of his business accounts, and he said I did it when the deposits were made at the bank where I work. He wanted Wade to arrest me on the spot, but Wade insisted on conducting an investigation first. I was completely cleared, of course, but it was as if Sam wanted me to be the guilty one. He really hates McBrides. When it comes to us, he isn’t even rational.”
“I can talk to him while I’m here. I guarantee you he’ll never give you any more trouble after I’m finished with him.”
“No. I told him off myself. And Wade threatened him with a slander suit if he kept spreading his vicious accusations around.”
“How long have you known Wade?”
“I met him in September—just before Sam accused me of being a thief.”
Lucas lifted his left eyebrow. “September of this year?”
“Yes. Three months ago.”
“And when did you decide to get married?”
“Just before Thanksgiving.”
“Rather fast, wasn’t it?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “But it just felt right, you know? I had the house for sale and I was ready to move out of Honoria. After Dad died, I was tired of taking care of other people. I wanted to do some traveling, see the world, be totally selfish.”
“So you decided to marry a single father instead?”
She laughed softly. “Sounds like the exact opposite of what I’d planned, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah. But you seem happy with your choice.”
“I’m very happy. I was going away to find fulfillment, but then I realized that what I wanted was right here.”
Lucas grimaced. “I’m glad you feel that way.”
She reached across the table to cover his hand with hers. It still surprised him, at times, how affectionate she was with him.