Page 23 of No Sweet Goodbyes

Thump.

Emma, there in my mother’s kitchen, does something to me that I don’t expect.

She stands there with her hair in a braid down her back, and her hazel eyes flash with emotion while she listens to Bee talk.

My knuckles crack, and I look down to see that I’m clenching the back of the chair I stand behind so tight that my fingers are turning white. I barely survived work with her every day this week. There isn’t a chance that I’ll be able to do it after work, too.

I need space.

“Two hours,” my father’s quiet voice speaks up from next to me. I shouldn’t be surprised to find him there, either. “Stay for two hours, and then you can go home.”

People like to joke that I became a ninja or a ghost after joining the military, but the truth is, I learned it all from him. Watching my father through the years, as he let my mother be the center of attention while he faded into the background. Instead, he sees everything, knows everything. I wanted to be just like him when I was a kid.

“She’s beautiful, I hope you know that.” He takes a seat at the table, motioning for me to join him. I sit, uncomfortable in my parents’ house for the first time in my life. Not because I don’t feel welcome, but that if I don’t walk away, I won’t be able to.

I can’t lie to him, even if I want to. “I do.”

“She’s Daniel’s little sister? Lincoln’s?” He taps the kitchen table to get my attention when I don’t turn away from Emma.

I nod. “Si.” But my eyes are locked on her, taking in every smile and natural reaction she shows while she’s in the heart of my family home. There’s nothing pretend or forced about her, and when I see her pull my mother into an impromptu hug, I fall in love with her.

Not that I didn’t already love her before. Seeing her here, though, shines a light on the strength of my emotions for her. I was an idiot to kiss her, because that’s all I’ve been able to think about since it happened. The warmth of her body bending against mine, her willingness to surrender to me.

My father joins me in staring at Emma, who keeps glancing in our direction when she doesn’t think anyone notices before turning her attention back to Bee and my mother.

Vi doesn’t miss a single beat. She, like my father, takes everything in without saying a word. But I see her, and she sees me watching her.

The smile on her face, like a cat who catches a mouse, promises that our conversation from earlier isn’t over.

“Payback,” she whispers. Then she joins the other women in a conversation that I should have been able to hear.

They’re in the same room as us, but somehow their words don’t carry the way they normally would. Instead, I’m forced to wonder what they’re saying and if they’re talking about me.

“Don’t bother,” Dad says. “I’ve tried eavesdropping on your mother for thirty years. If she doesn’t want you to hear what she’s saying, you’re not going to be able to. Get used to it.”

With a shrug, I finally turn my full attention to him. “Did you know what she was planning?”

“No, but she’s your mother, so you’ll let her do whatever she wants to and you’ll put a smile on your face while she does it. Because she brought you into the world, raised you, and put up with all of your nonsense. And if she really wanted to, I’m sure she could find a way to take you out of this world without exerting too much effort.”

I want to argue with him or tell him that he’s wrong, but I can’t. We both know that he may be the man of the house, but Mama runs things with a tight grip. And even if I tower over her, she’s struck fear into my heart since before I could walk.

“I’m gonna go,” I announce to the room as a whole. “We’ve got a long day tomorrow, and I’ve got a lot of paperwork to catch up on.”

“Oh,” Emma says quietly, looking defeated. “You’re right. I shouldn’t stay, either. I’ve only got a little over a week left until I leave for the academy and I want to make sure that I get everything out of it while I can. I feel like I’m at such a disadvantage going into it. Since so many of them have had months to prepare for it.” The insecurity there, about the job, hits me hard.

I forgot, along the way, that Emma isn’t there to torture me. At least not intentionally. She’s there to learn. To do the job. To earn her badge. With a sigh, I shake my head.

“No. No. You’re fine. Stay. Enjoy dinner and the time. You’ve got plenty of hours to master everything there is, Emma. Just take it one day at a time. You’re already at an advantage at the academy because of your family and what you know.”

Every single head in the kitchen turns in my direction. Again, Emma has me turning into a chatterbox, which is something that not even my family can accomplish on the best of days. But the way Emma beams at me when I try to reassure her sends a trill of anticipation and appreciation down my spine. So for her, I’ll talk, even if it’s like pulling splinters out of my eyeballs with a bad pair of tweezers.

“Thank you, Dom.” She turns to Bee, who grabs hold of her hand tightly and refuses to let go. “Okay. I’ll stay for dinner. But I have to go home after. It’s been a long day, and I’ve barely had time to read.” Bee gasps in surprise, and Emma widens her eyes in mock-surprise. “I know, Bee. You don’t even know. It’s been hard.”

“I have a new book you can borrow,” Bee tells her conspiratorially. “You can read it in the bath or something.”

Emma laughs, and somehow they are moving to the kitchen table with us, and I’m stuck.

“You’re not leaving either.” Mom slaps me on the back of the head. “Sit down, Dominic. You’ll eat dinner, and then you can leave.”

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