Page 72 of Since the Day We Wished

“Well, come on in.” Liam held the door open for her and Riley.

“How do you feel about soup and sandwiches?” Emma asked, holding up her bag. “Since it’s getting chilly, I thought it might be a good day for something warm.”

“That sounds great, Em.”

She walked into his kitchen and set her bags on the counter, then got to work. Since she was the one who had helped Liam move in here after he left the house on Muscadine Drive, she already knew where everything was. Emma chopped everything up for tomato basil soup and threw it into a pot to simmer. Once it was finished, she made a few vegan grilled cheese sandwiches and poured the soup into a bowl. After she set the table, she walked into the next room to find Liam playing tug of war with Riley on a piece of rope.

“Lunch is ready, Grandpa.”

Liam stood up and clasped his hands together. “Wonderful. It smells delicious, Em.”

As they sat down at the kitchen table and ate, Liam looked up at her. “So, how are things with you and Luke?”

Emma let out a heavy sigh, accepting that she couldn’t delay sharing the news any longer. It wasn’t that she was unwilling to confide in Liam; she didn’t want to burden him with her emotional baggage. Liam had been her rock since her mother’s passing and had an uncanny ability to make her feel safe and secure. Emma knew that she could always count on him to be there for her. She dreaded the thought of breaking down in front of him again, especially over something she couldn’t change. With a deep breath, she mustered up the courage to look into his kind eyes and spoke.

“We’ve ended things, Grandpa. It’s for the best.”

Liam frowned. “The best for who, Emma? I thought he made you happy.”

“He did, but that’s not the point. I had to break up with him.”

Liam reached over and placed his hand over hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “And how did you come to that decision, sweetheart?”

Tears formed in Emma’s eyes as she spoke. “Because I don’t want to come between Luke and his son. I didn’t have a father growing up and I don’t want to be the reason Jeremiah feels the same.”

Liam scooted his chair over to Emma and pulled her into a hug. “Hey, I’ve got an idea. I think that rain might hold off for a while...why don’t we take the boat out and ride around the cove?”

Emma nodded, leaning back to give him a watery smile. “That sounds nice.”

After finishing lunch, they headed out to the small motorboat parked next to the dock. Riley ran ahead and climbed in, followed by Emma, then Liam. She was thankful he hadn’t pushed her to talk more about Luke, or tried to convince her she was overreacting.

They rode along the coast and up to the marsh through the waterways up to Bridwell Bay. Emma remembered how much she used to love going out on her grandfather’s boat in the fall when she was younger, and how Amelia would wait on the dock to bundle her up in blankets as soon as she stepped off.

They cruised the water until the early evening and headed back after seeing the golden light of the sun disappear behind some dark clouds moving their way. It had begun to rain as they pulled up to Liam’s dock.

“Since you made me lunch, how about I make you dinner?” Liam asked, as they hustled across the yard to the door and walked inside.

Emma grabbed the throw off the back of his couch and wrapped herself in it as her teeth chattered. “That sounds good.”

Liam had a way of knowing exactly what Emma needed. As she walked into the kitchen, she caught a whiff of something delicious cooking on the griddle. It was the same smell that used to fill the house when her grandmother Amelia was alive, and it instantly made her feel warm and comforted. Liam had made blueberry pancakes, like Amelia used to make for her when she was a child. Emma smiled, grateful for the small moment of happiness that Liam had brought into her life.

“Have a seat,” Liam said. “Now I know these aren’t as good as your grandmother used to make, but I think they’re still edible.”

“They look great, Grandpa. I don’t think anyone makes them as good as she did.”

“And no one ever will.” Liam gave her a wink and fixed each of them a plate before walking over to the table.

As they ate, he tore a piece of one of his pancakes while he thought Emma wasn’t looking and fed it to Riley.

“Don’t tell your momma,” he whispered behind his hand.

Emma let out a small laugh as she wiped syrup from the edge of her lip. Liam spoiled Riley as if he was one of his grandkids too.

“How’s your dog treat business doing?” Liam asked.

“Really great,” Emma said. “My orders have doubled over the last month.”

“That’s incredible, dear. If you need any help I could come and help you bake, Em. I am retired you know.”

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