Page 47 of Engulfing Emma

Someone walks into the room. “Sorry,” the man says when he sees us. “I didn’t know anyone was here. I’m supposed to set up for the CPR class.”

“We were just leaving,” Emma says.

As we walk down the hallway, she looks longingly back at her classroom. That makes me smile. She’s going to be just fine.

She barely glances at the storage closet as we pass it, and back on the front steps, she looks relaxed and calm.

“Congratulations, Miss Lockhart. You climbed the mountain. It feels good, doesn’t it?”

She smiles.

“It took me a long time to feel comfortable going into tall buildings,” I admit. “Here you are, just two weeks after, already conquering your fears.”

She laughs ruefully. “I wouldn’t say that. I still don’t go into tall buildings. And I never fly.”

My eyes widen. “Never?”

She shakes her head.

“We’ll have to see what we can do about that.”

“One step at a time, Lieutenant.”

We make small talk on the way back. She stops as we pass the firehouse. “Isn’t this where you get off?”

“I figured I’d walk you home today. Besides, my house is this way.”

“Okay.”

We get to the end of the block and turn the corner. She looks at me. “You live down here?”

I point in the direction of my townhouse. “At the end of the block, then one street that way.”

She seems surprised. “You’re kidding. That’s where I live, too.”

“Wow. That’s unreal. I can’t believe we haven’t run into each other.”

“Brooklyn has 2.5 million people.” She smirks. “Yeah, what a surprise.”

We turn another corner, and she starts to cross the street. “I’m just down here.” She stops in front of a townhouse, and my jaw drops. “What is it?” she asks.

I point to the townhouse directly across the street from hers. “See the blue curtains in that second-floor window? That’s Leo’s room.”

“You must be joking.”

“Small world, huh?”

The street is lined with cars on either side. It’s busy enough that one generally crosses at the corner. But now I know why she looked familiar to me when I first saw her. I’ve probably seen her hundreds of times and paid no attention. When you live in New York City, with its millions of people, everybody blends together.

“How long have you lived there?” she asks.

“A little more than two years. We moved in just before Leo was born. You?”

“My whole life,” she says. “It’s the house I grew up in. Mom couldn’t bear to leave it after Dad died and then when I had Evelyn at such a young age, I couldn’t leave. Even though I could now, it works for us. I love living with them.” She starts to climb the steps. “Thanks for helping me, Brett. I really appreciate it.”

Disappointment rises from the pit of my stomach. She’s saying goodbye. I’m not sure what I was hoping for. An offer for a cup of coffee maybe? I know this isn’t the last time I’ll see her, now that I know she lives so close. But could it be the last time she wants to see me?

“Dinner?” I blurt out.

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