Page 80 of Marrying His Brother

“Good afternoon,” my mother says in her cheerful tone that makes me smile. “I’ve been trying to get ahold of Emily since morning. She’s not answering her phone or messages.”

I texted her mid-morning and she didn’t reply either. “I’m sure she’s just busy and she’ll get back to you when she can. She had errands to run this morning.”

It didn’t escape my notice that she didn’t want to go into details over what errands she was running. I know it’s nothing to do with her apartment because it’s already on the market.

I just don’t know where to draw the line when it comes to personal matters. How much do married people tell each other?

“Okay, I’m just glad everything is all right,” Mom says. “Congratulations again on yesterday. It was wonderful. I’m so proud of both of you.”

“Thank you,” I say glancing around. We need the same magic to happen here.

We say good bye and I glance at the time on my phone. Emily is twenty minutes late. It’s not like her at all. Like me, she’s a stickler for time.

I lean against a pillar in the lobby, occasionally glancing out the door. Just as a nagging worry forms inside me, Emily bursts in, her face flushed and her hair a bit windblown.

“I’m so sorry,” she says, catching her breath, her cheeks slightly pink. “I lost track of time, and then I couldn’t find parking…”

“No problem,” I say, holding up the flowers with a small smile. “For you.”

Her eyes light up, and a grin spreads across her face as she takes them. “You didn’t have to, but thank you.” She leans in and gives me a quick peck on the cheek.

“Ready to take a look around?” I ask, gesturing toward the lobby.

“Yes, lead the way,” she says.

Whatever held her up, it seems like she’s back to herself now.

As we walk through the lobby, I turn to Emily, eager to share my thoughts. “You were right. We shouldn’t change too much of this place. The charm it has—the warmth, the homey feel—we need to keep that intact.”

She smiles, but there’s a distant look in her eyes, and instead of her usual enthusiasm, she just nods. “Yeah, absolutely.”

I stop and turn to her, quirking an eyebrow. “Where’s Emily, and what have you done with her?”

She looks confused for a moment, then chuckles softly. “Why?”

“Well, it’s not like you to agree with everything I say,” I tease, half-expecting her to playfully argue back or throw in her own ideas. Instead, she simply grins.

“I happen to agree with all your ideas today,” she says, a touch of that old spark returning to her expression. I relax a little, letting go of the worry that had been tugging at me.

As we continue our walk through the space, I make a mental note of the areas that need updating, my excitement building.

“Would it be okay if I scheduled a meeting with the interior decorating team for tomorrow morning? I’d love for us to go over everything together.”

“Okay,” she replies.

I give her hand a gentle squeeze. “And tonight, I’m taking you out for dinner. Just us. No work, no business talk.”

She nods, her eyes meeting mine and she smiles. “I’d like that.”

But as we step through the rooms, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s weighing on her. I decide to let it go for now. Tonight, I’ll take her out and make sure she knows just how much she means to me.

Chapter 34: Emily

I’m fighting to keep my eyes open over dinner with Andrew. The atmosphere is cozy with scented candles giving it a romantic atmosphere and soft music playing in the background.

I’d thought that a warm shower would rejuvenate me but it had the opposite effect. I’m dog tired. Spending all morning with the doctors, desperate for answers and not getting any.

Andrew reaches across the table. “Is it my company or my restaurant choice? You look like you’re fighting to keep your eyes open.”

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