Page 6 of You Found Me
“Right now, I’m staying at Wildflower Inn, but I have an apartment lined up for August.”
Emmaline looks at me with something akin to sympathy. “How many times has Ms. Clara tried to set you up with her granddaughter?”
I bark out a laugh and answer honestly, “At least twice a week since I got here. Any idea on how to make it stop?”
Mia chooses this moment to pipe in, causing my attention to finally move away from Emmaline, “You’re going to have to suck it up and go on that date.” Shrugging she adds, “Theo goes on these dates every so often because he’s a‘singleeligible bachelor.’ That means you must have let it slip that you’re single when you showed up. So, this one’s on you.”
“Well how was he supposed to know that would cause the old matchmakers in town to descend, Mia?” Emmaline says as she reaches over to pat my hand.
Which is when I notice the ring on her left hand. I should have known I wouldn’t catch her after this long without having moved on. I don’t see a band next to what is probably thegaudiestengagement ring I’ve ever seen, leading me to believe she hasn’t married whoever he is yet.
“Guess I’ll have to find some way to fend them off,” I say, clearing my throat before changing the subject. “You said you just came in today. Where do you live?”
“My fiancé was traded from Atlanta to Charleston in March, so I’m much closer now.”
“Football?” At her nod, I continue, “That’s cool. I’m sure everyone here is happy to have you back in the same state.”
“Everyonehere, for sure.”
The way she’s phrased that makes me question if she or her fiancé aren’t happy to be close by. But it’s not my place to ask what she means. Instead, I pivot. “What made you come to town today? I know it can’t have been to see his ugly mug.” I gesture over to Theo and laugh at the expression on his face.
She gives a little laugh. “My parents’ twenty-fifth anniversary party is Saturday.”
“That’s great. I know they don’t know me but give them my best.”
“Ooor . . .” Mia pipes in before Emmaline can say anything. “You could come to the party and do that yourself. Suze and Andrew would love to have you.”
There’s a bang under the table, followed by a bellow of pain from Theo, and a snort of laughter from Mia. I look at Emmaline only to see her face is beet red. She glances my way, catching my look of confusion before clearing her telling me, “Um, yeah. You should come! Mia is right, my parents love to meet new people. It’s tomorrow night at six at the community center.”
“I don’t want to be an imposition. I’m sure you’ve planned for a certain number of people.”
“You wouldn’t be, seriously,” Emmaline assures me. “When it comes to my parents, I always know to add more food than what’s actually called for, because they have the tendency to invite people without telling me.”
“What she’s really saying is if you don’t come, she will be really hurt,” Mia adds in with a grin.
Emmaline sighs, and I let out a small laugh. “Well we wouldn’t want that, would we? Count me in.”
Theo starts to fidget with his drink. Something I’ve never seen him do, and I’ve known him for ten years. “You good, man?”
My question makes him realize what he’s doing, and he nods at me before looking between the girls. “Where is the other part of your trio?”
“We were with her before coming here, she wasn’t feeling up to leaving the house,” Mia answers.
Concern flashes in his eyes. “Is she sick? Does she need anything?”
Emmaline reaches across the table placing her hand on his to calm him. “She said it’s just a hazard of working with kids. She didn’t look too great though. We made sure she had everything she needed before we left.”
“Okay. I think I’ll get Edie to make me some chicken soup to take to her,” Theo says the last part more to himself than to us.
“Teddy, you know you aren’t her favorite person,” Mia tells her brother. “But if you’re set on doing that, maybe just drop it off. And I’ll call Lettie to let her know she’s food on the porch.”
He drops his head in defeat. “Thank you.”
I’m not sure who they’re talking about, but whoever she is, there’s a story there that Theo’s never told me. Which is fair since I never told him about that night with Emmaline. We’ll definitely need to have a conversation at some point.
***
Emmaline and Mia head out as soon as they finish eating, leaving Theo and I with the bill.
