Page 48 of Ten Christmases Without You
“I wanted to do a trolley tour, visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, maybe see the Grand Ole Opry. Growing up, we never took the time to do any of those things. Oh! And we could visit the Goo Goo Cluster Chocolate Company. Remember when Mom loved those?”
Madison’s excitement was contagious. Emmy needed to get out of her funk and enjoy herself. She’d spent too much money on this weekend to waste it. “You know what? That sounds like a great time.”
“Thank you,” Madison said proudly. “I got us a map of the city and everything. It’s grown so much since we were kids.”
“I forgot a fork,” Emmy said. “Want anything while I’m up?”
Madison shook her head happily.
Emmy got up and made her way through the breakfast crowd to the silverware station at the end of the buffet. She fiddled with the utensils, snagging a fork. While she was up, she poured herself a second cup of coffee. She needed it.
Maybe Charlie showing up with a date was meant to be. With Charlie preoccupied, and Emmy away from her work demands,she could focus entirely on her sister. As girls, they’d spent tons of time together, but after college, they’d been pulled in different directions. This was a perfect time to make family her number one priority. She hadn’t done that in a very long time.
All the hours she’d put in for Vivienne—what had they gotten her? She’d avoided her family because she felt like she hadn’t done anything with her life, when, looking back on it, it wasn’t her fault. She was doing her best. At the end of the day, her family had stuck by her. They were the most important thing. She’d learned that from her mother. She’d just forgotten for a while.
Emmy turned around and almost spilled her coffee down the chest of the person behind her.
“Oh!”
She steadied the cup, a slosh of liquid overflowing and dripping onto the floor. When she looked up, it was Charlie.
“I’m sorry,” she said, giving his shirt a once-over. Thank goodness nothing had gotten on him. She couldn’t say the same for her hand that was now sticky with milky coffee.
“It’s okay.”
That fondness lurked behind his eyes, making her wonder if she’d misread it. Was he only being friendly all that time?
“How are you?” he asked.
“I’m good,” she said, while hotel guests filtered around them. Where was his date this morning? “You?”
“Yeah. I’ve been busy.”
“Me too.” That wasn’t a lie. She did have two very taxing jobs that kept her busier than when she’d worked at The Moreau Agency.
“There you are!” A smooth, assured female voice cut through their conversation.
The blonde from last night stepped up. She wore an effortlessly elegant button-down, a pair of sneakers, and a designer belt with a gold buckle that matched her earrings.
“Amelia Barclay.” She gestured for a handshake, showing off her flawless manicure.
Amelia Barclay. Even her name sounds perfect.Emmy shifted her fork and offered the option that was the driest. “Emmy Brewer.”
“How do you know this guy?” Amelia playfully punched Charlie in the arm and then wrinkled her nose at him.
“I’ve known him since childhood,” Emmy said.
“Oh, how nice,” she said, already distracted by the buffet line. “I’m so hungry.” She patted her belly. “Charlie and I have matinée tickets to Handel’sMessiahwith the Nashville Symphony Chorus, so we’d better get a move on.”
“Sounds fun,” she said, but she was sure that the symphony hadn’t been Charlie’s idea. That didn’t sound like his speed. He’d much rather hike Radnor Lake and grill hot dogs over a campfire. Unless Emmy didn’t know the adult Charlie as well as she thought she did. Did she even know him at all anymore?
“Nice to meet you,” Amelia said, tugging his arm.
Charlie looked into Emmy’s eyes, unsaid words floating in his gaze. “See you at the wedding.”
She nodded.
When Emmy got back to the table, Madison was ogling her. “Dish. Right now. What did Miss Supermodel say to you?”
