Page 23 of Taming His Honeydoll
Leaning her head back and taking a deep breath, she spotted the beautiful walk-in shower behind her. What she wouldn’t give for a hot shower right now. The knock on the door startled her.
“Emma? It’s me, Marsha. You okay, honey?”
Emma couldn’t help it; she started sobbing softly. The endearment when she didn’t deserve it undermined her determination to be stoic and take their deserved censure.
The door opened and Marsha peeked around the corner, concern on her face. When she saw Emma shaking, she rushed in and folded her into her arms, snot, blood, throw up and all.
This woman was too good for her brother.
“I-I’m a mess,” she sobbed, trying to draw away from her.
“No, you’re not,” Marsha replied firmly. You need to get in that shower because I know how much you want to. April is getting some clothes for you and then we will all talk when you’ve fortified yourself.”
“You’re all going to hate me when you hear the sordid details,” Emma sobbed.
Marsha hugged her close. “Of course, we aren’t going to hate you. You are family and we’re going to help you.”
Emma was really wallowing in it. “Oliver will just threaten to spank me.”
“I’m guessing from Sawyer’s appearance in your life that Oliver’s threats in that department are over,” Marsha said with a chuckle. “He looks pretty possessive of you.”
Emma peeked between her fingers and tried to collect herself. “Sawyer doesn’t love me,” she retorted, “and even if he did, I wouldn’t let him spank me.” She swiped some tears off with the back of her hands.
“I’ve got some clothes.” April’s voice sounded behind them and they looked up to see her standing in the doorway. “There are towels and washrags in the linen closet behind you,” she added. “And Chessy and I are fixing some snacks for everybody and taking care of Levi. Take your time, honey.”
Emma was suddenly overwhelmed with the female support. She’d cut herself off from Oliver and Marsha’s friends and maybe she shouldn’t have. Pride had gotten in the way when she realized she was pregnant and Sawyer didn’t want her. Going it on her own had seemed the only way to keep her from enduring Oliver’s disappointment. Trying to prove herself had become her driving force and Henry’s offer had seemed heaven-sent.
Standing under the hot water and letting it sluice down her shoulders was heavenly. She was able to wash her hair and also carefully wash around the bandage. The doctor had covered it with a plastic protective adhesive of some sort.
Once she was dressed in a long-sleeved, autumn-leaf patterned sweatshirt with jeans, she felt a lot better when she looked into the mirror. She’d used the blow dryer on the wall and dried her honey-colored strands until they were shiny and unmatted once again. She couldn’t do anything about make-up, but then she never wore much anyway. The heavy socks were warming to her cold feet and she was finally ready to face everyone.
The support of the women had lifted her spirits. She wasn’t sure about Sawyer’s intentions as yet, but if he wanted to take Levi away from her, she was sure Oliver and Marsha would have something to say about that as well. And maybe Ty could use his connections to do something about Marlene. Chessy’s grandfather would do anything for his granddaughter and son-in-law. He and Ty got along extremely well. Plus, if there was anything dirty to be found on Marlene, April would find it. She and Nat were very successful in their cases. All in all, she had a pretty darned good support group. She just had to keep Henry’s personal business out of it. At least for as long as she could.
One more glance in the mirror and she threw her shoulders back. Now it was time to face the music. Feeling on edge and nervous despite her pep-talk to herself, she headed out into the hallway and found them all in the huge family room that ran almost the entire right side of the house. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside.
“I have some things I need to tell you,” she stated before anyone could say anything. She looked over at Levi who was happily playing with some Legos and toy cars.
The only seat left was on the loveseat beside Sawyer, so she quickly walked over and dropped down beside him.
He handed her a sizzling glass of Pepsi. “I’m assuming you still like Pepsi?” he asked, a twinkle in his eye.
She nodded gratefully and took a drink.
“I’ve ordered pizza which Nat will pick-up in a little bit, but if you’re hungry now, I’ve got a charcutiers board,” April said, pointing to the tray on the coffee table with cheese, meats, veggies, fruits, and what looked like little cakes and cookies.
Emma shook her head. “I just want to get this over with and lay down for a while,” she replied wearily. Her head was starting to ache and she didn’t want to get to the nausea part of a bad headache again.
“Here,” Sawyer said gruffly, handing her two tablets in his broad palm. “It’s Tylenol. You can take it with your pain med if your head is hurting.”
She eyed him gratefully. “Thanks, I could use some.” She took the tablets and swallowed them with a drink of Pepsi, then took a deep breath.
“I’ll make a long story short. As I’m sure you all know by now, Sawyer is Levi’s father. What you don’t know is that Henry’s mother, Marlene, wants Levi back.”
Emma went on to explain all that had happened since she’d gone to the bank to make arrangements to sell the house. The phone call from Henry earlier in the week. The phone call from the banker and the codicil. The call back and only reaching Marlene. The deal Marlene had tried to make her regarding moving her and Levi to England, and the subsequent threats.
Ignoring Sawyer’s angry growl beside her, she went on with the rest of it—except the part about Henry being gay. She weaved around that. When she finally finished, they just all sat there staring at her until she felt like a bug under a microscope.
Ty cleared his throat. “May I share what we spoke about this morning, Emma?”
