PARKER WAITED ON the pier until almost 8:00 a.m. before he made the call.
He was greeted with a happy hello. In his mind’s eye, he could see Emma’s bright smile. But he skipped the pleasantries. “Nicole’s gone. She sent texts to let me know.”
“She’s gone to Vermont? To her mother’s?”
“Right. She lied to me, Em.” It wasn’t the decision itself that hit like a punch, so much as the subterfuge. The sneaking around. The little fibs she had to tell to pull it off.
“I’ll be right there.”
Silence. She’d ended the call.
She hadn’t given him the option to argue, which was his first impulse. Tell her not to drop everything. Who was he kidding? He slipped the phone back in his pocket and stared at the lake. The pier was like a magnet pulling him there to make the call to Emma on a morning so cold he exhaled a dense cloud of white air.
When he’d come home last night his head was spinning with happiness. He might as well have been a sixteen-year-old asking a girl to go steady. He’d laughed at himself over plodding through the snow, kissing her and not caring who saw them. And they’d danced.
Now this.
He clutched the railing and leaned forward, trying to stretch away the tension in his back. One more time he went over the last conversation he had with Nic. Where were the clues, the signs he missed? Now it was like a hard punch that came without warning. He was so deep in his thoughts, he startled when he heard Emma’s voice calling his name.
He started toward her and wrapped her in his arms.
“This is the opposite of what you thought was going on, isn’t it?” Emma asked when she stepped back from the hug but hung on to his hands.
He nodded. “I thought Jackie had settled things with Nic, made her understand no reconciliation was in the works.” He shook his head sadly. “Nic teased me in her funny sort of way, when I told her I was serious about you.”
“So she left when we were out together.” The sound Emma made was low, guttural.
“Exactly. When I got home her car wasn’t there, but I didn’t think anything of it. It’s not like she has a curfew.”
“And she was supposedly out with friends?”
“That’s what she said, but…”
“She waited to leave until she knew you’d be gone long enough for her to slip away.”
“Right.” He took the phone out of his pocket and brought her text on the screen and tilted it so Emma could see it. “Here it is: need 2 be with mom now. ben may be gone…not sure mom says you refuse 2 look at jobs in vt…still wants to try with u again N.”
He scrolled down. “Then, after I called, she wrote another: sorry dad…luv u lots…don’t worry.”
“When did the first text come in?” Emma asked,
“In the middle of the night. I’d dozed off but woke up to go check for her car. When I didn’t see it I looked at my phone. She timed it all. She knows I usually sleep like a rock. She figured it would be morning before I’d know she hadn’t come home.”
“She concocted quite a scheme, I’d say. Not something you’d have expected from Nicole.”
He ran his hand through his hair, reliving the anxious moment when he knew her car wasn’t there.
Frowning, Emma stared at the screen. “Let’s walk to the building while we chew this over.”
“Sure. Sorry. You’re getting cold. My fingers are already numb.”
“What’s next?” Emma asked. “You wait for her to let you know when she gets there?”
“I left a voice mail telling her to get off the road and check into a hotel. I didn’t want her driving straight through—it’s like a fifteen-hour drive.” He waved the phone. “So far, nothing. I told her to text me when she stops.” He raised his hands in a helpless gesture. “Like she’d listen to me now.”
“I agree that’s a long drive. At that age, Ruby and I used to do roads trips during our spring breaks. But we switched off driving. I didn’t drive more than half the day alone in the car.”
“She’s eighteen, Em. Almost nineteen.” He laughed cynically and stopped walking. “She’s invincible. Earlier, I wished she had a dog with her in the car. Even a marshmallow like Peach would make me feel better about my girl on the road at night. It’s so hard not to be Daddy, you know. Daddy could order her home. Dad doesn’t have that sway.”
Parker stopped and pointed at a stand of birches protected from the wind by surrounding oaks, so snow built up on their branches. “Man, it was like two days ago Nic told me your photos of those birches would make great greeting cards for the sanctuary to sell.”
“A project for next year.” She leaned against him. “You don’t want to think about that now. You want to figure out what to do.”
“Not much I can do except wait for her call.” Parker patted his pocket that held his phone. “I hate feeling helpless.”
“Did you look inside her cabin?” Emma blurted. “What did she take with her?”
“I… I’m not sure. I opened the door, called her name. I got scared when she didn’t answer, so I wasn’t thinking about that. Her texts sounded so final.” He studied Emma’s expression. “What is it? What are you thinking?”
“Let’s go into her place,” Emma said. “It’s not snooping, especially if she packed everything up.”
“I hope she didn’t,” he said. “She and a couple new friends are always thrifting these days. I thought she was having fun fixing up her cabin.”
“She was. That’s not your imagination.”
When they got to the cabin, he glanced at Emma, who’d hung back a few feet. He turned the knob. As he predicted, the cabin wasn’t locked. Neither of them locked their cabins very often. He pushed the door open and switched on the closest lamp. Puzzled, he said, “Her computer is gone, but the pictures are still on the wall.”
Emma went deeper into the room just as he checked behind the screen blocking Nicole’s bed from view. “She took the quilt you gave her. And her pillow.”
“But only some of her clothes.” Emma stared into the half-empty closet. “It’s kind of mixed.”
He brushed his hand over the shelf of textbooks and notebooks. “She left those. She had her last final a couple of days ago.” He sighed. “I thought she liked her classes at Neville.”
“She did, Parker, she did,” Emma insisted. “Don’t second-guess yourself. We all saw it.”
Parker nodded. “She was a big fan of yours. I thought…”
Emma turned away so she wasn’t looking at him. “Maybe you moving on with me wasn’t as easy for her as we thought…or hoped.”
“Now she thinks Ben left her mom—”
“Maybe, maybe not,” Emma interrupted. “Let’s wait and see what’s really going on. Seems Nicole doesn’t know one way or the other.”
“Unless…”
“What?”
“Unless she’s not being honest with me.” He scoffed. “Or maybe it’s Jackie who’s manipulating her. My ex wasn’t always such a master game player, either.” Parker needed to get out of his daughter’s space. It only confused him, made him doubt himself and his decisions. He rubbed his hand across his forehead. “Let’s check on our newest patient. And say hello to the crow, too.”
When they went inside the cabin, he flipped the electric heater on low. He uncovered the owl, who spread one wing. “Chipper today, aren’t you?” he said.
He and Emma sat side by side on the bench letting the owl get used to the light streaming through the window. The clear sky in Bluestone River gave him little comfort, though. He got out his phone. “I’m checking the weather again for storms out east,” he said. “It’s not a great time of year for a long drive.”
Emma covered his hand with hers. “Nicole has good sense. She knows to get off the road in the snow.”
Annoyed, he freed his hand and waited for the screen to show the weather in the northeast.
“Uh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make light of your concern.”
“Driving in snow is new for her.” He knew he was being unfair. His words. His tone. They were off, but he couldn’t help it. “She’s only had experience driving in North Carolina. On the coast, where snow is a novelty.”
“You’re right. My mistake.”
“I’m worried about her driving through mountains in the snow…if it snows.” His nerves were raw. Overwhelmed by his mixed up emotions, he couldn’t figure out the simple weather forecast displayed on his screen. Besides, he couldn’t pinpoint where she was, anyway.
He got up from the bench and braced his boot on the edge of the low platform where the bird pen sat. With his back to Emma, he said, “She and Jackie have had their mother-daughter drama, but I thought…” he searched for the words “…oh, I’m not sure what I thought.”
“Speaking of Jackie, have you texted her?”
Parker shook his head. “I will soon, though. I really wanted to talk with Nic first.”
“It may be small comfort, but no matter what she’s up to right now, anyone can see how much Nic loves her dad. And I know how much you want her to be here with you.”
“You’re right. It’s small comfort.” His whole body was jumpy. He turned to Emma. “I thought you got it. It’s not about wanting her to be with me. She’s not a little kid. She’s an adult. Soon to be completely on her own.”
“Parker, I didn’t mean—”
Agitated with the situation and with Emma, Parker didn’t have the energy to hear her out. “I’m upset because of what Jackie’s been doing with Nic. And with me.”
Emma had no response. But why would she? He more or less shut her down. And he couldn’t help himself.
“I’m obviously confusing the situation,” Emma said. “I’m not helping to make this any easier on you. And I get it. You’re not sure what to do now.”
“Like I told you there’s nothing for me to do.”
“Maybe Jackie isn’t playing games, Parker. You told me you had wanted to fix your marriage. Now your ex-wife is finding jobs for you, hinting her boyfriend is gone.” She shrugged. “Somehow, she enticed Nic up there. Four days before Christmas. Maybe this is her way of finally trying.”
“Maybe. If I took a job in Vermont, Nic would come, too. She knows our daughter wouldn’t feel as torn if we were in the same place.”
Emma stood, but kept her distance. She looked beyond him to the owl on the perch. “So, you can’t say Jackie’s wrong about that.”
Something was way off, knocking his thoughts all over the place. “What is this, Em? It sounds like you’re taking her side. Are you inviting me to go back to my ex-wife?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve been falling in love with you since the day I twirled my cane and pointed it at you a few feet from where we’re standing.” She closed her eyes and rubbed the back of her neck. “But something has you thrown. I’ve never seen you like this before.”
“Like I said, Nic doesn’t make a habit of lying. And slinking away in the night isn’t her style. Or so I thought.”
“Something happened that looks a whole lot like a jumble of misunderstandings. Add some manipulation to the mix and all you get are more questions. Maybe Jackie will keep on doing this.” She shook her head. “You and I can’t move on with this hanging over you.” She nodded to the owl and the crow. “You have so much you want to do here, but…”
“But?” He peered into her face. Not move ahead? He thought they had a problem to solve. Apparently, she thought differently. “Go on. But what?”
“Confront Jackie about her games.” She grimaced. “At least get her to be straight with you about what she wants. Be clear about what you want.”
“I told you,” he said, confused, “I need to talk with Nic before I hash things out with Jackie.”
Emma took in a breath. “Why don’t you follow Nic? Go up to Vermont yourself and have it out.”
He dismissed that idea with a sharp look. “C’mon. Why would I do that?”
“You claim things are settled between you and Jackie.”
“They are.”
“Right. You’ve signed all the papers. But what about the emotional fallout?” She moved toward the door. “I mean…until you confront your ex-wife I think Nic will keep on worrying about her mother and fall victim to every complaint. Even Nic will wonder what you and Jackie really want.”
He was stunned. “Drive off. Just like that.”
“Better now than later.” She pointed to the crow and the owl. “You taught me well. I can feed them. Will and Bill will help me clean the cages. The board and Mike, any of us, can stand in for you on Christmas Eve. It’s a family emergency, Parker. No exaggeration.” She sighed. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s an emergency for us.”
His stomach was churning in a kind of disbelief. “But I love you so much, Emma.”
She stared at him and the seconds ticked by before she answered. “I know. And I love you. But I want you to be sure—one hundred percent—you want to be here with me. No matter what.” She put her hand on the doorknob. “I’m going to leave. Let me know your plans. Please.”
Then she was gone…gone.
* * *
RUBY WAS EASY to spot in a back booth. In spite of her low mood, Emma was amused to see her friend thumbing through magazines and sipping a giant chocolate milkshake like she didn’t have a care in the world.
“There you are,” Ruby said, looking up as Emma approached. Then she signaled to the waitress and pointed to the old-fashioned shake glass.
“I already ordered one for you. And you won’t argue.”
“Don’t worry, I don’t have the energy.”
“I just got a text from Mike. He and Jason are in Clayton doing some mysterious Christmas shopping,” Ruby said, raising her eyebrows and smiling. “What could that be about, huh? Anyway, I’ve got plenty of time.”
Emma glanced around at the diner, mostly empty in the late afternoon. “When you picked up the call, I heard loud whirring in the background. I had no idea it would turn out to be the shake mixer. This is the last place I imagined you’d be.”
Their teenage hangout had always been a little shabby and only got worse as the years passed. But some things never changed, including the demand for milkshakes and malts. Spruced up now, the River Street Diner was bringing in people nostalgic for traditional diner food.
“You can’t believe the cravings I get for these,” Ruby said, pointing to the glass. “Always chocolate,” she added with a grin. “I have Mike bring one home almost every day. Might as well enjoy ’em now.” Ruby cocked her head. “Enough about that. You’re upset. Start at the beginning.”
Emma waited for the waitress to deliver the milkshake and walk away. “You know how Parker and I became friends. And last night you saw us dancing at the bridge.” Emma filled in the blanks about all that happened between swaying to the music warm and safe in Parker’s arms and calling Ruby twenty minutes ago. She explained Nicole taking off and the confusion in Parker’s deep blue eyes. His agitation, his constant motion. Her voice quivered with the words, “Only now, it’s sinking in. I sent Parker away. But…”
“Aw, Em, no knocking yourself over that. You had to be sure. From what you told me, Jackie is good at games.” Ruby flashed a knowing look. “We’ve seen it for ourselves. Nicole can be pretty talkative. She probably dropped a little detail here and there about her dad and his friend. Thanksgiving dinner at our house, tending the birds, the fair at Neville.”
“And we can’t forget that her grandmother stayed in my guest room,” Emma added. “Oh, and the quilt I gave her.”
Ruby nodded. “Yep, there’s that. Let’s be honest. Maybe Jackie seriously regrets letting Parker get away. Now, it’s probably worse because he met you. He’s really gone now.”
Emma scoffed. “Yeah, finally, something Jackie and I have in common. Letting go of Parker.”
Ruby grabbed Emma’s hand. “Sweetie, you’ve completely bedazzled the guy. I see it. Mike sees it. And we’re not alone. Lots of people get it. I don’t believe for a hot minute Parker will change his mind about his ex-wife—or you—because his daughter has mixed-up feelings about her parents’ divorce.”
Emma wasn’t so sure. “In any case, Nicole is confused.”
“She’s still a teenager, Em, so of course she’s confused. But at the same time, she’s almost an adult. Parker isn’t trying to keep his family together for the sake of their young child.”
“It’s true, that ship sailed years ago, Rubes. But according to Parker, he wanted to go to counseling to work on their marriage. Jackie wouldn’t go. Then she met this other guy and wanted out.” Emma sighed. “He’d have put everything into it, if she’d made the effort. What can I say? I fell in love with a loyal type of guy. He takes commitments seriously.”
Ruby nodded. “Good.”
“I was honest with him about Neil and me and how we refused to give up. Big mistake.” Emma knew Ruby wouldn’t argue with that assessment. She’d lived it with her.
Ruby pointed to the shake. “Drink up, Em. My guess is you haven’t eaten all day.”
She dutifully took a few sips. On any other day the rich chocolate would have been irresistible. Even the aroma of burgers and onions sizzling on the grill couldn’t entice her to order her usual go-to comfort food. She glanced out the window. The day was drifting toward twilight. If he’d listened to her, Parker could be on his way north.
“I got Parker one of Guy Hammond’s birds for Christmas—the most beautiful goose. Its wings are spread in lift-off position.”
“You’ll get a chance to give it to him,” Ruby said. “You will. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
“Even if Nicole stays in Vermont,” Ruby said, “I don’t believe she’ll shut her dad out of her life.”
Emma took some comfort in that. “She gets such a big kick out of teasing him. He’ll always be her nature freak dad. It’s so much fun to watch.”
“Seems the two of them are like puzzle pieces that discovered where they fit.” Ruby’s expression was full of thought. “And it’s here in Bluestone River.”
“They need Bluestone River and we need them.” Emma’s shoulders sagged as she exhaled a heavy sigh. “My days have been so full the hours usually fly by, but not today. I soaked in the tub, I sorted a box of photographs, I channel surfed until I came to a movie I’ve seen half a dozen times. My phone was never out of reach.” She’d waited all afternoon for a call or a text from him, followed by a whole train of thought about Parker needing space.
Ruby jabbed her finger at her. “You’ll call me when you hear from him. Promise?”
“You know I will.” Emma managed a smile as she slid out of the booth.
She gave Ruby a big hug. Then, in no particular hurry, Emma turned off River Street and drove the long way home on the streets behind downtown.
* * *
PARKER WAITED ALMOST an hour in his truck, fighting against his growing impatience. Not so much with Emma, but with himself. What he had to say wouldn’t work in a text. Or a call. She needed to see him standing in front of her when he told her what he’d decided. But it was dark now and calling her might be his only choice.
Restless, he got out of his truck and paced in front of her house. He took off his gloves and blew on his hands to warm them, painfully aware of how ridiculous he was being. Finally, he pulled out his phone and called Mike, happy to hear his cheery, “Hey, Parker.”
“Uh, I know this is a long shot, but do you happen to know where Emma is?”
“On her way home from the diner, I think,” Mike said. “Hang on a second.”
Parker heard the back and forth of muffled voices in the background.
“Ruby met Em at the diner late this afternoon,” Mike said. “Ruby tells me Emma left first, but Em didn’t say anything about making another stop.”
“So, you don’t think she went away for the weekend or anything.”
Muffled voices again.
“No, no. She wouldn’t leave town without telling Ruby,” Mike said firmly. “My hunch is she’ll be there soon.”
“Good. I need to talk to her. Right away.”
“Uh, well, like I said, she shouldn’t be long.”
Parker saw headlights sweep across the road to the drive. “I think she just turned in. Thanks, man.”
He stood and met her as she left her car and walked toward him. She nodded at his truck. “Are you leaving? Have you heard from Nicole? Is she okay.”
“Nic is fine. I talked with her right before I drove over here. She’s warm and safe in Jackie’s house. She beat the storm.”
Emma swiped her hand across her forehead. “Whew…you must be so relieved.”
“You bet I am.” He glanced at the door behind him. “Uh, will you invite me in?”
That seemed to startle her and she started toward the stairs. “Sure. How long have you been waiting?”
“Not too long.” He heard his flat tone. But it matched his mood. Every part of him resisted what he was about to do.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
He smiled sadly and peered into her face. “I needed to see you. A phone call wouldn’t have been good enough, Em.”
She nodded, and fumbled through her key ring as if flustered. “I’m surprised to see you.”
“Did you think I’d leave for Vermont without letting you know?”
“No, not really. But I was watching my phone. I wasn’t sure…” She didn’t finish the thought, but turned to open her door. They stepped inside the entryway. She shrugged out of her coat and kicked off her boots.
He stayed on the mat as is. If he got comfortable in her house, he might not do what he knew he must. He was close enough to her to breathe in the sweet scent of her hair, but he didn’t take her in his arms. That wouldn’t be fair to Emma. He had no choice but to keep his distance.
“So, tell me,” she said. “What’s going on?”
“A lot’s happened, but I’ll give you the bottom line. I’m going to Vermont.”
“Now?” she blurted.
“But I wanted…needed…to see you first. It seems your instincts were right. I realized I can’t settle things with Nic over the phone.” He stared beyond Emma into her house. The fireplace, the view from the patio doors, the way the place seemed to invite people in. He shook off those thoughts in order to keep going. “I also need to find out what’s happening with Jackie. I won’t feel right until I see her.”
Emma crossed her arms. “What about Ben?”
“I don’t know. Nic seems to think he’s gone, but I’m not sure Jackie is giving her the real story.”
“And the launch?” Emma searched his face for answers. “Oh, and the two birds?”
Nodding, he said, “It’s a bad time for this, but like you said, I’ve done the work. The center is ready. I’ve let Ty and Stacey know what’s happened. They have the launch covered. And, Em, I know you can take care of the birds until I get back or…”
Emma’s features pinched in hurt and confusion. “Or, what?”
He couldn’t say. He hadn’t thought that far ahead or figured out anything except getting to Vermont. “I’m not sure. I don’t want to hurt anyone, especially you, Em.”
“All right,” she said in a cool tone. “But let’s not pretend I’m an expert about those birds. I know the basics. I’ll do my best.”
Parker looked away, not wanting to meet her eye. “If I’m going to go, I probably should be on my way.”
“I hope you get some answers,” Emma said. “And watch the weather.”
“I will.” He gave her a quick hug and then turned away to let himself out.