The Rescue and the Loss
Emily jumped. She must not have heard him come in and now she stared like she didn’t recognize him? “You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah.” She hesitated before answering. “Your father was just explaining to me how Max has been here almost this entire time and why he never told me that.”
It was obvious by her tone of voice, she was angry. “Are you mad at me too?” He had heard her compare him to his father in the same tone of voice and with those words. She was glaring at him and he was starting to remember some of the things he had said and done over the last couple of days. He couldn’t blame her for being upset. “I know I’ve said some pretty mean things to you, and I’m sorry.”
She took a deep breath. “I’m not mad at anyone. You weren’t yourself when you said those things. I guess I’m just tired.” She rubbed her temples. “I’m the one who should be apologizing.”
“No, I remember you tried to warn me. I didn’t believe you. I don’t mean to interrupt anything, but I wanted to thank Dad for helping me.”
He watched Emily’s face as she listened to his father’s return message. She turned her gaze back toward him. Her green eyes welled with tears and she no longer looked angry.
“Your father knows this wasn’t your fault. He says it wasn’t my fault either and he loved helping us. He said it provided an opportunity to be your father again for a short time and nothing can compare to that.”
Tony suddenly felt like his seven-year-old self. He swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to blink away the tears before Emily or his father could notice. “Thanks, Dad. It meant a lot to me too. I hope I can always make you proud.”
Emily walked toward him. “Your father says you and Devon have always made him proud.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and held him close. “Your dad had to leave, but he said he would never be far away.”
He placed his cheek on the top of her head. Her hair smelled of strawberries, just like he remembered. It was a scent he would always associate with her. She tipped her head back and looked into his face.
“The last few days have been emotionally draining for everyone. And I still have to figure out how to get Dana home. I think Ray might be able to help, at least with the police.”
She stepped back. His arms felt empty without her. He reached for her again, but she moved a little farther away.
“I want you to know, Blaine doesn’t blame you for his accident. He knows he was foolish and treated his sister badly while he was alive, but he and Stephanie were victims, the same as you were in all of this. He knows he wasn’t a very good brother, but everything he did, since the accident, was to protect his little sister.” She inhaled a deep breath. Her face suddenly looked very sad. “When everything is settled here and I get Dana home, we need to talk.”
A hollow feeling formed in the pit of his stomach. “Does this have anything to do with your new partner?”
Emily’s chin jerked up. “Ash? Of course not, why would you ask that?”
He shrugged. “I heard you say he was your soul mate. You two do have a lot in common.”
* * * *
Had he been eavesdropping while she talked to his father? “You don’t have to spy on me. If you want to know something, just ask.”
“I wasn’t spying on you. I noticed the door wasn’t closed and stopped to shut it. I heard you say he was your soul mate.”
Emily watched Tony’s jaw tighten. Maybe it would be easier to just leave things this way. He was no longer in danger of being turned into a killer and if he thought she wanted someone else… No she couldn’t let him think that, not intentionally anyway.
“Ash is my ‘psychic soul mate,’ according to your father,” she said. “Which is different than a love soul mate. We have a couple of college courses together, too, but I hardly know him. So no, he isn’t the reason.”
“Then what is it?”
She shook her head. “We’ll talk later.” She moved to the door. “It’s late. We should be getting home. We all have classes again in the morning.”
Emily opened the kitchen door and stepped out onto the wraparound porch. The chatting ceased and all eyes focused on her. She pretended not to notice, but was very aware of Tony’s presence hovering close by.
His mother sat on the porch swing next to Ray. Emily gave her a big hug. “I’m so sorry about tonight. I’ll make sure something like this never happens again.”
Molly patted Emily’s cheek. “It’s okay. It’s over now and we’re all just a little bit wiser for it. We’ve enjoyed meeting your new friend. He’s very funny.”
She glanced at Ash perched on the porch railing next to Shawn and Kaylee. He waved at her and grinned. It seemed as though everyone loved him but her…and Tony.
“He’s not exactly my friend, but I’m glad you like him.” Emily looked around for Max and Dana. She needed to speak to Ray about talking to the police, but she didn’t want the girl to overhear.
“Max and Dana,” Ash said, “are over there playing by Tony’s garage.”
“Good, I don’t want her to hear this. Ray, would you go to the police and tell them where to find Dana’s body?”
“Do you know where she is?” he asked.
“Not yet, but Max does, and he can take us there if you’d like to come along. You could tell the police you were hiking and found her. I don’t want you to become a suspect. I’ve caused enough trouble for everyone.”
“I’d be happy to go along. And don’t worry about me becoming a person of interest. On the day she went missing, I was still living in Omaha. I didn’t arrive here until two weeks later.”
With that settled, Emily turned to Kaylee. “I’m leaving now. Are you coming?”
“No, I’m going to ride home with Shawn, but you can take Ash back to the apartment if you want.” She must have realized how that sounded, because her face turned a bright red. “I…um, I didn’t mean that the way it came out. I meant, if he needed a ride to town, he could catch a ride with you to his car, which is at the apartment.”
“I know what you meant.” Emily laughed. “It’s okay. I can give him a ride…to his car. Does anyone else need a ride?” She caught the look of suspicion on Tony’s face before he attempted to conceal it. A stab of guilt pierced her heart. She hadn’t had a chance to tell Tony about the apartment or Ash, but he obviously knew now.
Devon and Stephanie were sitting together on the steps. They hadn’t stopped touching since the minute she had leaped into his arms and now gazed lovingly at one another’s faces. “I’ll catch a ride with Stephanie,” he said, without taking his eyes off the girl.
Emily and Tony had once been like them. A wave of loss washed over her, and she wanted to turn and run into his arms, but held herself back. She had to protect him and his family, no matter what. Staying away from him seemed to be the only answer.
“Okay, Ash, if you want a ride, then come on,” she said. Her car was parked near the barn and under the outside security light. She didn’t wait for an answer before heading toward it. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ash follow her off the porch, but it was Tony who touched her elbow.
“Em, wait up, I need to talk to you.”
She stopped, but tried to avoid eye contact. He was only making her decision more difficult. “We’ll talk tomorrow, tonight we’re both exhausted, plus we have classes in the morning.”
“This can’t wait,” he said and pulled her close.
She didn’t resist. One last time in his arms couldn’t hurt.
“I know what you’re trying to do.”
How could he? “You do?”
“Yes, I do. I know you. I’ve seen that look in your eyes before. You can’t protect me from all the evils of this world.”
She pulled herself free of his hold. She felt the pressure of tears behind her eyes, but refused to cry. To keep Tony safe, she had to be strong. “It’s not the rest of the world I’m worried about right now.”
He picked up her hands. “Em, you tried to warn me about the ‘Shadow.’ You can’t shield me from myself.”
“I know that, Tony. I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for me. I’ve decided I’m not ready to settle down. I need a little space. Maybe in a few years…but I don’t expect you to wait for me.” The pain in his eyes was almost enough to make her take it back, but then she remembered what had almost happened just a few minutes earlier. This was for the best. Without ties to the people she loved, there would be no way for the evil to single them out. This was the practical sensible thing to do. So why did it hurt so much?
* * * *
Tony stood in the middle of the driveway and watched his life crumble into ruins. Emily said there was no one else, yet she had just driven away with another man. She talked about needing some space, and that she didn’t expect him to wait for her; she would understand if he didn’t.
He had her permission to find someone new, but no one could ever replace Emily. This was crazy. There was no turning back, not for him. He was in this for life. He’d give her the space she asked for, but he wasn’t going to disappear so Ash could take his place.
“Tony, everything alright?” Ray spoke from beside him. “You look a little upset.”
“I’m fine, just tired.” He didn’t want Ray to know what had happened. He avoided looking in his direction; positive it would show too much on his face. “I’m going to take off, now. Will you tell Mom I’ll see her at home?”
“Sure Tony, but I need to tell you something. Your mother tried to talk to you a few days ago, but you weren’t yourself.”
“Yeah, I kind of remember that.” Tony stared at the ground. “I sort of brushed her off. I’m sorry.”
“No need for regrets. The thing is, we were wondering if you would like to share the honor of best man with Devon at our wedding. Your mother plans on asking Emily and Stephanie if they would be her bridesmaids.” Ray grinned from ear to ear. “What do you say?”
Tony looked up. Ray was watching him closely, looking slightly uncomfortable. The man was a great guy. He made his mother really happy and he was truly glad for them. But he was feeling like in just one night, he had lost the two most important women in his life. He’d give his mother away, but he wouldn’t go down without a fight for Emily. He took in a deep breath and held out his hand. “I’d be honored,” he said.