Emily's Daughter (15 page)

“Of course. It seems to be the only way I’ll see you tonight.”

He heard a bubbly laugh and he knew it wasn’t Becca. Emily was happy. For tonight they could both be happy.

“What time do you want me to pick you up?”

“Seven-thirty.”

“I’ll be there.”

Before he could hang up, she asked quickly, “Do you have anything to tell me about our daughter?”

He swallowed painfully. “Nothing that can’t wait.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Emily. We’ll talk about it later.”

As much as Jackson wanted to tell her, he recognized that this wasn’t the right time. He wouldn’t ruin this night for her…or Becca. Tomorrow they would face the cold reality together.

E
MILY DIDN’T HAVE TIME
to wonder what Jackson had found out. If it was important, he would’ve told her. Just another dead end, she thought, beginning to see that her daughter was lost to her forever. She had hoped and prayed for a miracle, but it seemed as if a miracle wasn’t going to happen. In her heart, though, she would never give up and neither would Jackson.

She didn’t dwell on it for the rest of the day. She needed all her energy just to keep up with Becca and her friends. After Becca’s hair was cut and styled, she had her nails done. While the girls were busy, Emily slipped away to a clothing shop, hoping to find a suitable dress. She’d planned on wearing a simple outfit, but now that Jackson was taking her she wanted something special. She wanted to be beautiful, and she was as excited as Becca and her friends.

She found a deep-purple formfitting dress with a V-neck and long sleeves. It was ankle-length and had a slit up one side. As she stared at herself in the mirror, she decided it was perfect—sleek and elegant without being overstated, and it fit like a dream.

J
ACKSON READ THE LEGAL PAPERS
once more, then he put them away…for now. He drove to Corpus Christi to buy
a suit. He hadn’t brought anything dressy and he knew tonight would be formal. He would make the evening special for Emily, he vowed. They would have tonight to sustain them for the heartache ahead.

As he rang the Coopers’ doorbell, he was as nervous as a teenage boy. He hadn’t seen Emily in almost a week and he desperately needed to be with her. When she opened the door, his breath caught in his throat. He’d never seen her like this. She was more than beautiful, she was literally breathtaking, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her, from the glossy hair hanging loose around her shoulders, to the curves molded by the purple dress, to the dark sultry eyes. For a moment he felt as if he’d stepped back in time and was seeing the young Emily. But this Emily wasn’t a girl; she was all woman and he loved her.

“Hi.” He smiled invitingly, and her heart missed a beat. When he smiled like that, it made her senses spin wildly and her knees grow weak. She stared into his gorgeous green eyes, then took in his magnificent physique in the black suit and tie. He was handsome, compassionate, caring—everything she’d ever wanted in a man…and more.

“Come in,” she said, and stepped aside, glad she could actually move because her legs were still rubbery. She collected her purse. “Dad,” she called. “Jackson’s here. I’m leaving.” Becca and Tommy had already left for their friend Joni’s house, where they’d wait for the limo that was taking several couples to the prom.

As she turned around, she saw that Jackson had a corsage in his hand and was removing it from the box. Without a word he pinned the white orchid to the front of her dress. His fingers brushed against her breast and a warm erotic sensation awakened in her. They gazed at each other, both lost in the moment and in each other.

“Emily Ann,” Owen said from the kitchen doorway, and they slowly turned to him. “Hi, Jackson,” he added.

“Owen,” Jackson acknowledged, and as their eyes met Jackson realized that Owen knew something about their daughter. He was the one who’d picked Emily up from the hospital, so he was aware who’d picked up the baby. By the end of the weekend, they would all know.

“Make sure Rebecca behaves herself and keep a close eye on her,” Owen said to Emily.

“Dad.” Emily sighed in annoyance. “This is her prom night and she deserves to have some fun.”

“Maybe,” Owen admitted grudgingly. “But you know how your mother is, and I don’t want anything to upset her.”

“Yes, Dad, we’re all aware how Mom is,” she replied with more sarcasm than she’d intended. “I’ll make sure Becca behaves,” she added. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Have a good time,” Owen called as they walked out the door.

W
HEN THEY ENTERED
the ballroom with all the glittering decorations, Emily felt as if it was
her
prom. She was floating about three feet off the floor, especially with Jackson’s arm around her waist. Decorating had been a huge, time-consuming task but the place looked wonderful, with lots of fresh flowers arranged everywhere. They joined the other sponsors and were told it was their job to watch the kids and to make sure things didn’t get out of control. Sponsors sat at various points around the room. Emily and Jackson were positioned not far from the stage, where a band was starting to play.

There was a decorated gazebo at the other end and several couples were having their pictures taken. Emily took out her camera, ready to get photos of Becca. She saw her
some distance away, dancing with Tommy. She glanced at Jackson, who was sitting next to her with an arm around her chair.

“Isn’t she beautiful?” she murmured. She wore the jacket with the pink dress, though there were lots of girls wearing strapless dresses, and Emily was proud of her. At least she was trying to do what their mother wanted. Her dark hair hung down her back in a shiny mane and it looked so much better now that the ends had been trimmed. Emily’s diamond studs sparkled in her ears.

“Yes,” Jackson answered. “Because she looks a lot like her big sister.”

“You’ll get a reward for that.” She smiled into his eyes.

“I can’t wait.”

“You’ll have to.”

He groaned in answer, his hand playing with a strand of her hair.

They watched the kids dance, sitting there in companionable silence, and at times it was amusing, especially during the fast songs. During the slow songs, though, she held her breath. Some of the kids were draped around each other, a little too close for Emily’s comfort. She found herself looking for Becca, but she and Tommy danced with a reasonable space between them—close but not suffocating. Maybe she
was
a little like her mother, but Emily didn’t want Becca to experience life too soon, too fast—like she had.

The lights came on and the principal took the stage to announce the king and queen of the prom. Emily reached for Jackson’s hand and held it tight. He winked at her nervousness.

The principal gave a small speech and read out the names of all the nominees. When Becca’s name was read, her hand tightened.

“The queen for this year’s prom is—” The principal opened an envelope “—Rebecca Ann Cooper.”

“Oh, my God,” Emily breathed, tears welling up in her eyes. Becca was obviously having the same reaction. She seemed stunned, but she was smiling widely as she walked onstage to be crowned. Everyone stood and clapped, but no one clapped louder than Emily and Jackson.

The principal called for silence so he could read the name of the king. “Thomas Lee Wilson.” Applause erupted again, and Emily snapped several pictures before the lights dimmed and the king and queen returned to the floor for a special dance. Becca waved at Emily and she waved back, wiping away a tear.

“Are you crying?” Jackson asked in a teasing tone.

“No,” she denied, then added, “Yes, I’m so happy for her.”

“Me, too,” Jackson murmured.

The boys started to cut in to get a dance with the queen, and the girls did likewise with Tommy. Emily’s heart swelled as she watched Becca laughing and having a good time, and she wished her mother could see this, but then she realized Rose wouldn’t appreciate it as much as she did.

Finally Becca broke away and ran over to Emily and hugged her. “Can you
believe
it, Em? Can you believe it?”

“Yes, it’s wonderful.” Emily gave her a shaky smile. “You’re wonderful.”

“Jeez, Em.” Becca seemed embarrassed, which was very rare indeed.

Emily glanced at Jackson and made the introductions. “Becca, this is Jackson Talbert, and Jackson, this is my sister, Becca.”

Becca smiled broadly. “Hi.”

“Hi, Becca,” Jackson said, also smiling. He stepped forward and asked, “May I have a dance with the queen?”

Becca’s mouth fell open, and she stared at Emily, who was staring at Jackson.

“I suppose,” Becca mumbled. Jackson slipped his arm around her waist and she placed her hand in his. Slowly they began to move around the floor.

Emily gazed after them in shock. She couldn’t imagine why Jackson had invited Becca to dance. But then, he was trying to please her, she decided. Tommy was standing beside her fidgeting, so she asked him for a dance.

Jackson danced for a while in silence, then he said, “You’re very beautiful tonight. You look a lot like your sister.”

“Yeah, people always say that, but I’ll never be as beautiful or smart or anything as she is. She’s just about perfect.”

“You love her a great deal.”

Becca’s eyes narrowed to mere slits. “I sure do, so you’d better not hurt her again.”

“I’ll never hurt Emily again,” he assured her.

A smile wreathed her face.

“Why are you smiling?”

“The way you said her name—all romantic and gooey. Like you love her.”

“I do,” he admitted without hesitation.

“That’s good, ’cause she loves you, too.”

His pulse raced. “Did she tell you that?” he asked, but he didn’t have to. He knew she did. She couldn’t make love with him the way she had
without
love, but he needed to hear it from someone else—someone close to her.

“Sure, several times, so you’d better not hurt her,” she warned a second time.

“Don’t worry, and congratulations,” he said as the song ended, and they returned to Emily.

Becca kissed Emily and strolled off with Tommy to dance. Emily raised an eyebrow at Jackson. “Aren’t you the chivalrous one.”

He grinned. “Yeah, that’s me.”

“I think you took her breath away, not to mention mine.”

“Why?”

“I guess I wasn’t expecting it.”

He slipped a hand around her waist. “Here’s something else you’re probably not expecting. Let’s dance.”

“We can’t,” she said, and took a step backward. “We’re sponsors.”

He pointed to a couple. “They’re sponsors and they’re dancing. So is that couple over there.”

Following his gaze, she had to admit he was right, but she still hesitated. He caught her hand and led her to a dark corner. “How’s this?” he asked, sliding both hands around her waist and pulling her close.

As her body pressed into his, she didn’t protest. She couldn’t. She was starved for contact, for the touch and feel of him. Her hands locked around his neck and they moved sensuously to the beat of the music and the hunger building in them.

“You didn’t go to your prom, did you?” he murmured into her hair.

“No,” she replied feebly. “I didn’t gain much weight with our daughter, but anyone who held me close would’ve been able to tell I was pregnant.”

“I’m so sorry for all the pain you went through.”

“It doesn’t matter. You didn’t know.”

“Maybe,” he whispered as their bodies and feet moved
in perfect harmony, “we can pretend this is your prom, too.”

“I’m too old to pretend.”

He drew her body tight against him, and she felt every defined sinew and muscle.

A bubble of laughter escaped her. “That’s not pretend, that’s as real as it gets.”

He moved back half a step and looked into her eyes. “It is, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“A moment ago when I was dancing with Becca, she warned me not to hurt you.”

Emily groaned in embarrassment. “I’m sorry. She’s very forthright.”

“She’s an enchanting spitfire.”

“That’s a nice way to put it.”

“But she doesn’t have to worry, because I will never intentionally hurt you again. Do you know why?”

She shook her head, afraid to speak.

“I should’ve told you in San Antonio, but I was scared and I was trying not to just grab something I wanted so badly, the way I did before. The truth is that I love you and I have through all the intervening years, through the other women, even through my marriage. During all those years, you were in my heart.”

Her hands tightened around his neck and she gently kissed his neck. She wanted to say something, but she couldn’t, because emotion had clogged her throat.

When she didn’t speak, Jackson’s pulse stopped and he had to ask, “No response?”

“I’m scared, too,” she admitted honestly. “If I say the words, I’m afraid something bad will happen….”

He stopped dancing and gazed into her eyes. “If it does, we’ll face it together this time.”

She heard in his voice what she hadn’t heard before—the promise of tomorrow, and that was all she needed. “I love you, too,” she breathed softly. “I’ve always loved you.”

Jackson bent his head and lovingly kissed her lips. Passion erupted and the kiss deepened. “Can we get out of here?” he asked in a ragged voice.

“No,” she answered in the same voice. “We have to stay until the last teenager stumbles out the door, then we have to help clean up.”

“Oh, God, I don’t think I can wait that long.”

She ran a hand through his hair. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing we’re adults, because we can practice that self-control we’re suppose to have.”

He laughed. “What self-control?”

“Shameful, isn’t it?” She laughed back, and took his hand and led him over to the lights.

They stood holding hands and watching the kids. Emily was happy and content. She hadn’t felt that way in a very long time.
Jackson loved her.
The thought was exhilarating and all she wanted to do was savor this moment. But something kept nagging at her, and she couldn’t let it go.