The Teacher (24 page)

“I’ve never seen him do it. He’d always
just sit and watch during class.”

“Well, he did it for me in the middle of
our favorite burger place a few months back.”

“Wow,” she said, relaxing into his hold
again.
My sentiments exactly,
he thought, getting lost in the feel of
her hips swaying against his and the sweet smell of coconut coming off her
skin. It had been a long time since he held a woman like this and he was
enjoying every moment.

The music ended all too soon. They
pulled apart and walked past the guitarist strumming his strings and humming.
Marcus dropped a couple of bills in the man’s guitar case as they walked past.

“God bless,” the man said in a rough
voice.

Turning the corner, they walked in front
of a bronze sculptured fountain.

“Oh, this is where the aquarium is,”
Emma said, reading the glass-lettered sign above them. “I’ve heard they have
great exhibits. Have you and Brayden been here?”

“No,” Marcus said, feeling like a
delinquent father for not even thinking about bringing Brayden here. “But we
are planning to go to a Mariner’s game tomorrow,” he threw in, trying to redeem
himself.

“That sounds like fun. I’m sure Brayden
will love that.”

“Yeah,” Marcus agreed, feeling like a
fake. The idea had just come to him, he didn’t even have tickets yet, but that
wouldn’t be a problem with just a few phone calls he’d be able to get some.
What he felt worse about was that it was spending time with Emma that had
prompted his idea. “Why don’t you come with us?”

Her eyes brightened and his spirit
lifted, “Oh, I wish I could. I’ve never been to a professional baseball game
before, but I can’t. My roommate, Seth, is in town and we’re meeting up
tomorrow for a little shopping and lunch.”

“Oh,” Marcus said, feeling discouraged.
It served him right for trying to use his son as an excuse to spend more time
with her. “Well another time then.”

“Sure.”

The night had been going well up until
now. The mention of Emma’s roommate and Marcus’s jealousy of the man ruined his
mood, he couldn’t compete with a guy that was taking her shopping tomorrow. Why
was it this guy always seemed to creep in when Marcus least expected it? He
pretended to look at his watch, “Well, we should probably get back. I’d like to
tuck Brayden in tonight.”

Marcus turned at the crosswalk and
hurried across the four lanes of traffic. Emma followed, hurrying to keep up
with him.

Back at the house, Marcus bid Emma
goodnight before trudging up the stairs to the second floor.

“So, how’d it go?” Luke asked, muting
the television. Brayden, stretched out on the couch across his uncle’s lap with
his pajamas on, was sound asleep.

“Fine,” Marcus replied, flopping on the
couch at Brayden’s feet and flinging his arm across the back.

“Did you find a good club?”

“No. We walked on the waterfront and
just talked. Mostly about Brayden.” Marcus thought about dancing with Emma and
holding her close, the smell of her skin, but he wasn’t about to mention any of
that to his brother.

“So, you guys going out again?” Luke
looked hopeful.

“I already told you I’m not taking my
son’s teacher out on a date.”

“But, you just did.” Luke was smiling, a
twinkle in his eye.

“No,” Marcus corrected. “I bailed you
out of ruining a nice girl’s evening.”

“Yeah, I really had to twist your arm
didn’t I?”

Marcus shook his head.

“Tell me what was so bad about going out
with her that you’d never do it again? I know you like her. I can see it in the
way you look at her. C’mon what’s going on with you?”

“It’s just not a good idea for me to
date her. End of story. Besides, I think she might already be seeing someone
else.”

“Really? Who?” Luke asked.

“She has this roommate,” he said, lamely
putting the word in air quotes. “I’ve seen them together and he’s coming into
town to see her tomorrow. I get the feeling there’s something going on with
them.”

“Have you asked her about him?”

“No, because it’s none of my business,”
Marcus said, pressing his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose. He felt
a headache coming on.

“It
is
your business if you’re
interested in her,” Luke pressed.

“Not interested,” Marcus said, getting
to his feet, picking up Brayden and carrying him to their bedroom. He knew if
he didn’t end their conversation now Luke would continue to press him and he
just wanted to be alone with his memories about the evening. Especially, if
this was the only evening he’d ever get to spend with Emma.

Chapter
Thirty-one

Emma walked into the dining room for
breakfast in her white capri pants and blue paisley halter tank, both perfectly
pressed by Maricella’s expert hand. Marcus was concealed behind the morning
paper, his plate already removed from the table. Maricella disappeared into the
kitchen at Emma’s approach and arrived right behind her setting a plate of
stuffed crepes on the table.

“Good morning,” Emma said, placing her
napkin on her lap. Marcus folded the corner of the paper down low enough to
give her a curt smile and then flipped it back up. Luke smiled from across the
table at her and Brayden forced the food in his mouth down his throat so he
could speak.

“We’re going to a baseball game today,
Ms. Hewitt,” he reported.

“I know,” she said. “It sounds like
fun.” Emma used her fork and knife to cut into her breakfast and took her first
bite. It was as delicious as it looked. Maricella was a fantastic cook and Emma
wondered if there was any way the woman would give her a few free lessons
before she had to go home.

“You know?” Luke looked at her over the
top of his coffee cup. “But we just talked about it a few minutes ago.” The
newspaper rustled as Marcus folded it and set it on the table.

“Marcus mentioned it last night,” she
said, cutting off another bite of her crepe.

“Last night,” Luke repeated and then
looked at his brother. Emma didn’t see the glare that passed from Marcus to
Luke as she popped another forkful of crepe in her mouth. “Speaking of last
night,” Luke continued. “Did you have a good time?”

“Yes, the waterfront has some beautiful
views at night.”

“Yes, it does. Very romantic, too, with
the moonlight on the water and the city lights.”

Emma smiled, her mouth chewing again.

“Well, I’m sorry you didn’t get to go
dancing,” Luke said, looking remorseful.

Emma shook her head as she swallowed.

“Oh, no. We got a dance in on the pier.”

Luke’s eyebrows shot up in surprise and
then looked at his brother. “Oh really? On the pier?”

Marcus shifted in his chair next to her.
“Finish up Brayden, so we can get ready to go.”

Brayden bobbed his head up and down as
he chewed.

“Will you be coming with us today,
Emma?” Luke asked. She could see the scowl Marcus had locked on his brother,
but Luke seemed unaware.

“Uh, no, I can’t. I’m meeting a friend
who’s in town today. He’s staying over in Redmond.”

“Oh, is he a boyfriend kind of friend?”
Luke asked with his best attempt at innocence.

“No, he’s my roommate from Portland.”

“Well, it sounds like an awfully special
roommate to come all the way up here to see you.” Luke’s eyebrows arched again
and Emma could tell what he was thinking.

“It’s nothing like that. Seth’s a
consultant and works for a firm out of Portland. He has a project he’s been
assigned to with a company in Redmond. He drove up yesterday.”

“Aah, so you’re just regular good old-fashion,
live together, but that’s all kind of friends.” Emma couldn’t help but laugh.
Sometimes Luke reminded her so much of Stacy, always insinuating sex must be
happening, between any man and woman. Neither one of them could be subtle, even
if they tried.

“Yep, we’ve been good, old-fashion
friends ever since college.”

“And nothing’s ever happened…” Luke
wagged his finger at her suggesting a possible romantic relationship.

“Luke,” Marcus’s sharp tone stopped his
brother. Emma laughed. Good old Marcus, the always cordial and appropriate one,
was chastising his brother for grilling her about her relationship with Seth.

“It’s okay,” Emma said and rested a hand
on Marcus’s arm to reassure him. He turned to her at her touch and she pulled
her hand back. It had felt so natural, to reach out and touch him, but the look
he shot her made her feel otherwise.

Sobering, she looked back at Luke, “No,
never ever.”

“Good enough for me,” he said, raising
his glass to her and then drinking from it, but above the rim his eyes looked
over at Marcus.

*     *     *

Emma leaned against the fountain in
front of Seth’s hotel, waiting for him. The sky was dotted with cotton clouds
and the sun stood center stage, warming the summer day. Seth exited the sliding
doors and Emma broke into a smile at the sight of her friend. She waved and he
crossed the sidewalk to her.

“Sorry, I’m late,” he said, embracing
her. “My boss decided we needed to have a little conference call this morning
about my new project.”

“That’s okay. I hadn’t given up on you
yet.”

“So how have you been?” he asked,
throwing an arm over her shoulder as they crossed the street to the shopping
center. Shoppers bustled in and out of stores, bags dangling from their arms.

“I can’t complain, how about you?” she
asked.

“Busy, of course, but good.”

“How’s Kelly?”

“Um good, I guess.” Seth stopped and
held his hand out to Emma indicating a nearby bench and she took a seat.

“Is something wrong?” Emma asked as she
sat down.

“No, not really. I just need to talk to
you about something.”

“What is it?” Emma prompted, concern flooding
over her.

“Well, it’s about us,” Seth started.

“Us?” Emma asked, wondering when they
had become an
us.

“Yeah, I’ve loved having you for a
roommate this year. We’ve had a lot of fun when I’ve been around, right?”

She nodded and waited for him to
continue.

“It’s been so nice having you there when
I come home from these long trips and your cooking, well, let’s just say that’s
been reason enough to rush home from work some nights.” He nudged her with his
knee and smiled.

“Uh-huh, I’ve loved it too. I feel
really lucky that you were willing to share your apartment with me.”

“I know,” he said and reached for her
hand. “I feel lucky too, but I can’t keep this up.”

“Keep what up?” Emma’s heart stopped.
What was Seth trying to say?

He looked up and squinted into the sun
before turning back to her. “I put in for a transfer to the Los Angeles office
and the company granted it. I’ll be moving at the end of next month. Kelly and
I are getting a place together. I can’t stand to be so far away anymore.”

“Seth, that’s so exciting!” Emma reached
up to give him a hug.

“Really? You’re not upset with me, that
I’m moving out.”

“Of course I’m upset. Heartbroken is
more like it, but I’m really, really happy for you.” Emma smiled, resisting the
urge to fall to pieces at the thought of Seth moving to another state and
moving in with someone else.

“Thanks Em, that means a lot to me.” He
leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

“I’ll just have to add you to the list
of men who didn’t choose me,” she said, pretending to whimper, although it
wasn’t hard. She could easily break down in tears at any moment.

“Come on Emma, it’s not like that and
you know it.”

“Oh sure it is,” she teased him. “You’re
just like all the rest of them and here I thought I was supposed to be the
queen of your castle. But now you’ve dethroned me and picked someone else to give
my crown to, haven’t you?”

Seth tried not to laugh at her
melodramatic performance, his sexy grin spread all the way to his eyes.
God,
he’s cute,
Emma thought, knowing she was going to miss him way more than
she would ever let on. Her perfect roommate was moving on and leaving her
alone.

“Oh, Emma, you’re going to make some guy
so happy someday,” he said and reached out to hug her.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, you keep saying that.”
She pulled back, resting her hands on his biceps. “Let’s go get some lunch, my
treat, to celebrate your new adventure.”

“Sounds good, Em, you’re the best,” he
said.

“I know,” she replied and flashed him
her most genuine smile.

*     *     *

After lunch and an afternoon of
shopping, which Emma had lost her enthusiasm for after learning she was going
to be friend-less, roommate-less and probably apartment-less in less than a
month, Seth drove Emma out to the house.

“Wow, this place is incredible,” Seth
said as they curved around the driveway.

“I know, not bad for a summer gig, huh?”

“I guess you could have done worse. How
is the kid doing?” Seth asked.

“Pretty good, actually. We’ve made a lot
of progress this summer.”

“That’s good. And the dad, how are
things with him?”

“Good. He’s actually a really great guy,
once you get to know him,” Emma said.

“Aaah, and how well have you gotten to
know him?” Seth asked slyly.

“Really? Are you going to start acting
like Stacy on me now?” she teased.

“No, just giving you a hard time. Thanks
again for lunch. It was great seeing you. Give me a call next weekend if you
have some free time. I should still be around.”

“Okay, Seth, thanks.” Emma stepped from
the car and went inside the house. It was quiet, and Emma went downstairs. She
flopped on her bed and stared at the clock. Suddenly the date hit her and she
jumped for her phone.

Today was Chelsea’s birthday. She was
turning four and this was the first year Emma hadn’t been at her party. Audrey
asked her to think about coming, but Emma knew that sometimes Marcus needed her
to stay with Brayden on the weekends and a trip down and back in forty-eight
hours hardly seemed worth it. She reminded Audrey she’d be home in a few weeks
and would take Chelsea on a special outing, just the two of them, to make up
for her absence.

Emma scrolled through the numbers on her
phone and connected with her sister’s phone. It rang and rang, but there was no
answer, so she left a quick message wishing her niece a happy birthday and
promised to call again a little later.

Emma stretched out across her bed again
and felt her eyes grow heavy. She let them fall and awoke two hours later,
groggy and disoriented. She looked at her phone on the side table next to a
fresh vase of red roses and saw Audrey hadn’t called her back. Needing to do
something to wake herself up Emma went into the bathroom and washed her face. Next,
she tossed her wrinkled clothes in the hamper that Maricella would pick up
tomorrow and wash. She pulled her pink plaid pajama pants from the chest of drawers
and a black t-shirt.

Feeling more comfortable and refreshed,
Emma flipped on the big screen TV mounted on the wall across from her bed and
caught up on the entertainment news buzzing around Hollywood. After the show,
she tried her sister’s number again. This time Audrey answered.

“Hey, Sis, it’s me. Is Chels there? I
want to wish her a happy birthday.”

“Now’s not a good time, Emma, she’s
already in bed.” Her sister sounded agitated.

“Sorry, Audrey. I didn’t realize she’d
be going to bed so soon,” Emma said, checking the clock again.

“Yeah, well she’s pretty tired from the
whole day. It would have been nice if you called earlier, she really wanted to
talk to you.” Audrey’s voice was about to break and Emma felt terrible about
not getting a chance to talk to her niece.

“I did call earlier,” Emma explained. “But
nobody answered.”

“It was right in the middle of her
party.” There was a shout in the background, maybe Finn’s voice. “I gotta go,
Em. Here talk to Mom, she and Dad are still here.”

“Okay, bye,” Emma said knowing Audrey
had already passed the phone.

“Hi Emma. How’s Seattle?” her mother
asked.

“Just fine, Mom. Is everything okay with
Audrey?” She knew her mother wasn’t the person to ask, she wouldn’t get a true
answer from her.

“Yes dear, she’s fine. Just a little
tired from all the commotion today.” Her mother’s soft voice was always hard to
hear over the phone.

“Alright, well I’m sorry I couldn’t be
there today,” Emma said.

“I know honey we all missed you too, but
you’ll be home in a couple of weeks.” Again, Emma strained to hear Lucille’s
words. There was a lot of noise—voices, shouting, laughter, squealing—going on
in the background.

“Yeah,” Emma said, hoping her agreement
matched what her mother had just said.

“Chelsea loved the china tea set you
sent,” Lucille said.

“I’m glad,” Emma replied and felt a wash
of homesickness come over her again. Everyone was there, but her. She was
really getting tired of this lonely single life. “I should let you get back to
everyone. Tell Dad hi and kiss the girls for me.”

“Okay, bye-bye honey.”

“Bye, Mom,” she said and disconnected
the call.

Something was wrong with her sister, she
couldn’t put her finger on it, but all of her conversations with her over the
last few months had been chilling. Tonight’s had been especially so, then
thinking of everyone together without her reminded her of how much she missed
home.