“Um, let’s see, no. The answer is most definitely no. That has never happened. The earth has revolved around Vanessa since I was old enough to remember, and I was merely meant to live happily in her self-proclaimed greatness.”

“Did you have the chance to talk at all about your mother or how you’re each coping with the loss? If nothing else, you have that in common.”

“Other than to settle the remaining details of Mother’s estate, no, not a whole lot. I did tell her about the journals though and suggested she might want to read them, but she brushed that idea off rather quickly. Like I said, we were never a warm, cuddly family, and that’s not likely to change.”

Sarah struggled to identify in some way, but she simply couldn’t. Her family was everything to her, and she couldn’t imagine life any other way.

“Enough about Vanessa and my horrible night. How was your day?”

“Productive. I’ve hired a designer and booked my first two jobs just via word of mouth from our staff in the field.”

“You’re kidding? That was fast.”

“I’m ready to get this show on the road. Our official marketing materials should arrive from the printer next week. And I might be interested in taking you up on that press release sometime soon. If the offer is still on the table, that is.”

“Oh, it’s most definitely still on the table, among other offers.”

Sarah drew a breath, her mind drifting dreamily to said offers, wishing Emory were there in that very moment.

“When can I see you again?” Emory asked.

“Well, I have to stop off at my parents’ house tomorrow evening for a brief planning session for Robert’s birthday. We’ve all been given jobs, and mine is cake and ice cream. Usually, there’s some sort of theme we plan around, so we’ll be making those kinds of decisions. After that, my cousin is taking Grace and the rest of my little cousins, I have five by the way, home with her own daughters for a sleepover. I’ll have the rest of the night free just as soon as I can slip away.”

“Oh, I have an idea!” Emory enthused. “You could spend that time with me.”

“You think? I don’t know. I guess that might be fun.”

“The funnest. I’m thinking you, me, and a picnic on the beach.”

“I do love a good picnic, but you know, it’s supposed to rain.”

“No way. Not on my picnic.”

“You’re right, you’re right,” Sarah laughed. “I forgot who I was dealing with here, She-who-always-gets-her-way, my mistake.”

Chapter Eleven

By the next afternoon, the chirping of a thunderstorm warning crawled along the bottom of Sarah’s television screen, and by eight o’clock that night, when she pulled into Emory’s driveway, a severe storm had moved into the area with several more behind it. She was lucky her cousin lived an hour east and would only catch a tad of what San Diego would get. It made her feel at least somewhat better about Grace being away from her in bad weather.

As she killed her ignition, she could barely make out Emory’s house just a few feet in front of her in the downpour. She had a hunch the picnic was off.

Her umbrella hadn’t done her much good that afternoon due to the gusty winds that had eventually flipped the thing inside out entirely. Deciding just to make a run for it, Sarah covered the short distance from the car to Emory’s front door in record time. She was damp, admittedly, but happy to be where she was.

Emory answered the door almost instantly at the sound of the bell and pulled Sarah in quickly by the hand. “You’re a little wet,” she proclaimed happily, rubbing the sides of Sarah’s shoulders with vigor. “But you’re cute when you’re wet, so there’s that.” Emory stepped into her, and placed a delicate hello kiss on her lips. Instantly, Sarah recognized that familiar thrum of her heart.

She grinned. “So I’m here.”

“You are.” Then, seeming to snap herself out of the daze with a smile and little shake of her head, Emory gestured toward the living room. “I started a fire once the chill moved in. Why don’t you go have a seat, warm up, and dry off while I check on the food? Be right back.”

Sarah sat in front of the beautifully sculpted fireplace, wrapping her arms around herself and enjoying the heat it put out. Her eyes widened in surprise as a friendly looking dog entered the room and licked her face in celebration. “Well, hi there.”

The dog laid a paw on Sarah’s knee and looked up at her soulfully.

“Okay, that’s pretty adorable.”

“Sarah, meet Walter,” Emory said, following not far behind. At the sound of his name, Walter seemed to spring into action, turning in a circle and wagging his tail eagerly. “He already knows his name because he’s apparently the smartest dog on the planet.” He blinked back at her in total adoration. “Yes, you are.”

“All right. You just used a doggy voice. You must really like him.”

“Walter’s okay, aren’t you, buddy?”

He whined softly and nuzzled close.

“Grace will be pleased at the newly forged friendship. She’s mentioned him several times this past week and takes full credit for your union, by the way.”

“You’ll have to bring her by so they can play. He’s pretty good with a tennis ball. Come on, Walter, dinner time for you.”

Walter obediently bounded behind Emory into the kitchen where she put up a small pet gate for him in the laundry room. Beyond its confines, Sarah glimpsed an overly fluffy doggy bed and several brand new dog toys. Someone’s been shopping. “Sorry about your picnic plans,” she called into the kitchen. “I was looking forward to it.”

“What are you talking about? The picnic is still happening.”

Sarah laughed. “No way are you getting me on that beach. It’s torrential out there.”

“Who said anything about the beach?” Emory returned to the living room with a blue and red plaid blanket, which she fluffed and spread out neatly onto the carpet. “Tada, carpet picnic. Be right back.”

“You never cease to amaze me.”

“I’m an amazer.”

“And you coin new terms. Impressive.” Sarah laughed and watched her hurry back into the kitchen. “Can I help?”

“Sure, grab the bubbly and glasses off the counter and meet me on the picnic grounds in twenty seconds with an appetite.”

As they sat across from each other, Sarah’s eyes moved appreciatively over the plate of food she was handed. “You made all of this yourself?”

“Guilty. Would you like the rundown?”

“Oh, I think I need to hear the rundown.”

“Okay, here goes. For your dining pleasure, we have pecan crusted fried chicken, tomato and bean salad with a blue cheese chive dressing, and that on the left is a warm apple tart. All the great picnic foods represented.” Emory smiled and there were those damn dimples. Sarah loved seeing the excitement she clearly took in this “excursion.” It was a side of Emory she’d only glimpsed up until that point. She wanted to reach across the blanket and pinch her adorably sexy cheek.

“Why are you so good at everything? It’s a little frustrating. I can’t believe you made fancy fried chicken. Who even knew it could be fancy? It’s one of my favorite foods, by the way.”

Emory seemed to sit a little taller with that information. “Really? I had no idea. I took a shot.”

Sarah ate the meal slowly because it honestly tasted just as good as it looked.

“So let’s talk more about what you do when you’re not playing the role of high-powered business executive. I know a little already. Cooking, running, no painting, which is a travesty. But there’s bound to be more.”

Emory contemplated the question. “There isn’t. I work a lot. Not a ton of down time.”

“Okay, got it. But what do you like to do? If there were all the time in the world.”

“That’s a hard one. I like to read. I wish I had more time for that.”

“What’s your favorite book?”

“It’s juvenile. You’ll laugh.”