Sarah let the comment settle and took a step in. She slid her hands onto Emory’s hips and rubbed her abdomen with her thumbs. “In that case, I should probably confess that I’ve wanted to kiss you ever since you walked in the door.”
A shy smile crept across Emory’s face. “You have?”
“Mhmm. You have the most kissable mouth I’ve ever seen.” Sarah placed a hand behind Emory’s head and guided her in. The kiss was just as electric as Sarah knew it would be, hungry and fast with no buildup required. Easing Emory’s body up against the door, Sarah melded against it, moaning quietly into Emory’s mouth as their tongues danced. In a stroke of fantastic timing, there was a knock on the door. Damn it all.
They froze.
Sarah pulled her mouth away and listened. Please God, let them leave.
“Hello in there? Everything okay?” Oh no, it was her elderly aunt Sofia. Sarah felt like a deer in front of an eighteen-wheeler as Emory tried unsuccessfully to suppress a laugh. She placed a much-needed hand over Emory’s mouth but couldn’t help smiling herself as she leaned into Emory’s ear. “That’s my great-aunt Sofia. She’s eighty-nine years old. We’re going to have to make a break for it, but I think we can take her. Follow my lead.” Emory nodded wordlessly and followed Sarah out of the bathroom. As they emerged, Aunt Sofia’s eyes drifted suspiciously from one of them to the other.
“Sara, is everything okay? You were inside of the bathroom for a long time.”
“My friend was just helping me…with a problem.”
“Are you all right, mija? Should I get your mama?”
“I’m fine. I just needed Emory’s uh, expertise for a minute. She was able to help a lot.” Emory smiled and nodded emphatically. They made their way silently through the living room and then exploded into laughter once they landed outside.
Her mother smiled along with them. “What’s so funny, you two?”
Sarah deadpanned. “Long story.”
“Well, you’re just in time for dinner. Sarah, I have a seat for you down here with me, and, Emory, Martin has saved a seat for you next to him.” She offered her second conspiratorial wink of the afternoon, this time at Emory.
Sarah looked down the long table and the expanse of distance between her predetermined seat and Emory’s. And then there was the fact that her chair was coincidentally next to James’s. Just perfect. “Mama, I think Emory and I would rather sit—”
“It’s fine, Sarah, really,” Emory interjected, feeling the need to smooth things over. It wasn’t entirely fine, but she didn’t want to make waves on her first meeting with Sarah’s family. She could hold her own against Martin and his grisly tales from the crypt for an hour or so. Luckily, Carmen was seated across the table from her, which might give her some reprieve.
Unfortunately, dinner was nonetheless excruciating. She watched from afar as James flirted mercilessly with Sarah while her parents made over him like he was their long-lost son. By the end of it all, she was mentally exhausted and ready to make a quick exit. She thanked Mr. and Mrs. Matamoros, wished Robert a happy birthday, offered Sarah’s shoulder a squeeze, and headed for the door.
She needed to get out of there.
She needed to find her head.
And she needed to figure just what exactly she’d gotten herself into. So she was acting like a coward, and retreating when things got rough. She was actually okay with that. As she turned the knob, she was stopped by the sound of a small voice. “Emory, wait.”
She turned and Grace appeared, breathless. “Are you coming over later? Mom said you might.”
Emory hesitated. She wasn’t in the best of moods, and maybe a night on her own would help her decompress a little. “I don’t think so, Grace. Maybe another night.”
Sarah appeared in the entryway and wrapped her arms around Grace from behind. “Please?” she chimed in. It was clear from her clouded expression that the events of the day had taken their toll on her as well. “We can eat raw cookie dough out of the tube.” Sarah’s eyes held hope.
Emory stared at them and felt her resolve crumble as it often did when she was sucked into their vortex. How could she resist such an odd and wonderful offer? “Well, only if there’s raw cookie dough,” she said quietly.
“There is!” Grace practically shouted.
“All right then, it’s a plan. I’m going to go for a run with Walter first. See you two later tonight.” And she was gone. Sarah stared at the door, wishing the day had turned out differently.
She decided a talk with her mother was in order.
An hour later, most of the guests had headed home and only a few of the more rowdy partygoers remained in the backyard drinking beer with Robert and her father. Sarah took the opportunity to steal some alone time with her mother as they cleared the remaining plates. “So, Mama,” she began as they loaded the dishwasher. “What do you think of Emory?”
“I think she’s wonderful, mija.” She smiled warmly at Sarah. “Very pretty and with a good head on her shoulders. She’s done a lot of nice things for you, and that makes me like her all the more. Did she say anything about Martin? I saw them flirting a bit at dinner.”
Sarah couldn’t prevent a sigh. “You know, I’m not sure he’s her type. But I really like spending time with her, and then there’s the fact that Grace simply adores her. I just wanted you and Papa—”
“Not those glasses, sweetie, we have to hand wash those. So James looked very handsome today, didn’t you think? He would be quite the catch for you, Sarah.” In response to Sarah’s eye roll, her voice moved into that cautionary mom tone Sarah knew so well. “You need to listen to me on this, Sarah. Sometimes a mother knows what’s best.”
“Sometimes, maybe. But I can tell you, Mama, that James is not for me. It’s just not going to work out.”
“But he’s so well spoken and funny too.”
“I know, but—”
“Nothing wooden in the dishwasher.” She took the wooden handled serving spoon from Sarah’s hands and started to wash it. “Once the newness wears off, it’s important that you and your husband have something in common, something to talk about.”
“Is that the case with you and Papa?”
“Oh yes,” she answered quickly. “And we still have a lot of fun. That’s what I want for you.” She turned to Sarah earnestly. “I want you to find that important someone to share your life with. You’ve been on your own too long, mija.”
“That’s what I want too, Mama, and I believe now that it’s possible. I want what you and Papa have, I do. You just have to trust me.”
Her mother nodded as she dried. “I can do that. Just don’t give up on James so quickly, and give me those little plates. They always flop around in the machine.” Sarah handed over the plate she was holding and wondered why they had the damn appliance in the first place.
*
“I can’t do it like you.” Grace sighed. “My hand won’t stay steady.”
“Yeah, you can. Keep your eye just a little bit ahead of your pencil.” Emory pointed to the white space in front of the point and laid out the path while snagging a bite of cookie dough from the nearby tube. “There. That’s more like it. See how nice that edge looks? You’re a natural.”
Grace looked up from the page in wonder. “I did it, Mom. I finished the outline of the vase. Look!”
Sarah had to admit, it wasn’t bad. It looked quite like a vase would. It was a nice vase, as far as vases went. “I’m impressed, Graciela. I think you’re my favorite child.”
Grace giggled. “I’m your only child.”
“Details.” Sarah stood behind Emory’s chair and placed her hands on her shoulders, squeezing gently. “Have you ever thought of offering lessons?”