Page 25 of Love's Cure

By the time four o’clock arrived, the headache that had kept her company all day flared. Asking her staff to follow through on the closing procedures, she went up to her apartment to lie down. She’d sleep for a while and then make sure everything was done for the day, and they were ready to begin all over again.

She was resting on her couch when her cell rang. She decided to let it ring unanswered and then thought better of it. When she lifted her phone, she was happy to see it was Emmett.

“Hello,” she said sleepily. “How are you managing today?”

“Okay, though the office has been packed. Some with real problems. Others with curiosity. I feel like a celebrity. I’ll have to get hints on how to handle it from Whitney. But I called to check on you. Any unusual soreness to your head, neck, and back?”

“I’m sore but nothing unexpected,” she said. “Like you, though, I’ve had to cope with more than just doing my job. Everyone has apparently seen the report on the news or has heard about it. I’m just taking a rest before making sure we’re set for tomorrow. It’s a good thing I have a well-trained staff. They’ve been wonderful.”

“I feel the same about Lucille. She’s terrific. While names are just that on paper, she gives me all the details about the people themselves. It’s very helpful when you’re trying to get to know them and build rapport. She must know every little thing about anyone in town.”

Crystal laughed. “That doesn’t surprise me.”

“I’m glad you feel better,” said Emmett. “Maybe after all this excitement dies down, you’ll allow me to take you to dinner. Somewhere casual. I hearFreshhas excellent food. How about tomorrow night?”

“Yes, they have delicious farm-to-table meals. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Great. I’ll pick you up at seven.” He hung up and she couldn’t help smiling. Even if neither one of them wanted anything beyond friendship, she enjoyed being with him.

Feeling better, she got up and went downstairs to the Café. The crew had done a nice job of cleaning up and refreshing the tables for tomorrow morning. As usual, she prepared the daily financials and deposited the day’s receipts at the bank.

The evening was pleasantly cool, and she decided to go to Jake’s to see who, if anyone, in her crowd was there. She and her friends had a tacit understanding that if anyone showed up for drinks and supper, they’d sit at their special table and save places for the others.

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When she entered Jake’s, she stopped for a moment to get accustomed to the darkened interior. She glanced at two middle-aged women sitting at a table at the far end of the room and turned to see David Graham, who owned Graham Landscaping with his father.

Smiling, she waved and walked over to him.

A good-looking man with deep-blue eyes and reddish-brown hair that had natural streaks of blond from the sun, David was a quiet man who loved a good joke. Fun company for a night like this. He stood, like the gentleman he was.

She sat down at the table with him. Soon after she ordered a pilsner ale and a grilled chicken sandwich, Aaron Collister joined them. With a Native American mother, Aaron’s coloring was a warm brown, and his features were strong. Crystal had always thought he was handsome and admired his love of the outdoors. He and David greeted each other warmly. They were close friends and enjoyed hunting together.

She was laughing at a joke David had just told when one of the women who’d been sitting at the other end of the room walked over to her.

“Aren’t you the person who was in the recent accident with Emmett Chamberlain?” The woman was tall and imposing with a domineering air about her. Maybe it was her expensive clothes, her jewels, and the look of disdain on her face, but Crystal felt herself shrinking.

“Do you mean Emmett Chambers?” was the only response Crystal thought to say.

“No. I mean Emmett Chamberlain, son of Senator Everett Chamberlain,” the woman snapped.

As Crystal gasped, Aaron got to his feet. “Do you have a problem?”

“I just want to tell this woman with the godawful purple hair she has no business being with my son. I’ll make that very clear to him, as well.”

Everett Chamberlain? The Senator?Crystal was still trying to process the information that sweet, kind Emmett was the son of such a rich, controlling man when Emmett walked into the restaurant.

His face fell when he saw them. He hurried over and turned to his mother. “What are you doing here?” He shot Crystal a look of concern.

His mother glared at him. “After watching the news on television, I had to come see you, to warn you against a gold digger like this woman. You know we must be careful about that. Just look at you. Your face is a disaster.”

Crystal gazed at Emmett, unable to hide her hurt and dismay. “No wonder you never wanted to talk about your family.”

“Look, Crystal, don’t let this meeting come between ... us ... our friendship.”

The other woman Crystal had seen earlier joined them. She put an arm around Emmett. “I told Natalie not to come. That’s why I’m here with her.”

“Hi, Aunt Margaret,” said Emmett. “We need to leave now. We can talk elsewhere.” He turned to Crystal. “I’m sorry. I really am.”

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