Page 70 of That One Night
“Why?” Her mom frowned.
“Because I’m being friendly. And I figure that having a working farm across the road can only be helpful for the sale.”
“Oh, yes. I guess you’re right.” Her mom pressed her lips together. Like she was trying to find the right words to say.
Then she let out a sigh, and Emery knew something bad was coming.
“Do you think Trenton would like it if he knew you were going through another man’s mail?”
Emery blinked. No, he wouldn’t. He’d like it even less if he knew what she’d been doing with the same man last night.
But she didn’t care what he thought.
Swallowing, she looked up at her mom. “Hendrix is a friend.”
“But Trenton is your fiancé.”
Her stomach tightened. She didn’t want to have this conversation with her mom. For a second, she wondered if she should just come clean.
And break her mom’s heart by letting her know about the blackmail and the lien? She blinked that thought away.
Yes, her mom wasn’t as fragile as she had been when Emery first arrived home. But she still cried herself to sleep every night.
“You don’t have to worry. I told you, I’m just being neighborly.”
“Okay. But Emery… don’t do anything you’ll regret, all right?”
“Like what?”
Her mom’s smile was weak. “You’re going to be Mrs. Montclair next year. It’s normal to think about what you might be missing out on. But you’re a good girl, Emery. You’ve always been a good girl. Don’t do anything that will make you less than that.”
Her chest felt tight. “Mom…”
“It’s okay.” Her mom waved her hand. “I know you wouldn’t do anything. I’m just being silly. Now, can you do me a favor and go get some eggs? I think I’m going to do some baking. Book club is tonight. I want to take a cake.”
Sensing a reprieve, Emery pushed herself away from the table covered with paperwork and headed to the hallway.
Grabbing her sneakers, she pulled the front door open, sliding her feet into them before she ran down the steps to the chicken coop.
“Hey,” Jed called out to her from the lane. “You look like you’re in a hurry.”
She pressed her lips together. “Just collecting some eggs. How are you?”
“Good.” His gaze went to her face. “You look healthy.”
“Is that a good thing?”
He shrugged. “I’m a farm man. Healthy is always good. And you’ve caught the sun.”
“Hard not to here.”
“True.” Jed looked down at his sunbaked hands. “How’s your mom?”
“About to bake a cake.” It came out tight. Enough for Jed to notice the tone of her voice. He lifted a brow.
“It must be hard for you,” he said, “coming home after being away for so long. After a while, it’s not good for young people to be living with their parents. You want to live your own way, and it’s tough when they still treat you like you’re a child.”
She swallowed, because he’d hit it right on the nail. She wasn’t a kid. Hadn’t been for a long time. But her mom couldn’t see it sometimes.
