Page 95 of Resisting the Temptation
Rachel and Katelynn eye Ben warily again, making a point to go out the opposite side of where he’s sitting. I’m sure between the two of them, the whole family will know by the end of the day the black sheep brought a companion to the funeral.
Chapter 46
Ben
Emma sings like an angel.
I never knew she had a voice like that. I’ve seen her mouth the words to songs in the car, heard her hum along once or twice. But I’ve never heard her sing. Is it because she’s shy? I have a hard time believing that.
I will admit the song was a little…culty,I guess is the word. A little ominous and a little strange, but hearing it come from her…
It gave me chills. I want to hear more of her voice.
It almost distracted me from the feeling of undiluted judgment coming from some of the people in the room. I can’t tell if it’s judgment because I look grumpy, their religious biases, or the fact I’m here with Emma, and they think she’s unworthy to be in this chapel.
Emma walks down the few steps with the dude who came in late, and I stand when they make it to the bench I was sitting on.
He looks like the girls we met when we got here. They all have blonde hair like Emma’s, but his is a dark golden blonde where the girls’ hair is a bit lighter. He’s got a neatly trimmed mustache the same color as his hair.
“Ben, this is my cousin Talmage. Talmage, this is my boyfriend, Ben.”
Goddamn,I like hearing her call me her boyfriend. She said it in the parking lot too, but this time is less tentative, moredefinitive. Like she’s certain in her choice. It makes my heart flutter so bad I wonder if I need to see a doctor.
What would happen if she called me her fiancé? Husband?
I know she thinks this is a temporary label we’re giving her family while we’re here, but I’m determined to make it stick—make itreal. Then I can eventually upgrade my label to husband.
Slow down, Ben.
Talmage gives me a bright, genuine smile and holds out his hand. “Nice to meet you, man.”
I shake his hand, impressed by his firm handshake. “You, too.” I nod toward the logo on his T-shirt. “You a fireman?”
Talmage glances at the logo and beams with pride. “Sure am. Captain of Station 2 in Springville.”
I don’t know much about rankings regarding the fire department, but the title of Captain sounds impressive, so I nod and offer my congratulations.
“Thanks, man. I’ve got to run, but I’ll see you two at Hannah’s tomorrow?”
Emma confirms, and we follow him outside and get into our respective cars.
Emma’s shoulders slump as soon as her butt hits the seat. After I start the car and pull out of the parking lot, I reach over and give her thigh a squeeze. “You sounded great up there, honey. I had no idea you can sing.”
Emma sighs and rolls her head to look at me. “Thank you. I was in choir and musical theatre all throughout junior high and high school. I took voice lessons for years and even spent a week at vocal performance camps a few summers before I graduated. I guess it wasn’t all for nothing.”
“You never wanted to pursue music as a career?”
She shrugs, her fingers absently tracing over my own. “I told my mom when I was nine I wanted to go to Juilliard for college, and she told me I’d never make it. I knew it would only ever be a hobby. I was never the lead or chosen for any solos, so I figured she was probably right.”
“She never tried to support your dream at all?”
“Nah. She wanted me to be a nurse like my sister dreamed of, but I can’t stand the sight of blood or bodily fluids. It took me forever to pick a major and decide on Construction Management because I never knew what I wanted to do.”
“I’m so sorry, honey.” I flip my hand over and interlace our fingers, giving her another reassuring squeeze.
She squeezes back.
“It’s not your fault. There’s no point in trying to change the past.”
