Page 16 of On the Fly
“That’s my fault, Mrs. Chadwick. We flew to California together, but I was afraid I couldn’t tear myself away from the office. We’ve got such a large task ahead of us with the airline. I didn’t want to confuse all your arrangements by agreeing to be here but having to back out for another impromptu meeting. Emma’s told me how hard you prepared for the weekend.”
Two things happened that he hadn’t considered. First, the air shifted in the room as every member of the wedding party turned his way, conversations quieted, curiosity screaming from the whole group. And second, once that silence turned deafening, he heard, “Ander?”
Damn it! Anxiety coiled instantly in his gut. He hadn’t planned on his mother coming out of the kitchen. Now he could either call the lie right now or continue the farce straight to his mother’s face. He didn’t choose the first one.
Hopefully, no one noticed he’d missed a beat before he said, “Mom, I want you to meet someone special.” If stares spoke volumes, he was laser beaming his mom the truth and begging her to just go with it. “Emma, this is my mom, Aurora Jorgensen.”
The always talkative Emma had turned mute, the color leaching from her face. She took a deep breath, the added oxygen doing nothing to pinken her skin. She paused with her jaw locked tight and her spine straight as she turned toward his mom. “Hi, Mrs. Jorgensen.”
“You tricked me.” His sweet mother, instead of shaking Emma’s outstretched hand, pulled Emma forward and enveloped her in a hug. Apparently, she hadn’t picked up on his eye signal. Emma’s whole concentration stayed trained on him as she mechanically lifted her arms to accept the hug.
“Who’s this?” a young woman asked from the side.
“Apparently, he’s here with Emma,” the stepmother said, noticeably suspicious of the events happening before her. The growing dislike he had for the woman solidified. He could see why Emma had so much anxiety over having to deal with her family if she had to put up with this woman’s animosity. The weird attraction he had for Emma took a backseat as he accepted the challenge to teach this one a thing or two about decorum. He had new purpose as he tucked Emma closer in against his side and plastered a crooked grin on his face—a smile he’d been told countless times was charming.
“This is new for us. You’re being awful quiet. I guess my surprise worked.”
“I…” She stared at him with what he guessed to be disdain and his grin turned sincere as he lifted a finger and bumped the tip of her nose.
“I…” he repeated, teasing her.
“Emma, I want you to promise to give me a few minutes later, but right now, dinner’s being served. Everyone, come this way,” his mother said, motioning for the guests to move outside for dinner.
“Son, it’s nice to meet you.” He hadn’t technically met Emma’s father, but he let that go and accepted another hearty, heartfelt handshake and a genuine smile.
“Young lady, the games need to come to an end. This is Julia’s weekend—” The stepmother started in again as her father beamed at Ander. The scolding seemed to go right over his head.
“Mom, stop,” interjected the woman who’d walked up moments ago. “I’m Emma’s sister, Julia. I’m so glad you could come.” Again, another very normal, seemingly sincere person reaching out to shake his hand.
“It’s truly my fault. I’m sorry to crash this way,” Ander said.
“No, you’re welcome. Come to dinner. I’ll introduce you to my fiancée,” Julia said, encouraging them to follow her.
Ander tucked an arm around Emma. “Mmm, dinner. Come on, hon.”
~~~
Here she was again, in another what-the-fudgsicle moment with Ander Jorgensen. Emma ran a palm the length of her face then squeezed her temples. The day kept getting longer and longer and more bizarre. All she’d wanted was to change clothes. She’d been looking for any bed and breakfast employee she could find to get a key to her room to change her not-suitable-for-the-vineyard clothing when, yet again, hurricane Ander blew through and knocked her off her feet. In a not good way.
“I need to change,” she said flatly, leaving no room for argument this time. Her clearly disbelieving stepmother huffed off toward the front door, leaving them all behind. Her sister smiled and rolled her eyes in that indulgent way she had for her mother but didn’t immediately follow her. Her father lingered too, indecisive as to whether to follow Patty or stay with them. He grinned broadly at Ander. Her father looked so happy, something Emma hadn’t seen in him for a long time.
“I’ll wait for her, sir,” Ander offered as if that were somehow the reason for her father’s delay in heading outside.
“Lon! I need you.” Patty spoke firmly from the front door.
“Sir, go start your dinner. I’ll wait for Emma.” Ander nodded toward the door where Patty stood taping her foot.
Her father hustled off as if he’d gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Emma’s cheeks burned with embarrassment as she looked around. All eyes were on her as the group slowly exited the front doors. But Julia hung back with the two of them. No question, her stepmother would be livid with her right now, daring to upstage Julia’s family dinner.
Emma twisted free of the lunatic’s hold and turned toward him. “I don’t know where my room is.” Her chest tightened. She’d lost complete control of her life over the last few days, ever since she’d set foot on that airplane. It proved airplanes were evil tin cans bringing nothing but misery. If she didn’t fling herself on the floor and throw a full-out tantrum in the next thirty seconds, she’d call the day a win.
How on earth would she get out of this silly trick Ander had shoved them into? There was no way her stepmother would find humor in any of this.Prioritize, Emma. She drew in a breath and went for the long hall off the main room, looking for anyone who could help her find her luggage and a place to change.
“She’s mad at me for being late,” Ander said in hushed tones behind her, presumably to Julia.
“She’s always had a quick temper,” her stepsister said with humor, stating the obvious and selling her out in the process.
“Let me go talk to her.”
