Page 29 of When We Were Young
Clara lived with a simplicity, an abandonment that Emily had never mastered. And something more. Clara had a sixth sense of sorts. An ability to feel shifts in the wind and subtle unspoken feelings. Like God had given Clara that to make up for what she didn’t have.
Clara put down her special fork, the one Emily carried in her backpack. Then she watched Karl move on, and she turned to Emily, her eyes big.
“Emily?” She reached her hand across the table and put her fingers over Emily’s. “Who?”
“Him?” Emily shrugged. “Just a football player. It’s nothing.”
“You know him?” Her words were pointed, no matter how long it took her to say them. “Foot player?”
“Okay.” Emily smiled at her sister. “He tried to sit with me last night. When you were at your friend’s.”
Clara narrowed her eyes. “No... like him?”
“No.” A quick laugh came from Emily. “Too pushy.”
Before Clara could respond, Noah walked up with his tray. He looked from Emily to Clara. “Care if I join you?”
Emily had never seen Clara blush before, but beneath the gaze of Noah Carter, her cheeks turned a bright shade of red. She nodded and slid her tray over, so he’d have somewhere to sit.
Panic coursed through Emily. She hadn’t told Clara about Noah or their coffee and conversation. He was just a friend, she had told herself. Someone she might not even see again. After all, he was busy and popular. Big man on campus.
And she never wanted to worry Clara. Because if some far-off day Emily fell in love, Clara might wonder where that would leave her. Who would care for her and love her? She had nothing to fear, so Emily had spared Clara the story.
But now... she willed Noah not to talk about their time together. So Clara wouldn’t feel hurt that Emily hadn’t told her about it. She held her breath.Let it feel like a beginning.She watched him and waited.
Noah took the seat next to Clara and gave Emily a quick grin. Then as if he could read Emily’s mind he turned to Clara. “Every day I go sit with those loud, crazy football players.” He smiled. “And I see you two sitting here.” He picked up his fork, his eyes never leaving Clara’s. “I always wonder the same thing. Why aren’t there more people sitting with the two prettiest girls on campus?”
Clara beamed, coming to life under the warmth of his attention. She lifted her chin and giggled—in her special Clara way. “Thank... you.”
Emily was about to interpret, not everyone understood Clara at first, but Noah nodded, his eyes still on Clara’s. “You’re welcome.” He smiled. “I mean it.” He shot a sincere glance in Emily’s direction and then he ate a few bites of his dinner.
The whole time Emily was too stunned to move, too shocked to say anything. Only Emily and her mom had ever been this genuine to Clara. Chills ran down her arms. Clara must’ve felt incredibly comfortable around Noah. Because she put her hand on her chest. “I’m Clara.” She motioned to Emily, her hand more jerky than smooth. “Sisters.”
Again Noah seemed to understand Clara without any trouble. “I figured you were sisters. Same blond hair and blue eyes.” He winked at her. “Nice to meet you, Clara.”
Emily could only watch, mesmerized. Noah had the easiest way about him. Like he hung out with people like Clara every day.
Next Noah turned to her. “Oh... and you.” He snapped his fingers lightly, like he was trying to remember. “You’re... Emily, isn’t it?” He pointed at her again, like he’d done the night before. Only this time it was as if he was trying to place her. “I feel like I’ve seen you around school.”
“Maybe.” Emily felt her eyes sparkling under his gaze, but she kept up the act. “Noah, right?”
“Yes.” He set his fork down and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“And you.” Emily reached out and their fingers touched for a beat or two longer than necessary. That was all it took. The shaky walls around her heart crumbled under the feel of his skin against hers.
This time the blush was hers. And for some reason Clara didn’t notice. She was too busy grinning at Noah.
It was the beginning of an even greater friendship than Noah had talked about last night over coffee. Because from that moment on it involved Clara. When Noah didn’t have football he came to the dance hall and sat with Clara through Emily’s practice. The small set of bleachers was situated behind glass, so that visitors wouldn’t interrupt the dancers.
But it didn’t matter.
Noah’s presence was always the best kind of interruption. Through the glass and throughout practice, Emily could see him talking to Clara, see the way he poured into her and made her feel special. It was all Emily could think about—the way Noah had loved Clara from the beginning.
Emily squinted into the stormy night sky. It was darker than before. Like all of earth knew Emily and Noah were ending things. Clara’s sweet face filled Emily’s mind. Her kind, childlike eyes and the smile that never quite left her mouth. Tears gathered again and Emily let them come. Maybe it was a good thing God had taken Clara home early.
Because it would’ve killed her to see Noah Carter walk out that door in the morning.
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