table, Barrett’s eyes locking on hers, his brows creasing as she got closer. He and J.J. stood up politely as she reached the table.
“I’m so sorry to cut our evening short, but I just received an important phone call. I’m afraid I need to go immediately.”
“What?” exclaimed Barrett. “Why? Where do you have to go?”
Emily swallowed, not trusting herself to share the news of her mother’s accident, worried out of her mind.
“I have to go,” she repeated, leaning down to brush her cheek against Hélène Harrison’s. “It was so lovely meeting you.”
“I hope we meet again soon. I was just telling Barrett that we’re—”
“Thank you so much,” managed Emily, swallowing the lump in her throat and turning away from the table to beeline for the coat check.
In her haste to find the ticket, or because of her shaking hands, her purse dropped to the floor, causing her credit card, a few dollars, her lip gloss, ID and apartment keys to scatter on the runner in front of the coat check window. She squeezed her eyes shut against the burn of tears, about to fall to her knees when she felt a strong hand on her shoulder.
“I’ll get it.”
She looked down at Barrett’s dirty blond head. He squatted on the floor, gathering her things together, then reached up with the claim ticket which she handed it to the coat check girl.
When he returned her purse, his eyes searched hers. “I’m sorry things got a little, um—you don’t have to go, Emily. It was all just silliness.”
She stared at him, slack-jawed, and it took her a full minute to realize what he was talking about. Oh, God. He meant their little game at the table. He thought she was leaving because of that?
“Barrett,” she said, taking her coat from the coat check girl and shrugging into it as Barrett held the shoulders for her. “My mother fell down the stairs at Haverford Park. She’s at Kindred. I need to get a cab.”
His face changed in an instant, the elegant lines transforming effortlessly from emotion to business. He took his phone out of his pocket and pressed a button. “Smith? Car. Now. Front entrance. Emily needs to go to Kindred Hospital.” His face was hard and his lips were tight as he stared at her. “I’m coming with you. Just let me explain to the Harrisons.”
Emily shook her head, moving quickly toward the revolving door that led to the street. “No, Barrett. Don’t leave your meeting. I messed it up enough for you tonight.”
“You all but clinched the deal.” He turned on his heel, looking back once to growl, “Don’t leave. Wait for me, Emily.”
Emily stood under the awning outside of the Union League Club, waiting for Smith to pull up and Barrett to join her, wondering what had caused her mother to fall. Had she been carrying something heavy and slipped or was it something more serious encroaching on her mother’s health and stealing her balance? Emily’s fingers were cold and she pumped them, wishing she’d brought gloves. An instant later Smith arrived, and Emily suddenly felt the comforting strength of Barrett’s hand on the small of her back as he led her to the car and pulled the door shut behind them.
***
Barrett looked over at Emily, shadowed in the dim light of the backseat. He hadn’t been alone with her in a car for a long time. Not since he was twenty and she was twelve, and he found her walking into town on a Saturday afternoon to pick up a few groceries for her mother. He’d pulled over and offered her a lift and though she’d seemed surprised at first, she’d opened the door and let him drive her to the store. Even though he had a pool party to attend in the neighboring town, he’d strolled the aisles with her, asking her about school, smiling when she called herself a “history dork.” Half an hour later, he’d driven her home and Susannah had invited him to stay for hamburgers and hot dogs. He’d accepted the invitation, marveling at their use of paper plates and enjoying
S.C. Rosemary, S.N. Hawke