Together Alone by Barbara Delinsky Read Free Book Online Page A

at the end on the right.
    Self-conscious now that she was safely home, Emily said, “Thanks, John. I’m glad I didn’t have to walk all the way home.”
    “You’d have got wet.”
    “Probably.”
    “Think of that next time. Better still, call us next time. We’ll meet you halfway.”
    “Not if Kay’s reading.”
    “Then I’ll meet you myself.”
    “I really am okay,” she insisted. “I don’t want you worrying about me.”
    “If not you, who, now that Marilee’s gone?”
    Emily opened her mouth to argue, but the words didn’t come. The truth was that she treasured his watchfulness.
    Leaning across the seat, she kissed his cheek. Then she slid out of the car, closed the door, and ran through the drizzle to the house.
     
    Kay called first thing Tuesday morning. “John said he gave you a lift last night. Are you all right?”
    “I’m fine,” Emily said. It was a new day. She felt better.
    “Want me to come over?”
    “No need. Things just crowded in. But I’m okay now.”
    “When’s Doug due home?”
    “Thursday night. I want to do some baking, actually.”
    “Strawberry-rhubarb pie.”
    “How did you guess?”
    “It’s the first one of yours I ever tasted. Doug’s favorite. You were making it for him way back when. Hey, I have some shopping to do before school starts. Why don’t you make your pie, then come with me. We’ll do lunch.”
    “I’d better stick around here, in case Jill calls.”
    “Did she say she would?”
    “No, but I’d hate her to get the machine and think that I’m suddenly out running around now that she’s gone. I want her to know I’m here if she needs me.”
    Kay was quiet for a minute before saying a soft, “Don’t do this to yourself, Emily. Jill will love school.”
    Emily anchored nervous fingers on a fistful of the huge T-shirt she wore. “I hope so. But I worry.”
    “So do I. More about you than the girls. You need to get out of that house.”
    “I’m fine. Really.”
    “Well. Don’t panic if you see a police car pull up. John may stop by.”
    “Oh, Kay. He doesn’t have to. I’m okay .”
    “You know how he is. He may just have to see for himself. You’re his new personal cause, now that Marilee is gone. He’s a little lost, without her here to wait up for at night. He’s driving me nuts, hovering around.”
    Emily caught a movement at the kitchen window. “There he is, just pulled into the driveway. In the cruiser. In broad daylight . How can he do this to me? Myra will be out in two seconds wondering what’s wrong. She sees everything .”
    “That’s good.”
    Yes and no, Emily thought. Mostly yes, when Doug was gone. Like John watching out for her by night, Myra did it by day. She would be terrified when she saw the police car.
    “I’ll catch you later,” Emily told Kay and hung up the phone. She pushed open the screen door to find John mounting the steps. “I was just on the phone with your wife. I really am fine. You two worry for nothing.”
    “Good. But that isn’t why I’m here. Tell me about the space over your garage. Is it really for rent?”
    Emily frowned. “Not yet. Not for a while. Why?”
    “I may have a tenant for you. He’s been looking all over and can’t find anything he likes.”
    “He’s not about to like this. It’s still months away from being livable.”
    “Can we see it?”
    We? Emily glanced at the cruiser. A man was twisted in the back seat, behind the screen designed to restrain dangerous criminals. “John,” she cried, “what did you bring? ”
    “He’s a good guy, Emily. You know I’d only bring around the best. Come meet him.” He had her elbow and was drawing her outside.
    “I can’t. I’m waiting for Jill to call.”
    But he drew her on. “This’ll only take a minute.”
    “If I don’t hear the phone—”
    “I’ll be listening, too.”
    “I’m not wearing shoes.”
    “You never do.”
    “But this is totally premature. There’s weeks of work to do up there. I’m not