still inspired me enough that I actually gave up meat for a while."
Emmy let out a surprised laugh.
"For real? I didn't know about that — I guess Mom never told me."
"Maybe she didn't want to embarrass me. I only lasted a couple of months, and then Dad barbecued some ribs one Sunday and I caved," Anna mused.
"Anyhow babes, no time for reminiscing — hit the shower!"
"On my way, sis."
By the time Anna was back, in a forest green A-line dress, the food was nearly ready and Emmy had moved into the living-room, plumping up sofa cushions and setting out the drinks and snacks — olives and pretzels, nothing fancy. The anticipation in her belly had been slowly ramping up all afternoon, and if she was being honest, she'd reached fever pitch, the butterflies in her stomach driving her to the brink of insanity.
"I'll get the door," Anna said when the buzzer went off, as her sister whipped off her improvised apron and fluffed her curls in front of the mirror.
The first thing Emmy saw coming into the apartment was a huge bouquet of white roses, calla lilies and a profusion of green foliage in a tall glass vase, behind which she could just about recognize Eric.
"Where can I put these?" he asked. "I know, they take a lot of space, but I rather liked them. And I wanted to say thank you for holding my hand over in San Diego, Em. Hello, Anna, how lovely to get a chance to know you better."
They exchanged kisses — chaste cheek pecks with Anna, something a little more intimate, if restrained, with Emmy, while her sister hunted for some table space for the flowers.
"I also took the liberty of bringing this," Eric added, handing Emmy a cooler bag, from which she extracted a bottle of Ruinart champagne, and another of Chablis.
"I'm sorry if I presume too much — I know it's a school night — but I felt we didn't get a chance to celebrate the fact that, no matter what happens next, Owen and I are back in each other's lives."
"Have you told your mom yet?" Emmy ventured, fetching some wine glasses while Eric started unwrapping the foil from the champagne bottle.
"I told her I had news."
"Of Owen?"
"Not in so many words, but I am sure that's what she understood," Eric said, pausing to twist out the cork with barely a pop. "We're seeing each other tomorrow. She's coming to town for a fundraiser at the Guggenheim — I know, she does this all the time. Pass me your glass, will you?"
Anna had tactfully vanished into the kitchen, so as Eric poured out the champagne, Emmy seized the opportunity.
"By the way — I haven't told Anna anything — but if you want to discuss things, maybe we should..." she said in a rush.
"I might as well come clean — it's likely to hit the news in the next few days."
When Anna stepped back into the living room, Eric turned to her with an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry for being so rude. I gather Emmy didn't tell you the nature of our little trip to San Diego."
"She told me it wasn't her secret to tell," Anna said.
"Well, it was mine, and it's not going to be a secret for much longer, so...the long and short of it is — I had a brother, who left home at 18 after some pretty major issues with my dad. Entirely Dad's fault, I may add. Senator Glenison is a real piece of work. Anyway, I tracked him down after a long search, and a major family reunion is on the cards. It involved some complicated stuff which I hope will stay out of the press, like paying the Taliban a ransom…”
“Oh my God,” Anna said, horrified. “He was kidnapped for all those years?”
“No! No, just for a few weeks. He was deployed out in Afghanistan – it’s a long story. But I’m afraid it’s why I had to sell your sister’s lease so quickly. I promise to make up for this, Em,” he said with a squeeze of her hand. “I will help you find another location as soon as possible.”
“But,” he continued, turning back to Anna, “it’s why I owe a huge debt to your sister, because without her backing, I don't know that I would've had the balls to go out there and meet him face-to-face."
Anna's expression was the definition of gobsmacked. Whatever she'd imagined Emmy and Eric were up to in San Diego, it