Jake and I were working together. Because of his investigation.”
“Yes, I’d been warned about it.”
“You thought we were, what, trying to expose you? To endanger your brother for the sake of selling a story?”
“I don’t even know anymore,” Eric said with a deep sigh, “except that I’m ashamed of my behavior. I was in shock, I think.”
The thought that he'd finally tracked down the brother who vanished seventeen years ago gave her pause. It had to be overwhelming for him.
“He’s…back in the US?”
"Yes. California. He’s being debriefed by military intel, as far as I know. I did this very discreetly, and I don't even know if he's aware that the ransom was paid by a private individual…Hell, I don't know anything, except that I have to see him. I don't think anything else will work. It's not like he hasn't had the opportunity to get in touch with me over the years, and he never made a move.”
"Okay. And...where do I fit into all this?"
"Em," he said, quiet. "You're the only person I've told about this. The only one who knows how much this means to me."
Oh, hell no.
"I want — no, scratch that — I need your help. I don't know what to do or where to turn. Please."
"How about Randall?" she said, spitefully, because she couldn't help it.
"Randall? Randall’s a private dick. He was looking for Owen, and he helped negotiate the money transfer. But that’s it."
"And your mom? Wouldn't she..."
He sighed.
"I think... “
He hesitated, and when he started again, his voice was scratchy.
"I don't know if I can trust mum. I think Dad's been lying to her. I haven't told her about anything yet.”
"Jesus, Eric, what makes you think you can trust me?"
This time the silence was longer, but she waited.
"As I said, I was wrong," he said, slowly. "I feared for Owen’s life, I knew what I was doing was morally, and legally questionable, I was afraid I’d get into trouble — I believed the wrong people. I think maybe you're the only person I should've trusted all the way. And..."
Suddenly Anna popped her head around the lounge door, inquisitive.
"Hey, sis, are you coming back in? George is about to crack and ask for his life back."
"Sure, coming. Just give me a sec," Emmy said, waving Anna away. "Listen, I can't handle this right now. But I'll be back in the city the day after tomorrow. And — I'm not promising anything, except that you can call me and we can talk some more."
"Thank you. I'll call you. And Em?”
"Yeah?"
"I miss you," he said, and then he hung up, leaving Emmy utterly at sea, her feelings churning in her breast.
In the space of ten minutes, her world had been upended, again, and the worst was, despite all the alarm bells ringing in her brain, she was suffused with an irrational glow of happiness, which she was doing her best to ignore. But he'd called her, and he missed her, and that was enough for her to revert back to being a teenager, apparently.
She slinked back through the door and into her armchair, nudging the dog who'd spread all over the seat in her absence, and nodded reassuringly to her assembled relatives.
”Just Natalie calling to wish us happy holidays, and checking on some orders. So has Clarence got his wings yet?"
The only suspicious look was from Anna, who was better than anyone at reading her sister's guilty face. But this time, Emmy was determined to keep Eric's life private, so she rolled her eyes at her sibling and brought a finger to her lips, discreetly — hinting that it was all about the business, and the stuff she hadn't told Mom and Dad about, in the hope of placating Anna's curiosity. It worked.
Chapter Sixteen
After four days of solid socializing with the family — much as she loved them — Emmy was ready for a little me time, and it was with some relief that she let herself into her apartment on Tuesday night and dumped her stash of Christmas presents on the couch. Jake had left a note on the kitchen table, indicating that his tenants had finally cleared off and he would be moving to his place when he was back from his family Christmas, and he couldn't thank her enough for her hospitality, and also that Meredith said hi.
For the first time in a long time, she was home alone, and even though it wasn't going to last — Anna was coming down Thursday or