Everything was ready, and yet he still nearly jumped out of his skin when she knocked on the back door, poked her head inside, and yelled, “Is it safe to come in?”
He met her at the door and took her tote bag out of her hands. “I’ll just put this in the bedroom.”
“I just need a place to crash. The sofa is fine. I shouldn’t take your bed,” she argued.
“I’m glad to sleep on the sofa.” All the nerves were gone now that she was there with him.
“Well, then, thank you,” she said. “Are those more of Filly’s sugar cookies?”
“Yep, she made them while y’all were gone. She tends to cook even more when she’s nervous, and she was worried about both of you. I’ll put this in the bedroom, and we’ll have a little bedtime snack if you want.” He disappeared down the hall and set the tote bag on the bed, and then he realized that the picture he’d drawn of her was hanging on the wall where he could see it as he was falling asleep. He could take it down and shove it under the bed, but Emma didn’t deserve to be hidden away. The artwork really should be in a gallery with a sign that said FOR EXHIBITION ONLY on it for the whole world to see just how beautiful she was.
“It’s time for her to see it,” he whispered.
“See what?” she asked.
She was standing so close to him that the warmth of her breath sent shivers down his spine. Without turning around, he pointed at the picture to his left. “I drew it when you first came here.”
She stared at the drawing for what seemed like an eternity. If she hated it, he would take it down and burn the damned thing.
“You made me look beautiful,” she finally said. “I still had so much raw pain in those days, but I see hope for a brighter future in the picture. I love it, Josh. Can I buy it from you?”
“Leo made me promise to give him first choice if I ever sell it, but I won’t.” Josh slipped his arms around her waist and sank his nose into her hair. “I just wish I could have captured the coconut aroma of your hair and the smoothness of your skin in the picture.”
“Who says you are shy and socially backward? That was the most romantic line I’ve ever heard.” She covered his hands with hers.
“Only around you, Em,” he admitted. “When your father showed up, I had to make myself sit on the porch with him and Teddy. I can talk to Teddy some, but I was pretty nervous around your dad at first. He asked about my art, though, and before long we were talking like we’d always known each other. I liked him, Em, I really did.”
She leaned back against his chest. “I was nervous with him at first, too, but I think we might find some common ground to be friends.”
Time stood still for Josh. He and Emma were the only ones in the universe. The only thing that mattered was that they were together and would be forever. “Happy anniversary and welcome home.”
She whipped around and wrapped her arms around his neck. “This is May first, isn’t it? I’ve been here a whole month, and it is home. Thank you for remembering. Now are we going to take the next step and go to bed?”
“Are you ready for that?” Josh asked.
“I think I am.” She went up on tiptoe just slightly, kissed him, and reached out and closed the bedroom door.
Emma awoke the next morning to the aroma of bacon and coffee. She reached for Josh, but all she got was a fistful of air. She realized that she was totally naked under the covers and sat up so fast that it made her dizzy. She pulled the sheet up under her arms as her thoughts and emotions swirled around like a hurricane approaching land.
“I’m all right,” she whispered. “I liked making love with Josh.”
Josh came through the door wearing nothing but a smile and carrying a tray in his hand. “Good morning. I thought we’d share breakfast in bed this morning.”
“I feel like a princess,” she said, “and I’m so glad that Sophie and Teddy got things worked out. If they hadn’t, I would have been consoling her, not spending a wonderful night with you.”