earshot, Embry spun toward Brandon, her hands on her hips.
“Are you okay?” His voice was a shadow of its usual hearty baritone. The man hated confrontation. So did she, for that matter, but sometimes it was necessary.
“I’m fine.” She nodded firmly and crossed her arms in front of her. “And I’ll be even better when you apologize for being a jerk this morning. It’s time we kick the elephant out of the room.”
His mouth fell open, but he quickly clamped it shut, and a half smile emerged. “There is an elephant in here, isn’t there?”
“I’m about ready to poke it with one of my wooden spoons.” The sound of the flushing toilet punctuated her words. “If you have anything to say, you’d better hurry. Little Miss will be out in a minute.”
“Way to use our daughter to put me on the spot.” She started to speak, but he stopped her. “No, you’re right. I’m sorry. I’ve been really stressed and feeling like—”
“Mama! I wash my hands for two whole minutes.”
Embry met Brandon’s eyes before smiling at Kylie. More like ten seconds, she thought as their opportunity slid away. “Good job. Now, do you want some apple slices or peanut butter and crackers?”
She clasped her hands and grinned. “I have a cookie, Mama?”
“No. Apples or crackers?”
Carson’s cry rang out, and Kylie stomped a foot. There was no way she and Brandon could talk now. The conversation would have to wait until the kids were in bed later that night, and by then, he’d be out working. So it would happen at some unknown time in the future. Or, more likely, never. It would sit in a heap, and they’d keep dumping more unfinished conversations on top until they caught fire.
“I’ll get him,” Brandon offered, already in motion. As he passed Embry, he whispered in her ear. “I really am sorry. I love you.”
“I love you too,” she murmured before heading to the kitchen. Her eyes wandered to the door, and she felt a strange pull, a need to escape. How would it feel to just walk out? Not for good, but to just go on a walk alone with her thoughts? Brandon did it all the time. Well, he left for work, but still. He could come and go as he pleased, and she felt like she always had to ask permission because of the kids. Why did she always ask? He was their parent too. As he emerged with a crying Carson in his arms, she knew it was now or never. “Since you’re home now, I’m going to run out for a bit. I have a few things to do.” There! She’d done it. Statements, not questions. She pecked a kiss on Kylie’s head. “See you later, alligator.”
“After a while, crocodile!” she echoed back.
“Wait a sec, Em. Where are you going?”
“To the store,” she said quickly, even though she had no idea where she was going. And it would be strange to say she was taking a drive down the street.
“Right. Okay. Will you be back before one? I have to leave for work by then.”
“No problem.” She grabbed her keys and purse from the table by the door and left. Halfway up the driveway, she broke into a jog. She was really doing this! How long had it been since she’d gone anywhere besides the market without the kids in tow? Too long.
Ten minutes later, she found herself in the grocery store parking lot. Good Lord. She should’ve driven down to the beach to look at the ocean. But finding a parking spot was always a nightmare, and too many people clogged the boardwalk, beeping their bike horns and nearly running folks off the path with their wild Rollerblading. But the grocery store? It was like she had a homing device directing her here.
Well, there were other shops in the center. Her eyes wandered from one store to the next as she walked. There was a nail salon, a dry cleaner, and a smoothie bar. Ha! That’s just what she needed—a kale smoothie. How very Los Angeles. The next shop was called Soul Candy. Well, that sounded nice. She peered in the window, expecting to see a variety of chocolates, but was surprised to see it wasn’t a candy store at all. The shelves were lined with crystals in all shapes and colors. A sign that hung from the door said, COME IN AND SOOTHE YOUR SOUL. It was almost like the angels of Los Angeles had led