front, Cameron and Emma arrived for dinner with George. She’d promised the evening to Emma and hated keeping her waiting.
She paid the cab driver and walked across the driveway in front of the limo. The driver waited inside, listening to the radio. He waved. Her heel caught in a crack and she took a nosedive to the ground, scraping her knee and hurting her palms as they slammed into the pavement to catch her fall. Before she stood, a strong arm wrapped around her middle and hoisted her up.
“Are you okay, ma’am?”
She dusted her hands down her dress and answered, “Just a scrape. Thank you for helping me. I’m Marti.” She held out her hand to shake.
He took her hand and immediately liked her for not dismissing him as simply the hired help.
“Emma was right about you. You are nice. I’m Jimmy. I drive for Cameron and Emma. I’m also her companion after school.”
“Companion. I like that. A much more appropriate term for someone who takes care of another. It’s nice to meet you, Jimmy. I don’t mean to rush off, but I promised Emma I’d be here and I’m late. I’m sure I’ve disappointed her already. I hate to make her wait any longer. Can I bring you a cup of coffee or something to eat?”
Stunned, he opened his mouth and closed it again. He found his tongue and answered, “No, ma’am, nothing. I’m just fine. Thank you for asking.”
“Please call me Marti. Let me know if you need anything. Excuse me. I have to go see Emma.”
“You have a nice evening. I hope I have the pleasure of seeing you again.”
“Thank you, Jimmy. It’s been a long day. It’s nice to meet someone so nice.”
“Indeed it is,” he said and thought of how nice it was to meet her. Cameron had really screwed up. He should marry Marti, not that bitch Shelly.
Marti ran into the house and went straight to the living room and came up short in front of the small group. Cameron and George were talking and Emma sat next to her father with a very sad look on her face.
“Sugar Bug, why the long face?”
“Marti. You came home.” Emma jumped up and ran to her and threw her arms around her hips.
“Of course, Sugar Bug. I told you’d I be here. Let me tell you, I moved heaven and earth to get here.” She scooped up Emma and hugged her. She smelled of sunshine and green beans.
“Hello, George.” She leaned down with Emma in her arms and kissed George on the cheek. “How is everything?”
“Just fine. How did your meetings go?”
“My uncle thinks I’ll go back on my word to my grandmother and the others think I can move mountains with my little finger. It was an exhausting day.” She hugged Emma closer. “I’m much better now though.
“Hi, Cameron. I see you moved mountains today as well.” He looked tired and worn out. She wanted to run her fingers through his dark hair and kiss his forehead and make things all better for him. Instead she shook his hand and tried to ignore the charge of electricity shooting from their joined hands and up her arm. Their eyes met and something passed between them. She let go and the connection grew faint, but she still felt the pull.
“It’s nice to see you, Marti. You’ve saved me again tonight by moving your own mountains and coming to see Emma. She’s talked of nothing but you for three days.”
“Goodness. You must have been tired of me before I even got here.”
Cameron couldn’t help but smile. She had a great sense of humor and even laughed at herself. Just like Caroline. Marti didn’t look like Caroline in any way. He had to admit Marti was more beautiful. Even better, she had the same easy charm.
“On the contrary. I find you to be the bright spot in my dismal day. Seeing you hug my daughter has given me the first smile of the day.”
“Daddy is going to marry Shelly. They’re having a baby and I don’t want her to be my mother.” Emma burst into tears and buried her face in Marti’s neck.
Emma’s anguish brought tears to her own eyes and she found herself crying with the child. “You did have a big day,” she said to Cameron.
She gained control of herself, choking back the tears and blinking them away. She held Emma close and rubbed her back to soothe her.