Sand Castle Bay (Ocean Breeze) - By Sherryl Woods Page 0,96
shouldn’t count on Emily being around too much anymore,” B.J. said. “She says Emily’s so busy she’ll probably forget all about me.”
Boone had to take a deep breath to keep a check on his anger. “When did Grandma Jodie say that?”
“Yesterday,” B.J. admitted.
So that explained B.J.’s dark mood the night before when he’d gone to bed early and told Boone he didn’t want to hear a story or read from one of his favorite books.
“Is that the only time she’s mentioned something like that?” Boone asked.
B.J. shook his head. “I didn’t believe her at first, but Emily hasn’t called me for a while now, so I figured Grandma Jodie must be right.”
“You know Emily is really, really busy trying to get this house ready. She told you about that, right?”
“It’s for some moms and little kids who need to be in a safe place,” B.J. said. “She said it’s really, really important.”
“It is. Just think about how it would feel not to be in a safe place for Thanksgiving or any other day.”
B.J. nodded his understanding. “It would be bad,” he said.
“So if Emily hasn’t called you as much, it’s more than likely because she’s working really hard to finish this work so these families will have a happy Thanksgiving. Can you understand that?”
B.J. nodded.
Boone made a decision. “Why don’t we call her as soon as we get to Castle’s? We can say hello and see how the house is coming along, okay?”
His son beamed at him. “Awesome.”
“And would you like me to write down Emily’s number, so you can call her anytime you’re missing her?”
“Sure,” B.J. said enthusiastically. “And I won’t be a pest, I promise.”
Boone grinned. “I’m counting on that.” He cursed himself for not thinking of any of this sooner. He’d known how distracted Emily had been the past couple of weeks. He’d felt neglected himself, so it was understandable that B.J. would feel that way. It simply hadn’t occurred to him that Jodie would be feeding into B.J.’s insecurities.
That was a problem he’d have to resolve at the very first opportunity.
* * *
Inside Castle’s Boone sent B.J. in search of Cora Jane while he placed the call to Emily. Though she sounded harried when she answered, her mood brightened at the sound of his voice.
“Busy?” he asked.
“Crazy,” she admitted. “But I can take a minute. How are you?”
He explained about B.J. and Jodie’s spin on Emily’s recent lack of attentiveness.
“Oh, sweet heaven,” Emily murmured. “I should have realized.”
“Realized what? That Jodie would seize on this and run with it?” Boone said. “Nobody thinks like she does.”
“Is B.J. there now?”
“He’s with Cora Jane in the kitchen. I’ll get him.”
“I’ll make this right, Boone. I promise.”
“Never doubted it. Is it okay with you if I give him your number, so he can call when he starts to miss you? He’s already promised me he won’t be a pest.”
“That’s a great idea,” she assured him. “And I’ll always be able to find a couple of minutes to talk to him when he calls. I’ll try to be better about calling him, as well.”
“Thanks. I really appreciate that. He’s very attached to you. So am I, by the way. Do you think you’re going to be here for Thanksgiving?”
“That’s my plan,” she told him. “We’re almost on schedule for the opening of this place on Monday. The families should be in here by Wednesday. Unless there’s a glitch of some kind, I’ll fly out Wednesday night and be there in time for Thanksgiving dinner. You will be at Cora Jane’s, right?”
“We’ll be there,” he confirmed. “Though we’ll probably have to stop by Jodie’s first to keep the peace.”
“Even if you only make it in time for pie, it’ll be great,” she told him.
“And miss Cora Jane’s turkey and cornbread stuffing? Not a chance. She’s planning a late dinner for that very reason.”
Boone had walked into the kitchen as they talked and now B.J. was in front of him, his expression wary, as if he was half afraid Emily wouldn’t have time to talk to him after all.
“Here he is,” Boone told Emily. “See you next week.”
“I’m counting on it,” she said fervently.
Boone handed the phone to his son, then stepped away. Cora Jane gave him a quizzical look, but didn’t ask the question that was obviously on the tip of her tongue. Unlike some people, she would never try to stir up trouble, especially in front of B.J. Boone had come to appreciate that trait more than he could possibly