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Authors: C D Ledbetter
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back to Kate. “Mike wants you to join him for drinks.”
Even though the man spoke politely, Emily got the impression that his request was actually an order.
Kate sighed, then turned to Emily. She was still smiling, but Emily guessed the smile was a fake, solely for her benefit. In a flash of intuition, she realized that Kate wasn’t as composed as her facial expression implied. There was a definite undercurrent of tension between Kate and this Stu person, but Emily wasn’t sure what she could, or ought to do about it. She moved toward the door. “Listen, thanks for the wine. I need to get back to unpacking. I’ll catch you later.”
“Sorry, it’s business,” Kate apologized, her glance darting back to Stu.
“No problem. Thanks for the wine.”
Emily’s heart thumped as she covered the few steps to her apartment. Although she detested eavesdropping, she felt compelled to listen at the bedroom wall closest to Kate’s living room on the off chance that she might have to call the police. Unfortunately, the music from Kate’s stereo drowned out any conversation. Moments later the music switched off and a door slammed.
When no further noise ensued, Emily left the safety of her bedroom and went into the kitchen. Grabbing the teapot from the counter, she filled it with water and set it on the stove. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. The kettle whistled, and she jerked it off the stove, burning her hand as she forced the lid open to quiet the sound. The knocks continued as she waited.
After a few moments, Emily re-evaluated answering the door, but decided that if it was Kate, she did not need to get involved in any problem Kate might have. It was a coward’s way out, but her initial impression of Stu was that he would not appreciate her butting into his and Kate’s business. She hated to be that way, but right now, she needed to lead as stress-free a life as possible if she wanted her headaches to subside. Getting in the middle of Kate and Stu’s problems would only cause more problems.
A few moments later, the rapping ceased, and footsteps faded. Letting out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, Emily sagged against the counter. Her hands shook as she stuffed a tea bag into her coffee cup and sloshed water over it.
She thought about Kate’s scarcely concealed dismay and wondered what kind of problem Kate was having. Obviously it was something bad; the undercurrent of tension between Kate and Stu was evident, even to a stranger. She debated broaching the subject to Kate and decided to keep her mouth shut. Kate’s affairs were none of her business. God knows she had enough problems of her own right now. If Kate asked for help, then she’d do what she could. Best to leave matters alone for now. That way, whatever problem Kate had wouldn’t come and visit her house.
Chapter Seven
The moment a hand touched her shoulder, Emily let out a gasp and, sinking beneath the surface, choked on the pool’s heavily chlorinated water. The same hands that startled her out of her exercise lap grabbed her upper arm and hauled her back to the surface.
“Sorry,” Glen apologized, helping her stay afloat.
“What were you trying to do, drown me?”
“I thought you saw me. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
She removed her elbow from his grasp. “Well, you did.”
“Okay, I promise not to try and drown you next time, and I’m sorry about forcing you to take a drink,” he lamented. His grin deepened and a dimple flashed in and out of his cheek. “At least there aren’t any kids in the pool, so the water’s probably safe to ingest.”
“That’s disgusting.” She treaded water as she spoke, then grabbed the edge of the pool. “So, was there any particular reason you stopped me? Or do you always get in the path of people trying to swim laps?”
“I thought I might swim a couple laps with you. You mind? It’s easier to pace yourself that way. Keeps your speed up.”
She
Even though the man spoke politely, Emily got the impression that his request was actually an order.
Kate sighed, then turned to Emily. She was still smiling, but Emily guessed the smile was a fake, solely for her benefit. In a flash of intuition, she realized that Kate wasn’t as composed as her facial expression implied. There was a definite undercurrent of tension between Kate and this Stu person, but Emily wasn’t sure what she could, or ought to do about it. She moved toward the door. “Listen, thanks for the wine. I need to get back to unpacking. I’ll catch you later.”
“Sorry, it’s business,” Kate apologized, her glance darting back to Stu.
“No problem. Thanks for the wine.”
Emily’s heart thumped as she covered the few steps to her apartment. Although she detested eavesdropping, she felt compelled to listen at the bedroom wall closest to Kate’s living room on the off chance that she might have to call the police. Unfortunately, the music from Kate’s stereo drowned out any conversation. Moments later the music switched off and a door slammed.
When no further noise ensued, Emily left the safety of her bedroom and went into the kitchen. Grabbing the teapot from the counter, she filled it with water and set it on the stove. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. The kettle whistled, and she jerked it off the stove, burning her hand as she forced the lid open to quiet the sound. The knocks continued as she waited.
After a few moments, Emily re-evaluated answering the door, but decided that if it was Kate, she did not need to get involved in any problem Kate might have. It was a coward’s way out, but her initial impression of Stu was that he would not appreciate her butting into his and Kate’s business. She hated to be that way, but right now, she needed to lead as stress-free a life as possible if she wanted her headaches to subside. Getting in the middle of Kate and Stu’s problems would only cause more problems.
A few moments later, the rapping ceased, and footsteps faded. Letting out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, Emily sagged against the counter. Her hands shook as she stuffed a tea bag into her coffee cup and sloshed water over it.
She thought about Kate’s scarcely concealed dismay and wondered what kind of problem Kate was having. Obviously it was something bad; the undercurrent of tension between Kate and Stu was evident, even to a stranger. She debated broaching the subject to Kate and decided to keep her mouth shut. Kate’s affairs were none of her business. God knows she had enough problems of her own right now. If Kate asked for help, then she’d do what she could. Best to leave matters alone for now. That way, whatever problem Kate had wouldn’t come and visit her house.
Chapter Seven
The moment a hand touched her shoulder, Emily let out a gasp and, sinking beneath the surface, choked on the pool’s heavily chlorinated water. The same hands that startled her out of her exercise lap grabbed her upper arm and hauled her back to the surface.
“Sorry,” Glen apologized, helping her stay afloat.
“What were you trying to do, drown me?”
“I thought you saw me. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
She removed her elbow from his grasp. “Well, you did.”
“Okay, I promise not to try and drown you next time, and I’m sorry about forcing you to take a drink,” he lamented. His grin deepened and a dimple flashed in and out of his cheek. “At least there aren’t any kids in the pool, so the water’s probably safe to ingest.”
“That’s disgusting.” She treaded water as she spoke, then grabbed the edge of the pool. “So, was there any particular reason you stopped me? Or do you always get in the path of people trying to swim laps?”
“I thought I might swim a couple laps with you. You mind? It’s easier to pace yourself that way. Keeps your speed up.”
She
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