Read Online Love Will Find a Way by Barri Bryan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Barri Bryan
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variety of interests. Emily knew now that beneath Thad's sophisticated, cynical exterior beat the heart of a sympathetic, disillusioned man.
Emily sought his advice for problems ranging from the name of a good auto mechanic to how to best structure her savings account. Thad, in turn, often consulted Emily on matters such as the best way to pursue a younger woman, or the appropriate birthday gift for his aging grandmother. At the moment, he was regaling her with his misadventure in pursuing his latest conquest.
"There I was holding a stupid box of chocolates in one hand and a bouquet of roses in the other, when a man I had never seen before walks through the bedroom door. I didn't know if I should turn tail and run or try to throw the rascal out."
Emily couldn't suppress a giggle. “And you believed her when she said he was her cousin?"
"Would a woman who had divorced three husbands in the past five years lie?” Thad glanced at his watch. “I have to run.” He blew her a kiss as he hurried away. “I'll call you tomorrow."
Emily watched his departing figure. Thad was a kind, considerate man. How fortunate she was to have him for a friend. She sipped her coffee and lingered over her dessert, letting her mind wander back over the past few months. How completely her life had changed. She loved her job. It was not only challenging and rewarding, it kept her too busy to think most of the time. But rare moments of introspection brought a feeling of melancholy she couldn't seem to shake.
Her eyes roamed restlessly around the crowded restaurant. How strange it was to feel alone in the midst of so many people. Since her divorce, the pain inside her had reduced to an intermittent ache that returned to torment her at inopportune moments such as this.
In the periphery of her vision, Emily caught a glimpse of a man whose profile was so like Robert's that she gasped before looking away. This was not the first time she had felt the sharp pang of recognition then realized she was staring at a stranger.
The man turned. Emily's heart skipped a beat. It was Robert. It would be best if she made a quiet exit. She was reaching for her handbag when she felt his presence and knew he was standing directly behind her.
"Emily?” His cool voice held an ironic note.
She didn't turn. “Yes?"
"It's been a long time. May I sit down?” He came around the table, pulled out a chair and stood waiting for her to answer.
A nod of her head was the best she could manage.
Robert took that for a yes and sat down across from her. “Are you sure you don't mind?"
Emily refused to look at him. “Why should I?"
He scooted his chair nearer the table. “The last time I sat down at a table with you, I got the tongue lashing of a lifetime."
Remembering made her wince. “Do you want an apology?"
He asked, “Why should you apologize for telling the truth?"
"I am sorry.” She dropped her handbag onto the table. “I was angry and hurt, but that was no excuse for lashing out at you."
"I'm the one who should apologize.” Robert signaled for a waiter and ordered a cup of coffee. “Would you like something else?"
She would like to get out of here as quickly as possible. “No."
As the waiter set a cup of coffee in front of him, Robert asked, “Do you want it now?"
His presence was playing havoc with Emily's nervous system. “Want what?"
"That long overdue apology.” Robert's eyes narrowed. “Emily, look at me, please."
Slowly, cautiously, she raised her eyes to stare into his face. She saw uncertainty there and something akin to regret. She couldn't deal with this, not now. Her wounds were still too raw, her hurt too intense. “I should go."
"Please,” Robert pleaded, “this won't take long.” She had never before known him to be so humble.
Emily clutched her handbag with shaky fingers. “All right."
He looked tired and old. “Can you ever forgive me?"
What did he want forgiveness for? Betraying her, deserting her, tearing her world
Emily sought his advice for problems ranging from the name of a good auto mechanic to how to best structure her savings account. Thad, in turn, often consulted Emily on matters such as the best way to pursue a younger woman, or the appropriate birthday gift for his aging grandmother. At the moment, he was regaling her with his misadventure in pursuing his latest conquest.
"There I was holding a stupid box of chocolates in one hand and a bouquet of roses in the other, when a man I had never seen before walks through the bedroom door. I didn't know if I should turn tail and run or try to throw the rascal out."
Emily couldn't suppress a giggle. “And you believed her when she said he was her cousin?"
"Would a woman who had divorced three husbands in the past five years lie?” Thad glanced at his watch. “I have to run.” He blew her a kiss as he hurried away. “I'll call you tomorrow."
Emily watched his departing figure. Thad was a kind, considerate man. How fortunate she was to have him for a friend. She sipped her coffee and lingered over her dessert, letting her mind wander back over the past few months. How completely her life had changed. She loved her job. It was not only challenging and rewarding, it kept her too busy to think most of the time. But rare moments of introspection brought a feeling of melancholy she couldn't seem to shake.
Her eyes roamed restlessly around the crowded restaurant. How strange it was to feel alone in the midst of so many people. Since her divorce, the pain inside her had reduced to an intermittent ache that returned to torment her at inopportune moments such as this.
In the periphery of her vision, Emily caught a glimpse of a man whose profile was so like Robert's that she gasped before looking away. This was not the first time she had felt the sharp pang of recognition then realized she was staring at a stranger.
The man turned. Emily's heart skipped a beat. It was Robert. It would be best if she made a quiet exit. She was reaching for her handbag when she felt his presence and knew he was standing directly behind her.
"Emily?” His cool voice held an ironic note.
She didn't turn. “Yes?"
"It's been a long time. May I sit down?” He came around the table, pulled out a chair and stood waiting for her to answer.
A nod of her head was the best she could manage.
Robert took that for a yes and sat down across from her. “Are you sure you don't mind?"
Emily refused to look at him. “Why should I?"
He scooted his chair nearer the table. “The last time I sat down at a table with you, I got the tongue lashing of a lifetime."
Remembering made her wince. “Do you want an apology?"
He asked, “Why should you apologize for telling the truth?"
"I am sorry.” She dropped her handbag onto the table. “I was angry and hurt, but that was no excuse for lashing out at you."
"I'm the one who should apologize.” Robert signaled for a waiter and ordered a cup of coffee. “Would you like something else?"
She would like to get out of here as quickly as possible. “No."
As the waiter set a cup of coffee in front of him, Robert asked, “Do you want it now?"
His presence was playing havoc with Emily's nervous system. “Want what?"
"That long overdue apology.” Robert's eyes narrowed. “Emily, look at me, please."
Slowly, cautiously, she raised her eyes to stare into his face. She saw uncertainty there and something akin to regret. She couldn't deal with this, not now. Her wounds were still too raw, her hurt too intense. “I should go."
"Please,” Robert pleaded, “this won't take long.” She had never before known him to be so humble.
Emily clutched her handbag with shaky fingers. “All right."
He looked tired and old. “Can you ever forgive me?"
What did he want forgiveness for? Betraying her, deserting her, tearing her world
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