Emily's Daughter

“You promise?”

“Yes, I promise.”

“Please come home. Just for a little while,” her sister begged.

Emily closed her eyes, Becca’s plea was getting to her. She didn’t go home much; it was too stressful. She and her mother couldn’t get through a visit without Rose making some reference to the past. Becca had never been told about any of it, so she didn’t understand. But Emily knew that her mother was making Becca pay for Emily’s mistake. Becca didn’t deserve that.

“Okay, I will, and we’ll go buy you a dress for the prom.” Emily heard herself giving in.

“Great, Em! I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”

“Just let me handle Mom.”

“Don’t worry.” Becca laughed, then more solemnly she added, “She hasn’t been feeling well lately. Maybe that’s why she’s so grouchy. Dad even leased the cottages to the Hudsons next door for the season because Mom can’t take care of them anymore.”

Emily straightened. “What’s wrong?” she asked, knowing that if her mother had given up the cottages, it had something to do with her health.

“She gets out of breath so easily, and last night she had trouble breathing. Dad was up with her most of the night.”

“Did she have her oxygen?”

“Of course. She says it was my fault because I upset her so much.”

“It’s not your fault,” Emily told her. “Mom had a heart condition long before you were born and any upsets she brings on herself.”

There was a long pause, then Becca asked, “She’s not going to die, is she?”

“Don’t say things like that. As soon as I can clear my schedule, I’ll come and check Mom over.”

“Thanks, Em. I can always count on you. Love you.”

“Love you, too,” she replied, but before she could say anything else the phone went dead.

Emily hung up and ran both hands through her hair, loosening the clasp. God, she didn’t need this today. The past seemed to be looming over her and she couldn’t escape it. First, the dream, then Jackson, and now the old problem with her mother. What else could happen?

CHAPTER TWO

THE AFTERNOON WAS JUST as rushed as the morning, and at six o’clock Emily said goodbye to her last patient and headed into her office. Jean followed.

“That’s it, thank God,” she sighed. “I’ll file the charts and finish up for the day.”

“Okay,” Emily said absently, leafing through some notes on her desk.

Jean made to leave, then turned back. “Did you meet the computer guy?”

Emily blinked. “What?”

“The computer guy,” Jean repeated. “All the women are talking about how fine-looking he is.”

Emily glanced back at her notes, trying to remain detached, trying not to react. “I didn’t notice.”

“What?” Jean shrieked. “You’re hopeless. Absolutely hopeless. If it’s not an old man, you’re not interested.” Realizing how the words sounded, Jean quickly back-pedaled. “That came out wrong. I meant—”

Emily stopped her. “Don’t worry about it. I know what you meant.”

“Thank God.” Jean rolled her eyes. “I’d better go before I get my foot completely stuck in my mouth.” At the door, she couldn’t resist adding, “I just think you need to get out more, have some fun.”

“I appreciate your concern, but most likely the computer guy’s married.”

“Oh, no.” She walked back. “He’s divorced.”

Emily’s eyes widened. “Really? How would you know that?”

Emily was sure Jackson was married and had a family by now. He probably had another daughter…a daughter who—

“I talked to Dr. Benson’s secretary who talked to Dr. Benson’s nurse, who had all the juicy details.”

“The grapevine,” Emily groaned.

“Yeah, it comes in handy sometimes.”

“And sometimes it’s totally inaccurate,” Emily pointed out.

There was a pause, then Jean asked, “Are you interested in him?”

“Heavens, no,” Emily was quick to deny. “I’m just curious.”

“That’s how it starts,” Jean said with a laugh.

Emily ignored that remark. “I’m not on call this weekend, am I?”

“No,” Jean answered. “Why?”

“I’m thinking about visiting my family.”

“Okay.” Jean nodded, and left, returning to the filing area.

Emily went back to her notes, blocking out Jackson Talbert’s face, blocking out the past and everything else—everything but her work. She had to get over to the hospital, to check on Mrs. Williams. She flexed her shoulders and stood up. It had been a long, exhausting day, not to mention humiliating, and now she needed a hot bath and some sleep. She removed her white coat and hung it on a peg.

She massaged the back of her neck, trying to ease the ache starting at the base of her skull.

“Had a hard day?” a familiar voice asked.

She swung around, her eyes huge in her pale face. “Jackson,” she whispered.

He was leaning against the doorframe, hands shoved in the pockets of his gray slacks. He had lost his tie and several buttons on his lighter gray shirt were open, revealing the beginning of dark blond chest hair. Her stomach tightened uncontrollably as she relived the sensation of running her fingers through…

“You remember my name,” he said, and pushed away from the door.