Rainbow Cove Christmas by Nora James Susanne Bellamy Shirley Wine Renée Dahlia Shona Husk
Author:Nora James, Susanne Bellamy, Shirley Wine, Renée Dahlia, Shona Husk
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Escape Publishing
Published: 2023-08-20T00:00:00+00:00
Chapter 13
Joe looked across and saw Emily hanging back. She stood stock still chewing on her lower lip, obviously uncomfortable and out of place among all these strangers. He wanted to erase her bleak unhappiness; after all heâd badgered Christophe into inviting her, and he felt responsible.
If Marta took exception, it was just too bad.
He leaned close to Marta and whispered, âIâll just go and get Emily. Sheâs looking lost in this crowd.â
As he approached, Emily sidled up close beside him, her delicate brow pleated in a frown, worry darkening her eyes. âWhere are you sitting, Joe?â
Around them, the other guests were taking their places at the elaborately decorated table. He put a hand on Emilyâs arm. âOver there, last spot before the end. Thereâs no one facing me. Come on.â
Emily hung back. âI should never have come.â
âYou needed to.â Joe kept his voice brusque. She did not need sympathy.
He knew she was battling loss and grief, and trying to put a brave face on it, the strain in her eyes clear to see. Today, the anniversary of her sisterâs death, made her loss that much more poignant, and tougher to deal with.
God knows, I still miss Dad, and heâs been gone for yearsâa shaft of grief pierced clear through to his heartâhell yeah, I know what Emily is dealing with.
A commotion in the doorway drew everyoneâs attention. Under cover of the noisy diversion, Joe said very softly, âTake a deep breath, sweetie, lift your chin. You can do this.â
Tears filmed her eyes, but she managed a faint smile. âDoes it get any better?â
âEventually.â
She straightened her shoulders and smiled.
âYouâll do.â Joe eased out a relieved breath. âCome on before the seat is taken.â
He could only hope she could keep it all together. He ushered Emily to her seat then slipped into his seat opposite and beside Marta.
âWhat the hell do you think youâre doing?â Marta hissed as he sat down.
Joe stared at her in blank astonishment. âWhat are you on about?â
âWhatâs going on with you and that sheila? Youâve been chatting her up from the minute she walked in.â
âWho? Emily?â
âI believe thatâs her name. What the hell is she to you?â
âIâve known Emily since she was knee-high to a grasshopper,â he whispered, anger spiking his voice. âWeâre friends, nothing more.â
âWell that explains it then.â The sarcastic words tumbled from lips turned down in a bitter sneer. âHow come Iâve never met her before now?â
âYouâve been gone from Marandowie a long time,â he muttered, his patience strained. âLife doesnât sit still and little kids do grow up.â
She narrowed her eyes and burned him with a scorching look. âAnd now little Emily is all grown up, and very nicely too, youâre all over her like a rash. Thereâs no accounting for tastes.â
âYou have to be kidding,â he muttered. What the shit has gotten into Marta? Is she jealous? Of little Emily?
âShit. You insist on me coming here for Christmas dinner and all these other loners,â she hissed in his ear. âYet within two minutes youâre chatting up some other female.
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