Chapter 147 Part 147
Asher
He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but something was different. Emerson was different. He had no idea what had changed, but she was more withdrawn, and only answered him in monosyllables.
“What’s going on?”
Emerson had just taken the load of laundry out of the machine, but she glanced over her shoulder at him. “What do you mean?”
“Did something happen? Are you not feeling well?”
She smiled at him, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m fine.”
“The boys wanted me to invite you over for dinner,” he said.
“The boys? Your brothers are hardly boys.”
Asher huffed out a laugh. “Do you remember the two boys from my journal?”
Emerson frowned. “Yes.”
“The night of Winchester’s engagement party—”
“When I hit your girlfriend?”
“She wasn’t my girlfriend, you were. Anyway, Bear Claw told me that they would be living in my house before winter was over,” he said.
“That’s not creepy at all.”
Asher grinned, and sat down at the kitchen table as she loaded the clothes into the dryer. “I adopted them.”
Her hands stilled, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. He wished he could read her mind. He wanted to know what she was thinking, but she turned back to the dryer, and he sighed.
“They’re good boys, and they just returned from summer camp. They’re dying to meet Henri…and you.”
“It might be easier if you brought them here. I’m not supposed to drive for another two weeks,” she said.
“Of course, let me know when you feel up to it.”
“Tonight is fine, I mean…I should get to know them. They’re Henri’s brothers after all,” she said.
“Are you mad at me for some reason?”
“No, I’m just…it’s nothing. I’m fine,” she said.
“You can talk to me, Emerson.”
“I’m fine, really.” She tucked her hair behind her ear, and when she turned to look at him, another fake smile was on her lips. “So, what do they like to eat?”
“You don’t have to make anything. I’ll ask Eden—”
“Stop treating me like an invalid! Cooking won’t kill me!”
Asher took a deep breath. “I wasn’t trying to. I just don’t want you to overdo it.”
“I’m not overdoing it. You’re not my father, Asher. I can take care of myself,” she said.
“Fine. I’m not here to argue. I’ll be back with the boys later,” he said. and got to his feet.
“And Cassidy?”
“She doesn’t want to intrude,” he said.
“She’s welcome to come along. I didn’t even introduce myself to her, and she must think I’m some weird psycho with the way I yelled at you.”
Asher grinned. “She doesn’t. If she could reach that high, she would’ve slapped me upside my head.”
Emerson chuckled. “I like her already.”
“We’ll see you later. Call me if you need anything,” he said.
Emerson just nodded her head, and Asher left, still feeling that something wasn’t right. He had no right to make her talk to him, but he still wished that she would. She didn’t know the extent of his feelings for her because he couldn’t tell her. He didn’t want to tell her. She would just be more committed to helping him.
At 6 p.m., Asher stopped his truck in front of Emerson’s house, and they all got out. Eden had made a pie, and Joel carried it as Asher led the way to the front door.
He felt stupid for knocking on her door when every other time he’d just walked in, but he was trying to show her that he’d respect her boundaries. This was her house now.
The front door opened, and Emerson frowned slightly as she looked at him. “You always just let yourself in.”
“I’m trying, okay,” he said.
“Come in,” she said, and smiled as she looked at Cassidy and the boys.
“It’s nice to meet you, Emerson,” Joel said, and gave her a side hug.
“Eden made pie,” Oscar said, and mimicked his brother’s actions.
“Thank you. Will you put it in the kitchen?” Joel nodded his head, and the boys headed toward the back of the house.
“I’m Cassidy, and it’s really nice to officially meet you,” she said.
Emerson smiled. “Me, too. I didn’t mean to yell like a banshee that day.”
“With this dufus, you should yell more,” Cassidy said, and grinned.
“Yeah, I can just see how this night’s going to turn out,” Asher said, and shook his head.
Inside the kitchen, Joel and Oscar had already made themselves at home, and Asher pulled a chair out and sat down. The table had been set and the aroma coming from the oven had his stomach grumbling.
“Is there anything I can help you with?” Cassidy asked her.
“No, everything’s ready. We can eat whenever you guys want,” Emerson said.
“I’m starving, and it smells fantastic,” Oscar said, with a grin.
“Colt was right to be jealous,” Joel added.
“If there’s any food left over, you can take him a doggy bag,” Emerson said, with a smile.
“Colt can feed himself,” Asher said, with a stoic look on his face.
Emerson handed the oven mitts to Asher, and he got to his feet immediately. He pulled the casserole from the oven, and placed it on the chopping board in the middle of the table.
They made small talk as they ate dinner, and Asher was pleasantly surprised as Emerson and the boys kept a steady flow of conversation going. They talked about school, Joel’s business, and their life before Asher.
The boys cleared the table, and Emerson tried to stop them from cleaning the kitchen, when she realized what they were busy doing. Joel grinned, as he turned around from the counter. “You fed us, it’s the least we can do.”
Cassidy and Emerson sat at the table talking in low voices as Asher helped them clean the kitchen. Joel washed, Oscar dried, and Asher put the dishes away in the cupboards.
“Thank you, for inviting us, Emerson. This was really nice, and you’re a better cook than Asher,” Joel said.
Asher chuckled, as Emerson opened her mouth. “At least, he can make steak.”
They all laughed, and thanked Emerson again before leaving her house. Asher wasn’t sure what to do next, so he took her hand in his, and gave it a squeeze.
“Thank you for making them feel welcome, they were nervous.”
“It wasn’t hard, they’re both really great,” Emerson replied.
“Goodnight.”