Written on Her Heart by Julie Anne Lindsey Page B

picking her up at five Friday night.” Nicholas squeezed his lips tight before daring a glance at his mom.
    “I see.”
    “That’s it? You see?”
    “ Mmm hmm.” She scurried from the table to the sink and rinsed the plates.
    Nicholas turned in his chair to stare at her back. His mom was never one to interfere, but the way she dropped the conversation about a Honey Creek girl he had a date with fell out of character. Miles out.
    “Do you remember her? I looked at some old yearbooks and she seemed to be involved in everything. She’s different now.”
    His mother looked over her shoulder. “I quilt with her mother sometimes. Emma was Honey Queen one year, I think. It’s been years.”
    “I hear she used to get into some trouble.”
    “I had a boy who knew all about trouble once.”
    Nicholas snickered. “Sorry.”
    “Don’t be. You made life interesting. How many moms can say their son organized a senior class skinny dip? Or was suspected in stealing every chair the high school had set up for graduation, leaving hundreds of people standing for an hour and a half at commencement?”
    “Hey, they never caught anyone associated with that awesome prank, and an awful lot of people had lawn chairs in their trucks. There were some seats available.” He chewed and thought. “Don’t forget the moonshine scandal.” He pointed his fork at her.
    “Luckily you were 14 on that one. We kept it quiet.” Her eyes went heavy. “I suspect your father had a hand in that little enterprise.” A weak smile tugged her cheeks. “Life happens. It changes us.” The sober tone in her voice broke his heart.
    She could’ve meant a dozen things. Losing his dad had changed her life. War changed his. He wished he knew what changed Emma’s. He wanted to know everything about her. More than he wanted her to be his confidant, he wanted to be hers. The more he thought about all he didn’t know about Emma, the more something twisted inside him. A protective instinct kicked in, and all he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her and pull her against him.
    “Do you know what happened to her? What really happened? Her mom must’ve said something to someone.”
    His mother’s eyes softened. Her shoulders sagged. “Those are her stories to tell.” Sadness loosened her smile and his heart broke.
    “Mom?”
    “Go.”
    He stood and moved beside her to help dry and put away their dinner plates.
    “Leave it.” She patted his cheek and her eyes brightened. “Don’t forget to introduce me at the festival. I’ll be watching for you.”
    ****
    Heather’s Jeep sat in the dark drive when he jogged up Emma’s front steps. Unsure of what to say, he dithered on the porch. Music played somewhere inside. He checked behind him for more cars, but saw none. It sounded like a party. The door swung and he frowned. He hadn’t heard anyone come near it. He was losing his edge.
    “You come here to admire the door, or are you coming in?” Heather wore a cowgirl hat and boa from Emma’s studio. Her hands anchored against her hips, but they hadn’t stopped moving. Before he could speak, she grabbed hold of his wrist and tugged him through the door.
    Nicholas stood in Heather’s laser stare, frozen in Emma’s foyer. She evaluated him. He’d underestimated the depth of their friendship. She looked like a blond mama bear ready to pounce if he gave the wrong answer. He didn’t know the right answer. “I was thinking about Emma, and I thought I’d stop by. Say hi.”
    Her face relaxed for a fraction of a second before Emma appeared at the top of the stairs above them. She wore an unbuttoned men’s shirt. A painfully feminine tank and cotton shorts beneath. From his position her short legs looked long and lean, disappearing beneath the minimal fabric. The curve of her bottom set off images he hadn’t associated with her before. Her bright green eyes were squeezed shut as she belted lyrics from the top step. She kicked her legs out over the stairs