Hummingbird Lane Brown, Carolyn (libby ebook reader TXT) 📖

“How big is that town?” Emma asked.

“It’s almost a ghost town, but there’s a few little shops, and folks come from miles around to go to Big Bend park. Leo’s place has a reputation that’s known all over the world, and lots of buyers come from the big cities like New York City and Los Angeles. If he puts your stuff in his shop, it’s a big step up, believe me,” Sophie answered.

Emma took a sip of her coffee. “No pressure.”

“He’s also brutally honest. If he hadn’t liked your work, he would have said so.” Sophie slid off the barstool and took a pair of jeans from the dryer, folded them, and laid them in the suitcase. “I’m never sure what all to pack for a trip, and this is all the way to Europe.”

“What do you mean? Don’t you and Teddy take several little vacations a year?” Emma moved from her barstool over to the sofa.

“Yes, but . . .” Sophie went to the refrigerator and got out milk. She poured two glasses full and set one down in front of Emma. “Usually we go somewhere, and I paint all day. Then we go out in the evenings or else cook at home if we’ve rented a condo. But this time Teddy asked me to leave my work behind. We’re staying in a house in Del Rio for one night and then we’re flying to London, where the first showing is to be held, and he wants to talk about something serious. What if he proposes?”

“Do you love him?” Emma finished off the last of her coffee and took a sip of the milk. “Why are you afraid of marriage, anyway?”

“Yes, I love him,” Sophie answered, “but in my experience, married men can’t be trusted.”

“In mine, men can’t be trusted, married or not,” Emma said, “but it’s not fair to Teddy for you to judge him by other guys.”

Same goes for you. Don’t judge Josh by other guys, either. Rebel’s voice in her head was loud and clear.

“You’re right,” Sophie sighed. “Man, I hate surprises! I’d rather know what’s comin’.”

“Amen and amen,” Emma said. “But sometimes surprises are downright wonderful. Like when you walked into my room after all those years. Like Leo loving my work. Like me getting to come to this place.”

“Okay.” Sophie smiled. “You’ve made your point. Teddy has a surprise for me, and I’ll enjoy it every bit as much as you did all those things. Still no regrets?”

“Only that I didn’t have the courage to do it on my own. But if I had, I wouldn’t be where I am right now. With that in mind, I wouldn’t change a single thing in my past,” Emma said.

Sophie raised an eyebrow.

“Not even the rape. It devastated me and made me hit rock bottom for a long time, but I’m coming back with strength I didn’t even know I had,” Emma said. “And I want you to have a good time with Teddy. Call me when you have time, and especially when you find out what the surprise is, but please don’t worry about me. I feel like nothing can hurt me here in this place. I’m safe and at peace.”

Sophie sat down in the rocking chair. “I worry you’ll go backward and hit bottom again if I’m not here.”

“Only way I’m going is forward.” Emma held up her glass. “Like you said, it won’t happen overnight, and I might have more nightmares.” She shuddered at the thought of going through that experience again, even in dreams. “But if I do, I can call you and talk to you, or like you and Filly both have said, I can march across the yard and knock on Filly’s door. I have a support system here like I’ve never had before.”

Sophie swiped a tear from her cheek. “God, Em, I feel so bad that I wasn’t there for you, but none of what happened is your fault. Not then. Not ever, so don’t blame yourself.”

“If I’d been more street savvy, I would have known better than to go with Dallas to a strange guy’s apartment. I’m so glad you’re here to help me get through all that, Sophie. My road to recovery might take a while longer than I want, but I’m going to get over this horror,” Emma said with so much confidence that she honestly believed what she was saying. “Hey, I didn’t run and hide under the bed today when Leo came into the house. Lord, have mercy!” She fanned herself with the back of her hand. “I thought for a minute I might faint dead away, but then he spoke, and you were right. His voice didn’t sound like it should come out of a man as big as a refrigerator.”

Sophie laughed out loud. “Josh says that he’s the Hulk with a red beard.”

“The Hulk isn’t even that big,” Emma whispered. “My chest tightened up, and it took every bit of my courage just to shake hands with him.”

Sophie nodded and took another sip of her milk. “I felt the same way the first time I met him.”

“On a different note,” Emma said, “do you believe all that stuff Filly said when she read our palms or was it just a line of bull crap? I want to believe every bit of it. It gives me hope and courage, but what do you think?”

“I think Filly has the ability to read people,” Sophie answered. “Kind of like a sixth sense. I don’t know if palms really figure into it all that much, but what she said about our hands sure made me feel better.”

“I’m going to believe that she’s got the gift of seeing beyond today because I want to,” Emma said. “I want to get past all that stuff I’ve buried and move on with life. Now, enough of this, let’s get you packed up. What time will Teddy be here tomorrow?”

“Right after breakfast,” Sophie answered.

Emma stood up and touched