“I might take a trip home...but don’t mention anything to Emelia.”
“I won’t. I need to go and change. I’m taking Sylvia out to dinner. You look after yourself.”
“I will. You too.”
They finished the call and Dante held his cell in his hand so tightly that he thought it would crack. He took a deep breath through his frustration instead of smashing his cell.
Emelia was stubborn and, if she didn’t want anyone to know anything, you could guarantee that no one would know.
Except he needed to know. He needed to remember. The fact that he couldn’t remember drove him crazy. Regardless of their situation, if he’d touched her, made
love to her, then he craved to remember the feel of her surrounding him.
He’d go to hell, but he was already there to the point that he spent more time thinking about Emelia than he did his church and the people that relied on him.
He’d had a baptism to do the other Sunday, and afterwards, when he’d been asked to hold the baby so her parents could take a photograph, all he’d been able to think about was never having a child of his own.
He knew his defenses were down, and they had been since Christmas, but it had suddenly hit him in the gut and he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Emelia holding their son or daughter in her arms.
A painful dream.
For a while, he’d been feeling distracted, more so than he usually was with Emelia, but the distraction had started to move over to his work. He found that it wasn’t as satisfying as it once had been.
He hadn’t even been into town to just talk to the people who knew him, which wasn’t like him. He’d always been around and available, but the last month, he hadn’t had the energy to do it. It was no wonder Barbara constantly asked him if he was okay.
Something had to give, and the boulder in his belly told him it wasn’t going to be as easy as he’d like to get back on track. He also knew that the best thing to do would be for him to let go of whatever happened with Emelia. He just didn’t think he was strong enough to do that with the cravings that lived inside of him.
Chapter Fourteen
Mornings in Montana were usually early, and loud. Not that day though. Emelia had been exhausted when she’d arrived the night before that she’d told her parents not to wake her up and that they’d see her when they saw her. She was glad she’d had the insight to say that because she’d slept like a log. All her sleepless nights had caught up to her, and she knew that she’d crash hard. And she did. She’d even missed Eric’s arrival.
If it hadn’t been for the delay he had at the airport in Lexington, he would have arrived within thirty minutes of her flight and she would have waited for him. But no, he’d had a few hours delay. It wouldn’t have stopped him from getting up early to help around the farm. He loved the outdoors.
Fighting back a yawn, and with a heavy sigh and a stretch, she pushed the quilt back and climbed from the snug warmness of her bed to pad over to the window.
The snow had been coming down rather heavily by the time she’d reached the house. Her father had promised to use the SUV to go and collect Eric because the vehicle was made for adverse weather conditions.
But, as she looked out at the snow covered landscape, there were only light flurries even though a thick layer covered the once cleared driveway. That was the beauty of her family home being in Montana, and she wouldn’t change it for the world.
As she followed one of the flakes with her eyes, she couldn’t help the overwhelming sadness that suddenly came over her. Later, she’d be upsetting her family with her questions, and it hurt to think that it was because of her selfish need to be with Dante that made her go forth with what she knew. If it wasn’t for him, she didn’t think she’d ever go through with it.
A chill crept through her thin pajamas, so she pulled back from the window and went into her bathroom, where she emerged fifteen minutes later fresh from a warm shower. Emelia felt better after being under the heavy spray of water and hoped that, after a large cup of coffee, she’d have the courage that she needed.
It helped that Eric had come to be with her, but she knew when Diego found out, he’d be pissed at her for not confiding in him. While she continued to ponder about Diego, she slipped her legs into panties and jeans before she quickly fastened a bra in place and pulled a shirt and sweater on. Thick socks went on her feet, followed by her purple UGGS.
Her hair was damp so she brushed it out before piling it on top of her head. She had no intention of going out anywhere so it would have to do because she couldn’t be bothered with a hair dryer.
With a quick glance in the mirror, she left the sanctuary of her room and went looking for coffee first, then she’d find her brother before anything was said.
“What do you mean that Dante is here?” Emelia fumed.
She had it all planned out in her head. She’d tell her parents what she’d overheard. They’d confirm it. Then she’d go and find Dante and tell him. Of course, she didn’t think it would be as straightforward as she’d like, but she certainly didn’t think he’d come to Montana.
“He knows you were the one to take him back to the hotel,” Eric admitted. “He remembered and called me, which is how he knows we were meeting here.”
“Wait. What?” Her mind whirled as she felt the blood drain to her toes. “He remembers?” She met Eric’s gaze and wanted him to tell her he was joking.
“He remembers the journey in the car or at least, that you were the one with him and not me. He doesn’t remember anything else, which makes me wonder what else there is for him to remember.”