Heartwishes (Edilean 5)

“Not at the moment. I thought she’d gone back to the guesthouse, but she’s not answering her phone.”

Grinny took a deep breath, as he always did before he started a speech. “You know, son, Gemma is a pretty young woman and she’s fresh blood in this town, if you know what I mean. She’s been seen out a lot with young Dr. Tris. If I were you, I’d make my feelings for her known sooner rather than later. I don’t want you to hesitate and lose your chance.”

“You mean I should hurry up and claim her as my own?” Colin said.

“That’s exactly what I mean.”

“Mom is there, isn’t she? And she’s nagging you to help her get one of her kids married.”

“You’re right on, boy. You hit that nail square on the head.”

“Mom doesn’t care who I marry, just that I do it, is that right?” Colin said.

“I think it’s more the end result.”

Colin groaned. “Not grandkids again. I wish Ariel’d come back so Mom could go after her.”

“You’re the oldest, so responsibility falls on your shoulders.” Grinny was looking at his wife and she was nodding in approval at what he was saying.

“I’m doing my best, Dad. Would you check that Gemma got back safely?”

“Sure,” Grinny said. He paused. “You think Jean will . . . I mean . . .”

“Come and cook for you?” Colin asked. “She probably would, but she might spike the punch with antifreeze.”

“Too bad,” Grinny said. “Too, too bad. You think Gemma can—”

“No, she can’t cook. Good night, Dad.”

“Good night, son.”

As Colin got off the bed and went to the kitchen, he was shaking his head at his father’s phone call and thinking about his mother listening. He knew there wasn’t anything in the refrigerator, but he looked anyway.

The unopened bottle of champagne from Tess was there, and to his surprise, Gemma had filled the refrigerator with food. There was also a note from her. That she’d left it inside the refrigerator made him laugh. She was beginning to know him almost too well.

I had fun at the grocery. Tell you about it later. Sleep well. Gemma

He pulled food out of the fridge, and minutes later, he was sitting at the counter and eating chicken, broccoli rabe, a big twice-baked potato, and drinking his favorite beer from the bottle.

When his phone buzzed, he grabbed it, hoping it was Gemma. Instead, it was a text from Sara.

Did you hear what Gemma did with Mr. Lang today?

Immediately, Colin called Sara. She answered on the first ring. “Tell me everything,” he said.

“I want to, but Mike says I can’t. He says it’s up to Gemma to tell you. Think it’ll get you two back together?”

“Don’t play dumb with me! I’m sure Luke and Rams told you that Gemma and I bought a lot of furniture today. We are back together. Lang didn’t play one of his tricks on Gemma, did he?”

“Calm down,” Sara said. “Mr. Lang is now so in love with Gemma that I thought Mike was going to have to give him a pill to calm him down.”

“In love with her? What happened?”

“I wasn’t there, but—Uh oh. I’ve been caught. It’s impossible to snoop when your husband is a detective. Wait a minute.” As he listened, Colin could hear Mike’s low voice in the background. “My husband says he expects you at his gym tomorrow at six-thirty A.M. He said Gemma said she’d tell you everything then. I’m hanging up now to keep from saying another word. We have to leave tomorrow, so call me and tell me what’s up with that robbery. Good night.”

Colin called Gemma’s cell again, but still only got voice mail. He left a message saying he’d heard that he’d been thrown over for Mr. Lang. Thirty minutes later, Colin had showered but there was still nothing from Gemma.

Finally, his father texted him that Gemma was okay and sleeping—and she didn’t like being waked up. Colin went to bed and drifted into sleep, smiling.