"Nothing. It was just a misunderstanding. Let's just let this go, okay? Are you finished with your meeting?" Jemma asked, regaining her composure. Emmie thought it strange the younger girl was learning a skill that Ava had mastered: peacemaking through feigned obliviousness.

Trick's mouth had set in a grim line at her words. She could tell he was deciding whether or not to tell his brother what Jemma had overheard. He looked over at Emmie. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she looked back at Silas he looked confused. He opened his mouth to speak, but Emmie beat him to it.

"No. No more lies," she said, looking at Silas's siblings.

"Your sister heard me tell Ava something. We were angry and shouting. We weren't thinking properly. I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry," she said.

"What kind of things?" he asked, keeping his tone indifferent.

At that moment Silas's father walked by. His face lit up with a mischievous grin as he slapped his oldest son on the back and then turned his attention to Emmie.

"h.e.l.lo, Mr. McDowell," Emmie said politely. It was the first time he had spoken directly to her all day.

He laughed. "Don't be proper with me, girl. Call me Michael." And with that he pulled her in for a quick hug. "My Silas has been talking about you. He's said good things."

Emmie flushed and glanced at Silas. "Thank you."

The older man put his hand on her cheek. "Such a sweet girl. He wants to take care of you, but I have a feeling you may end up being the one to take care of him."

Silas groaned and laughed nervously. Silas rarely ever laughed nervously. Emmie felt Silas's hand thread through hers. He pulled her out the front door, pausing to lean in close and whisper something to Trick along the way. She turned to say goodbye to Ava, but she was talking to her father. It was tense, but it didn't look like they were fighting. So that was a step in the right direction.

The minute they stepped over the threshold of the house the two were blanketed in cold crisp early evening air. Emmie felt her skin tingle in the chill. Her hand-knitted shawl didn't do much to block out the wind. She wrapped her free arm around her middle in an attempt to keep warm while Silas led her around to the back of the house. The house sat on a ridge overlooking a lake. It was a stunning view. He pulled her to an ornate iron bench on the patio's edge facing the water.

He stared out at the water for a second before saying, "Tell me."

Tucking one leg under her body, Emmie turned to face him. "I lost my temper with Ava. We were fighting. When I first saw you this morning she wanted me to ask you to help her see Gabe. I completely forgot because we were talking about other things," she explained.

He shook his head as he turned to look at her. "No, why did you say you were sorry? What was Jem going to keep from me?"

She looked at him right in the eyes. "I told Emmie about the apple pie, the kidnapping, Mr. Thomas, Will . . . all of it. Well, not every detail but most of it," she said, her voice quivering. "I was angry because Ava called me selfish and she was asking your sister to help her get to Gabe. I wanted her to know you and I had things to discuss. Much more has happened than just the fact she and Gabe are having a baby. And I shouted out all of it. It was like I upchucked words. I tried to hold it in and it just all came out."

Silas frowned, processing this. He still hadn't put it all together. Why would Emmie try to keep the fact she and Ava were cross at one another away from him? He opened his mouth to ask, but Emmie cut him off.

"And she heard it. Everything. She doesn't know you shot them or about the frying pan but pretty much everything else. I am so sorry," Emmie said honestly.

"She?" Silas asked. "I'm a.s.suming the she you are referring to is Jemma. Was she eavesdropping?"

"No. The fault was mine, not hers," Emmie answered.

After a quiet moment he said in resolve, "What's done is done."

"Really? You aren't angry?" she asked, surprised.

"I'm not happy. I don't like it but I'll take care of it." He shrugged.

"I am sorry, Silas," she said, leaning her head into his chest.

He felt her s.h.i.+ver against the cold. He wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her shoulders. Dropping a kiss just above her ear he whispered, "Of everything we have to be sorry for, this isn't one of them. This is an easy fix. I'll be able to convince her it wasn't as big of a deal as it sounded. Mostly people believe what they want to see or hear anyway."

Emmie nodded, unsure how she felt about the truth being hidden from Jemma. She didn't need to know all of this. She knew Silas's words were true.

"What did you say about Ava asking for something of you and Jemma?" he asked, fis.h.i.+ng a cigarette out of his pocket.

"She misses Gabe because they haven't seen each other for a while. She wanted me to ask you to sneak him in her house or sneak her out. When Jemma mentioned something about Old Man Dan's being frozen, Ava told her she would convince you and Trick to let Jemma go. She asked in return that Jemma let Gabe know about it too. I've still not put it all together. I could just see it made your sister uneasy to be in the middle of Ava's problem. That's what started the argument. I don't really know what in the world all the frozen old man discussion was about though."

Silas took a long draw from his cigarette and exhaled away from Emmie before he spoke. "Tell Ava I'll take care of it, but she is never to drag my sister or you into the middle of her ridiculous schemes again. She doesn't have to go through either of you to talk to me. She never has before. Why should she start now?" he asked, looking Emmie square in the eyes.

"I'll pa.s.s that message along, but I may rephrase it to sound a little kinder," she laughed. "Thanks for helping her. She does miss him. It's awful the situation they are in. Not that the baby is awful, I guess. A wedding and baby should be happy things, not things people argue about."

Silas looked at her surprised.

"What?" she asked.

"I'm pretty sure it's not proper for us to be talking about their baby. I'm surprised you brought it up." He grinned.

"Sorry," she laughed, "I just feel sorry for them, is all."

"They brought it on themselves. Play with fire and you might get burned," he said, taking another puff of smoke.

"Is that what you're afraid of? Is that why things have never been right for us yet? You're afraid we will . . . get burned like Ava and Gabe?" she asked curiously.

Silas exhaled with a laugh. "You sure are about heavy conversations today." He swore under his breath then added, "Next you're gonna be asking when we will get married or something."

"Well, if you feel like sharing, I wouldn't mind knowing that either," she said, looking at her hands.

He pulled her into his lap and rubbed his scruffy beard on her cheek. She laughed. When the laughter stopped he added, "Thanks for trying to take up for my sister today. I appreciate that you'd look out for her."

"How could I not? You know how you took care of Walter's family for me because you love me? I feel the same way about you. There's nothing I wouldn't do. All you need is to ask," she said, s.h.i.+vering again.

"Come on, let's get you to the house. You're freezing," he said.

As they turned the corner, Emmie's heart sank as she noticed that Silas's family was getting into their cars.

"I suppose you will be leaving with them?" she asked, nodding to his family.

"Yes, but I'll be back for you early in the morning. I've made plans for you to see Chicago tomorrow. That is unless you'd rather sit around here," he answered with a grin.

"No, but what about Ava?" Emmie asked.

"She and her mother are going to meet you there tomorrow afternoon," he said, giving her a playful slap on the leg.

She was going to spend most of tomorrow alone in Chicago with Silas. This day was looking up.

Chapter Twelve.

Trick and Jemma were sitting in the back of the s.h.i.+ny black car. Okay, so maybe not a day alone in Chicago with Silas. Emmie wondered why his brother and sister were tagging along if it was supposed to be such a special day for the two of them. Not that she minded; she liked his family. It just seemed strange for Silas to want an entourage. She was thankful that no one had brought up her outburst from yesterday. Emmie wondered how Silas and Trick had resolved the situation. Maybe they had blown it off as a dramatic overreaction by Emmie. Whatever they had done she was thankful. Jemma seemed relaxed and easy again. When she entered the car it was polite smiles and pleasantry. All signs of yesterday's tension were gone.

Ava stood at the door and waved until they reached the end of the drive. Emmie hated leaving her behind, but Ava seemed excited with the idea they would meet up later. It would be her first day not locked up in the house in weeks. She and Ava had never gotten to talk about all of the information Emmie had shared in her outburst. After everyone left Molly and Al had spent most of the evening talking privately to Ava in her father's office. Emmie couldn't help but wonder if it was about Gabe or the impending wedding. Unfortunately, the two girls were never alone to question one another on either topic. Emmie knew the next time they were together, they would each get an earful of information.

"Go with him. He's planned this day for you," Ava had whispered as she hugged her friend goodbye.

It seemed that everyone but Emmie had known he planned to take her away. She had no idea what was on the agenda for today. She had asked three different ways as they drove toward Chicago, but Silas gave the same mysterious reply.

"I've already told you. Just trust me."

She sighed. "I'm not a fan of surprises."

He glanced over at her, tilting his head to the side as he said, "Have you ever had a good one?"

Emmie looked out the window. "Of course," she thought for a moment before adding, "when Ronnie gave me Spotty. That was a complete surprise. I sure am missing that old dog." How odd it was that her first thought of a happy surprise came from Ronnie. She supposed Silas was right in what he'd always told her. People weren't all good or bad.

Silas laughed, bringing her out of her thoughts. "Well, I promise there is not a puppy waiting for you in the city."

Emmie snapped her fingers in fake disappointment then grinned, looking out the window. The horizon ahead was changing. The buildings in the distance seemed to grow straight up from the earth and touch the sky. They must be miles from the city, but you could already see it. She was in awe.

"It's a different kind of beautiful here, you know? It's not hills and nature but it's just as amazing," Emmie said.

"Are you thinking of becoming a Yankee, Emmie?" Trick asked in a mixed country-southern accent that was almost spot on.

"You've been spending too much time with those Johnsons. You are starting to sound like one." Emmie giggled.

"You have no idea," Silas said dryly.

Emmie frowned up at him. She wondered what that was supposed to mean. She remembered the way Trick had said something about Millie, Bo's sister, being a beauty their last day in Kentucky. Was Trick carrying a torch for Millie? That was an interesting question. She made a mental note to file that conversation away for another time when she and Silas were alone. Emmie wouldn't embarra.s.s him by bringing it up now in front of his sister.

"Who are the Johnsons?" Jemma asked.

"Close your eyes and picture the word hillbilly. You're looking at the Johnsons," Silas said, turning onto a street encased by two of the tallest buildings Emmie had ever seen. Then he added as an afterthought, "They are no one you will ever meet."

"That doesn't sound like a kind description of them. Especially when you think of the way Bo put himself out there for you." Emmie chastised him and then turned her attention to Jemma. "They are a nice large family that lives a few miles from me."

"More like a clan," Trick added, laughing from the back seat.

Emmie ignored him and continued, "They are good people. Well, most of them are good people and Bo has been my friend for years. He has a sister named Millie. She's about your age."

Trick frowned. Deep creases set in the corner of his mouth like he'd sucked on a lemon. "Millie's not Jemma's age."

"Jemma, how old are you?" Emmie asked.

"I just turned eighteen last month," she answered.

"Yeah, Millie's nineteen. I'm fairly sure of it. She was just a little behind me in school," Emmie said.

"She's older than Jemma," Trick said, looking at his sister like he was convincing himself.

"Yeah but only about six months or so," Emmie corrected.

Silas snickered as he pulled up to his building.

"Oh, dry it up, Silas," Trick said, annoyed. He sure seemed to be in a sour mood.

Jemma looked at Emmie and shrugged her shoulders as if to say she no idea about the unspoken conversation that had just pa.s.sed between her brothers. Emmie had a pretty good understanding about what had upset Trick but knew it wasn't the right time to bring it up.

"So, we're heading up to your apartment?" Emmie asked, recognizing the tall building.

"I thought we'd head up for an early lunch. Is that okay?" he asked.

"Sure. It's going to be a really early lunch. It's not even ten yet, Silas," she laughed.

They stepped out of the car. Silas handed something to a valet and walked around to meet Emmie.

"Are you giving that man your car?" she asked, barely paying him any mind.

Trick and Jemma laughed, walking ahead of them in the building.

"He'll be back with it when we need it; come on," Silas said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

As they headed upstairs he nodded or spoke to everyone along the way. The last time she'd been here the place had been vacant. Today it was mid-morning and the place was bustling. Emmie noticed that everyone seemed to know Jemma and Trick too. They must come here to visit Silas frequently. When they reached his apartment and the door opened she was met with the warm smell of home. Silas grabbed her hand and pulled her into the kitchen. There she found two women dressed in the same black and white uniform that she'd seen at Ava's family's Chicago home. Emmie's mouth fell open. One woman was b.u.t.tering thick slices of cornbread and the other was ladling pinto beans into fancy bowls. Searching the counter she found a pitcher of freshly brewed tea.

"Is that sweet tea?" Emmie giggled.

"I know it is early in the day for this kind of meal but it's one of your favorites, right? Trick and I tried to explain that tomato gravy to about five different cooks and no one had ever heard of it. I hope this is okay," he said, rubbing his jaw.

"Okay? This is better than okay. This is going to be even better than Thanksgiving." She poked his arm playfully as she spoke. Then she turned to the two women working feverishly. "Thank you both so much. I appreciate it. If you want to leave the dishes, I'll take care of them."

One woman looked fl.u.s.tered at the suggestion. She turned to the other who was watching Silas's reaction with a smile. It was the latter woman who spoke to Emmie. "You go enjoy your meal, child. Let us worry about the dishes today."

Silas grinned at the woman. "Thanks, Miss Ann. Emmie, did you see what's for dessert?"

Miss Ann grabbed one of the pots still simmering on the stove and tilted it to the side so Emmie could see the contents.

Emmie laughed. "Wow, Silas. Looks like you planned for all of my favorites."

"Miss Anne makes great applesauce," he said.

The older woman smiled and shooed them out of the kitchen. Emmie turned to face Silas before they reached the dining room where Jemma and Trick were waiting. She rested one hand on his cheek as she said, "You are so thoughtful. This is a nice surprise. You hate beans and cornbread though."

"It's fine. I suppose it's a taste I'll need to acquire," he said. "Besides, I told you. Today is for you."