find on a beach.
Ray claimed the chair and seemed as uncomfortable as she’d been when she’d tried watching television in it.
“You might prefer the sofa,” she said, although that meant they’d be sitting next to each other.
“I think I’ll try it.” He had to brace his hand on the floor before he could lever himself out of the chair. He stood, sniffed the air and asked, “Are you baking cookies?”
She nodded. “Chocolate chip.”
“From scratch?”
Again she nodded. “Would you like some? I’ve got coffee on, too.”
“Not yet.” He shook his head. “I think you’d better tell me what’s going on with my brother first.”
“Yes, of course.” Emily sat on the other end of the sofa, and turned sideways, knees together, hands clasped. She just hoped she could get through this without breaking into tears. “It all started when my daughter phoned to say she wouldn’t be home for Christmas.”
“Your daughter lives here in Boston?”
“Yes.” Emily moistened her lips. “Heather attends Harvard.” She resisted the urge to brag about Heather’s scholarship.
“One of my brother’s students?”
The thought had never occurred to Emily. “I don’t think so, but I don’t know.” Apparently there was a lot she didn’t know about her daughter’s life.
“When I learned that Heather wouldn’t be coming home for the holidays, I made the foolish decision to come to Boston, only I couldn’t afford more than the airfare.”
“In other words, you needed a place to stay?”
“Exactly, so I posted a message on a home-exchange site. Charles contacted me and we exchanged emails and decided to trade places for two weeks.”
“My brother hates Christmas—that’s why he wanted out of the city.”
Emily’s gaze shot to his. “He didn’t mention that.”
“Well, it’s another long story.”
“Then I’m afraid Leavenworth’s going to be a bit of a shock.”
“Explain that later.”
“There’s not much more to tell you. Charles is living in my home in Leavenworth, Washington, for the next two weeks and I’m here.” She stopped to take a deep breath. “And Heather, my daughter, is in Florida with a man who looks like he might belong to the Hells Angels.”
“I see.”
Emily doubted that, but didn’t say so. “Did Charles know you were coming?”
“No. Actually, my mother asked me to visit. She called and you obviously answered the phone. Mother was convinced something had happened to Charles—that he’d gotten involved with some woman and… Never mind. But she insisted I get over here to, uh, investigate the situation.”
“She’ll be relieved.”
“True,” Ray said, “but truth be known, I’m a bit disappointed. It would do my brother a world of good to fall in love.”
He didn’t elaborate and she didn’t question him further. Everything she knew about Charles had come from their email chats, which had been brief and businesslike.
Emily stood and walked into the kitchen. Ray followed her. “So you’re alone in the city over Christmas?”
She nodded, forcing a smile. “It isn’t exactly what I intended, but there’s no going back now.” Her home was occupied, and getting a flight out of Boston at this late date was financially unfeasible. She was stuck.
“Listen,” Ray said, reaching for a cookie. “Why don’t I take you to dinner tonight?”
Emily realized she shouldn’t analyze this invitation too closely. Still, she had to know. “Why?”
“Well, because we both need to eat and I’d rather have a meal with you than alone.” He paused to take a bite of the cookie, moaning happily at the taste. “Delicious. Uh—I didn’t mean to sound ungracious. Let me try that again. Would you be so kind as to join me for dinner?”
“I’d love to,” Emily said, her spirits lifting.
“I’ll catch the last train back to New York, explain everything to my mother in the morning and we’ll leave it at that. Now, may I have another one of these incomparable cookies?”
“Of course.” Emily met his eyes and smiled. He was a likable man, and at the moment she was in need of a friend. “When would you like to leave?”
Ray checked his watch. “It’s six-thirty, so any time is fine with me.”
“I’d better change clothes.” She pulled the towel free of her waistband, folded it and set it on the kitchen counter.
“Before you do,” Ray said stopping her. “Explain what you meant about my brother being in trouble if he isn’t fond of Christmas.”
“Oh, that.” A giggle bubbled up inside her as she told him about Leavenworth in December—the horse-drawn sleigh, the carolers and the three separate tree-lighting ceremonies, one for every weekend before Christmas.
Ray was soon laughing so hard he was wiping tears from his eyes. Just seeing his amusement made her laugh, too, although she didn’t really understand what he found so hilarious.
“If only…if only you knew my b-brother,” Ray sputtered. “I can just imagine what he thought when he arrived.”
“I guess Charles and I both had the wrong idea about trading homes.”
“Sure seems that way,” Ray agreed, still grinning. “Why don’t I have another cookie while you get ready,” he said cheerfully. “I haven’t looked forward to a dinner this much in ages.”
Come to think of it, neither had Emily.
Nine
Charles worked at his laptop computer until late in the afternoon. He stopped only when his stomach started to growl. He was making progress and felt good about what he’d managed to accomplish, but he needed a break.
After closing down his computer, he wandered into the kitchen. An inspection of the cupboards and the freezer revealed a wide selection of choices, but he remembered his agreement with Emily. They were to purchase their own food. Emily had been kind enough to prepare yesterday’s dinner for him, but he needed to fend for himself from here on out.
There was no help for it; he’d have to venture outside the comfort and security of Emily’s house. He’d have to leave this rather agreeable prison and take his chances among the townspeople. The thought sent a chill down his spine.
