In the end it took over an hour to load up the pickup with the ‘essentials’, pined down with tarp, and hand over the keys to the landlord. There were more boxes of course, and furniture, but the landlord kindly offered to let the movers in later on to collect their larger boxes and possessions. Ben and Joanna nearly sent Emma insane with the exchange of inuendoes, sweet nothings, and out of tune singing to country music on the radio. Eventually though, they pulled off the highway, through what Emma thought of as ‘real civilisation’, and down a well worn dirt road. They passed rectangular road sign that said ‘Welcome to Glen Valley, drive safe on your way’. I wish I was on my way. Emma groaned as she noticed the bars on her cell dropping off the further into nowhere they kept driving. All she could see were dense trees as she leaned with her left shoulder towards her window. She looked over her right shoulder to inspect the others discretely. Joanna had dosed off in the front seat and Ben held her steady under his right arm as he drove with a dopy grin on his face. Beth was looking out of her window with wide brown eyes and looking seconds from jumping out the moving vehicle to take pictures of Lord knows what. She had her camera in her hands, so Emma knew where her mind was.
I am literally the only one who isn’t excited about this move. A guilty knot tightened in her stomach. It’s come out of nowhere, but been in the works for a long time. I want to trust Ben like the others do… But she didn’t. He seemed genuine enough, but there were just too many secrets and unanswered questions about that guy. Then again? Maybe I’ll finally learn more about Ben now I’m in his home town? At least I’ll find out if he has another family here. Or a mistress. Or something else that kept him from moving in with mum and crossing state lines every week. There has to be a reason why we’ve never visited him in Glen Valley. Mum says she has, but today is the first time I’ve heard her say that.
Emma straightened up and strained to look ahead when a town finally came into view. The sea of trees parted and revealed white and cream gothic looking houses. They were mostly three stories tall with pointed roofs, large patios and a truck or muscle car on nearly every drive. Swings an BBQ’s were a regular garden feature, and more trees lined the sidewalks. It was clearly turning out time for the local school, as many parents and their kids were walking home. Beth’s head was on a swivel as she took it all in, and Emma raised a coppery brow when Ben took them past something called the GF recreation centre. It looked like a mansion, smack bang in the middle of this idyllic town. The brick work was a contrast to the wood look panels of the rest of the town. The windows were tinted so she couldn’t see inside, and there were railings showing stairs going down to a basement right next to the front door. A touch ominous if you asked her...
People were coming and going from the centre, of all ages. It had to be five stories tall, and she also spotted a large satellite on the roof. I bet they have full signal in there. Another quick glance at her cell showed that this town was a dead zone for phone signal. Juuuuuust great.
“Here we are ladies.” Ben seemed to relax tenfold now he was home. “Glen Valley, home sweet home.”
“Oh Ben it’s beautiful.” Joanna must have stirred at some point, because now she was cooing over the powder blue house they pulled up to. The patio was white and had a love seat hanging on the front porch. As they got out Ben’s pickup, the happy couple led the way with stars in their eyes. “You even painted it since my last visit?”
“I wanted everything to be perfect for when I brought my family home.” Emma pretended to vomit to one side as Beth and Joanna cooed over the ruggedly romantic fool. Thankfully she was walking up behind the others, so her lack of enthusiasm went unnoticed. She folded her arms and hung back as Ben went a step further down cheesy Lane, handed Joanna her own keys, let her unlock the door, then swept her up into his arms to carry her across the threshold.
“You’re supposed to do the bridal hold into the house after you’re married.” Beth giggled, teasing the loved up pair into the house. “Now make sure to show me to my dark room before you two get a room.”
Emma about turned to give her back to the house and palmed her own face. Good Lord I barely survived living in the apartment at the weekends during the holidays. Her hand fell away and Emma cast her hazel gaze upward. Dad, I know you’d be happy mum was happy, but how do you expect me not to lose it and kick their assess within the week? Those walls had better be sound proof. And if I find out there is only one bathroom and moving out the same day. This was it. Her new life would involve her living in a backward town, in the middle of Oregon dense forestry, with no cell service, and completely dependant on Ben Walker providing everything he’s promised. Well I better start putting together a back up plan. Look for something local I can do to earn some money on the side in case this goes ass up. It’s probably no going to end well. That’s if I don’t overstay my welcome first by calling bullshit on this whole-
“Are you alright there darlin’?”
Emma raised a brow and lowered her stare to see a stranger had snuck right up to her. He was stood almost toe to toe with her, and looked at her like she was the oddball. He had skin tanned from being out in the sun every day, five O’clock shadow covering his jaws, and broken up by a scar running from his left cheek bone and down to his mid neck. The sides of his head shaved shorter, with the top mop of black hair messily held back in a bobble. Emma dropped her gaze briefly down his attire. Green plaid shirt, dark denim jeans, silver buckle bull belt and brown worker boots. He had his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his forearms had a modest covering of dark hair. “Mam?” He hooked his thumbs into his jean pockets and shifted his weight more onto his left leg.
“I’m not a mam.” Emma replied drily. “Now who are you who thought it was polite to sneak up on a woman who had clearly not seen your approach? You like spooking women or something?” His light blue eyes widened and his lips parted at her curtness.
“Well amongst many other things-” He began, folding his arms and narrowing his eyes on her. “-I’m a gentleman that was concerned you looked like a fish without water.”
“Oh? Did I look like I needed a big strong guy to rescue me?” Emma countered and rolled her eyes, not waiting or a reply. “Look, you want to answer the question and tell me who you are? Or-”
“Or what?” He smirked and found something very funny. Her mood was foul from the move and the feeling of having her whole world whipped away from her like the rug beneath her feet. This guy wasn’t helping, and didn’t deserve her ire, but she was sure as hell not telling him that. At the end of the day, he still snuck up on her like a creep.
“Or I will defend myself if I think you’re going to pull some stranger danger crap on me. I’m a city girl, not a yokal, so if you think you can persuade me or make me come with you?” Emma gripped her fists by her sides and let the rage pour out. “I’ll kick you so hard in the balls, you’ll be scraping them off the back of your eye sockets, so tell me who you are and what you want creeping up to me, or go and fu-”
“AAHHH!” Ben bellowed and ran at speed out of the house. He skidded to a stop beside Emma, and much to her surprise and chagrin, put himself between her and the stranger. “I am so sorry. We literally just arrived. Haven’t even unpacked yet or I would have called you.”
Emma furrowed her brow and put her hands on her hip. She learned two things in the space of the last 30 seconds. One, Ben knew this younger man, and two, he seemed to be very nervous around him.
“Oh that’s quite alright Ben.” Caleb cleared his throat and caught Emma’s gaze as she side stepped out from behind Ben. “I didn’t mean to catch you unawares. I heard through the grapevine that you’d been seen driving through town and thought I’d come over to help you unpack.” His reaction didn’t seem to match Ben’s, who was still anxiously averting his eyes and subconsciously trying to keep himself between Emma and this Caleb guy. He was very relaxed as he made a point of walking around Ben and offering Emma his hand. “Caleb Johnson. Mayor of Glen Valley, and a friend worth having.”
Emma blinked slowly, folded her arms and appraised him dismissively. This guy doesn’t even dress like an official, never mind look old enough to be one. He doesn’t look that much older than me. “…and…you are?” Caleb pressed and nodded down to his outstretched hand.
“Sceptical.” She answered, and Ben erupted in nervous laughter.
“Such a kidder, that one. She’s Joanna’s eldest daughter. Emma Carter.” Ben yanked her against his side in a fatherly hug, and she instantly bristled and the unwanted contact. Even Caleb could see her fuse about to run out. “J-Joanna! Caleb is here!” Much to Emma’s confusion, her mother came running out of the house and fussed over the mayor like he was her long lost son.
“Caleb! W-we weren’t expecting you until this evening.”
“Well like I was just telling Ben here, I came to help you settle in.” He smiled as Joanna huddled to Ben’s other side. It was distraction enough for Emma to untangle herself from Ben and attempt to leave the trio to this strange-fest, but didn’t make it to the front door.
“So Emma?” Caleb carried himself with confidence as he took a step back and threw a thumb over his shoulder towards Ben’s pickup. “Shall we get started on the boxes? Ben and Jo will have forms to sign at Jerry’s, so I could help get you settled in quicker if we start without them. Would that be alright?” His grin became wicked and mirth danced in his light blue eyes. “Is helping you move in alright City girl? Or do I need to cover my balls after all?”
Emma glowered and contemplated booting the creep, mayor or not, for good measure. But then she spotted the anxious way her mother and Ben were looking at her. They...are scared of him...
“Don’t be creepy and ask before you open anything, and sure. Oh, but I reserve the right to defend myself if you are creepy. Just saying.” Emma held her head high and stalked past him to the back of the truck to angrily throw her duffle bag over her shoulder.
“Yes mam.” Caleb sniggered and waved his hands calmingly at the other two like he wanted to settle a scared animal. He then nodded for the couple to leave, and though reluctant to do so, Jo let Ben lead her away by the hand. Emma didn’t why he was understand see the exchange, but did note when Caleb came up next to her. “So you’re Emma. The oldest of two huh?” He stacked two large boxes and waited for Emma to lead the way.
“Since I was born, yeah.”
Something about this guy just didn’t sit right with her. Why was her mother expecting this guy? And why did they hover over eggshells around this guy? Emma peered at him occasionally as they moved boxes into the house. She only had her duffle bag to sling into the only spare room that hadn’t been clamed. Beth was darting back and forth between the basement and her room which was decorated pink. Emma thought it was the colour of a little girl’s room, with all the pale pink chiffon as curtains and the dresser top covered with lace. Beth seemed to love it though, and was already putting her posters up on the walls. She grumbled every time Emma barked at her to go and help unload the pickup, but trudged of to be helpful.
The whole time Caleb followed her directions and tried to make small talk as they worked. At least, she thought that’s what he was doing.
What was it like growing up in Seattle? Did you live in the city your whole life? What made you decide to be a nurse?
Seemingly innocent enough…but then…the questions became more probing. What do you think of Ben? What are your interests outside of nursing? What does your daily schedule look like? How do you feel about moving to Glen Valley? Do you think you’d want to settle here or move on once qualified as a midwife? And your sister Beth? Will she stay or go? Will you be committing to becoming a ‘Walker’ like your Mother? Or don’t you see yourself as part of his family?
They were just to name a few of the questions that came up in what was clearly becoming an interrogation. He was sounding more and more like an investigative reporter, rather than a mayor. Emma tried to deflect and be polite to start with. Growing up in Settle was fine, yes she’d lived there her whole life, and she dodged the nursing question with instructions about what draws to put her mother’s cutlery and crockery in. But the personal questions towards the end made her put her back up. “Caleb?” Emma put the last box of knickknacks in the living room on the coffee table. Ben’s décor was more rustic hunting lodge than white picket fence suburbia, with dark wood as far as the eye could see, hunting trophies adorning the walls, and of course the fridge was full of beer. Joanna’s doilies and china figurines were going to look very odd scattered around the massive man pad, that’s for sure.
“Yes darlin’?” Emma opened her mouth to carry on, but then stopped and narrowed her hazel eyes at his charming smile. That was the second time he’d called her that, and it grated on her more with each use. There was just something condescending in her book by a total stranger, a man, who wasn’t that much older than her, calling her darling like that. Like she was a precious gentile creature that needed to be coaxed into doing what he deemed was the right thing. Emma wasn’t fooled at all by this ‘I came to say hi and help you move in’ crap. Caleb was a man on a mission, and didn’t even seem bothered that the guy he actually knew walked away seconds after his arrival.
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