Part 10 (1/2)
”Is Gabe here yet?”
Casey shook himself out of his stupor. He moved the utilitarian curtain aside and looked out the window. ”Just pulled in. I told him I'd watch for him, so we should go on down.”
She nodded and went to sit on the side of the bed next to B.B. The big dog raised up in silent query. ”I'll be back soon, bud. You sleep.”
The dog's tail smacked hard against the mattress in agreement, and Casey could have sworn he grinned. Then he resettled his head and went back to sleep.
”He understands you?”
”He knows a lot of phrases, and he's smarter than most people I know.” Emma picked up her purse. ”Besides, he's used to dozing the day away when I work. He'll be fine.”
Damon held the door open and they all went out to the parking lot together. Gabe stood lounging against the side of his tow truck in dark sungla.s.ses, a backward ball cap, ragged cutoffs and an unb.u.t.toned s.h.i.+rt that showed his tanned chest. All in all, typical weekend wear for Gabe.
Emma smiled when she saw him and said in an aside to Casey, ”He hasn't changed a bit.” Then Gabe's youngest daughter, five-year-old Briana, stepped out from behind him and Emma laughed. ”Well now, that's new!”
Casey grinned. ”We wondered if there'd be any girl babies born into the family since the dominant gene appears to be male. But Gabe surprised everyone, including his wife, by fathering not one, but three daughters. They're five, seven and nine years old. All with blond hair and blue eyes. This is Briana, the youngest.”
With twinkling eyes, the little girl scooted to Casey and held up her arms, obliging Casey to lift her. He hefted her to his hip, kissed her golden head, and gave her a fierce hug. ”Hey, squirt.”
”She's beautiful,” Emma said, and stroked Briana's little shoulder. Briana beamed at her for the compliment.
”All three of his daughters are.”
Emma laughed again. ”Actually, she looks like a small feminine version of Gabe.”
”Exactly. Makes him nuts, too.”
Damon stepped forward with an outstretched hand. ”Damon Devaughn. Thank you for coming out on a weekend.”
Gabe, always jovial, shrugged off the remark. ”Not a problem. Casey said you have a Mustang Boss. Can't very well leave a sweet car like that on the side of the road, not even here in Buckhorn.”
”It's not my car. It's Emma's.”
”Emma?” His uncle didn't seem to remember her at all, until he went to shake her hand, which caused him to look at her more closely. ”You look familiar.” He glanced at Casey. ”Have we been introduced before?”
Casey wanted to groan. He sent Gabe a look, but his uncle was distracted trying to recall where and when he'd met Emma.
”I'm from here originally,” Emma said. ”And really, Mr. Kasper, we do appreciate the help.”
”Good G.o.d, girl, no one calls me mister. Gabe will do, if you don't want to make me feel old.” Gabe stared at her a moment more while attempting to recall her. A smile appeared. ”That's right, I remember now. You're that girl who...”
He drew up short on his verbal faux pas, and Casey hurried to fill in the awkward silence. ”Emma's been away for eight years.”
”S'that right?” Gabe lifted the cap from his head, scratched his right ear and then replaced his hat, all the while grinning. ”Welcome home, Emma.”
Scrupulously polite, Emma said, ”I'm just here for a visit.”
Gabe took his daughter from Casey. ”Don't be silly. You don't visit home, because you can't ever really leave it.” Before anyone could argue that point, Gabe turned to Damon. ”You're coming with me, right?”
Damon pulled his concerned gaze from Emma. ”Yes. I have the keys to the Mustang. I was hoping to explore the town while you repaired the car.”
”Have you had breakfast?”
”Not yet.”
”Then I'll drop you at Ceily's diner. You'll get the best ham and eggs in three counties.”
Damon and Emma shared a look of mutual wariness. Not understanding, Casey took Emma's arm. ”You remember Ceily, don't you, Em?”
She looked stricken only a moment, and in the next instant her face was blank of any expression. She pulled sungla.s.ses from her purse and slipped them on. Casey noted that her hand shook and her tone was clipped when she finally said, ”Yes. I remember her.” Her smile appeared forced. ”You'll enjoy the food, Damon.”
Casey didn't know what had upset her, but he decided it was past time to get on the road. ”Damon, we'll see you later.” Much, much later. ”Gabe, thanks again.” He waved to Briana. ”Be good to Damon, sweetie.”
When Damon slid into the seat next to her, Briana beamed at him and said, ”You smell good.”
”Why, thank you,” Damon said with a chuckle.
Gabe groaned. ”This is the penance I pay for my misspent youth. Three flirting daughters will definitely be the death of me.”
Emma smiled at the exchange as Casey led her to his car. Her moods changed quicker than the breeze, but eventually he'd understand her. Once they finished the visit to the hospital, he'd have her alone on the lake. He'd get some answers, make some headway a and reestablish old bonds.
He could hardly wait.
CHAPTER SIX.
DAMON FELT as if he'd stepped into another world, or at least taken a step back in time. ”We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” he murmured to himself.
Gabe Kasper, a very friendly, laid-back fellow with the absolute worst fas.h.i.+on sense Damon had ever witnessed firsthand, had dropped him off in the middle of the town a if you could call such a small, old-fas.h.i.+oned gathering of buildings a town. But the architecture was impressive, ornate yet st.u.r.dy, able to withstand the pa.s.sing of time.
Prior to letting him out of the truck, Gabe had pointed in the direction of the diner and admonished Damon to stay out of the sun.
True enough, he wasn't much for tanning, and a ball cap, especially one worn backward as Gabe preferred, was out of the question. While looking around, Damon noticed that nearly every person he saw was dressed in a similar fas.h.i.+on. It was like being at Palm Beach during spring break. He wondered how many people const.i.tuted the local denizens and how many were vacationers visiting the lake.
Women paraded up and down the sidewalks in shorts and bathing-suit tops. Adolescent boys were s.h.i.+rtless. Some children were barefoot. Every doorway sp.a.w.ned several loiterers and d.a.m.ned if there weren't two grizzled old men in coveralls playing checkers under the shade of the barbershop awning. It was like landing in Mayberry, but with color. Lots and lots of color.
Enormous, lush oak trees lined the side of the road and provided some shade to most of the storefronts. The sky was so blue it dazzled. Flowers grew from every nook and cranny, and birds of every size and song flitted about.
Damon drew a deep breath and felt his lungs expand with fresh, humid air. Jesus, he liked it. A lot.
He strolled along the sidewalk, soaking in the atmosphere and acclimating himself. A few minutes later, he smelled the luscious scents from the diner even before he saw it.
When they'd driven through the night before, Emma had pointed the place out, but other than noting the location, he'd paid little attention. He'd been too worried about Emma, watching her to see how she took her return to Buckhorn.
As an architect, he now studied the simple but unique lines of each structure. The diner was s.p.a.cious, in the same design as the other buildings around it, but modern windows and roofing materials had been added, making it somewhat unique. He knew that eight years ago it had been gutted by fire, which probably accounted for the improvements. Damon shook his head. Emma had retold the story so many times that he knew it by heart.
He continued along, nodding to the people who gave him cautious looks until he reached the diner. Up close, the modern materials were even more noticeable. Still, the reconstruction was a quality job, nicely executed.