Free The Life She Wants by Robyn Carr Page B

ten years, outside of being married to a millionaire, or if it was because she was married to a notorious thief. She suspects the latter and I’m inclined to agree. People won’t take a chance on her.”
    â€œWhy would she tell anyone? She should have changed her name!”
    â€œShe goes by Emma Shay, but she’s not disguised. Employers are pretty savvy nowadays. They look up their applicants. They check Facebook and Twitter, just like you do. And she looks exactly as she did fifteen years ago.”
    â€œSixteen,” Riley said uncomfortably. Her fingers ran through her short, shaggy blond hair at her temples, smoothing it over her ears.
    â€œAw, Riley, you’ve always worn this thing like a hair shirt. We should’ve talked about this years ago but you were busy self-flagellating. Emma belonged to me and Mom, too, you know. She immediately knew who Maddie must be. Listen, even though you didn’t confide everything in me, I know the whole thing wasn’t entirely your fault. Last night I told her you and Jock weren’t even together when Maddie was born and she was surprised. Surprised and disappointed in Jock. This should’ve come out years ago, not last night. That’s how little communication she’s had with this place.”
    Riley felt tears threaten to rise. “I tried to tell her—she wouldn’t speak to me. Lyle could’ve told her, but he was determined to stay out of it. Besides, she was busy, Adam. Flying all over the world in that private jet...”
    â€œI have no doubt she’d have walked away from that had she known what was really going on there. I thought you’d be sympathetic. She was lied to. Everyone abandoned her.”
    â€œAnd so now she’s been struck down again? Poor Emma, she just keeps picking the wrong guys.”
    â€œWas that sarcasm?” he asked.
    â€œI apologize. I’m feeling a little like a cornered animal. Oh, God, why am I apologizing to you? Emma doesn’t know I was flippant about her troubles!”
    â€œI gave her your business card. I told her you paid more than minimum wage.”
    â€œYou can’t be serious,” she said, astonished. “She couldn’t make in a year what her fresh-flower budget was.”
    â€œ Was being the operative word. You might hear from her. She’s having a hard time getting by.”
    â€œLyle hasn’t said anything,” she said.
    â€œLyle has always been Switzerland where you two were concerned, which is why Emma knew so little about you and Jock. But get ready—one way or another, you’re going to run into her. Because I’m planning to see her again.”
    â€œWhat? What’s that about?”
    â€œIf you two can’t reconcile, that’s your deal. I’m not angry with Emma or with you. And I want to see her again.”
    â€œYou act like you have a thing for her or something,” Riley said.
    â€œI told you, she was my friend, too. I’m a little worried about her. It’s important to me to make sure she’s all right.” He stood up.
    â€œDo you have a thing for her, Adam?” she asked directly. Her brother, so handsome, such a wonderful man, was rarely in a relationship even though women sighed as he passed. She had even once said, It’s okay if you’re gay, you know . And he had replied, And it’s okay if you are .
    â€œYou want to date her, is that it?” Riley asked.
    â€œWe had a glass of wine together,” he said. “It was good to see her. We talked a little bit about Maddie, about her return home after that sideshow back east, the difficulties of finding work. She asked about Mom, about Grandma and Grandpa. Except for Lyle and the old widow she rents from, she’s pretty much alone, but we had a nice hour or so together and I was really happy to see her again. While all that mess was going on in New York with her husband, then his suicide, I