Free A Rocky Path by Lauralynn Elliott Page B

house back? If
he wanted the house, why didn’t he just buy it from the family that
had lived here last? Unless he wasn’t really rich, like he had
said. Maybe he was the black sheep of the family and had been cut
off without a penny. That certainly was an old story. She studied
the painting for a long time. This face was the face of the man she
loved and longed for. Now she wasn’t sure she could trust him.
    Emily went to bed that night troubled and
weary. But instead of tossing and turning like she thought she
would do, she went to sleep almost as soon as her eyes were
closed.
     
     

Chapter Thirteen
     
    The next day was Saturday, so there was no
work for her to do. The rest of the family had already gone to the
hospital to see Jamie. She had begged off, saying that she had a
headache and would come to the hospital later. Only Sam would
understand that she needed to see Jamie alone. True to his word,
Sam hadn’t said anything about what he knew. Emily was grateful to
him, because she had needed to tell someone, and she was glad that
Sam had been there. She didn’t think she could tell Rebecca what
happened.
    Later that evening, she borrowed Rebecca’s
car and went to the hospital. When she walked in, Jamie’s eyes
widened a little, then he turned away from here.
    “Why are you here?” he asked.
    “I’m here because I think we need to talk.
Please look at me, Jamie.”
    He turned to her. His eyes were red as if he
had been crying earlier.
    “How are you feeling?” she asked.
    “I’m better. They’re watching me for a few
more hours, and then I’m going home.”
    “I’m glad you weren’t hurt worse.”
    “I see you haven’t told everyone what
happened yet. What are you waiting for? I know what I did was
horrible and I deserve for everyone to know and hate me for it. I
have really blown it now.”
    Emily sighed. “Jamie, the only person I
talked to about this was Sam. And he isn’t telling anyone
else.”
    Puzzled, Jamie asked, “Why would you keep
this to yourself? I tried to rape you! I could pretend that wasn’t
my intention, but that wouldn’t be the truth. If that man hadn’t
pulled me away from you, I would have hurt you. I’m a mean, nasty
drunk and I know what I’m capable of when I’m drinking. My life is
over now.”
    Emily walked over to the bed and sat down on
the edge. She took his hand in hers. He tried to pull it away, but
she held onto it.
    “Jamie, I know what you did was wrong. It was
a horrible thing. I was more scared last night than I’ve ever been
in my life. I knew you were going to hurt me and I was helpless to
stop you. But you were drunk and didn’t know what you were doing.
The worst thing that you did was start drinking in the first place.
Why did you do that?”
    Jamie looked away. “I was feeling sorry for
myself because I wanted you, but you didn’t want me. The alcohol
was available last night. All I had to do was walk up to the bar
and get what I wanted.”
    “Rebecca should never have served alcohol
last night. It was too tempting!”
    “Don’t blame her, Emily. I’m responsible for
myself. She has had these parties before and I have never touched
it.”
    “Then it’s my fault,” she whispered, tears
starting in her eyes.
    “You aren’t to blame! Now stop that. It’s not
your fault you couldn’t feel about me the way I do about you. Maybe
you shouldn’t have kissed me that one night, but I shouldn’t have
taken a kiss to mean everlasting love, either. And taking that
first drink was my choice; nobody forced me to do it. I know
drinking isn’t the way to deal with rejection.”
    “Jamie, I really did want to care about you
the way you do about me. I tried, but every time…I don’t know, it
just wasn’t right between us.”
    “Is there someone else in your life? Someone
you have feelings for? Maybe that guy that kicked my butt, for
instance.”
    Emily sighed. “I don’t know, Jamie. Maybe.
But I don’t want to talk about that right