Free Something Found by Carrie Crafton Page A

Always looking out for the benefit of others,” Collin joked.
    Even when the room fell silent it seemed to Emily it radiated warmth.
    “Have you noticed anything weird about Dad lately?” Joni asked after a while. Her shoulders had stooped over and the ash of her second cigarette was growing longer and longer without her taking any notice of it.
    “Wha’d’ya mean?” Collin asked refilling their wine glasses.
    “I mean he really is visiting Uncle Pat a lot lately. But whenever I ask him about it he goes quiet.”
    “Maybe Uncle Pat isn’t doing so well and Dad doesn’t want to tell us.”
    “No. He’d tell us. He knows better than to keep quiet about things like that.”
    “Maybe there’s nothing to tell.”
    Joni grunted in disgust. “Men.”
    “What?” Collin was amused.
    “You don’t think it’s odd that all of a sudden Dad’s spending four days at a time with a brother he used to see once every six months?”
    “Joni he’s retired. Maybe he doesn’t like spending all his time hanging around an empty house. I’m sure it just makes him miss mam that much more.”
    Joni nodded. “Well at least that’s a reasonable response.”
    Collin chuckled. “I’ve spent too much time under your wing Joni. You want me to be able to sit down and have a nice long girl talk. Do you know what kind of reputation I’d get if I did that? Besides, men just don’t see things the same way. I mean does it really matter why he’s spending so much time with Uncle Pat as long as he’s happy.”
    “That’s right, try and look macho in front of the wife. I know you worry about him as much as I do.”
    Emily used a soapy hand to lift her glass of wine to her mouth. “He always seems happy to me.”
    Joni and Collin shook their heads simultaneously with the same look on their faces. “He was just so much in love with our mam. He only held it together because of us when she died. Growing old without her in this house . . . .” Collin let it trail off.
    The door opened then and Robert walked in. “Sorry I’m late. It took longer than we thought.” He smiled around the room until his eyes met Joni’s. Then the smile dropped.
    “Sit down. I’ll fix you a plate. Although Emily just finished washing all the ware,” Joni’s body language spoke volumes.
    “That’s okay.” Emily dried one and handed it over.
    “It would’ve been nice if you’d been here to eat with the family.”
    “Joni I didn’t know it would take that long.”
    The mood in the room changed and Collin quickly came up with an excuse to leave.
    “So do you think I’ll be part of all of that one day?” Emily asked. They had taken a cab up, but since it wasn’t too far and the weather was mild they decided to walk home.
    “You’re part of it now,” Collin said insistently.
    Emily smirked up at him. “I didn’t mean it like that Collin, calm down. I’m not trying to start another argument. I meant do you think I’ll be joining in the conversation like that. I felt like part of it, but it all moves so fast. It’s hard to get a word in. And when things really get going and everyone’s drinking I still have trouble understanding the accent sometimes.”
    “Oh.” Collin’s shoulder’s relaxed. It wasn’t going to be another big conversation about his culture verses hers. “Of course you will. Laura wasn’t like that in the beginning. It’s just about spending time with them.”
    Emily laughed. “It’s almost like a game. You have to get into the pattern of it if you’re going to get a word in.”
    Collin looked down at Emily his eyes narrowing in fascination. “You’re funny, ya know. The way you notice everything. The way you see things . . . . I like it.”
    Emily swung her arms loosely, enjoying a moment of carefree happiness. “Good.”

Chapter 5

    Emily pulled herself from sleep as Collin passed in and out of the room in various stages of dress. She watched his transformation from her groggy husband in boxers to an