Free Lost and Found Family by Leigh Riker

soon agreed it wasn’t for them. Her growing-up years had taught her she was really on her own where any problems were concerned. Her mother’s various boyfriends and occasional live-in “uncles” for Emma had made her feel isolated. Now, she had good reason to feel that way.
    Only that morning yet another client of hers had bailed out. Thank goodness Melanie had loved her formal drawings for the twins’ room and hadn’t blinked at the estimate. At least she’d be able to make her rent for another month. Emma reached for Christian’s hand, then stopped herself.
    They were walking shoulder to shoulder across the Walnut Street Bridge, a favorite local spot that connected downtown to the trendy North Shore. Other evening strollers passed them, many with dogs on leashes. The night was balmy rather than cool, with a lingering hint of late Indian summer, but Emma could sense the tension in Christian. He’d called her from the health club, asking her to meet him, a rare occasion these days.
    â€œEmma, I was so mad. I wanted to deck him.” Christian stopped walking. He drew Emma to the bridge railing to look out over the Tennessee River. “Chet knew perfectly well he was baiting me. At the office he’s always trying to get between Dad and me—as if that will get him where he wants to go.”
    â€œAnd where is that?” As if she couldn’t guess. But he needed to talk.
    â€œMy job,” he said. “I’d tell him he can have it but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.”
    â€œGood for you.” Emma leaned against the rail. From here she could see Coolidge Park and the carousel below. She sighed. It bothered her that he was no longer happy at work. Despite the ups and downs at No More Clutter, the very real risk of having to close her business, Emma loved what she did every day.
    He nudged her side, sending a wave of warmth through Emma. They rarely touched these days, and even when she was the one to evade it, she longed to restore the real closeness they’d once shared.
    â€œThanks for listening,” he said.
    â€œI really should have stayed at the office. I start at Melanie’s house tomorrow and I need to talk to my crew first. But you sounded ready to explode.”
    â€œI’m glad I didn’t at the gym. Too much. Can you imagine my parents’ reaction? And at least half a dozen people in that locker room saw us.”
    â€œIt helps sometimes to blow off steam.”
    Resting on his elbows, Christian turned his head. “You don’t,” he said.
    Emma half smiled. “Inside, I do. I’m a real pressure cooker.”
    â€œYeah, but most of the time you just keep moving like The Little Engine That Could .”
    Emma froze. She didn’t want to ruin this moment. Yet, as she’d just been reminded, this wasn’t any normal date night for them. The last had been almost a year ago, a few nights before the accident.
    â€œMoving on?” she said.
    He shrugged. “That’s how you come across. While I keep spinning my wheels.”
    Emma eased away from the railing. The sun had set and lights were coming on all over the city. In the darkening sky a few stars were popping out and later, perhaps, there’d be a gorgeous harvest moon. But she felt a faint chill now. She began to retrace their steps back across the bridge to the downtown side.
    â€œI understand why you were angry with Chet—he and Merry are two of a kind. And I’m sorry you had to learn that again tonight.” She drew a deep breath. “But about us, Christian... I don’t want to probe the wounds any deeper. I can’t.”
    â€œThen what will you do, Emma? Go home and clean the house? You just cleaned it yesterday. And the day before that. Yeah, I notice,” he said, keeping pace beside her. “The laundry’s always washed and dried and folded even before the hamper’s full. You clean and