Free Teacup Novellas 01 - Tea With Emma by Diane Moody Page A

painful? Your mother appears at the back of the church only to say you’ve ‘changed your mind’ and there won’t be a wedding after all. I haven’t a clue in the world why anyone should think it might be painful for me? Least of all YOU!”
    “Ian, calm down and listen to me.”
    “No. I will not listen to you.”
    “Fine. Don’t listen. But there are things I must say to you. I couldn’t marry you. Our engagement was my parents’ wish and not mine. Surely you know that. The college professor marrying the daughter of the chancellor. I tried to deny my feelings, tried to make everyone happy, but in the end, I couldn’t go through with it. The dress, the flowers, the music—suddenly it all hit me—it was nothing but a charade to please everyone but me. I adored you, Ian, truly I did. But I didn’t love you. I mean, not in that way. It wouldn’t have been fair to you. Not fair at all.”
    He stared into the fire, refusing to look at her.
    “You never read my letters, did you?”
    He shook his head, despising the sting in his eyes.
    “You must have hated me all these years. I can’t blame you, of course. What I did was deplorable.”
    “Quite.”
    “That’s why I was so surprised to see you today. I thought you surely hated all Americans after what I did. Yet here you were, back teaching in the states again.”
    She stood and walked toward the front windows. “I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I’m in no position to do that after all these years.” She turned to face him. “But here we are, both in the same town, working on the same campus. In Texas of all places. There must be some way we can at least be cordial to one another.”
    The grandfather clock ticked quietly. He closed his eyes, willing them to clear. After several moments, he realized she was seated again across from him.
    “Ian.”
    Her voice, graveled with emotion, pricked at his heart. He inhaled loudly, pulling his feet off the ottoman. “Not to worry, Dr. Phillips. I assure you I’ll remain completely professional at all times.” He stood, walking toward the foyer. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, my bath water is getting cold.”
    She followed him to the door, pausing as she neared him. He leveled his gaze at her, steeling the storm of emotions inside.
    “Ian? Please?” she whispered, a lone tear cascading down her face.
    “Good night, Melissa.”
    The silence was palpable. Finally, she reached out her hand against his face then pressed a long kiss against his cheek. With that, she left, descending the porch stairs into the night.

Chapter 8
     
    M addie watched the car pull away from the curb in front of Bradford House. Sitting on her porch, she pulled her sweater around her against the evening chill, and reached for her cup of tea. Her pulse quickened, replaying the scene in her mind. She’d felt like an intruder when the door across the street had opened. But had she moved to go inside, she surely would have been noticed. The backlighting of the foyer chandelier had cast Ian and his lady friend in silhouettes as if some Hollywood director had created the romantic effect.
    She fought the desire to be happy for the professor, hoping he might have some secret love after all. But there was something about the exchange that told her otherwise.  
    He was in his bath robe. Rather familiar apparel for a mere acquaintance. Who is she? And why didn’t he respond when she kissed him?
    The cell phone in her sweater pocket vibrated. “Hello?”
    “Maddie, you won’t believe what has happened. Jeff and I had a horrible fight. I told him I was going to meet Brad for coffee, and he got so upset! Really upset. What am I going to do?”
    Lanie’s sniffles filled her ear. Maddie looked at her watch. “Wait, aren’t you supposed to be meeting Brad right now?”
    “I know. I was just getting ready to leave when Jeff Skyped me. Oh why did I even tell him? I had no idea he would mind. And now I may have lost him forever. Maddie, I