Emma smiled. “I’ll be your proxy daughter,” she said. “I’ve been on the lookout for a quartet of hip mothers.”

 “We’ve been known to cause trouble,” Penny said, grinning.

 “Even better,” Emma said.

    Chapter Eight

 Adam called Emma the Friday after Thanksgiving. He asked her if she’d like to drive up the road to Napa and have lunch at one of the vineyard bistros before she settled into her new job. “If you’re free tomorrow,” he said.

 “That would be perfect,” she said. “I’m anxious to hear about your Thanksgiving. And to tell you about mine!”

 “Great. I’ll pick you up around eleven-thirty.”

 He didn’t linger on the phone. He was relieved by her cheerful mood, by her quick acceptance. He’d been worried that Emma might’ve been put off by his advances, concerned about what he wanted. He’d moved too fast, leaning toward her for a kiss. God, this was a whole new ball game! And so awkward. He was thirty-seven—he didn’t think about things like this. First-date kisses were routine. Expected, even. A woman would think she didn’t appeal to you if you didn’t at least try... But Emma was different.

 She wasn’t even close to ready to entertain the notion of a man in her life and when she would be, there was no reason he should expect it to be him. He told himself that her husband hadn’t been gone that long. He probably hadn’t been a husband to her for at least three years, but her ordeal wasn’t far behind her. She’d only been back in California for a few months.

 He tried to remind himself: she’d come home, but she hadn’t come home to him.

 He intended to back off. She’d find her footing. He hoped she’d show signs of recovery pretty soon because he was dying to get his arms around her.

 Amazing, how that feeling had come right back to him. The moment he saw her he was filled with it, like stepping back in time. When she’d finally come of age so many years ago, when it would finally be permissible to pursue her, there couldn’t have been more complications if they were at war. She was in Seattle, he was struggling to keep up with work and school, then bam!—Riley was having Jock’s baby. So he did what he had to do—he reeled the feelings back in.

 But Emma never came home. She went from college in Seattle to New York. He’d just been working up his courage for a trip to New York to see her when she’d announced she was engaged. To the most wonderful man in the world.

 He was hoping for a second chance, but Adam was realistic. This might be something he’d always wanted, but that didn’t mean Emma did. Then he picked her up and she was absolutely alive with happiness to see him. She met him with a hug, her eyes glittering and her smile so beautiful. All the way to Napa, she chattered like a girl about what she’d been doing—painting, decorating, hitting all the garage sales she could find.

 “I even bought this jacket,” she said, laughing. “Used clothing from a garage sale! I hope Richard is spinning in his grave!”

 “Emma!” he said, laughing at her.

 “Is it too much to hope he’s being eaten by worms by now?”

 “What’s gotten into you today?” he asked.

 “It’s hanging out with those merry widows, I think. You should hear the way they talk, especially about departed and ex-husbands who were not the best. They’re incorrigible and I love them. Penny and I played host for Thanksgiving and we had a blast. It wouldn’t have had to be much to outshine the holidays of the last several years, let me tell you, but it was fantastic!”

 “I hadn’t even thought of that,” he said. “I’m sure your life the last few years didn’t include festive holiday celebrations.”

 “It didn’t before, either,” she said. “Before the indictments came down, holidays were rich family showcases—parties, celebrations and open houses meant to outdo each other. I got into that, you know? I’m a designer by trade. It was once my goal to design and decorate big hotels, which included ostentatious holiday themes. There wasn’t anyplace better than New York for that. But memorable family holidays that filled a person with comfort and joy?” She shook her head. “Richard didn’t even invite his family to our home. He was very strategic. He gave them first-class tickets to the islands so they’d be conveniently out of town.”

 When they arrived at the restaurant she stopped talking while they were led to a pretty table for two in a small arbor. It was a little chilly in the shade, but there were a few space heaters around the patio. Even though it was a holiday weekend, there weren’t many for lunch. The tasting rooms seemed to be overflowing and plenty of people were visiting the valley, but the patio of the small restaurant was quiet. Adam couldn’t have planned it better if he’d called ahead and asked for a special table.

 Emma was so animated, enjoying herself so much, you’d think it was her first lunch date. Maybe it almost was, he thought. Once they’d ordered she wanted to know all about Thanksgiving at his house, every detail, down to the kind of stuffing June made. So he told her everything, including the fact that Jock dropped by to see Maddie and stayed for dessert.

 “I’m so glad to hear that,” she said. “Does he try to be a good father?”

 “He’s a good dad, I think,” Adam said. “His parenting has been complicated by the fact he lived in Sacramento for a few years for work. Then there was a brief marriage to a woman with children, and that didn’t always go well. But on the upside, he’s never missed a birthday or holiday and when she plays soccer and basketball, he makes almost every game, even when he had to come over from Sacramento.”

 “Tell me about you, Adam. How can you be single? You’re such a catch! Surely there have been girlfriends.”