Betrayal - Fern Michaels [122]
Coleman took her coat as she observed the festivities. “It’s kind of a Christmas party, wedding reception, and baby shower all rolled into one.”
Emily smiled. “That sounds wonderful. Now, where can I find Aunt Kate? Oh, wait, let me guess. She’s in the kitchen?”
“Where else? Go on in and surprise her. This will be her best present yet,” Coleman encouraged.
Emily followed the scent of baking cookies to the kitchen. She watched the merriment. This was what she wanted, only with three kids and ten dogs. She saw a golden red–colored retriever curled up in a corner, its tail wagging ninety miles a minute.
She took a step, then another before she stopped. Aunt Kate was pulling trays from a huge oven. Three other women were filling baskets with the cookies as fast as they could take them off the cookie sheets.
Unaware of who she was, one of the women invited her to grab a basket. Emily did as instructed. Aunt Kate replaced one cookie sheet with another before she saw Emily standing next to her in the cookie assembly line. “Emily? It’s really you!”
She grabbed her and hugged her, then pushed her away in order to look at her. “You are so pretty, Emily. You look like an angel.”
“It’s okay to say I look like Uncle Alex. I know I do.”
“Oh, Emily, this is the best holiday of my life! When did you get here?”
“Just a few minutes ago. Coleman let me in.”
“Sit, sit. You don’t have to work. We’re baking cookies for the dogs at the local shelters. Just don’t take a bite. I don’t think this recipe is meant for human consumption.”
“Is Gertie here?”
“She’s around here somewhere. I practically had to drag her here. She refused to leave the kennel, unless Lauren—she’s worked for Gertie since high school—agreed to come and stay at the house.”
“Sounds like Gertie, stubborn as ever.”
“Who said I was stubborn?” Gertie entered the kitchen. “Emily? Why, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. Kate didn’t tell me you were coming. My Lord, you’ve gotten so . . . grown-up and so pretty. Looks just like Alex. Come here and let me hug you.” The two embraced. Gertie’s eyes filled with tears.
“This is the best gift an old coot like me could have. Kate, why didn’t you tell me the girl would be here?”
Emily looked at Kate.
“It was a surprise, Gertie. For everyone.”
Emily mouthed thank you to Kate.
“So, does she know about the little princess?” Gertie asked Kate.
Kate gave Gertie a shut-your-trap look. Emily had seen them at it before.
“What little princess are you talking about?”
“Emily, come upstairs, and I’ll show you.”
Kate took the young woman she loved so much like a daughter and led her upstairs to a loft that overlooked the great room below.
“This is so neat. I would stay up here all the time if this were my room.” Emily leaned over and peered at the holiday festivities below.
“It’s a great cabin. Coleman and I, we plan to live here full-time. Maybe next year. It’s taking him a little bit longer to retire than he thought. The wheels of justice do grind slowly.” Kate smiled.
“How long since you’ve seen your family?” Emily looked sad suddenly, and Kate was sorry she’d brought up the topic.
“It’s over a year. I haven’t been back since that day in Coleman’s office. I just never fit in with them, Aunt Kate. I know that sounds terrible. They’re my family. They’re just different. I did get a letter from Dad. He hasn’t had a drink in over a year. I’m proud of him.”
“And you should be. He didn’t always have an easy row to hoe.” Kate felt bad for Don, but was glad he’d gotten the help he needed.
“They’re still not divorced. Dad doesn’t know why Mom won’t sign the papers, but he said he was moving on. He likes living in New York again. I guess he’s working at a new engineering firm. He seems happy.
“The last I heard, Mother had been forced to close her agency, sell the house, and has moved somewhere in Georgia, where she’s bought herself a diner. Sara’s married to that druggie creep, and no one knows where she’s got to.
“What did you want to tell me, Aunt