She covered her mouth with her hand. “Sorry.”
“Seriously? How long?”
“What day is it?”
“Wednesday.”
“Since Friday night.”
“Holy shit. What have you eaten?”
She focused on her hands twisting in her lap.
“Get in the fucking shower and clean up. I’m ordering Lorenzo’s. Being heartsick is one thing, coming home and finding you dead is another.”
Caroline mimicked a corpse frozen in a pose.
“Okay, okay, I get it. Get lost, and I’ll jump in the shower.” Emma needed her gone because truthfully, she wasn’t sure if she could walk. Her stomach was cramping, and her hands were shaking. She put her feet on the floor and gingerly took a step forward. As she reached for the side table to steady herself, Caroline came back into the room.
“Do we like their chicken parm or veal....” Her face went white.
“Jesus, Em, oh my God. Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“I think I’m okay. Could you run and grab one of those Vitamin Waters out of the fridge?”
Caroline turned and ran out without a word.
After a shower and a small meal, Emma was almost feeling normal. She and Caroline were sitting on the balcony listening to the rumble of thunder and the bark of an ambulance siren when the doorman called up to say they had a delivery.
“Please tell me you had cupcakes delivered.”
“Why live in New York if you can’t have someone bring you sweets at all hours of the night?”
A few moments later, there was a knock. From the balcony, she heard Caroline flip the deadbolt and open the door. Down below on the street, a cab driver was laying on the horn.
“We have coconut, chocolate, and what looks like lemon.”
Emma peeked up as Nathan held the white bakery box, examining the contents with the curiosity of a child. Her heart stopped. Caroline joined him in his perusal. Her interruption gave Emma a moment to gather herself.
“I think that has a passion fruit filling. Bleh. When did cupcakes get so complicated? I’m chocolate. She’s coconut.” Caroline reached into the box.
“Nice to meet you, chocolate. Nathan.”
“Caroline.”
Nathan and Caroline had never met. Emma’s and Caroline’s mothers had drifted apart when Emma’s mother fell off the wagon almost immediately after giving birth. As a small child, Caroline lived in Atlanta, and Emma saw her on family trips. Caroline came into her life in a significant way when Emma was returned from her capture, and her father moved them to Georgia.
Like their mothers, Emma’s and Caroline’s fathers had been friends since their college days and did business together often. Emma had a moment of anxiety that Caroline’s last name, Fitzhugh, would ping with Nathan, but she, either inadvertently or by design, didn’t mention it.
“Coconut, please.” Emma smiled from across the room.
He reached in the box to retrieve the cupcake and started to turn his attention to Emma when he stopped. He took a sharp breath.
“Jesus, Emma... are you all right?” His concern was palpable. He wanted to come to her. She could see it in every coiled muscle of his frame, but he resisted the urge.
“You should have seen her an hour ago.” Caroline retrieved a cupcake. “I nearly called an ambulance.”
That did it. Nathan crossed to her in long strides and sank to his knees. He brushed her hair back from her face. Emma looked at him then. He had dark circles under his eyes, and his color was pale.