Page 34 of Modern Persuasion

"Emma, wait!" I heard Fredrick call from behind me after I had left the house and started to walk home.

I stopped and let him catch up to me.

"You shouldn't walk home alone at night. You could get hit by a car, or who knows what else. Let me walk with you," he said, his arms stiff by his side.

My pulse was still racing, and I fought the desire to stomp away. "What the fuck do you care for? It's not like I mean anything to you anymore."

He took a step away from me. "That's not fair. I would feel much better if you let me walk with you because I think you're drunk. You certainly aren't walking in a straight line."

"Whatever," I said, but he was right, and my earlier meltdown made more sense.

We walked alone in silence for a while. Every so often, he would take my arm to steady me. I couldn't figure out how I had gotten drunk on one beer that I had nursed all night.

"It was a last-minute decision to come out here with the Musgroves," Fredrick suddenly said. "When they learned I had never been to Cape Cod, they wouldn't take no for an answer. I should have spoken to you about it first. I'm sorry I just showed up."

I was focused on walking. "They'll make sure you enjoy yourself."

"Don't you like it out here?"

I knew I shouldn't have kept talking, but that didn't stop me. "I love it out here. I just happen to not like my family much at the moment."

"Was it this bad when we were at college?" Fredrick asked in a low voice.

I remembered what it was like before I went to college, but I rarely came home for long periods during the four years in Chicago. It was easy to forget what was happening to my family in New York when you weren't with them.

I briefly shook my head, only stopping because the world began to spin. "I don't remember it being this bad before I left, but I was grieving my mother's death. When I got home, it was like this."

Fredrick was quiet for a moment. I don't know if I had ever let him into my grief. "Dealing with them is why you're always prepared for a crisis, isn't it?"

I let out a deep sigh. "Probably."

I felt his hand slip into mine and squeeze. "You were amazing in Chicago. I really am sorry I was so nasty to you. Louisa pretty much worships you now that you saved her life."

Fredrick pulled me to the side of the road. We saw car lights come up from behind us. When the car stopped next to us, Dave lowered the window on the driver's side.

"I thought you could use a ride," Dave said with a look that suggested he was very impressed with himself.

I could see a snarl pass over Fredrick's face.

"You should take it. You're probably safer in a car," Fredrick said, leading me to the passenger side door and opening it.

For a moment, I considered refusing the ride to walk with Fredrick but decided it was safer this way. "Thank you, Fredrick," I said as he closed the door.

"Emma, come to the fireworks tomorrow night. Promise me you won't punish yourself because you're tired of your family's behavior," Fredrick said as I rolled down the window to let in the cool night air.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Thing One and Thing Two had been upset after dinner and insisted on sleeping with me. They were all assuming I was happy to take responsibility for my sister's children. When my father brought them back to the house, I took charge but never got a simple thank you from anyone. Nothing seemed to change as a result of my outburst.

I came down for breakfast the following day to find my father sitting with Karen. When he saw me, he got up and left the room. Karen gave me a quick hug.

"I understand you stood up for yourself last night. I am very impressed," Karen said.

I didn't want to talk about it yet. I made myself tea and oatmeal and told Karen about the tour. I didn't mention that Fredrick was here on the Cape. I had other things to bring up before sharing that.

"Your father said Louisa is engaged. I didn't realize she was even dating anyone," Karen said as she poured herself a second cup of coffee. There was a broken muffin on the plate at her spot. I was positive she hadn't eaten any.

"She met Seth on the book tour in Los Angeles," I said as I sat down and pulled a muffin from the platter sitting on the table.