The Forbidden Throb Chapter 39

Emma's POV:

"I mean—" I scrambled to recover, my hands fluttering uselessly. "Not that we would—I just meant—"

"I understand what you meant," Daniel said quietly, his voice carrying that same gentle quality that somehow made everything worse.

"I should take you back," he said after a moment. "Your grandmother will be wondering."

I nodded mutely, grateful for the excuse to end this mortifying conversation.

The drive back to Grandma's house was mercifully short.

Daniel kept his eyes on the road, one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the center console.

"Emma," Daniel said as we turned onto Grandma's street. His voice was measured, thoughtful. "Have you considered coming back to Boston with me tonight?"

I looked at him, startled.

"It's just—" He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I'm concerned you might have difficulty handling this alone. Your grandmother will have questions. And the weekend's almost over."

There was logic in what he said. Grandma would definitely want to know more—about our plans, about a hundred other details I hadn't begun to think through.

But then I remembered that text message on her phone—the appointment reminder for the oncology center. My decision was clear.

"I appreciate that," I said slowly. "But I think... I think the hardest part is over. Grandma has accepted us. She's happy. The rest—" I shook my head. "The rest I can handle."

Daniel glanced at me, his gray eyes searching my face.

"Are you sure?"

"I want to spend more time with her," I admitted.

He nodded, his expression softening.

"I understand," he said simply.

The car pulled smoothly into Grandma's driveway. At the sound of the engine, the front door opened and Grandma appeared on the porch, beaming at us.

"There you two are!" she called. "I was starting to worry you'd driven all the way back to Boston without saying goodbye!"

"I couldn't leave that quickly even if I wanted to," I said with a smile as Daniel came around to help me out of the car. "But Daniel has surgery first thing tomorrow morning. He needs to get back to Boston tonight."

Daniel's expression turned apologetic as we approached the porch. "I'm very sorry, Mrs. Johnson. I wish I could stay longer, but my patient—"

"Say no more," Grandma interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. "A doctor's duty comes first. I understand completely."

Her face brightened. "But you're not leaving empty-handed. Come in, come in. I've got some things packed for you."

She disappeared into the house before either of us could protest, leaving Daniel and me standing on the porch.

"She moves fast for someone who claims to be old," Daniel observed quietly, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Despite everything, I found myself smiling. "She's been like that my whole life."

Moments later, Grandma emerged with her arms full of containers and paper bags, bustling toward us with determined purpose.

"Lobster rolls, blueberry jam, and my special cranberry bread," she announced, pressing them into Daniel's hands one by one. "You can't make that drive on an empty stomach, and you certainly can't live on hospital cafeteria food."

"Mrs. Johnson, that's very kind but unnecessary—"

"Nonsense!" Grandma waved off his protest. "You're family now. And family doesn't leave my house without proper provisions."

*Family.*

The word settled over me, warm and comforting.

I watched as Grandma pressed container after container into Daniel's hands, her face glowing with a contentment I hadn't seen in months. Maybe years.

"I'm entrusting Emma to you," she said, her voice suddenly thick with emotion. She reached up to pat his cheek, the gesture so tender it made my throat tight. "She's more precious than she knows. You must take good care of her. Promise me that."

"I will," Daniel replied, his voice carrying a weight and solemnity that caught me off guard.

But he was already turning toward the door, his arms full of Grandma's offerings.

"I should get going," he said, glancing at his watch. "But I'll come see you again when I have the chance, Mrs. Johnson. Thank you for everything."

"Of course, of course." Grandma shooed him toward the exit. "Drive safely. And call when you get home so we know you arrived safely!"

"I will."

He paused at the door, his gaze finding mine across the small living room.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Emma."

"Tomorrow," I echoed.

And then he was gone, the door closing softly behind him.

The engine started with a quiet purr. Daniel raised one hand in farewell before pulling away from the curb, the expensive car gliding down the street like something from another world entirely.

"Well," Grandma said beside me, sighing. "Why didn't you go with him? Back to Boston?"

I blinked. "I thought you'd want me to stay. Keep you company for a bit longer."

"Emma Johnson-Prescott." The addition of Daniel's last name made something flutter in my stomach. "Don't you dare use me as an excuse."

"I'm not—"

"You just got married," she said firmly. "To a good man who clearly adores you. And instead of going home with your husband, you're standing in my kitchen making excuses."

*Husband.*

The word still felt foreign, like trying on someone else's clothes.

"Daniel has his patients to take care of," I said carefully, watching Grandma's face. "And I have my patient to look after too."

Grandma stiffened slightly, her hands stilling on the tea towel she'd been folding. "What do you mean by that?"

"How long were you planning to keep it from me, Grandma?" I asked softly. "Something this important?"

She looked away, suddenly finding great interest in smoothing out the already-smooth towel. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Really? You're still going to pretend?" My voice cracked despite my effort to keep it steady. "The oncology appointment. "

The towel slipped from her hands.

"I was waiting for you to tell me yourself," I continued, my throat tight. "But then I realized it, Grandma. You rescheduled. You *canceled* your appointment because I came home."

"Emma—"