Emma's Secret: A Novel

that never really bothered him. They had a good working relationship. They understood each other’s strengths and weaknesses. While Peter preferred to work with his home-buying clients and creating relationships, Sam was the cutthroat one who went after the larger businesses and local government.
    She shrugged. “Not really. But I do care about you, and I see what this is doing to you. You can’t keep secrets from her forever. She deserves to know.”
    Peter took a deep breath and stood. He moved beyond his desk and sat in the chair opposite Sam.
    “She will know. Once things are finalized. You gave me conditions, and they all haven’t…been met yet.”
    Sam leaned forward and placed her hand on Peter’s knee. “I only made those conditions to see if you were serious.” A sad smile filtered across her face.
    Peter placed his hand over hers and squeezed. “I am.”
    This was what he’d wanted for a long time now, and she’d given it to him on a platter. He cleared his throat and lifted his hand, rubbing his neck as he stood and paced his office.
    If she did this—if she gave in and agreed—it would mean the answer to so many problems Peter faced right now. Problems in his marriage, problems with some clients, and definitely problems for his reputation. He valued Samantha for the very reasons others loathed her: She was good at her job, and it didn’t always matter who got in the way.
    There was a soft touch on his shoulder. Peter turned and found Samantha behind him.
    “Is this really what you want?”
    Peter nodded.
    Sam squared her shoulders and tilted her head, the gaze in her eyes now steel.
    “I’ll have the paperwork done this week. I’ll even provide the champagne when you tell Megan.”
    Peter shook his head. “Don’t worry about that. But thank you. I know I’ve asked a lot—”
    Sam’s brow rose. “You asked for everything. No holds barred. I taught you well.” She leaned forward and softly kissed his cheek.
    Peter stepped back and clasped his hands behind him. He watched as Sam left his office, lingering in the door with a soft smile on her face.
    “No regrets, Peter. It’s been a ride…”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
    E mma held her hands over her ears. The beach was busier than Megan had expected, filled with the sound of the crashing waves, the noise from the children’s park, and the squawking caws of seagulls as they snatched up stray french fries from the parking lot.
    Megan reached into the back of her Jeep and pulled out a multitude of beach bags stuffed with beach toys, towels, water bottles, suntan lotion, hats, extra clothing, and anything else she thought they might need. Megan scanned the crowds on the sand and in the water and looked for a place they could put their stuff.
    There were so many people here. She’d known that was likely, but seeing the swarming crowds firsthand unnerved her. She wasn’t sure she could do this, and she was worried about Emma, who was covering her ears. Maybe it was too much, too soon. They could have gone to the local pool where there would have been fewer people. That might have been better.
    A large white van with the local retirement home’s emblem pulled into the lot. Megan recognized the bus driver and waved.
    “Awesome! The bus is serving ice cream. Can we get one?” Alexis stood beside her and reached for a bag from the trunk.
    Megan glanced at the old red double-decker bus and smiled. It was an icon in their town, and she hoped it would never leave the beach. She used to get fries and chocolate soft-serve ice cream from it as a teenager. It looked a little worn around the edges, and the Double Decker Fries sign needed a fresh coat of paint, but the smell wafting through the air was the same. She wondered whether they still sold the greasy but delicious corn dogs; she hadn’t had one of those in eons.
    “Sure. Why don’t we go snag a spot on the beach first and then grab some ice cream.” She high-fived Alex, whose grin stretched from ear to ear.
    Megan glanced at Emma again. Hannah stood beside her, holding her hand as she pointed toward different sights along the beach. She’d begun to notice Hannah’s protective attitude toward Emma in the past few weeks. Instead of being out playing with her friends, Megan would find Hannah in the same room as Emma, playing ponies or drawing pictures. It was as if she didn’t want to let Emma out of her sight, a familiar feeling for Megan. All she’d done was turn her back two years ago,