Forgetting Prince Charming.

CHAPTER 36

It was a peculiar sight; one Emma wasn't used to seeing. Yet, it was becoming more frequent each time. He was leaned back against the chair. His left arm rest on the side of the small table, outstretched towards her and only a breath away from her desperate fingertips. His right arm leaned over the handle of the chair. He allowed his body to slouch relaxingly. His short black hair was gelled to match his serious disposition. His chiseled jaw was sharp and fresh of a shave. Emma's mind was dust.

"What shall we have?" mumbled Eamon with his gaze on the menu. His question sounded directed at her, but his distraction made the question seem rhetorical.

Regardless, Emma answered. "I wasn't planning to eat anything. I just needed coffee."

"Nonsense," he answered. His head shot up to look at her. "You should eat something. They've got good food here and I'd enjoy the company. How long are you here for? Why are you here?"

Emma wasn't sure she'd ever heard him ask quite so many questions at once. It was overwhelming to have so much of his attention. She wasn't sure how to respond. It was all she'd ever wanted from him. The hospital environment reminded Emma that he wasn't hers. Jeff's garden had felt like neutral territory. She'd been Juliet that night and had garnered her confidence. In the hospital, she was just Emma. She didn't know how not to be a fool. "Um," she said with her mind drawing a blank. She couldn't remember his questions. Her surprise must have been evident. Eamon smiled with a light blush on his cheeks and said, "sorry. That was too much all at once yeah? How about you tell me why you're here and we start from there?"

He was... she couldn't believe it but, "you're blushing," she gasped in shock. Eamon's blush deepened. Realization dawned on Emma. "Sorry, that was rude." He waved her off, but his gaze was no longer on her. "Um, I'm here because of my new patient."

His head shot back around. "Gina, right? The Ovarian cancer patient who is terminal." Emma nodded. Her mood darkened at the reminder. "I'm sorry," he said. "I'm guessing it's not good news. How long?"

She swallowed away a heavy lump. "Stella says it'd be a miracle if she survived the night. Poor Charles is beside himself. Hopefully, his wife is on her way. Consoling grieving families is the one part of my job I'm terrible at."

Eamon chuckled a bit. "You've always been a bit awkward with that. I remember the one time when you had spent more time crying than consoling the family."

Emma chuckled. She remembered that time years ago. She was still a nurse then. A patient had died on Eamon's table and Emma had to relay the news. The husband had been so distraught that Emma had been brought to tears herself. Eamon had to walk in and be confronted with the new task of consoling them both. He'd never really let her forget that day either. "I care too deeply," she said in answer.

Eamon nodded. His mood sobered. "It's a quality I admire tremendously about you."

Emma was grateful to her darker skin for hiding her blush. As much as she wished he'd be hers, she wasn't quite ready for him to know her feelings. Emma cleared her throat. "Um, I know this is a change of topic but, um," she was so nervous to ask this. "Has uh, my sister spoken to you yet?" She needed to know if Larissa had caught on to her lie yet.

Eamon looked at her in confusion. "She's my girlfriend. We always talk."

Emma didn't need the reminder. "I know but um, has she said anything to you recently? About me maybe?" Emma cringed at the awkwardness in her voice. She wasn't sure how else to find out about Larissa without saying the words directly. Eamon was never one to meddle in their fights or drama. Emma prayed he still felt that way.

Eamon shrugged. His mood soured and a frown distorted his handsome face. "We uh," he cleared his throat. "Haven't spoken in three days."

His words were quiet. Emma wasn't sure she'd heard correctly. "Three days?" she asked for clarification. He nodded quickly and kept his eyes on the table. Emma was shocked – no, she was shaken to the core. Despite how much it irked her, Eamon and Larissa were usually joined at the hip. For them to have not spoken in a few days meant that something big must have happened.