�I said bullshit. You�re hiding behind Laura and work again.� She pointed a finger at Natalie to make her point.
�I�m not hiding behind anything or anyone.�
�You�re lying to yourself Natalie.�
�I�m not lying to anyone.� She knew she sounded defensive, but she felt it. She always did when Emily wanted to talk about this subject.
�You can�t let what happened to Laura affect you for the rest of your life.�
�I�m not, and I don�t appreciate you bringing her up every time we talk about men.�
�I wish you could see yourself the way I do. She was my friend too, you know.�
�I know.�
Emily sat quietly for a moment, remembering the tragedy Natalie didn�t want to remember, she refused to think about the tragedy, so she buried herself in her beer.
Finally, Emily looked up and said, �I haven�t let it affect me, though it�s hard at times�.
�Wonderful for you.� Natalie was upset over the conversation and couldn�t understand why Emily insisted on talking about Laura. She didn�t understand why she kept bringing up this tragic part of their life, it was something that neither one of them would ever be able to forget. �I haven�t let it affect me either.�
�Nat, you are this confident, beautiful, independent woman when it comes to your work, but when it comes to men, you�re scared and you hide.�
�That�s not fair, you�re a business woman too, you understand how busy I am. I�m not hiding behind anything.� Emily worked for a local radio station as a disc jockey. She had her own radio talk show and had made a success out of her show, drawing in millions of listeners in the Houston and surrounding areas. But because of her accomplishments, she keeps odd hours, often filling in for other disc jockeys when they needed time off. If anyone understood how hard it was to find time to date it was Emily. The only difference there was, was that Emily had Dillon and no longer had to search for the right man.
�Don�t use work as the excuse with me.� Emily laughed, �I know how hard it is and I found someone.�
�You know I date.� Natalie defended herself.
�Yeah you date, you go out once or twice with a guy, then never talk to him again.�
�That�s not true.� She knew it was in her mind, she just wouldn�t admit it to her friend.
�Yes it is, you cut and run before you get close and actually start to like any of them. You�re afraid of what might happen if you fall in love with someone.� Emily stated.
�Can we change the subject?� She was tired of defending herself and would rather talk about anything other than her love life or Laura.
�Sure, why not? You won�t see the truth until you fall in love and you�re scared to death.�
�So about the island��
�Of course, any guy will have to lasso you to keep you from running away so you can fall in love with him.�
�How long did you say you were staying?� She tried in vain to change the subject and was turning blue in the face for her efforts.
�And he�ll have to have the patience of a saint, I�m not sure there is even a man like that out there for you.�
�That�s enough!� Natalie raised her voice loud enough that Joe and Sally looked worriedly over at them. Natalie grinned at them and waved, to let them know everything was fine, she then turned back to Emily. �Please.�
�Okay, you get the point.� Emily grinned
�Now about the island.� She hoped that Emily would discuss a safer topic now. �It all sounds wonderful.� She knew she�d sound skeptical again, but how could she not? It wasn�t every day that a millionaire offers you a free week on his vacation island. �I�m still not sure. It� sounds to me like you�re selling paradise here, and there�s always a catch. I�m still waiting for it, what is it?�
�No catches Nat. It�s simply that Cameron hasn�t been to the island in years and his family couldn�t go with him this time, so he decided to ask friends and have an all-out blast. When his family goes next, he won�t be able to go with them, he has plans with Gwen and her family.�
Okay, now for the obvious, Natalie thought. �Em, why don�t he and Gwen go by themselves? It sounds like the perfect romantic spot to be with your lover.�
�You know, I�m not sure. I haven�t asked. He made the offer and I didn�t care about the reasons, I agreed before he could change his mind!�
Natalie shook her head bewildered. Emily must really trust this Cameron guy, she was usually cautious about things, though not as guarded as Natalie. If Emily was ready to go just because this guy asked her to, then he must be a good guy. �Cameron sounds like Prince Charming, offering all of this and asking for nothing in return.�
�Cam is a great guy, a genuine sweetheart, and good looking to boot.�
�I didn�t know men like him existed.�
Emily laughed, �yeah, how true. As far as I know, Cam and Gwen are serious. I think marriage has been mentioned. So another good man down the drain.� She shrugged, �Anyway, back to the island. Cameron has stocked the house with enough food, water, sodas, and alcohol for an army. He�s sending the cleaning crew his father keeps on hand to ready the house and grounds for visitors. He�s told me the house has twelve bedrooms.�