She turned to Natalie, “You were right about it looking nicer in the dark. Those twinkly lights hanging from the ceiling make for a very romantic setting. And speaking of romance; where is your Romeo?”
Natalie giggled. “He’s in my father’s den getting the standard lecture.”
Amy’s heart pricked with jealousy. “I wish I had a father to lecture my boyfriends. Maybe then I wouldn’t have…”
Her voice trailed off. She was going to say chosen badly, but she couldn’t finish the sentence.
Natalie’s eyes softened as though she knew what Amy was going to say. She pointed to Emma and Jake. “It looks like you shouldn’t have left Dorothy with my brother. Is she always that flirty?”
Amy didn’t notice that Jonathon had moved to a corner of the room by himself. Her eyes were glued to Emma, who seemed to be chatting it up with Jake. The look on his face was an uncomfortable, yet polite sort of expression, and she could tell he needed rescuing from her overly-talkative best friend, but she was too busy admiring his rugged good looks.
Natalie cleared her throat. “I think you like Jake.”
Amy scoffed at her. “No. What makes you think that?”
Natalie tucked her arm in Amy’s thoughtfully.
“I can see it in your eyes. It’s the same way he looks at you. I’m not a little girl anymore like my father wants to think I am. I can tell when two people are in love.”
Amy’s heart did a summersault in her chest. She glanced back at Jake, and made eye-contact with him. Was Natalie right? Even from across the room, she could see the glimmer in his eyes when he looked at her. But was it love she was seeing in those blue eyes?
Jonathon approached her. “How’s the punch?”
Natalie squeezed her arm before walking away, and Amy wished she wouldn’t have left her alone with Jonathon, though she could hardly expect her to want to hang around when she had Romeo waiting for her.
“It’s very tangy, but tasty.”
Jonathon cleared his throat. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
“Me too.” Amy didn’t want to fight with him. They’d been friends for too long. They were friends, and deep down, she knew they were nothing more than that.
As the night wore on, Jonathon and Amy danced, while Emma monopolized Jake’s time. He didn’t look like he was having much fun, but then again, neither was she. She felt obligated to dance with Jonathon, but it felt nothing like her dance with Jake the night before.
Jonathon danced with Emma a few times, while Jake worked the crowd, but Amy always felt his eyes on her. When the party began to dwindle, Jonathon offered to take Emma back to the apartment above the bookstore, and Amy was relieved she wouldn’t have to carry on with the charade any longer. She also wanted the opportunity to spend some time with Jake since she hadn’t been able to have more than a minute’s worth of conversation with him all night without someone interrupting them. Mr. Bennington and Henry had poked their heads in the door for a few minutes just to make certain everyone was being civil, but Amy didn’t think that was the real reason. After all, they’d hired two “bouncers” who seemed to be doing a fine job of keeping everyone in line. For the most part, though, the crowd was an easygoing crowd. They could be loud and rambunctious at times, but they had better manners than most young party-goers.
The DJ, Jake’s friend, Eric, turned on another track before the two shook hands and Eric made his graceful exit. The lights twinkled above their heads, and the music played a soft ballad. They were the last two people in the room.
Alone at last.
Jake bowed politely and extended a hand to Amy. “May I have this dance?”
Amy smiled and put her hand in his. “I thought you’d never ask.”
It felt good to be in his arms—natural and inviting. He smelled so good, and his arms warmed her as they held her close to him. He leaned in closer and brushed his cheek against hers. She closed her eyes, wishing for more. She wanted to feel his soft lips touch hers, and let the sweet taste of his mouth delight her with excitement. Jake aroused a desire in her she’d never felt before, and she wanted to get lost in his passion the way she had when they shared a breath-taking kiss in the garden.
Suddenly, Jake’s lips met hers, his hands pulling her so close to him; she could feel the hardness of his body against hers. Her breaths came in exaggerated sighs as she tilted her head back, allowing his lips to roam. “You look so beautiful in that dress, it makes me want to marry you,” he whispered in her ear.
Amy straightened and looked him in the eye. “I thought you just wanted to be friends?”
Jake spoke in-between kisses. “I only agreed because I thought that’s what you wanted. But I can’t help myself; I’m falling in love with you.”
Amy kissed him hard on the mouth, the vigor of his words driving her. “I’m falling in love with you too.”
He smiled tenderly. “Then will you marry me?”
She kissed him again vehemently. “Yes. I would love to marry you.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Amy woke to the smell of coffee. She rolled over in her bed, glancing at the clock on her nightstand. She’d only gone to bed three hours ago, so she pulled a pillow over her head, not ready to face Jonathon or Emma just yet.
She let the sweetness of Jake’s love swim through her mind, not willing to let go of the happiness she felt. She wasn’t ready to tell Jonathon; she didn’t want to hurt him. How could she break the news to him? What would she possibly say that would make him understand? Maybe she didn’t want to make him understand. That wasn’t true. She needed him to understand.
Amy groaned. “What am I going to do?”
“About what?”
Amy tossed the pillow off her head and turned around in her bed to find Emma standing at the foot of her bed with a cup of steaming hot coffee in each hand.
Amy’s heart thumped at the site of her friend.
“I—I think I must have been dreaming.”
Emma sat on the edge of the bed and handed one of the cups to Amy. “Well from the sound of it, it couldn’t have been a very good dream.”
Emma stared at the wedding gown that Amy had tossed carelessly on the floor. “I wasn’t even sure if you were home.”
Amy was annoyed. “I haven’t been here long. What are you getting at?”
Emma pursed her lips. “I just wonder how Jonathon would feel if he knew.”
Amy set the coffee down hard on the nightstand next to the bed. “That isn’t your place to tell.”
Emma looked at Amy solemnly. “If you no longer want Jonathon, I’d be happy to take him off your hands.”
This was too easy, but certainly not the solution. She wasn’t going to just hand Jonathon off to Emma like he was a second-hand donation. She had to break it to him gently, and she definitely was not going to involve Emma. She wasn’t even sure she could trust Emma anymore to confide in her the feelings she had for Jake. They used to be able to talk about everything…but most of seemed to center around Jonathon. Amy suddenly felt alone in her conviction. They’d been invited to brunch at the mansion, and Amy wasn’t sure how she was going to get through it and keep her food down at the same time.
“I don’t want to talk about this right now. Let me sleep two more hours. We can talk on the way to brunch.”
“He’s a good man, Amy”
She didn’t need to be reminded of that. Jonathon had always been a safe-haven for her, but she no longer wanted to settle for safe.
Emma left the room without another word, and Amy felt relieved as she pulled the pillow back over her head and closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep.
Soon, thoughts of Jake drifted in, and her mind calmed as she listened to his whispering declarations of love while they replayed them over and over in her mind. She could almost feel the warmth of his body against hers as she drifted in and out of sleep. Jake’s smile taunted her, making her crave more from him; more than she had ever wanted from Jonathon, but he could never love he
r the way Jake did—gently, yet passionately.
****
When Amy finally stirred, she felt unnerved at how quiet her apartment was. She forced herself out of bed and shuffled lazily to the kitchen to make a fresh pot of coffee. A folded sheet of paper propped against the coffee maker bore her name on it. She lifted it and blinked a few times to wet her contacts enough to focus on the note.
Amy,
Jonathon stopped by and invited me to get some REAL coffee and a donut. I didn’t want to wake you again, but I figured it would be ok given the circumstances.
Emma
The circumstances?
Amy felt panic rise up in her throat. Would Emma risk their friendship by blabbing to Jonathon about something she didn’t even know for sure? It was all coming back to her in a fog. Emma had offered to take Jonathon off her hands. Was that what she was doing now? Amy had to think of a way out of this, and she had to figure it out before they returned. Since she had no idea what time they left, there was no telling how long she had before facing the possibility of losing both her best friends all at once. She had to admit she’d felt somewhat estranged from both of them since they’d arrived—almost as thought the two of them had continued on with their friendship without her these past months since they’d been separated.
She walked back to her room after setting the automated coffee pot to brew, and sighed as she noticed her grandmother’s wedding dress sprawled out on the floor carelessly. What would her grandmother think of her if she knew how careless she’d been with the antique? She bent down and scooped it in her arms and tossed it across the stool at the end of her bed. She didn’t have time to worry about the dress at the moment; she had to shower and be ready for whatever Jonathon and Emma threw at her when they returned. But what if they didn’t?
Amy rushed to the spare room to check for Emma’s things, and was relieved to see they were tossed about the room. At least she knew they would return. She glanced at the clock on the stove as she passed through to her room. She had only an hour to get ready before making the long drive to Jake’s for brunch. She wondered if Jonathon and Emma would still want to go with her.
****
Just as Amy was slipping her feet into her brown flats, she heard laughing coming from the living room. Jonathon and Emma had returned, and they seemed to be in good spirits. That was a good sign, wasn’t it? Amy stalled for a minute to listen while she surveyed her outfit in the mirror. She thought how dull she looked in all brown—maybe the pale yellow dress shirt would look better. She changed quickly and tried the outfit by putting on the tweed jacket.
That looks much better. If only it were this easy to fix everything else in my life.
But wasn’t that exactly what she was doing? Changing boyfriends like it was no more important a decision than changing her shirt? She knew she wasn’t that callous, but it would be tough to get Jonathon and Emma to see it any differently.
Amy took a deep breath, pasted a smile on her face and exited her room to the living room where the chatter and laughter stopped the minute she stepped into the room.
Jonathon’s smile was strained. “Hey sleepy-head. You missed out on the good coffee.”
He didn’t need to rub it in, but he knew she lived on Starbucks.
“That’s okay. Emma made me coffee before she left.”
He pointed to her coffee maker. “That stuff tastes like toilet water.”
Amy lips turned up. “Only you would know that Jonathon.”
He laughed. “Yeah, but you kiss this mouth, so I guess the joke is on you.”
Not anymore.
Emma rolled her eyes. She hadn’t said anything to him. He was joking with her as usual, and it felt good, even if it had to come to an end sometime during this weekend.
Maybe I’ll wait until he’s leaving to tell him. Or better yet, I’ll send him an email. But that would be cruel. I guess I’ll wait until after he has a full stomach. Maybe that’ll help. Maybe.
Emma looked at her sharply. “Are we driving together to the brunch, or do you have to stay after and help with cleanup?”
Her tone was almost snotty, but Amy played it off. “We can all ride together.”
****
Amy fidgeted nervously the entire drive there, occasionally catching Jonathon eyeing her in the rearview mirror. She sent Jake a text letting him know she hadn’t yet gotten the chance to talk with Jonathon about them, but he hadn’t responded. If he hadn’t gotten the text by the time they arrived at the mansion, she worried he might try to kiss her in front of Jonathon. She was not a confrontational kind of person, and worried Jonathon would make a scene in front of Jake’s family. She couldn’t have that; she really liked them and hoped they might be her family someday. She couldn’t have them thinking she was a loose woman. But what could she do? They were nearly there, and Jake had not answered a second text.
Jonathon caught her gaze in the rearview mirror. “You okay back there? You look like you’re going to wretch.”
“You know I get car-sick easily.”
Emma turned around to look at her. “Then why did you offer me the front seat?”
She knew why. She was just messing with Amy. But why was she acting like this? Was she hoping Amy would speak up and come out with what Emma herself was eager to learn? That was it. Emma was furious Amy hadn’t confided in her. Why else would she be tormenting her the way she was? Maybe that was the solution. Maybe she needed to run it by Emma first.
As they pulled in the brick drive to the mansion, Amy’s phone vibrated. She was relieved to see that Jake had sent an answer to her texts. Amy’s lips turned up at his text:
I figured u wouldn’t have time 2 talk 2 him yet. I kept u out 2 late last nite. I’m not sorry tho. xoxoxo
She stepped out of the car, stretching her legs and feeling eager to see Jake. The only thing that worried her was how she would get through the afternoon without being able to kiss him. She pushed the thought aside, reasoning that she could have a nice day with Jake without kissing him. After all, she’d done it all last week. And though it wasn’t easy, she’d managed it without falling apart.
Amy was grateful they’d arrived a little late. No sooner had Jake invited them in the door, and the dinner bell sounded.
Jake smiled at her. “You have perfect timing.”
The three of them followed Jake down the long corridor to the formal dining room where several family members were already seated. Jake offered for them to sit anywhere they liked. Jonathon took the nearest seat and held it out for Emma, then, offered the next one to Amy. Before she had a chance to sit, Henry patted the chair next to him and winked at her.
“Amy, you come and sit next to me. I haven’t seen you but once this week, and I’d like the chance to catch up a little bit.”
Amy looked at Jonathon. He nodded to her, and she walked to the other side of the table and took the chair next to Henry. When everyone was seated, Jake took the only chair left—the one on the other side of Amy. Henry cleared his throat and the crowded table fell silent. Everyone joined hands, and Henry began a lengthy prayer of thanks. Jake’s hand felt warm in hers, and her heart leaped every time he gave it a squeeze. Amy didn’t catch much of the prayer, but when it was over; Jake pulled her hand below the table and gave it one last squeeze. She felt giddy sitting next to him, but with Jonathon sitting across from them, and Emma flashing her disapproving looks, she wasn’t sure how she would get through the meal.
Henry patted Amy’s arm. “Jake showed me the pictures from the party on the computer this morning. I wanted to ask you where you got that unusual wedding dress you were wearing.”
Amy put down her fork and wiped the corner of her mouth with her napkin, then, replaced it on her lap. Before she brought her hand back to the table, Jake’s hand met hers and he gave it a squeeze. She pulled her hand back and poked his ribs before answering Henry.
“I found the dress in my grandmother’s attic in an old steamer trunk.”
Henry b
ecame misty-eyed. “I have to tell you that you looked just like Annabelle in that dress. When Jake showed me those pictures, I thought I was seeing a ghost.”
Amy was unsure of his seriousness. “All my life I’ve been told I could be my grandmother’s twin. I’ve seen pictures and they look just like me. Grandma Annie says it even more now that I’m older.”
Henry’s eyes lit up. “What did you say was your grandmother’s name?”
“Her name is Annie Mayfield.”
Henry put his hand to his chin as though her were deep in thought. “Do you happen to know what her maiden name was?”
Amy thought for a moment. “No, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard my mother or my grandmother talk about it. My mother has told me stories about her Grandma Ellie, but I’m afraid I don’t really know very much about my family history.”
“Well perhaps next time I come to visit you at the bookstore you could introduce me to your grandmother.”
Amy cringed. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to do that for a while. She’s traveling right now, and I’m not altogether sure when she’s coming back.”
A Secret in the Attic (Mystery/Suspense/Romance) Page 6
