by Sophie Love
Everyone laughed. Everyone except Emily. Her head was swimming. Once again she had no answers. Nothing had been arranged. Barely anything had been discussed. She had no idea if Daniel would want a lazy honeymoon in the sun, or an adventurous one backpacking around Europe. Would he want to ride his bike through the mountains of Italy or row a boat in the lakes of Slovenia? Would he want to go skydiving or snowboarding? Or would he want to be pampered in a luxury spa? Or detox in a yoga retreat? She literally had no clue!
As her mind was running through these thoughts, Emily suddenly noticed a figure approaching them that was very familiar. Daniel?
Seeing him emerge through the snow sent a jolt of pleasure through her chest. She ran up to him.
“What are you doing here?” she said.
Daniel was beaming with what she recognized as accomplishment. “Jack gave me the rest of the day off since the workshop was freezing cold.”
He slid his hand in hers and they strolled slowly toward the rest of the group, swinging their hands between them as they walked.
“How did it go?” Emily asked,
Daniel grinned. “It was amazing. It was like how I redid the kitchen in the carriage house times a million.”
Emily felt happy for Daniel but anguish still rolled in her stomach. She was proud of his achievements, but she herself felt tender, almost bruised, by the questions her friends had asked about the wedding and her complete inability to answer them.
“How’s it going here?” Daniel asked. “Did you take any photos for me?”
Emily handed him the camera and he scrolled through, gushing over the pictures of Chantelle in the snow. He laughed with abandon at her funny expressions.
They reached the others and everyone exchanged greetings. At the top of the hill, it was Chantelle’s turn to go down. She hadn’t noticed Daniel yet. He watched proudly as his fearless daughter leapt onto the sled and began the descent. Half way down the hill she noticed that he was there and the grin that burst across her face warmed Emily’s heavy heart. But it wasn’t quite enough to alleviate her anguish.
“Daddy!” Chantelle cried, landing at the bottom of the hill in a heap of snow. She jumped up immediately and rushed into his arms. “Will you sled with me?”
“Of course,” Daniel replied.
He handed the camera back to Emily and rushed off up the hill with Chantelle. Emily took a picture of them waving at the top, and another as they settled onto the sled together. Then she took a series of funny action shots as they whooshed down the hill together, looking like two peas in a pod.
“That was fast,” Daniel exclaimed, standing up and shaking the snow from his hair.
“Let’s go again,” Chantelle cried.
“Sure!” Daniel agreed, and the two ran off again.
Emily watched, smiling, though feeling somewhat melancholy.
Slowly, her friends began to head off home, too cold to stay outside, taking their weary children with them. True to her nature, Chantelle wasn’t deterred by the chill at all and they soon found themselves alone in the park, the last ones standing.
“Shall we go out for dinner tonight?” Daniel suggested as the sky began to fade behind him. “We are celebrating, after all.”
“We are?” Emily asked, distracted.
“My first day of work,” Daniel said.
He seemed elated, like he was on a high. In fact, he seemed as happy as Emily had felt earlier that morning. But her friends’ innocent, excited questions had put her in a bad mood.
“I’d prefer to eat at home,” she said. “I don’t want to drive in this weather.”
“It’s fine,” Daniel contested. “Trust me. I got to work and back no problem.”
“Well, it wasn’t dark then,” Emily snapped. “And we have a fridge full of food at home. I thought we were supposed to be saving money for the wedding, not burning through what little we have on frivolous meals out.”
Her tone was sharp enough to alarm Chantelle. The little girl looked up at her with a frightened expression.
Daniel frowned. “What’s wrong now?” he asked.
Emily just shook her head. She was too tender to speak about it, too overwhelmed. The day had started out with so much promise, but as they strolled back to the B&B, cold and tired from overexertion, Emily felt herself deflate. A fatigue seemed to be enveloping her, not just a physical exhaustion, but an emotional one as well. There was just too much going on for her mind to process and she was taking it out on Daniel and Chantelle.
As soon as they got back home, Emily took herself quietly upstairs, stating that she needed some alone time. She undressed and took a long, hot shower, trying to banish the cold that seemed to have permeated her very bones. Then she dressed in her warmest pajamas and crawled under the duvet, pulling it right up over her head. Exhausted to her core, she let herself fall into a deep, deep sleep.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
It came as a welcome relief to Emily when Jayne and Amy arrived for their long weekend visit. She’d started to feel so bogged down by the drama of her life that she’d been craving something to bring her back to reality, and her New York City friends would be just that. The only downside to their arrival was that Amy had always been suspicious of Daniel, and Jayne had always been far too vocal about how attractive he was. Subjecting him to scrutiny and ogling was not something Emily was looking forward to.
Thankfully, Daniel was at Jack Cooper’s workshop and safely out of the way when Emily heard the thrumming engine of Amy’s car coming up the drive. She rushed out onto the porch, wrapping a woolen sweater around her shoulders as her friend’s brand new, sparkling white Chrysler 300 roared up the driveway. Business must be going well then, Emily concluded.
Jayne was hopping out of the car before Amy had even killed the engine.
“Em!” she cried, rushing for her friend and hugging her tightly. The sensation of her new breast implants against Emily’s chest was somewhat alarming.
“You’re looking… different,” Emily said when Jayne finally let her go.
“Oh, you mean these?” Jayne said, grabbing her chest. “First thing I bought with my work bonus. Not sure if I’m keeping them, though. They’re heavy.”
Emily raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure you can just put them in and take them out again.”
Jayne shrugged. Just then, Amy got out of the car, flinging her unnecessary shades onto her seat before slamming the door. She strode up to Emily, looking more professional than ever, and air kissed her.
“You’ve got new wheels,” Emily noted.
Amy wiggled her eyebrows. “Who knew scented candles could be such a sweet little earner? Sure you don’t want to get a slice of the pie?”
Emily rolled her eyes. “Not that again. I’ve told you a million times I’m happy here. I’m happy with my life in Sunset Harbor.”
“And having a ring on your finger,” Amy added. “So, show us then!”
Feeling a little embarrassed, Emily presented her left hand to her friends.
“Oh Emily, it’s gorgeous,” Amy gasped.
“Where are the diamonds?” Jayne said flatly.
Amy slapped her arm and Jayne narrowed her eyes.
“No diamonds,” Emily explained. “Daniel and I like unique things, antiques. The pearls represent the ocean.”
Amy’s hand fluttered to her chest as she pulled a touched expression. Jayne, on the other hand, grimaced.
“But is it still worth something?” she asked. “Like, if he were to break your heart you’d still be able to pawn it and get something for your trouble?”
Now it was Emily’s turn to smack Jayne’s arm. Amy’s broken engagement wasn’t too far in the past yet for the pain to have lessened and Jayne of all people should have been aware of that.
If Amy felt stung, she didn’t show it on her face. She seemed to have grown a steely exterior since Emily had last seen her, though Emily couldn’t help but wonder whether it was just for show. The last time Amy had been here
she’d been a sobbing mess, a heartbroken, deceived woman. She ought not to feel embarrassed in front of Emily; she had nothing to be ashamed of.
“Come on, let’s get inside, shall we?” Emily said. “You must have woken up super early to get here at this time.”
“We’re used to early starts now, aren’t we, Jayne?” Amy laughed as they all began to walk back to the house. “Trading overseas means keeping to international times. We’ve had conference calls at three a.m., five a.m., pretty much all the a.m.’s you can think of.”
Jayne nodded her head with mock solemnity, making Amy laugh. Emily couldn’t help but feel a little left out. Her two best friends were achieving so much together, living a dream come true. She had to remind herself that they didn’t have Sunset Harbor, that they didn’t have Daniel or Chantelle.
“Where’s the kid?” Jayne asked as they entered the inn, passing Lois at the front desk and heading into the kitchen, which was quiet now the lunch shift was over.
“Chantelle,” Emily prompted. “She’s at school at the moment, then she’s going for a playdate after. You should see her, guys. I mean she was doing pretty well last time you were here but now she’s just soaring. The progress she’s made.”
Jayne made a disgusted noise. “You sound like her mom!” she said.
Emily frowned. “I am her mom.”
Silence fell and hung awkwardly in the air. Everyone hopped onto kitchen stools, as if for something to do.
“Let’s talk wedding,” Amy said, trying to change the topic. “You know I’m literally over the moon for you. Honestly, that whole Fraser thing is old news. It’s all about you now.”
“Thanks,” Emily said quietly, uncomfortable to be the center of attention. When Amy was the bride-to-be she’d lapped up the attention. Emily couldn’t picture herself being in the spotlight like that. Being with her friends gave Emily the confidence to finally admit it. “I’m actually getting a bit overwhelmed about the whole thing.”
“Babe,” Amy said, grabbing her hand across the breakfast bar. “We have totally got this covered. Honestly, you could leave the whole thing to us and you know you would end up with the perfect wedding. We know you inside and out.”
Emily felt comforted by Amy’s assurance, though she wasn’t quite so certain that they did know her inside and out anymore.
Amy must have sensed her hesitation.
“Look, I know I haven’t always been that supportive over this whole thing.” She gestured widely, as though to encompass the whole B&B. “But I’ve got your back now, okay? I mean, you saw how awesome my wedding was going to be.” She laughed, and it really did seem as though Fraser was old news. “Remember how I wanted to be a wedding planner once? Before the candle business took over?”
“Yeah, vaguely,” Emily laughed, casting her mind back to high school Amy, to the creative girl who’d had dreams that were derailed when her college dorm room business took over.
Amy’s hand was still on hers—bejeweled now, Emily noted, with silver rings and bracelets, all expensive looking—and she squeezed.
“I want to help you plan,” she said.
“Oh,” Emily replied, shocked. “You do?”
Amy nodded brightly. “Yes! For free. Can I?”
Emily thought of Chantelle’s bullet point list, the huge number of tasks they needed to work through. If Amy could take some of that burden off her shoulders that would be amazing. Just the thought seemed to lift some of the weight from her.
Seeing that Emily was faltering, Amy added, “Fraser and I argued a lot over wedding things. It was stressful. I don’t want you and Daniel going through that.”
“We have been bickering,” Emily admitted.
“Well, there you go,” Jayne said, butting into the conversation she’d been otherwise locked out of and clearly craving the sound of her own voice once more. “All settled. Amy organizes the wedding. I take over as acting director at the candle business…”
Amy sighed. “We’ll talk about that later,” she said to Jayne with a laugh. “This trip is all about Emily.”
For the first time, Emily felt like a burst of life had been breathed into the stalled wedding preparations. Suddenly rejuvenated, Emily remembered the speakeasy.
“I have something amazing to show you guys,” she said, hopping down from the breakfast bar. “Come with me.”
Her friends exchanged a look as they followed her out of the kitchen, along the corridor, into the living room, and through the alcove into the newly uncovered bar-come-speakeasy.
“This is incredible!” Jayne cried. “I mean it stinks of dust but that can be resolved.”
She reached into her purse and pulled out a small glass bottle of perfume and began spraying it around her. The pungent smell made Emily cough.
Everyone settled onto the red velvet stools and Emily poured them each a drink of vintage liquor.
“So when’s Daniel home?” Amy asked, her elbow propped on the bar. “I have a ton of questions to ask him.”
Emily checked her watch and saw that it was approaching five p.m. She squirmed. “Nowish. But he’s got a new job doing carpentry in town and has to work late sometimes.”
Jayne raised an eyebrow. “Has to? Or chooses to?”
Amy and Emily both glared at her.
“Joke,” she said with a shrug.
“Why don’t we call him?” Amy said.
Emily shook her head. “Not at work. It’s a new job. He doesn’t want to give a bad impression.”
“Okay, well, I’m not letting him off the hook,” Amy replied. “I will be grilling him later.”
As if on cue, Emily heard the distant sound of Daniel’s pickup truck coming up the gravel drive. He must have made the effort to come home early in order to see her friends. Emily smiled to herself, touched by the gesture.
“That will be him now,” she informed her friends.
A moment later, Daniel poked his head around the wall partition that still separated the speakeasy from the living room.
“Hey, guys,” he said, shyly.
It always surprised Emily to see Daniel turn timid. It reminded her of how aloof he’d seemed to her when they’d first met, an aloofness she’d learned was actually him being guarded.
“Come in,” Amy said, as though this were her house. “Take a seat.”
Daniel wasn’t about to argue with Amy’s sternness. He hurried in and sat down. Thanks to the dim lighting and the antiquated setting, Emily felt as though she were witnessing a mafia interrogation. Daniel certainly looked about as terrified as if it really were one!
Amy wasted no time. “Now, don’t think too hard about your answers,” she said. “We’re going to do a quick fire round. Okay?”
Daniel’s eyes widened. He looked at Emily as though appealing for help. She just shrugged.
“How big of a wedding do you want?” Amy asked.
“Small,” Daniel said. “Intimate.”
“How many people do you want in your groom’s party?”
Daniel faltered. “None. Just a best man.”
“And who will be your best man?”
“George, I guess,” Daniel said, shrugging. “Or Jack?”
Emily frowned. “Your boss?”
Daniel looked alarmed. “Is that a bad idea?”
“Shh,” Amy told Emily, stopping her before she could answer. “Don’t say a word. This is quick fire, remember. There are no wrong answers.”
“Okay, but—” Emily began. She couldn’t finish. Amy had covered her mouth with her hand. Emily gave up with a sigh.
“Maybe I could get in touch with some of my old friends,” Daniel said. “There were some guys in Tennessee I was close to when I was younger.”
At the mention of Tennessee, Emily wished she hadn’t interrupted. Tennessee was Sheila’s domain. Surely any friends Daniel still had from there would have known her. And he was a different man back then, he’d told her as much. That was when he was in his bad-boy phase, when he’d gotten hi
s conviction. She was wary of that Daniel.
“Do you still have their numbers?” Amy asked.
Daniel nodded, something that also surprised Emily. Daniel wasn’t much of a talker. She couldn’t imagine him chatting on the phone with anyone.
“Great,” Amy said, breezily. “Give them a call so we can get a feel for numbers. It will really help with the rest of the preparations, you know the venue, et cetera.”
Daniel just kept on nodding. Amy was clearly someone he didn’t feel comfortable standing up to. But thanks to her grilling session, they’d made more progress with the wedding preparations in three minutes than Emily had managed in three weeks!
“You can get those calls done tomorrow morning,” Amy concluded, clapping her hands. “While we’re in town looking at wedding dresses.”
Now it was Emily’s turn to look petrified. “Wedding dresses?” she squeaked.
At the same time, Jayne clapped loudly and exclaimed, “Wedding dresses!”
“Of course!” Amy exclaimed. “You need to try on as many as you possibly can so that you know exactly what you like and exactly what you don’t. This is the one time in your life when you will get to wear a tailor-made gown. You have to make sure it’s perfect.”
Emily squirmed.
“I’ve got a whole itinerary,” Amy said, producing a notebook from her purse.
“You do?”
“Of course.” Amy grinned. “I came prepared.”
Daniel stood then.
“Where are you going?” Emily asked, her voice an octave higher than usual.
Daniel smirked. “Sounds like it’s your turn for a quick fire round,” he said, laughing. “I think I’ll leave you ladies to it.”
“You’re not off the hook yet!” Amy called to his retreating figure. “I expect you to have called at least five people by midday tomorrow!”
No longer in sight, Emily heard Daniel call out, “Got it!”
With trepidation, Emily turned back to Amy, ready to face the wrath of the inquisitor.
*
Bright and early the next day, Emily found herself herded down the main street.
