If Only Forever

by Sophie Love

  Emily sat and took a deep breath. “Chantelle sang beautifully. It was truly wonderful. The Christmas dinner was a success, although we missed you being there, of course. And wedding planning has taken a back seat. I’d rather not talk about it.”

  Trevor seemed to understand. “May I ask, did you hear anything back from your father?”

  Emily shook her head. “I was hoping that Christmas would be the prompt but no. Nothing.”

  “You’re disappointed,” Trevor said.

  Emily nodded, and for the first time she realized just how much Trevor had taken on the role of a counselor, offering her sympathy and care, listening with patience to her troubles. All this time she thought she’d been the one caring for him but he had been caring for her just as greatly. She would miss his camaraderie so much when he was gone.

  “But you still have hope?” Trevor asked. “Hope that he will get in touch one day?”

  “I don’t know if I do.”

  “But you must,” Trevor replied. “You’ve gotten closer to him than ever before. You are almost there. Just hold onto that hope. Because there is always a chance things will change. Even when things look hopeless, you must have hope.”

  Emily sat and absorbed his words. Trevor was right. She shouldn’t give up on her father, especially not now, when she was so close. Perhaps her dad would surprise her yet.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Daniel’s hands covered Emily’s eyes as they stood beside the white curtain concealing the living room. Daniel had worked flat out all week on the renovation work and, despite the tight deadline, had gotten everything ready in time for the party. He was ready now for the grand reveal.

  Chantelle was beside them, covering her eyes with her hands, jiggling up onto the balls of her feet and back down again with barely contained excitement.

  “Ta-da!” Daniel exclaimed, and he tore the curtain down.

  Emily and Chantelle rushed into the living room.

  Daniel’s renovation work was spectacular. Emily could hardly believe how talented he was. The whole fake wall had been removed and replaced with a dark red velvet curtain which Daniel had tied to the side with a golden cord so that it looked like the curtain of a theatre stage.

  He’d varnished and polished the wooden bar, as well as all the stools, tables, and chairs that they’d found originally in the secret room. He’d reupholstered the red velvet fabric of the booths and stools, had dusted all the old bottles, filled the optics, buffed the mirror so it was gleaming, restocked the shelves with glasses, scrubbed the dark red carpet so it was bright and welcoming.

  “Wow!” Chantelle exclaimed. “It’s awesome!”

  Daniel looked very pleased with himself, and quite rightly, Emily thought. He was so talented and she could not have been more proud of him.

  “This is going to be the best party ever,” Chantelle said. Then her eyes widened with a sudden spark of inspiration. “Are there going to be fireworks?”

  Emily nodded enthusiastically. “They’re already set up in the garden.”

  “All ready for the stroke of midnight,” Daniel replied. “I’ll light them just as soon as I’ve finished smooching Emily.”

  Chantelle pulled a disgusted face. “Gross.”

  Emily laughed.

  “Well, we’d better start getting everything ready,” she said.

  They ran upstairs and changed into their 1920s attire. Emily helped Chantelle change into a dark purple vintage purple dress and styled her hair with a side parting and gelled kiss curl. Then as the little girl played in her room, Emily got herself ready. She wore dramatic makeup, with ruby red lips and fake lashes. She gelled her hair in the same style as Chantelle’s and then slid on some lace elbow-length gloves.

  Her look complete, she twirled in the mirror, the fringes on her flapper dress shimmying as she did.

  “You look gorgeous,” Daniel said, appearing in the bedroom behind her.

  Emily took in the sight of his tux and flashed him a grin. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

  She glanced at her watch. The guests would be arriving any minute for the evening meal. Hopefully none of them would have guessed why the theme for tonight’s party was Prohibition era, though Emily had received several queries as to whether that meant it was a liquor-free party. Little did they know what they were in store for.

  Right on time, the doorbell rang. Emily answered it. It was Wesley and Suzanna.

  “Happy New Year,” Wesley said. He handed Emily a bottle of champagne.

  “This looks expensive,” Emily said.

  “Oh, it is,” Wesley informed her. Then he added in a conspiratorial whisper, “I won it in a wine merchants auction.”

  He winked and Emily laughed.

  Wesley removed his coat to reveal his pinstripe suit. Emily clapped with delight.

  “He does scrub up rather well,” Suzanna said in her usual timid voice. She herself looked divine in a peach fringe dress and kitten heels. She had slicked her hair over into a side parting. It suited her.

  “You look gorgeous,” Emily said. “Positively glowing.”

  Suzanna blushed.

  Daniel greeted them both and led them into the dining room to take their seats. As he went, the doorbell rang and Emily answered the door to Serena.

  “I’m so happy to see you!” Emily cried, pulling her friend into a tight embrace.

  “I’ve only been gone a week,” Serena laughed, her voice strangled by the force of Emily’s hug.

  “Some weeks are longer than others,” Emily replied.

  Serena looked incredible as always, and had put a lot of effort into her 1920s outfit. She’d even handmade her own sequined headband.

  “So, are we having this party in the speakeasy?” Serena asked.

  Emily put a finger to her lip to shush her. “No one else knows. It’s a surprise.”

  “Oh!” Serena said, lowering her voice. She winked. “Got it.”

  As Serena headed toward the dining room, Yvonne and Kieran arrived at the door. Emily was overjoyed to see them. She hugged them both tightly.

  “How was Paris?” she asked Kieran, who looked very dapper in a gray suit.

  Kieran rolled his eyes. “Well, my girls are teenagers now so their conversational skills have diminished to unhappy grunting.” Everyone laughed. “But it was lovely, really. Although I missed this one.” He slung his arm around Yvonne and kissed her. “And our little monster, of course.”

  “Speaking of, where is Bailey tonight?” Emily asked.

  “We left her with the sitter,” Yvonne explained. “It’s been just the two of us for weeks. Mommy needs a break. And a stiff shot of liquor.”

  Emily laughed. “Well, there’s plenty of that.”

  The couple went off to join the others in the dining room, leaving Emily in the hall to greet the remaining guests. Then once everyone had arrived, they all congregated in the dining room for a glass of champagne before settling down for a meal.

  Chantelle fidgeted all through the meal. She was too excited about seeing the renovated bar and was struggling to continue to keep it a secret. Emily kept glancing over at her as she bounced on her seat and pressed her lips together as though keeping them sealed was a physical impossibility. As soon as everyone had finished their dessert and had their glasses topped up with champagne, Emily went over to Chantelle’s seat.

  “I think it’s time to make the announcement,” she whispered in Chantelle’s ear.

  The little girl’s eyes pinged open, a mixture of excitement and fear. “Now?”

  Emily nodded with encouragement. “Just say your lines, exactly as we practiced them.” Then she stood and tapped her glass with a spoon to get everyone’s attention.

  Chantelle gulped, all eyes on her.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” she began, “we would like to invite you to a very special, secret event. The most exclusive club in Sunset Harbor. You are hereby welcome to the grand opening of the Sunset Speakeasy.” Everyone looked aroun
d at each other in bemusement. “Please, follow me,” Chantelle finished.

  She led the way out of the dining hall, a line of intrigued guests following her. Then she opened the living room door and everyone streamed in, gasping with surprise and wonder.

  Emily swelled with pride as her friends glanced around the speakeasy with shock and awe. They looked so fitting in their outfits. The sight delighted Emily.

  “This is just fabulous,” Yvonne exclaimed. “I can’t believe what I’m seeing.”

  Kieran put on an exaggerated Boston accent as he leaned against the bar and said, “Can I buy you a Manhattan, little missy?”

  Behind the bar, dressed up for the occasion, was Serena’s friend Alec, who had been more than happy to work for triple time on New Year’s Eve. He made up a batch of Manhattans for everyone and they began milling around, gushing over the amazing restoration work.

  “Aren’t you drinking?” Emily asked Suzanna when she realized her friend wasn’t holding a cocktail glass.

  Suzanna shook her head. “I’m too much of a lightweight for liquor!”

  “I can get you something else,” Emily said. “There’s rosé if you’d prefer.”

  Suzanna shook her head again and dipped her eyes. Emily suddenly realized why her friend was refusing alcohol.

  “Are you…?” she began to ask.

  But she didn’t need to finish her question because Suzanna’s eyes lit up and she nodded her head vigorously.

  “Eleven weeks,” Suzanna said, touching her belly with a protective hand. “We wanted to wait one more until announcing it.”

  Emily could hardly contain her excitement. “This is amazing!” she squealed. “I’m so happy for you!”

  It wasn’t that long ago that Suzanna and Wesley had been stagnated with their lives, he in a job he didn’t like, she with only one child because their finances were too tight for a second. Now Wesley had started his wine business and Suzanna was pregnant! Emily couldn’t be happier for them.

  As the evening drew on, the liquor flowed freely. Kieran instigated a dance-off, which involved lots of hand jives and attempts to Charleston.

  “Want to try a Lindy-hop?” Daniel asked Emily as he twirled her on the spot.

  “Absolutely not!” she laughed.

  Then a sleepy-looking Chantelle was tugging at the hem of Emily’s dress.

  “What’s up, sweetie?” Emily asked. “Do you want to go to bed?”

  Chantelle shook her head. “I want to stay up for the fireworks,” she said.

  “Of course,” Emily said. She picked Chantelle up in her arms so the sleepy girl could be part of the dancing with Daniel.

  They danced, giggling, until they were exhausted and out of breath.

  “We’d better get everyone outside,” Daniel said, noticing that the time was nearing midnight.

  “Good idea,” Emily agreed.

  Emily shooed her giddy, tipsy guests out onto the porch, where they all huddled together for warmth.

  “Let the countdown commence!” she cried.

  Everyone joined in counting down from ten.

  “Three…two…one! Happy New Year!!!”

  Daniel planted a sumptuous kiss on Emily’s lips, holding her tightly against his body.

  “The fireworks,” she prompted when they finally pulled apart.

  Daniel quickly lit them and the rockets flew into the air, bursting with color. Everyone clapped and cheered.

  “What’s your New Year’s resolution?” Emily asked Daniel.

  “Making even more memories to cherish,” he said, kissing her. “What’s yours?”

  “Marrying you,” Emily replied.

  She hadn’t forgotten her resolution to herself, to pin Daniel down to some wedding details. Now she just had to make sure she followed through.

  Just then, Suzanna maneuvered herself to the front of the crowd.

  “My resolution is to be more fearless,” Suzanna said. “So I may as well start now. We’re pregnant!”

  An even louder cheer went up, so loud it could probably be heard from any spot in Sunset Harbor. To a backdrop of sparkling color, everyone hugged and cheered, filled with love and gratitude to have each other.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  The next morning Emily awoke to a pounding head and a mess of a B&B. She went down to the porch to get a bit of fresh air, where empty champagne glasses were still strewn, with popped balloons and streamers blowing gently in the breeze.

  As she stood there surveying the carnage, Emily felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Amy’s name flashed up on the screen. Emily answered the call.

  “Happy New Year!” Amy screamed into the phone, so loud Emily almost dropped it.

  “Happy New Year to you too,” Emily replied, wincing.

  “Are you hung over?” Amy probed.

  “Of course I am!” Emily exclaimed. “We had the grand unveiling of the speakeasy bar last night. There was lots of jazz and Manhattans and attempts at doing the Charleston.”

  “Sounds fab,” Amy replied. There was a lilt to her voice.

  “What did you get up to?” Emily asked with curious suspicion.

  “Well, I met a very handsome man at midnight,” Amy replied, giggling.

  “You did?” Emily exclaimed. “Tell me everything!”

  “Later,” Amy replied. “First I want to know how everything is going with the wedding planning. Have you decided on a venue yet?”

  “We still haven’t seen anywhere else,” Emily confessed. “Daniel’s been diverting my attention with parties.” She couldn’t help her fear that Daniel had been trying to keep her mind away from wedding topics. “But it’s a new year and a new me. I won’t stand for any more shirking!”

  “Good,” Amy said. “So when do you start?”

  “Today. He won’t be up for it, though. He’s even more hung over than I am.”

  “Never mind about that,” Amy replied. “You’re booking a venue appointment, not running a marathon. I’m sure he can cope.”

  Encouraged by Amy, Emily took a coffee up to Daniel in bed. He groaned as he accepted it. Then she pulled back the curtains and light streamed into the bedroom.

  “Why are you torturing me?” Daniel said, covering his head with the duvet.

  Emily pulled the cover away. “You’re not a vampire. You can handle a bit of light.”

  “Why are you trying to wake me up?” Daniel asked, somewhat suspicious.

  “Wedding,” Emily stated, trying to remain confident. “I would like to make an appointment to look at another venue.”

  Daniel tried to keep his weary eyelids open. “Now?”

  Emily immediately felt her resolve begin to weaken. “Yes. Now. We haven’t made any plans for weeks.”

  “Well, we’ve been a bit busy,” Daniel replied a little tersely. “Christmas. New Year. Renovating the bar. It’s not exactly like we’ve been short on things to organize.”

  “I know,” Emily replied, feeling herself grow irritated. “But this is important.”

  Daniel rubbed the place between his eyebrows. “Okay. Fine. Where do you want to look?”

  “That place I saw while shopping in Kittery,” Emily began.

  Daniel looked nonplussed. “Kittery is quite a long drive away. And it’s not like it has anything particularly different to offer. Harbor town. Coastal views. We have that here.”

  “But it looked nice,” Emily replied. “Look.” She grabbed the wedding brochure of venues in Maine from the bedside cabinet and flicked through until she found the pictures of the beautifully converted orangery. The glass canopy looked amazing in the sunlight.

  “We’ll have to have a summer wedding if we go here,” Daniel said. “Can you imagine how awful it would be if it was raining?”

  Emily could tell he was trying to make a joke but she wasn’t in the mood.

  “Is that all you have to say?” she replied, snapping the magazine shut.

  Daniel gave her a confused expression. “We can look there if
you want. I was only joking.”

  “Well, I do want,” she replied with a pout. “I’m going to call them right now and make an appointment.”

  Emily shuffled off the bed and took her phone to the porch in order to give herself a bit of distance from Daniel. Before she called the venue she quickly texted Amy to tell her of her success. Her friend wrote back immediately, congratulating her for finding the confidence to address the issue.

  Emily typed in the venue’s number and listened to the dial tone. A woman answered in a cordial manner, introducing herself as Simone.

  “I’d like to book an appointment,” Emily told her. “As soon as possible, really.”

  “I actually have a free booking today,” Simone explained. “Not many people want to look at venues on News Year’s Day, as you can imagine.”

  Of course no one would want to book a meeting on New Year’s. Everyone knew they’d be too hung over to attend. It was only she and her sheer persistence that meant she and Daniel could make themselves available.

  “That’s perfect,” Emily said. “We’ll head straight there. See you in an hour?”

  “I look forward to it.”

  Emily ended the call and rushed back up to the bedroom to discover that Daniel had pulled the covers back over his head. She plopped down on the bed beside him.

  “Great news,” she said. “We have an appointment in an hour.”

  Daniel looked surprised. “An hour? But what about Chantelle? We won’t be able to book a playdate for her on such short notice.”

  “She can come with us,” Emily replied. “You know how much she enjoys it.”

  Daniel seemed flustered by the sudden booking and sighed heavily as he went to wake up Chantelle and get her ready for the day. Emily felt frustrated by his attitude. Why was he such a nightmare every time they did anything wedding related? His attitude filled her with self-doubt.

  As she got herself ready for the journey, she received several texts from Amy about the venue they were about to see. Amy had clearly immediately gone online to research it. Emily wanted to feel excited too but in actuality she was quite stressed about the whole thing. Amy’s enthusiasm was in such contrast to Daniel’s flatness. She would prefer it if their attitudes were switched, if Daniel was the one excitedly researching the venue.