by Sophie Love
Just then, Serena waltzed in for her shift, slinging her leather satchel onto the reception desk with a thud.
“You are not going to believe this,” she said to Emily, grinning widely, a glint in her eye. “Owen finally asked me out!”
She looked happier than Emily had ever seen her.
“That’s amazing,” Emily gushed. “I’m so glad.” Then she let out a breath. “Took him long enough!”
“I know,” Serena replied. “Better late than never. I suppose he just needed the Valentine’s Day prompt.” She picked absent-mindedly at the petals of the red and pink bouquet Raj had delivered that morning. “We’re driving out of town. He’s taking me to a restaurant.”
“But you’re both supposed to be working tonight,” Emily said. There was no way Lois could handle all these guests on her own, and she’d booked Owen to play a romantic movie soundtrack over dinner!
“Don’t worry. I’ve got cover,” Serena said. “Marnie will do the desk. And Alec said he’d help out too.” She gave a little shrug. “I thought Owen just played for free, when he felt like it. It’s not like you pay him.”
Emily let out an exhalation. She wished Serena hadn’t taken it upon herself to reorganize the shift pattern. And Marnie was a housekeeper, not a hostess! It should be Emily’s decision whether she changed roles or not. It made Emily realize then that the inn was starting to become bigger than she’d anticipated. No longer was it a case of her friends chipping in to help her out. Serena’s priorities were changing, especially as she was soon heading into the final year of her studies. She’d been neglecting her work with Rico for Emily’s benefit. Maybe it was time to look for new staff.
“What about you and Daniel?” Serena asked, jolting Emily out of her thoughts. “Are you two celebrating Valentine’s?”
As though on cue, Daniel came down the stairs. Other than his cast—which was scrawled in Chantelle’s doodles and well wishes, not to mention some choice sparkly stickers—he was looking healthy and well put together. Emily felt a spark of fire alight inside of her.
Once he’d reached the bottom step, she sidled up to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. Daniel tightened her against him.
“We’re off for a cliff walk,” she said. “It would have been a bike ride but someone wrecked his bike.” She gave Daniel a look of light-hearted disapproval.
“Then we’re spending some family time together in the evening,” Daniel added.
Neither had wanted to hit the town, to spend the evening out, favoring instead to spend some time as a family. Chantelle’s request was to bake heart-shaped cookies and decorate them with sprinkles, so that was the plan. The cliff walk was for Emily and Daniel’s private enjoyment while Chantelle was at school.
“Well, enjoy yourselves,” Serena said, waving them off.
Emily and Daniel left the inn together and got into Emily’s car. During his recuperation, she’d taken over all the driving duties and the pickup truck had sat idle in the garage.
Emily drove them up the hills—which would take them at least a third of the way up the cliffs—then parked in one of the designated bays. The hike would take a few hours and though the wind was brisk, with winter still biting in the air, the first signs of spring were evident, from the lighter evenings to the daffodils just starting to germinate.
They climbed the cliffside path arm in arm, hand in hand, maintaining physical contact with one another the whole time. The beautiful ocean views opened up beside them, the empty harbor looking more like a toy town from this distance.
“It’s almost time for the boats,” Emily said, remembering with excitement how much fun they’d had together sailing and fishing in the warmer months.
“Knowing me, I’ll probably sink it right away,” Daniel replied, more than a hint of self-derision in his voice. Then he looked at her earnestly. “I’m so sorry about screwing everything up.”
“Wow, talk about an opener!” Emily joked. She stopped walking and took Daniel’s hands in hers. “And what exactly did you think you screwed up?” she asked gently.
“The wedding plans,” Daniel said with a sigh. “Recklessly taking my bike out like that. Dealing with my upset by riding too fast. Breaking my arm. Taking sick leave from work. The added financial burden. I mean how much longer does the list need to be? I was acting like a moron and I’m so sorry.”
“Well, I’d have to agree with the moron part,” Emily gently ribbed. “But it’s forgiven, okay? Stop beating yourself up about it. The important thing is that we’re here, together, still going strong.”
Daniel pulled her closely into him, tightening his arms around her. “I love you, Emily,” he said. “Sometimes I don’t think I deserve you.”
Emily snuggled against his chest, smelling his fresh, air-kissed scent, feeling the roughness of his stubbled chin resting against the crown of her head. “I love you too,” she said. “More than words can say.”
Daniel released her from his embrace. “I think we should speed things up a bit,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“I want us to get married right away.”
“On this clifftop?” Emily laughed, gesturing her arms widely to indicate the sparseness of their surroundings.
Daniel shook his head. “How about the first day of spring?” he said.
Emily gasped with shock. “March twentieth?”
It was so soon. Barely even a month away. It was the first time a date had even been uttered aloud. Emily felt suddenly elated.
“Okay,” she said, feeling herself getting swept up in the moment, in the excitement, the pleasure. “Let’s do it!”
Daniel picked her up and spun her round. In spite of his injury, he was still strong enough to pick her up. Emily squealed as they twirled. Then he set her gently back down.
“March twentieth,” he said, taking her hand in his, entwining their fingers together.
She smiled and nodded her agreement. “March twentieth.”
Daniel grinned, looking like the cat that caught the cream. They continued their ascent along the clifftops, swinging their hands between them. Emily didn’t realize such happiness could exist.
“Now we have a date,” Daniel said. “We can think about booking the honeymoon. Wanna hear my shortlist of locations?”
“Of course!” Emily replied, laughing, delighted that Daniel had already put thought into their honeymoon.
He grinned. “Paris for the romance. Thailand for the excitement. New Zealand for the adventure.”
“All excellent suggestions,” Emily replied. But then a small bit of reality crept back in. “It sounds expensive,” she sighed. “We’d never be able to afford flights to the other side of the world.”
Daniel looked deflated too. They’d both gotten wrapped up in the moment but now they’d both remembered the practicalities. “You’re right. Maybe we should defer the honeymoon until I’m earning again? I mean we saw how expensive the wedding could get when we met with Adrianna.”
“Or…” Emily said. She had a sudden idea, one that would save them a considerable amount of money, and one that had been playing on her mind ever since Daniel had proposed. “I know a way we could save a ton of money on the wedding. Then we could use whatever we have for the vacation. But I’m not sure you’ll like it.”
She looked at him with wondering eyes, worried the suggestion might offend him. He matched her with an expectant expression that urged her to go on.
“We could have the wedding in the ballroom,” she said finally.
Daniel looked at her, stunned. “Our ballroom? At the inn?”
“I know it’s not the glitziest idea in the world,” Emily said hurriedly. “And also maybe a little bit copycat since that’s what Amy was planning. And it’s not just about saving money.” Her words were tumbling out of her in her haste to explain herself clearly. “I think it would be kind of perfect. The inn is what brought us together in the first place. It makes sense that we celebrate that by hold
ing it there.”
She stopped and gave him a coy smile.
“Do you know what?” Daniel said after a moment. “I have a confession. I always wanted it to be in the ballroom.”
Emily gasped. “You did?”
Daniel nodded. “I didn’t want to say because I thought you might think I was being cheap or that I wasn’t prepared to give you your dream wedding. And then Amy got involved so quickly with all her questions and grand ideas, I thought that was what you wanted. I didn’t know how to say otherwise.”
Speechless, Emily shook her head, completely thrilled and stunned. Finally she found her tongue. “So we’re getting married in the inn? On March twentieth?”
Suddenly it all felt so real. And for the first time since Daniel had proposed, Emily could picture the unique and beautiful wedding they deserved, the one that represented their relationship perfectly.
Daniel nodded eagerly. “We’d better send out the invites. There’s hardly any time to prepare!”
They grabbed each other’s hands and hurried down the cliffside, both eager to get back home and start organizing.
They were still buzzing with excitement as they picked Chantelle up from school.
“What’s wrong with you two?” Chantelle asked when she saw their twin grins.
Emily looked from windshield to Daniel beside her, her hands gripping the steering wheel. “Do you want to tell her or should I?”
“You do it,” Daniel grinned back.
“Someone tell me!” Chantelle cried, growing impatient.
Emily looked at her in the rearview mirror. “We’re getting married at the inn. March twentieth.”
Chantelle’s eyes practically popped out of her head as she absorbed the news. “Really? Does that mean no more horrible wedding venue visits?”
Emily laughed. “I guess they have all been rather unpleasant.”
They reached the inn, all three chatting with excitement as they entered through the main doors. Serena was still on shift at the reception desk and Emily noticed that she was crying.
“Oh no,” Emily said, rushing over to her friend and scooping an arm around her shoulder. “Did Owen stand you up?”
“It’s not that,” Serena managed through her tears. “It’s Trevor.”
At the sound of his name, Emily became cold all over.
“What about Trevor?” she stammered.
But she already knew.
“Dr. Patel is over there right now,” Serena said quietly. “He hasn’t got long left. I think you should go.”
Emily didn’t need to be told twice. She rushed immediately out of the inn and ran full pelt across the lawn. All happy thoughts of weddings and honeymoons evacuated her mind as she ran. Her focus was now solely on Trevor and what she would find when she burst through his door.
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Emily rushed into Trevor’s house and straight into his bedroom. Sunita glanced up from a chair beside his bed as she entered, a mournful expression on her face. She stood from her seat and paced toward Emily.
“He’s been asking for you,” she said.
Emily couldn’t help but feel guilty for having been out celebrating with Daniel, living with such carefree abandonment when Trevor was in his lonely home, knowing he was dying.
“Is he—is it—” Emily couldn’t get the words out.
Sunita nodded. “He’s in his final hours.” She looked over her shoulder at where Trevor slept, tucked up in his enormous bed. Every breath he took made his chest rattle. “I’m sure he understands that this is the end.” She squeezed Emily’s arm. “I think he’d prefer it if it was you with him when he goes. Do you think you can do that?”
Emily didn’t even need a second to consider it. Of course she would be with Trevor when he took his last breath, no doubt about it. She’d been out of contact all day, hadn’t been with him when he needed her, and she vowed to make up for it now, to stay with him until the end.
But she was scared. Scared to see the moment when Trevor’s soul left his body, when the light went out from his eyes. Emily had only ever seen one dead person before—Charlotte, floating face down in the swimming pool—and the memory had been so traumatic she’d blocked it out for close to thirty years. But she was stronger now. She’d learned so much, become more confident, braver. She could do this.
“I’ll be just outside,” Sunita said as she pulled up the chair next to Trevor’s bed. “Call me if you need me.”
Emily nodded. Sunita left the room and Emily stepped cautiously up to Trevor’s bedside. He was in a very bad way, his skin looking pale and rubbery. Never had he appeared so small, so fragile. The pillows seemed to engulf him.
Emily sunk to her knees beside the bed, trying her best to hold it together. But as she rested her head against the bedspread, silent tears began to fall.
“Emily?” Trevor suddenly murmured.
She sat up and wiped the tears away hurriedly. She reached out for his hand. “I’m here,” she said, giving him a reassuring squeeze.
Trevor’s eyes were open now, but he was barely able to focus on her.
“Don’t die like me,” he whispered in a raspy, barely audible voice. “Alone.”
“You’re not alone, Trevor,” Emily implored. “I’m here.”
A small, wry smile flitted across Trevor’s lips. “Now you are.” It was clearly a lot of effort for him to speak. He paused between each word to catch his breath. “But I wasted so much time fighting you.”
“That’s all in the past,” Emily told him with a choked up whisper. “Forget about it.”
She hated the idea of Trevor dying filled with regret.
“Just because of money!” Trevor continued. His eyes seemed to find hers for a moment, and there was a flash of lucidity behind them. “Money doesn’t matter. People. People are what matter.” He turned his head, allowing it flop to the side now that the muscles of his neck were too weak to hold it up. “I had to find a way to say thank you. I hope it was enough.”
Emily wondered whether he was fully there, fully conscious or whether he’d started his journey to the other side already. She frowned, no longer understanding his words, no longer sure whether he understood them either.
“There’s a letter,” he said, each syllable he uttered quieter than the last, more strained, like he was having to punch each word out of his chest. His eyes were hardly focusing anymore. “For you.”
“What do you mean?”
Trevor’s eyes rolled up. He took another deep, wheezing breath. Emily was expecting it to be followed by another, but it was not. Instead of another wheezing breath, Emily heard a sudden, suffocating silence, almost deafening in the absence of sound.
Trevor’s whole body slackened against the bed. He was dead.
For a brief moment there was nothing, no thoughts, no sounds. It was like someone had paused the universe. Then Emily’s mind caught up and she gasped, feeling tears forcing their way up her gullet.
She sat back, her tailbone clunking against the hard floorboards. But the pain didn’t even register. She buried her face in her hands and tears wracked her body, making her gasp, making her wail. The emotion tore out of her chest like some kind of wild beast.
Suddenly someone was behind her. She flinched at their touch, thinking at first it was Trevor back from the dead. But it was Dr. Patel, taking her by the shoulders and drawing her into a hug. Emily held on to her friend, sobbing like a child.
“You were a good friend to him,” Sunita said soothingly. “In his time of need, you came through for him. I believe he learned an important lesson about forgiveness thanks to you, even if it did take him sixty-odd years to learn it.”
Somewhat comforted, Emily nodded against her shoulder. She took control of her crying and was finally able to remove herself from Sunita’s embrace. Like a distraught child, she allowed Sunita to lead her from the room.
“What now?” Emily asked when they were on the other side of the door.
“There�
��s nothing for you to do at all,” Dr. Patel said. “I’ll declare the death and arrange for the undertakers to pick him up.”
Emily was relieved. She didn’t think she could handle any official conversations of a morbid nature. She wasn’t quite ready to refer to Trevor as a corpse, as a body.
“There’s one thing, though,” Sunita added. “Trevor wasn’t making that much sense toward the end but during one of his more lucid moments he mentioned that he’d like the wake to be held at the inn. He didn’t seem to think his house would be an appropriate venue.”
“Oh,” Emily said, taken aback. Just earlier today she and Daniel had decided to hold their wedding at the inn. Now she was planning on holding a funeral there too. “Of course. I want to honor his final wish.”
Sunita patted her hand. “There’s no obligation, Emily. It’s just something to think about. He may have been confusing things. Most people prefer the wake to be in their own home if it’s not at a funeral home.”
“I’ll plan something,” Emily said with confidence and finality.
She was suddenly exhausted and craving affection from Daniel. The thought of breaking the news to Chantelle filled her with dread.
“There’s one more thing, Emily,” Dr. Patel said as they went to part ways at the door to Trevor’s home.
Emily looked down and saw an envelope in Dr Patel’s hands. “It’s from Trevor. He gave it to me during one of our consultations, the one where his prognosis was reduced. He actually wrote it there and then during his appointment. He told me to give it to you once he’d gone.”
