It's Never Too Late

Chapter 17

            Months passed quickly and it was almost Helen’s graduation, Helen was going to start school in San Francisco to be with Jimmy. Emily was coming back with them for Mr. Emerson’s wedding.

            Terry had been making wedding preparations, she set it a day away from, Mr. Emerson’s. Jimmy wouldn’t tell Emily about his wedding, she was hurt enough. Helen looked different, happier but worried, Jimmy knew why.

            Emily was working late again, when they arrived to Nashville they decided to live together to be closer. They rented a big house for the weekend to settle everyone in for Helen’s graduation. Emily called Helen when she got out of work, Helen told her Jimmy and David had arrived. Silence then, “David?”

            When she arrived, they walked over to the driveway. Emily sighed, it had been long since she’d seen David and wondered if Terry was there. She wasn’t. Wait a minute. Why do I care? I’m supposed to get over him, not fall more in love with him!

            She opened her car door and went to greet them, she was glad not to be alone with David. Mr. Emerson and Ms. Wesley arrived they had moved in together, David had grown closer to his mother. Emily was glad, but seemed thoughtful.

            They seemed more like a family, closer. They came in the same car behind Helen and Jimmy. She helped with their bags and took them to Mr. Emerson and Ms. Wesley’s room. Then the room for David and Jimmy. Helen and Emily would share a room.

            After they installed themselves in, Ms. Wesley and Helen served dinner, while Emily set the table and called everyone. She found them talking with Helen, when she went to call them, they all looked at her. “What?”

            “Helen says you’ve been working hard, we’re catching up,” Mr. Emerson said.

            “I have a lot to tell you guys, I really missed you,” she looked saddened, “I’m happy you guys are here.” Emily sighed.

            Mr. Emerson knew she wasn’t happy it made him sad, “you can still decline the offer in New York. You haven’t started and you’re going to miss your family and friends.”

            “I’ve made up my mind, there are many things I have to get away from.” She looked at David while saying that, “come eat, before it gets cold.”

            Everyone went to the table, “wait, there’s one missing!” Jimmy noticed.

            “I have a lot of work to do. I’ll join you later I have to finish by tomorrow.” Everyone was surprised except for Helen which probably meant she was used to it.

            Helen sighed, Emily tried cheering her up by saying, “I’ll make it up to you tomorrow. I have to finish this report because I want to have time by then.”

            Helen made sure she was out of ear shot, “Emily’s a working machine since she started working there, sometimes she doesn’t sleep. I’ve told her to take it easy, most of the time she’s at the office. I don’t know what else to do! What if she worsens when she moves by herself?”

            David was worried, why is she doing this? What’s gotten into her? Do her actions have to do with the mystery guy?

            Helen sighed, “I thought if we moved together we’d be closer she seems off lately. I wanted to know if you guys could help.”

            “I may not be her mother, I know that if David had the same problem I’d talk to him of how I feel. Try telling her, maybe she needs to know.” Ms. Wesley explained.

            “I’ve tried. David since she always seems to listen to you…” Helen begged.

            David looked annoyed, “forget it, she never listens to me she listens to my—”

            “David, try I’ll be there if she doesn’t listen to you, I’ll cover for you I can be stubborn too you know.” Mr. Emerson remembered Ms. Wesley’s words.

            Ms. Wesley spoke up, “well, that’s for sure,” Mr. Emerson turned red. Obviously he didn’t like that. Everyone laughed, Emily had been working hard she wasn’t addicted to work, but there were times work made her think less about David.

            She heard her stomach growl, she hadn’t eaten all day, she was losing too much weight, and getting pale, but had a job to attend to, yet her stomach growled again.

            David came up to her room she didn’t even notice, “Helen, can you close the door? I have to concentrate I’m almost done… promise.”

            She kept working it had been so long since he’d seen her, now she is a working machine. It’s as if she stopped living to become an overachiever and not in a good way. “Emily I came to say good night.” David was watching her.

            She was not listening she thought it was Helen, “goodnight sis, I know I work hard I’m sorry, Helen it’s just that—”

            “Emily who are you talking to?” Helen opened the door to ask. Emily turned on the lamp and went wide eyed. David was sitting on her bed behind her listening.

            “David? How long have you been here? What happened?” Emily was surprised.

            “I see you guys are talking,” Helen closed the door satisfied before Emily could say anything.

            Emily was left alone with David, “good night David, I imagine my sister might have said some things, but you don’t have to worry.” David didn’t say anything just looked at her, how she changed, her face was pale she just looked at him. Her heart pounded, her love for David had grown.

            “You know she worries because you haven’t made things easy for her, how’s work?” David asked breaking the awkward silence.

            “I’ve been working on different stories. I know it’s hard I want to enjoy tomorrow that’s why I’ve been working a lot lately. Enough about me, when are you getting married?” Emily asked to change the conversation.

            “I don’t know,” Emily looked at him in disbelief, “Terry is doing all the arrangements you know the wedding belongs to the brides, the groom just happens to be there.” David laughed nervously.

            Emily looked at him with sympathy and she turned her computer off, “do you know anything about your wedding?”

            “I told Terry to take care of it, I’m not all that good at weddings,” David explained.

            “I see,” somehow Emily did not believe that since he helped with his parents’ wedding and he had been happy to do it.

            “I see you work a lot, have you eaten yet?” David asked.

            “I-” Emily’s stomach growled, “I’ll eat in a few,” she wanted to say she ate but, he wouldn’t believe that when her body betrayed her.

            David left, Emily started working again in five minutes he came back with food, “I brought something for you, hope you like it.”

            He set the plate on her desk, with a cup of juice and a rose in a vase Emily was shocked, “the flower was Helen’s idea, she thought you’d like it.” David looked at her and back at the plate, “don’t you like it?”

            “No! I didn’t know you cooked,” Emily took the plate, “thank you, it’s good.”

            David sat with her while she ate, “you haven’t eaten all day, have you? Helen thinks you’re overworking.” Emily sighed and thought of everyone, she didn’t feel comfortable with David, she didn’t know how to get over him or if she ever would. “Emily, are you coming back?”

            “Are you kidding? I haven’t gotten over…” she stopped before finishing the sentence, David looked away and then down.

            “I wish you would, I really miss you,” David’s eyes filled with tears.

            Emily’s heart felt like it was going to break, she kept reminding herself, he’s getting married, he’s not for me. She remembered Terry’s words, when she said she was just an orphan and that she’d never be happy. Stanley had told her she’d beg him to get back together, she shook her head.

            “Do you think I’m lying?” David looked at her shocked.

            Emily went wide eyed, “I-I can’t, you don’t understand, it’s for the best.”

            David glared, “you always do this!” He stood to relax, ran his fingers through his hair and sat back down, “why is it all for the best? Tell me at least that.”

            Emily thought quickly, “I figured Stanley might just stop bothering me if I left, you know how he was. I mean for him to think that you would love me,” she laughed expecting David to laugh he looked away. Emily was surprised, “you?”

            David stood, “no! You’re running from your problems, I don’t like that!”

            “He must have thought that of you because you’re so protective,” Emily was disappointed, why do I keep getting my hopes up?

            David looked at her, “is that why you told me not to worry about you?”

            “It’s one of the reasons,” Emily agreed timidly.

            “Are you done with work?” David asked.

            “Yes,” Emily looked at her clock, I still have time, they met everyone in the living room, they were having a lively conversation. Mr. Emerson was talking about his honeymoon plans with Jimmy and Helen.

            When Emily walked in Helen looked happy, “Emily, Mr. Emerson is telling me that, he is planning to go to Paris for their honeymoon, how romantic is that?”

            Emily smiled back at them, “yes it is.”

                “What were you working on, that keeps you so busy?” Ms. Wesley asked coming into the room.

                “I interview singers, mostly country music.” Emily said.

            “You’ve been busy, it’s nice to take time off though, you need to rest once in a while, you don’t want to get too caught up in work.” Ms. Wesley reminded.

            “I know Helen thinks I’ve gotten caught up at work, trust me, I like to keep my mind busy and work is great.” Emily smiled.

            Mr. Emerson looked at her, “you haven’t been eating have you?”

            He sounded so much like David, “I never stop eating, I eat late. Why talk about me? Helen missed you Jimmy, she said she couldn’t wait to see you. Aren’t you glad you’ll see more of each other from now on?” Emily tried to change the conversation.

            Jimmy looked back at Helen, “I missed you too, Helen. Emily, are you going to be there for Mr. Emerson’s wedding?”

            “Of course, when is it?” Emily said happily.

            “Next week, it’s an intimate wedding friends and family only,” Jimmy explained.

            “Ok, I wouldn’t miss it!” Emily said.

            “Perfect! I’ll add you to the list, everything is ready you just need to be here, this is your invitation.” Emily opened the envelope that Jimmy handed to her, the invitation was elegant and on the front was a portrait of Mr. Emerson and Ms. Wesley facing each other hand in hand, with their eyes meeting with so much love.

            “I’m keeping this in a portrait afterwards,” she said. It’s Helen’s graduation tomorrow and I can’t wait! “Helen I have a little present for you.” Emily handed her a a small gift wrapped box.

            Helen opened it, it was a necklace and she seemed to recognize it, “mom’s, where did you get it? I could never find it.”

            “Mom wanted you to have it, she kept it with all her jewelry, and I remembered when she said this should be yours, what better than your graduation,” Emily said.

            “I’ll have her close in my graduation.” Helen’s eyes filled with tears of happiness, and she hugged her.

            David’s phone rang it was Terry, he looked at the call but he ignored it. He missed these moments with everyone. David thought he was over Emily but seeing her again confused him. His phone rang again and this time he answered.

            David left the room, he didn’t notice Emily come into the kitchen, “Terry? I told you not to call me I’m going to be there in a week,” he noticed Emily, she paused when she saw him, “I’ll talk to you later.”

            “You don’t have to worry about me, after all she’s your fiancée, I’ll be out of your way just came to get something from the fridge,” Emily explained.

            “It’s not much she wants to tell me about the wedding I can’t talk to her, she’s been nervous.” David explained.

            “Why don’t you invite her for your parents’ wedding? It’ll be fun,” Emily lied.

            “We’ll see, Emily if I told you when my wedding was, would you come? I need you there.” David said, Emily was disappointed.

            “I can’t! Trust me you won’t want me there, it’s for the best. Terry and I don’t get along, you noticed.” She grabbed a soda and cups.

            David was silent, the truth is that I prefer her, not Terry and that worries me. He saw her leave once, he thought he’d gotten over her for good, the last time he saw her with Stanley. Their kiss looked passionate and in his anger asked Terry to marry him.

            Emily went to the living room to serve the cold drinks. Since it was summer, they were planning to go to the lake and have a picnic the next day. Emily would meet them for lunch, she was coming out of work early the next day.

            Helen would graduate in the evening of the next day, she would transfer for her next two years of school to San Francisco. Emily had to leave to New York after Mr. Emerson’s wedding.

            Ms. Wesley looked thoughtful, “maybe we can go to lunch sometime, I can talk to you about your mother, we were school friends, you know.”

            Helen was delighted, “of course,” we could definitely talk about mom.

            “I know it may be hard Helen, but I wish you could tell me how your parents died, your mom and I were like sisters. I just found out recently that they died,” she was sad remembering.

            “I miss her, Emily tried to be a mother to me since then, but like every girl I want my mom in hard days, especially now.” Helen said.

            “Why do you say that?” Ms. Wesley asked obviously concerned.

            Helen looked at Emily, “you worry me, I wish you’d come back with us, after my graduation, it’s not fair! I know that going to New York isn’t your dream to begin with. Other than that, you work too much, and have no time for yourself. You are running away from your problems, about that guy you won’t get over him if you don’t tell him.”

            David was standing behind Emily, looking and listening to what Helen was saying, “Helen, do you know who this mystery man is? For the sake of your sister, tell me who he is, if this man knew how she felt about him he’d know what he was missing,” David said, “I know I am.” he whispered to himself.

            Emily turned to him, “what was that last part?”

            “I said- I said I know I could help,” he scolded himself and knocked the wall, why can’t I say it? I love you! Damn it, I love you, “I mean—”

            “I know what you mean, and that’s thoughtful of you but I can’t go back I’ve tried but he’s in love with someone else. What would you do if the woman you loved, loved someone else?” Emily asked.

            David understood, he wanted to tell her, obviously she doesn’t know, but if it isn’t Stanley, who? “I see what you’re saying but you have to do something.”

            “Trust me, I’ve tried, when I found out he had a girlfriend, it was hard for me. I can’t tell him now it’s too late, he’s happy with her, and—” Emily stopped herself.

            “Who is he?” David asked desperately. Emily looked around, everyone was waiting for her answer, “I want to help, but if you don’t let me, what can I do?”

            “You’ve done enough, the best thing you can do for me is enjoy yourself. Let’s stop talking about me, ok? I want to hear about you guys, I heard when your parents are getting married, why don’t you try to help Terry with your—”

            “I’m not good at wedding planning myself I’d prefer to leave that to her, it’s better not to talk about it,” David sounded annoyed.

            “Has Stanley been bothering you guys?” Emily asked.

            “Not since he found out you were gone for good.” David said.

            “You didn’t tell him where I was, did you?” Emily was nervous, David didn’t catch that and for some reason he seemed annoyed.

            “I think you should tell him how you feel. Stanley loves you too, he told me you two were back together. But, you couldn’t see him because of me, you don’t need an excuse,” David said angrily.

            Emily was shocked, why would Stanley keep trying to destroy my life like this? He knows how I feel. He knows I love David, how dare David make assumptions? “If I loved him, he would’ve known I was leaving in the first place!” Emily said sternly.

            “Then all that was a lie? Are you telling me you were using him and he went along with it?” David was shocked he couldn’t believe what she said.

            Jimmy stopped David from arguing, “David may I remind you, that you’re not exactly in best of terms! Why don’t you get us a movie?” He asked Emily. Emily and Helen left the room surprised, Jimmy never spoke to him like that. They stayed behind a wall to listen. “David, what are you doing? Aren’t you doing the same with Terry?”

            “I know, but everything seems…what’s the word. Oh yeah, awkward! I wasn’t mad I just was not expecting this.” David explained.

            Jimmy went behind the wall like knowing that Emily and Helen were there, he brought them to the room. “I hope you can tell Emily what you were going to say at the airport, she’s waiting so take your own advice and tell her.”

            “Tell me what? David?” Emily looked at him.

            “I didn’t say goodbye, and-I-I-uh…” he was speechless, Mr. Emerson and Ms. Wesley were looking on, as if they were at the movies. “I’m sorry if I didn’t trust you before at New Year’s, I don’t know what came over me, I’m confused. I want to be sure.”

            “You know I said that before, you’re not confused it’s just that you’re nervous.” Emily said noticing how he was acting.

            “Shut up and listen to me, will you? I’m trying to tell you- I’m scared,” David said.

            “Are you alright David?” Emily looked at him concerned.

            “No I’m not alright, I missed you Emily!” David looked at her longingly.

            Emily didn’t want to get her hopes up, she was afraid to misunderstand what he meant, “what are you saying?”

            “I’m saying I missed you, can’t I miss my best friend?” David made a fist and hit the sofa, “damn it!” Why can’t I say it?!

            Emily looked down, everyone was disappointed, “I missed you too. Look at the time. I have to go in early tomorrow. I’ll see you guys for lunch tomorrow?” She went to her room.

            “Yes, of course,” David said angrily.

            Helen looked at David, and when the coast was cleared said, “you should’ve told her, you have no idea how much she needed to know.”

            David was shocked, “since when does she know?” He looked over at Jimmy.

            Jimmy shook his head in disbelief, “that doesn’t matter! Why didn’t you tell her?”