It's Never Too Late

Chapter 6

            Jimmy and Helen had been spending a lot of time together since she arrived, but had to go back, school would start soon. Helen and Jimmy promised to stay in touch.

            Jimmy waited until Emily followed Helen towards the terminal exit and away from ear shot before Helen boarded the plane. “David, I spoke to Terry, she wants to know where to meet you?” David had forgotten, “where should I tell her to meet you?”

            “I’ll pick her up at seven,” David said.

            “Ok, I’ll tell her.” Jimmy said.

            David saw Emily coming, she went to where David was waiting for her, “I thought it would get easier to say goodbye, it never does.”

            “Ok, I got the car ready, we should go,” David said.

            Jimmy came back, “your date is set for seven tonight. Emily-I didn’t see you, are you ready to go?”

            David glared at Jimmy, why did he have to say it like that? “Jimmy!”

            “Who’s the lucky girl?” Emily was jealous and hoped he wouldn’t notice, she felt her blood boil, she was thankful it was dark he wouldn’t see her turn red with anger.

            “Can you believe it, he is going out with Terry, her name is Theresa, they have their first date today at seven,” Jimmy looked at David, “be ready.”

            “It’s not a real date he set us up.” David explained although he had no idea why he had to explain himself. On their way back there was an awkward silence. He saw her look out the window, “what are you thinking? You have been silent since I started driving.”

            “I was thinking about Helen, she is transferring here. She went to the university here, to get information to start the fall of next year.” Emily said happily remembering about what Helen told her.

            “Really?” David asked.

            “Yes,” Emily said as calmly as possible.

            “Helen said that? Well, better for her.” Jimmy sounded happy with the news.

            Both Emily and David looked back at him, he had a smile the kind that would show all his teeth, from ear to ear. They laughed, since his smile was the only thing visible when they went through a tunnel.

            David looked back at Emily, “when is she planning to move back here?”

            “She is graduating in the summer, I’m planning to visit to be there for her,” she loved to see David happy, even if she wasn’t. His eyes had this light that she never noticed before. I’ll tell Helen to set me up on that date. He had to be happy to be going out with Theresa. Suddenly, she needed to get out or she’d burst, “David, stop the car, I need to use the restroom I think I saw a restaurant.” Emily rushed out before he fully park and left before he said a word. David and Jimmy were shocked to see her jogging inside.

            She went into the restroom, and wet her face an old lady went in, and saw her acting nervous, “are you ok?”

            Emily turned to look at her, “what do you do with a guy like that? I’ve tried telling him how I feel but- no sir, he won’t, what do I have to do? Throw myself into his arms and yell it to him?”

            “Well-”the lady was going to speak.

            “I know you’ll say I am jealous but I’m not, I can let him go, why wouldn’t I? It’s not every day that I see him so happy. You should’ve seen his eyes, which they’re blue by the way, they have this shine on them, he’s happy.” Emily explained.

            “I am trying to tell you, why don’t you try a different method? Maybe, the way you approach is not right. If that won’t work, try and try again.” the lady said.

            Emily saw that she told a total stranger her secret, she thanked the lady and apologized, “I wasn’t thinking.”

            “Oh, honey it’s fine, I remember when I had my love problems.” The sweet old lady left and Emily stood there. Then she remembered, Jimmy and David!

             “Sorry you guys, I owe you big time,” David and Jimmy stared at her, “I was helping an old lady, she uh- fell, yeah and I arrived in time.”

            “Thank you, honey you reminded me of my youth!” the old lady walked out of the restaurant and waved, they saw the old lady walk up to the car, “you forgot your purse.”

            “Thank you,” Emily got her purse and the old lady went back.

            They drove away, “Emily, I need to go back to the office to drop Jimmy off, I won’t be back until eight or nine tell dad.”

            Emily faked a smile, “I’ll tell him, good luck on your date.”

            David waved as she closed the car door and turned to Jimmy, “did you see? She doesn’t care, she wasn’t jealous, I can’t believe it!” David put his car on reverse furiously.

            “I thought you said she was in love with someone else” Jimmy leaned forward.

            “I know, she doesn’t have to sound too happy, doesn’t she care?” David said.

            “You should’ve told her, want me to cancel?” Jimmy asked.

            “I’m going and that’s that! I thought she’d be jealous, I was watching her all the way, why didn’t she say anything?” David sounded bothered.

            “Why don’t you tell her? You have time, I’ll cancel, turn the car around.”

            “I’m going! I’ll take her out of my mind… one way or another.” David’s jaw clenched as he kept driving.

            “David, I hope you don’t regret it.” David stopped the car, and looked at him, “this is your last chance, what do you want to do?” Jimmy asked.

            “I’m going! Stop asking, she always saw me as a brother,” David sounded mad, “I’m so happy I have a date with a beautiful woman!” Jimmy was disappointed.

            They arrived to the office. “Ok, ‘til tomorrow. I know this seems ironic, try to keep your mind off Emily, or tell her how you feel stop making it hard for each other.”

            “Is there something you’re not telling me?” David looked at Jimmy.

            “Yes, I can’t say it, that’s something you and Emily have to talk about,” Jimmy assured him.

            “Is she doing something crazy for the story? I’ll talk to her later,” David sighed.

***************************

            Emily’s phone rang it was Helen, probably to say she got there safe and was going to bed. David was on a date, she’d tell her to set her up on a date too. “Helen?”

            “Emily, don’t be mad at me,” Helen said.

            “Why? What happened?” Emily asked surprised.

            “I couldn’t help myself I set you on a date.” Helen said.

            “What do you mean you set me up? I was going to ask you,” Emily said sternly.

            “Well look at the bright side, you don’t have to ask me,” Helen said happily.

            “I had to- never mind, when is my date?” Emily asked.

            “He is coming tomorrow at six thirty,” Helen said.

            “Did you know David is going out with someone, named Theresa?” Emily said angrily and she was surprised that the name Theresa came off in a stern tone.

            “Theresa? I know her.” Helen said.

            “You know her? What does she look like? How do you know her?”

            “She was there when you went missing.” Helen said.

            “Well?” Emily wanted to know more.

            “What?” Helen asked.

            “How does she look like?” Emily asked.

**********************

            Terry was wearing a short black dress to show off her long legs, she waited nervously. Her phone rang, she answered hoping he wouldn’t cancel. “Hello, Jimmy?”

            “Hey my friend is on his way. You know him.” Jimmy said.

            “Who is it?” Terry asked.

            “I can’t tell you, he is almost there.” Jimmy said.

            Her doorbell rang, she hung up to answer the door “hello, how are you?”

            “It’s you! You look nice.” Terry said surprised.

            David held his arm out for her, “shall we?” I’ll be happy if it kills me, I’ll enjoy it and stop thinking about Emily.

            Terry was happy, I do like him, but I didn’t know he liked me. When Emily went missing she was jealous at how worried he was, he was attentive and she was nervous.

            After dinner, they went dancing and walked along the beach. After the date, they decided to meet again, I’m more than excited, I’m ecstatic! “Maybe, we’ll go to the beach some other time.” They agreed to call each other, to plan their next date.

***************

            Jimmy wasn’t sure their plan to make them jealous would work, it would be easier, if one of them spoke up. But this has to work, Helen thought if they got jealous they would burst the truth out, she wasn’t expecting him to accept the date.

            But maybe once they saw they were ‘loosing’ each other, one of them would say something. He hated to see his friend like that, suddenly the sound of his phone broke his thoughts. It was Helen, “Helen? What’s up?”

            “Jimmy, did David go on his date?” Helen asked.

            “I expected him not to, but he went. I don’t think getting them jealous will work after all.” Jimmy said.

            “Forget that, David doesn’t like her. Emily is going on a date too.” Helen assured.

            “What? With who?” Jimmy asked.

            “A guy named Stanley. It’s for the best, David doesn’t like her except as a sister.” Helen said reassuringly.

            “He loves her I’ve seen him when he’s not with her,” Jimmy said.

            There was silence on the other end of the line then, “I shouldn’t have, I thought David didn’t love Emily the way she does, it’s why I set her up on a date.”

            “Forget it! He must have thought she was going on this date, since the day at the hospital. After that he wasn’t the same.” Jimmy couldn’t hide the fact that he was mad.

            “I-I’ll do something it’ll work out. Hey who knows, it might be easier if he stopped treating her as a sister and tell her! Anyways, he didn’t look like he was in love with her-not to me,” Helen said. 

            “What will you do?” Jimmy sighed.

            “Don’t worry everything will be alright” Helen assured.

*****************

            Emily and David went to work the next day, it was hard to hide her feelings, but she was a professional, I’ll act happy, even though my rage is killing me.

            Jimmy, noticed what was going on between them, well, who knows it might just work, he asked David how his date went. David turned to look at Emily, but she didn’t seem to care. How could she not care? Is it true?

            Emily was on her computer, as if not paying attention, she was typing fast as if trying to concentrate, it made him mad. “I’ve had the best time since-forever.”

            Jimmy looked back at Emily, she kept typing punching the buttons and deleting her mistakes. “So, are you going on a second date? What are your next plans?”

            David looked back at Emily, she stood, went to the printer and looked back at him, wondering about David. “Hello? Earth to David, are you ok? I was asking are you going out with her again?”

            “I am,” David sat and started writing in his computer, he was tense Jimmy noticed he looked at him, “why doesn’t she care? Can’t she show a little emotion?”

            “What do you mean?” Jimmy looked suspiciously.

            “What do you mean? What do I mean? It’s like she doesn’t care. What’s wrong with her?” David sounded bothered.

            Emily came back to her chair, she was on her cell phone, for the first time she showed emotion. “David, it’s Jacob. They caught Sam Sanderson, he was trying to run. Anyways, Jimmy come on I need you to bring the camera!”

            David and Jimmy followed, Emily kept talking on the phone, “I’ll see you there.”

            “You’re meeting him?” David was jealous but asked as calmly as he could, “is he meeting us?”

            “Yes, he is, they are almost at the police station, come on you guys.” Emily said.

            “Ok, Jimmy you drive,” David turned to Emily, “and you have to look different he can’t recognize you or he could try something against you.”

            “But how?” Emily asked confused.

            “I have a wig. How do you feel about having long black hair,” Emily looked shocked, wig? Long black hair? “Don’t ask, it’s not mine.” David said.

            “Ok, all I care about is to be the first one to see his face when I come and give the report!” Finally, my dream to be a news anchor is coming true.

            “What do you mean?” David asked.

            “He and his family are identity thieves, they were never bank robbers, they were robbing the bank because he had to help the bank’s manager get away, he’s in it too.” Emily explained.

            “I never heard that.” David said.

                                                                                                                                                            “I just found out myself, I’ve been working all morning, now where is this wig?” Emily asked hurriedly.

            “I got it here.” David gave it to her.

            Emily put it on, “ok how do I look? Does black make me look pale?”

            “You look ok,” David, was astonished, she looks great with anything.

            They ran into the police station’s lobby. Jimmy started recording, Jacob went by with Sam in cuffs. “We are reporting live…” that’s all David heard, he concentrated on how she looked rather than what she said. “Ok, let’s wrap it up” Emily finished.

            Jacob called her, “Emily, I need to talk to you.”

            “Ok, what’s up?” Emily noticed Jacob was nervous.

            “Do you want to get together for lunch today? We’re getting together to celebrate that we caught Sam. I couldn’t have done it without you. So what do you say?”

            Jacob’s friends looked at them, “you go man!”

            “Ok, we can celebrate.” Emily said happily.

            David and Jimmy looked shocked, they couldn’t believe she accepted a date just like that! Emily looked ecstatic, she couldn’t help but be happy the culprit was caught and I’m going to celebrate it with friends. “Where are you going for lunch?” David asked.

            “I’ll ask later, he’s talking to his friends. He’s inviting them to celebrate.” Emily said excitedly.

            Jimmy couldn’t take it, “Emily he asked you out-”

            “I know, we are going out to celebrate our victory with all his friends,” Emily said.

            “I think he wants to date you,” said David in a serious tone.

            “No we are friends and we both had a great victory today. Not everything about a guy and a girl has to be about a date,” she glared at David.

            “Why are you angry at me?” David asked bothered.

            “You think it’s a date when it obviously isn’t. I don’t know what your problem is David, I want you to be happy for me.” Emily got into the car.

            “Is she really serious? She has no clue, she’s going out on a date.” Jimmy said.

            “Whatever! If she doesn’t want to listen that’s up to her.” David said that worse than he intended.

            Emily went back to get them. “Well, are you guys coming?” They left for the office, “what did you guys think of my report, was I good or what?”

            “It was good, he didn’t recognize you and that’s all that matters.” David was giving Emily a hard time when they arrived. He was jealous, he didn’t want Emily going out with Jacob, he could already imagine them kissing.

            He was making her redo and making up mistakes where there weren’t any, she was tired. Mr. Emerson noticed, and told Emily to go out for lunch and come the next day. “Thank you, Mr. Emerson, I will.” Emily left.

            “David, give her a break, she’s done a great job. By the way, David come to my office.” Mr. Emerson said sternly. He closed the door behind him and looked at David, until he sat, “what’s going on? You never acted this way? Are you and Emily fighting?”

            “No, of course not!” David shook his head.

            “Good! I was worried, you two are going to be our new TV reporters, we are going national. You have to get along with her. David, you are a package we need you two. The company’s doing better, since you started working together.” Mr. Emerson said.

            David was happy for the news this meant Emily won’t have to go undercover again. “Really? That’s great.”

            “Really? Is it? By the way, you haven’t told me anything about the girl you’re seeing, I know you come up with excuses. There’s a reason I placed you and Emily together. Why didn’t you tell me? I knew you liked her, don’t you trust me?”

            “Dad, it doesn’t matter- wait, how did you know?” David looked surprised.

            “A father knows best,” Mr. Emerson said.

            “Dad, I can’t live without her, but it doesn’t matter because she likes Jacob.”

            “Jacob is your excuse not to tell her. I fear you may put yourself in a situation you won’t easily escape. You have time, you don’t love Terry you love Emily, if you don’t see it, it will be too late.” Mr. Emerson warned.

            “She’s going out with Jacob, how can I stop her from being happy? You should’ve seen her gloating, ‘oh, Jacob is so strong, he is smart, he rescued me from the lunatic who wanted to kill me.’ I can’t take it! I’m about to explode.” David was mad.

            “Now I know why you were acting weird. Did she accept to go out with him when she was at the hospital?” Mr. Emerson said.

            “I think so.” David said disappointed.

            “What do you want to do? Are you going to take action or are you going to lose her to Jacob and never tell her what you feel? You may never feel the same about anyone else. She deserves to know and you deserve peace of mind.” Mr. Emerson said tapping his fingertips together and looking straight at him.

            David walked from side to side, “what if she doesn’t accept me? I don’t know if I can take that.”

            “I already said what you can do, it’s your choice, what is your decision?” Mr. Emerson said.

            David stopped walking side to side, looked at the clock, “dad, I have to go,” he thought he knew where she could be, Jimmy tried talking to him. “Jimmy, my dad is right, I’m going.”

            “Where?” Jimmy stood confused watching David walk quickly passed him.

            “With Emily, I have to tell her.” David said happily.

            Jimmy was astonished, “yeah, go.”

********************

            Emily felt uncomfortable, she wished she could be at work with David, he misunderstood I should be acting that way, not him! How could he? Emily asked for her food. It’s strange how Jacob’s friends couldn’t make it. I should’ve known this was a date to him. Although she had to ask herself, did I want to make David jealous?

            Jacob kept talking to her about how he had caught Sam, the bank manager and Sam’s family, “they weren’t easy to catch.”

            Emily’s phone rang, it was Helen, “I need to take this call.” She walked from the noise of the plates and from earshot. “Helen? You’re a life saver, you saved me from the most boring date in the world.”

            “What? He’s not boring, wait? Are you out on another date?” Helen was shocked.

            “It was supposed to be a celebration with friends, they caught Sam. I was the first one with the story, I thought since Jacob caught him he invited me to celebrate, but ‘his friends couldn’t make it,’ and I’m stuck!”

            “You poor thing I feel for you, listen, I set you up with a nice guy if you don’t like him you tell him, he’ll understand.” Helen assured.

            David walked in the restaurant and went to Jacob’s table, “Where’s Emily?”

            Jacob was jealous why does he have to come and ruin our date? “Freshening up, we are on a date, we won’t go to work all day today. Seems she has feelings for me.”

            David, felt his world crashing around him, but kept his posture, “I need to talk to her it’s important, can you tell her to call once she’s free?” I can’t do it, not like this! He left feeling betrayed. He went back to the office to keep his mind off her.

            Emily went back, she was bored all the guy did was talk about himself, he wasn’t David! Who cares? I have a date this evening. Hopefully, he was not conceited.

            “I forgot Mr. Emerson wanted to talk to me this morning,” Emily lied to get away.

            “Oh, what if we see each other sometime, next week?” Jacob asked.

            “I’m going to be busy next week, I have a date tonight, long story my sister set me up.” Emily laughed nervously.

            Jacob looked disappointed, “aren’t you going to eat? You should. Everyone needs to eat and from what I know it’s your lunch time. Catch up, I brought the year book.”

            Something was going on here and I’ll figure it out. “Ok, what’s going on? I thought I saw David come to our table before, was he really here?” Emily asked.

            “No! It’s been so long since we spoke, I hadn’t seen you for years, it’s been five years.” Jacob explained.

            She knew he was lying, that just made her mad, I’m not hungry. I need to end it! What does he think I am? Stupid? “I could eat but I have to get back, I will see you then, everything is so soon. Can I give you a call tomorrow and set up a real celebration? Bring your buddies next time.” Jacob was surprised she paid and left before he said anything.

            She called David no answer, if Jacob said anything, I’ll kill him. It wasn’t a date - not a real date anyways, now why do I care? He has Terry, he had a great time with her since they’re going on a second date! It wasn’t fair I didn’t want to go on this date, but his actions leave me no choice!

            She hung up, if he really wants to talk he can call later, she’d take it easy, before the real work started. Maybe, it was good that my sister set me up, that guy would not be David, but it was better than thinking of him.

            I won’t trick him or lie saying I love him, but I’ll give it a try, David had no problem which meant, that the fact was…even if it hurt to admit it, he had to be in love.

            Emily was completely head over heels for him, but she wasn’t the type to die over a guy. She would have to get over him, if she was ever going to have peace of mind.

            Poor David, he has no idea how crazy he drives me. I love him and the worst part was he doesn’t love me. I can’t tell him unless, I want to ruin our friendship. That’s it! I need to talk to someone who would understand.

            Emily called her sister, hoping she had the time to talk and she was glad when she answered, “Emily? Did you desert the poor guy?”

            “He is not a poor guy! You should’ve seen what he did,” Emily said angrily.

            “What did he do? Did he disrespect you? I’ll call David and—”

            “Whoa, take a breath sis. I thought I saw David, when I go back to ask, what does he do? He told me he didn’t and made excuses of how we haven’t seen each other and we have to celebrate. The nerve! I told him we’ll celebrate another time,” Emily said.

            “I can’t believe it! Ha, ha, ha what did he say? How did he take it? Wait- I have to sit down for this.” Helen said amusingly.

            “I have no idea, it was like he got stung, and turned into a statue,” Emily said.

            “Well, if he was trying to control you, and you weren’t going out, he deserved it.”

            “I’ve been trying to call David if he had something to say, he would have. He must be working. Did I forget? David’s going on a second date…Helen I’m glad you set me up I have to stop thinking about him and this guy could be it!” Emily said.

            “Don’t worry, befriend him, you should see if you can get David out of your mind first.” Helen said.

            “Yeah that’s what I’ll do. I don’t think I could have a boyfriend right now, since it will be hypocritical, to say the least.” Emily said.

            Emily was ready at six David was coming from work, what’s Emily doing with that man? David ducked under his car seat so she wouldn’t see him. He didn’t get out. Who was this guy? Was she on another date? He was going to find out.

            He remembered Helen’s words in the hospital when they were talking about who knows what. She said ‘she is going on a blind date, isn’t it wonderful?’ The irony!

            He called Terry and she accepted to go on a date with him, he picked her up. He knew where Emily would go since she loved that restaurant at night, she loved sitting by the corner near the fire place.

            Stanley was a great guy but she wasn’t connecting, but they started talking about their interest and they each got tips from each other. They were chatting, laughing, when David walked in with Terry he sat on the darker side of the restaurant, a candle lighting their dinner. He could watch Emily, but she couldn’t see him.

            Terry loved that table, she thought that the candle was romantic, and the dark created a little mystery. She was starting to fall in love with David, he was clearly her type. Terry noticed he paid attention to something else. He was looking at Emily. “David, I don’t appreciate being used to get close to another woman, I’ll leave,” Terry stood grabbing her purse.

            “No, don’t leave, please I can explain.” David held her hand down.

            “Explain.” Terry said sternly.

            “She’s my sister- adoptive sister, I’m protecting her you see, I don’t know this guy and she’ll think I’m ‘over protecting’ if I ask.”

            She turned back to him, “you came on a date with me. Let’s get out of here and have a real date.”

            He looked at Emily then back at Terry, he accepted to go out on a date with her, I don’t love her, but I won’t make her suffer, because of Emily.

            Terry noticed that it was hard for him to decide, she saw Emily going into the restroom. “I’ll be back, I need to freshen up.” Emily won’t come between us, and the only way is to tell her to lay off!

                David turned to her, “Ok, I’ll wait in the car.”

            She left after Emily, “Hi.”

            Emily looked at her, “hello, do I know you from somewhere?”

            “I’m Terry, I wanted to tell you to lay off David, he is my boyfriend, and I don’t want anything coming between us.”

            “David must’ve told you about me, he never told me about you. I’m sorry Terry I have to go. I’m on a date with Stanley. Wait a minute are you jealous? Did David make you jealous of me? Is that it?!” Terry looked shocked, how dare she?

            Terry lifted her hand to slap her, Emily blocked her and glared at her letting go of her hand. When Terry tried to slap her again Emily was ready and she slapped her before she could. Emily left leaving Terry starring after her stunned.