It's Never Too Late

Chapter 18

             The next day, Emily met them and spent a few hours for lunch like planned. After they were done Emily and Helen would go with Ms. Wesley to a spa until it was time for Helen to get ready for graduation.

             They had fun getting their nails and hair done, when they came back home Jimmy was shocked, Helen was so beautiful with her long hair.

             Ms. Wesley walked over to Mr. Emerson, she was radiant and he put an arm around her shoulder he looked at Emily and Helen. “I never had daughters, but I’d be happy if you two would have been mine.”

             Emily and Helen had a more relaxed expression, when David came into the room he was stunned, “you girls look amazing.”

          “We have to leave to get there on time,” Mr. Emerson looked at his watch, everyone went to the SUV they rented. Helen sat next to Jimmy of course. Mr. Emerson was driving Ms. Wesley sat next to him, which meant David would sit next to Emily.

          He was trying to make conversation but was obviously too nervous. She knew there was something on his mind but preferred not to mention their last conversation.

          She wondered, what did he try to say? I won’t torment myself by getting my hopes up. Emily knew how it felt to have your hopes broken.

          When she had hopes that David could be in love with her, reality had hit her hard, he isn’t in love with me, he loves Terry that is the truth. She’d never have hopes again. David, without knowing, taught her that.

          As if reading her mind, he looked deep into her eyes and whispered “you can’t lose hope, you hear.”

          Emily’s eyes widened, “why would you say that?” Does he know? Trying to hide that from them, she hadn’t even let her sister know.

          “You obviously have a lot on your mind, I’m afraid you might lose hope because of this man who truly doesn’t deserve you.” David said angrily.

          Emily sighed, “I don‘t want to think of him, that’s why I work- a lot.”

          David’s eyes saddened, “are you giving up on love Emily?”

          “I don’t feel it anymore it’s like it died,” David was stunned in silence, “I love you guys, the love I had for him is gone.” Somehow she didn’t believe it.

          “It’s numbness, you haven’t lost it, I guess you were hurt and considering the circumstances it makes sense.” Helen turned to them, “what? It’s not like I’m not here, I had to say something.”

          They arrived, Helen got out and went to her classmates, and brought everyone with her, “I want you guys to meet my friends,” she went to her friends who knew Emily when she showed them Jimmy they looked happy.

          “She always talks about you,” they would say, “you two make a cute couple.”

          “I guess you guys heard about me, huh?” Jimmy smiled at Helen. They laughed together then they sat in the benches. Later it would begin, they went to their seats the graduation ceremony lasted three hours.

          Helen said her ‘goodbyes’ to everyone she knew, they’d have a goodbye party for everyone the next day, before she left. They’d have their families there too, since they were leaving that night. Helen decided to go, “Jimmy can meet the rest of my friends.”

          “Great we’ll see you there,” they left. Helen went to tell her family and told them that her friends were hosting a party the next day, she wanted all of them to come.

          Emily refused, “it’s my last day of work I’ve got to leave a good impression.”

          Helen sighed, “how about you guys?”

          “We’ll be there,” they said in unison.

          Helen’s eyes brighten, “ok” she was glad they were going.

          The next day Emily went to work, but this time she cleaned out her desk, her name plate said, ‘Emily McAllister- journalist,’ with this job she took a step back, since being a TV reporter was her passion.

          She missed working with David, and being around her old co-workers, they were her friends. Now she was surrounded with strangers and was gonna start working with more strangers in a new place on her own.

          She sighed thinking about it, it’s not like I wanted to, but what else could I do? Being around David hurt her more. Sometimes she thought she’d never get over him, which frightened her.

          When she finished she intended to rest before the flight home, after all she’d be home alone, no one else. She was going to live alone in New York and she had to get used to being alone.

          When she got out of the office, a car was following her and with her boxes she carried, it was hard to run, she walked fast. The car kept following she looked back, but the dark windows, made it hard to see the driver. She jogged to her car.

          The driver pulled up behind her and lowered the window down, “Emily, it’s me, I rented this car. I didn’t know which one was yours, I waited until you got out.” David looked happy.

          Emily’s face whitened, then her color returned, “have you any idea of the heart attack you almost gave me?!”

          “I would have told you but…” David looked embarrassed.

          “Never mind, I thought you were at the party, what happened?” Emily asked.

          “Helen doesn’t know I’m doing this, I know how much it would mean to her if you were there,” David explained.

          “I see, you want to surprise her, I’m finished here anyways,” Emily said.

          “Come with me then.” David said.

          When they arrived Helen ran up to her, excited, “I can't believe you made it!”

          Emily returned her hug, “of course I made it. But, you should thank David or I’d be home, sleeping.” Helen smiled at David.

          “It was nothing,” David said nonchalantly.

          Helen went back to her friends who kept calling her, she pulled her sister and David behind her. They had fun and danced for two hours, then Helen said her ‘goodbyes’ before leaving to the airport.

          When they arrived to the airport the jet was ready and left for home. Since Emily wasn’t working the next day, she stayed up late chatting with Helen when they arrived home. Jimmy promised to come the next day, glad that their long distance relationship became local.

          David couldn’t sleep he would churned in his bed and when he slept he had a nightmare. Emily leaving saying she wasn’t coming back. David woke up sweating, he walked to Emily’s room, quietly opened the door and tiptoed his way to her.

          Emily was sound asleep. He leaned over and kissed her. She hugged him he got scared, but obviously she was dreaming. “David you can’t.” Is she dreaming about me? She held on to him, “I’m sorry David- goodbye.”

          What is going on with her? Is this really a dream? Or does she know I’m here? He stood freeing himself, “Emily?” And saw that she was asleep.

          He turned away but heard her say “I’ll never come back. It’s all for the best.”

          He turned to look at her, this is what his dream was about, could it be true? Was she never coming back? Emily turned and he left quickly. When he closed the door he saw Helen walking half asleep, “oh hi, I’m getting a glass of water.”

          He would have to ask Helen about it, “me too,” they went downstairs and she got the two cups out and gave him one, she noticed he was worried. “Helen, can I ask you something?”

          She drank some water before responding, “sure.”

          “Is Emily leaving for good?” David asked.

          Helen was unexpectedly surprised, “why do you ask? Did she say something?”

          “Is she leaving for good? Is that it? Is it because of me?” David asked.

          “I can’t answer, ask her. Tomorrow she is going to help the new reporter, fill him with some pointers and say ‘hi’ to some people from work.”

          “Helen, stop that! I know that you know! I can’t lose her,” David sighed.

          “David, the day you asked Terry to marry you, you lost her. Stop asking if you’ll ever see her again. You don’t know how she felt when you criticized her, now you want her to stay? I don’t think so!” Helen was glaring at David while saying that.

          She took her glass to her room angrily. What did she mean by that? David remembered Emily’s dream and he was afraid it could be real, he wouldn’t be able to handle it if he lost her completely.

          The next day, he was busy, Terry called saying that there was only one day that the wedding could be held, it was the day after his parents’ wedding.

          David sighed, after hanging up, how will I go through with this? I’m not in love with her, I never lied I was honest to begin with. But she loves me, he didn’t know what to do to get out of it.

          If he didn’t marry Terry and Emily didn’t feel the same about him, then he’d end up alone and lose a friend in the process. He walked back and forth in his office Jimmy saw him. “David, you ok?”

          “I don’t know, I just got a call from Terry, the wedding date is set, looks like she sent the invitations. How could she do this? She decided to have the wedding the day after my parents’. What am I gonna do? Emily is going to leave for good, now I know why!”

          Jimmy looked back at him surprised thinking he knew how Emily felt. “What did you say? Did she really tell you?”

          “Yes, she won’t remember telling me or me kissing her she was asleep and—”

          “Wait a minute, she was dreaming?” Jimmy asked surprised.

          “Yes.” David turned to look at him.

          “Then it’s probably not true, you kissed her!” The last part came out louder than expected. Jimmy looked around nervously.

          David lowered his voice to a whisper, “I did ok, is that so bad?”

          “Considering the circumstances, yes. You have a fiancée, you’re getting married in a week may I remind you, and you’re kissing her. You should set your feelings straight!” Jimmy scolded.

          “Well, you really know how to make a guy feel better.” David said sarcastically.

          “I’m honest and for your own good you better decide what you want to do, before you marry the wrong girl and regret it for the rest of your life!” Jimmy warned.

          “I know, that’s what worries me, after I saw Emily leave with Helen I wanted to scream my love for her. After that, it was Terry who helped me get over her. Or so I thought, when I saw her again the feelings came back stronger than ever. What do I do? I love her but I’m afraid.”

          “Hey that’s a beautiful story, but will you let her go, or are you willing to tell her? My real question here is, is your love true for Emily?” Jimmy looked at David.

          “You’ve always known how I felt about her, when I’m close to telling her, she startles me with those big hazel eyes of hers. It’s gonna sound strange but the words get stuck in my mouth. I tried telling her before but the words got stuck. You have no idea how it feels.” David said.

          “What do you mean, I have no idea? You know how nervous I was when I first met Helen? I couldn’t even tell you! I faced my fears, and got the courage to ask her out.” Jimmy explained.

          He remembered how Jimmy wanted to meet her, even before he met her, “can you tell me how you knew her? You seemed to have known her before you first saw her.”

          “I can’t, you’re going to kill me and probably never talk to me again.” David stared at him, “I needed help with your secret, I let her know to help you guys out!” Jimmy said quickly.

          “You told her! Well it doesn’t matter anymore, I’ve lost her anyways. I mean you heard her, she gave up on love,” David sighed.

          “Did you give up on her? You should be asking yourself that, you feel something strong for her, I suggest you figure things out, fast! You don’t have very long and just as a reminder, your wedding is in a week.” Jimmy explained.

          David knew he was right, he had to decide if he would marry Terry, or decide on the woman he loved, Emily.

         That afternoon, Emily received a wedding invitation, from a co-worker, she read;

                                            ‘You’re cordially invited to our wedding,’

                                                    David and Theresa Emerson.

            She’s already using David’s name? Emily’s heart sank, she decided to keep it, to help her to get over him. Hopefully.

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

          Mr. Emerson’s wedding day came and it was bigger than expected everyone showed up co-workers, police, family and friends were there.

          Emily was there, with Helen sitting beside her, David walked towards them, he wanted to dance with her. But Jacob asked and she accepted, she accepted!

          David watched her smiling and talking to Jacob and wondered what he was telling her, Jacob hadn’t looked so happy. “So, what’s been going on with you lately?”

          “I was in Nashville,” Emily told him.

          “Stanley’s been crazy looking for you,” Jacob said, “but I think he gave up. You know he moved away.”

          Emily was relieved to say the least, she didn’t want to see Stanley, “that’s great.”

          Jacob smiled, “any plans for the future?”

          “I’m moving to New York,” Emily said.

          Jacob looked over at David who was protectively watching them, he sighed and shook his head, everything seemed familiar. And yet, things were different now. He looked at her and smiled, he had never looked so happy. “I’ve met someone.”

          Emily smiled at him, “really? I’m so happy for you.”

          Jacob looked at her and looked across the room at David, “I wish, I could say the same for you and David.” Emily looked shocked, “he’s always protective of you because he really loves you,” Jacob said pointing towards David.

          “David is in love with Terry, he’s getting married with her tomorrow,” Emily said. Jacob looked shocked, obviously he had no idea, he looked at David and saw Terry walking up to him.

          Terry broke David’s thoughts, “hi hon, I saw you and figured you were looking for me, why don’t we dance?”

          “Ok just one song I need to talk to…” David looked around for Emily.

          “Come on sweety. I love this song.” Terry cut him off and pulled him to the dance floor excitedly.

          He had an idea, everyone was dancing to the new song, they were switching partners in a song. When David got Emily, he danced away with her, “Emily, I need to ask you something, are you free tomorrow?”

          “It’s your wedding day, remember? I won’t be here and to tell you the truth I don’t plan on ever returning!” Emily said furious, the words came out worse than she expected.

          David fell on the chair as his legs weakened, “what you told me was true, you don’t want to see me, is that it?”

          “What are you talking about?” Emily looked confused. I never said anything!

          “I mean- I had this dream-nightmare where you were telling me you never wanted to see me again, and then—” David turned pale.

          “Now it’s a reality, you’ll understand tomorrow. Jimmy is going to give you something from me.” Her eyes filled with tears as she said. “I really want you to be happy, you can’t be with me. I know your wedding is tomorrow that’s why I’m leaving.”

          “But how—?” David looked confused. I never told her!

          Emily took out a wedding invitation from her purse, “Congratulations…you deserve her!” She couldn’t take it and drove off crying along the way. Helen followed her in her car when she saw her leaving.

          When she arrived home she packed her stuff with Helen’s help. Emily hugged her before leaving to the airport and Jimmy drove her. She would visit every week, but wouldn’t see David she promised herself.

          “Are you sure this is right? I have a bad feeling about this.” Jimmy had never looked so pale.

          “Trust me, you’re doing this for everyone’s sake, including mine,” looking out the window she was silent the rest of the way. Emily kept wiping her tears. I couldn’t let Helen see me like this, it’s best that Jimmy’s driving me to the airport.

          Jimmy looked sad as he sighed, “we’re here.”

          She got off, Jimmy helped her with her suit cases. She hugged him, “good bye, make my sister happy. I promised mother I would never make her cry. I’ve failed, but don’t let her cry you hear?” Emily said serious.

          Jimmy laughed nervously, “yes, ma’am!”

          “I’ll be here every week, every Saturday beginning next month don’t tell David, I want to get away from him,” she did a long sigh, “this is it. I have to leave.”

          She passed security inspection, and the jet was ready. Jimmy walked back when he saw David pulling up, and ran to him, “David! She left, the jet was ready.”

          David was astounded, “did you know she was leaving today?”

          “No, if I did, I probably would have told you, is that Helen?” Jimmy asked looking at another car arriving.

          Helen was pulling up behind David, “Jimmy, did she leave already?”

          “Yes, did you know she was leaving today, or did she tell you last minute as well?” Jimmy asked.

          “I knew, but I kept her secret. David hurt her too much, don’t you think it’s enough?” Helen said angrily.

          “Helen, why didn’t you tell me?” Helen stared at David, she seemed surprised.

          “David, can I ask you how you knew?” Helen asked.

          “I didn’t but Emily is coming back, isn’t she?” Helen didn’t answer. David looked at her in silence not knowing what to say.