It's Never Too Late

Chapter 16

            “Seriously? You mean it?” Terry was stunned, David nodded “yes, yes, yes!” David placed the ring on her finger and stood.

            Emily walked backwards as if to get away, Terry was coming toward her. Show off! Helen pulled her away, “Emily, can you come with me?”

            “I never thought it was serious,” Emily couldn’t go on.

            “Emily I wanted to tell you before that he thinks that you went back to Stanley,” Helen explained.

            Emily was heartbroken and couldn’t stay, “thank you for taking me away. I bet Terry wanted to show off. But it was planned, he already had the ring in his pocket. Don’t make excuses for him, he had to have been happy.”

            “Emily?” Helen said surprised as she started to walk away.

            “I have to leave, I can’t stand it anymore,” Emily said without turning back.

            Jimmy stopped her, “Emily, we are making a wedding video for Mr. Emerson and Ms. Wesley, if you don’t want to it’s fine.”

            “I’ll do it,” she didn’t want to show any sadness, she smiled big and bright “hi Mr. & Mrs. Emerson, just wanted to say, be happy and congratulations on your wedding!

            And…” she sighed, her eyes filled with tears, yet she smiled, “I admire your love for each other. You both were meant to be together.”

            Jimmy turned off the camera, “Emily I know it was hard for you.”

            “Jimmy, you’re a great friend, you’ve always been there for both of us, me and David, when we needed you the most. Can I for ask you for a favor?” Emily asked.

            “Of course.” Jimmy said.

            “I want to make a video for David, for his wedding, I have to let him know why I won’t be there. I don’t want him to watch it until after his wedding, in private.”

            “When did you decide that?” Jimmy looked at her shocked.

            “Since I couldn’t get over him, but now he’s engaged now and it's going to be hard for me. I thought I was leaving for a couple of months. But, I've also known that I can't be where he lives, I’ll move out tomorrow, you guys have the new reporter. I got a job offer in New York. I’ll take it after I’m done with the temp job in Nashville.”

            Helen was surprised she had overheard, “Emily, what are you going to do? You are accomplishing your dreams here!”

            “I can start after your graduation, so I won’t miss a thing, it’s just that—”

            “No! You can’t!” Everyone was coming to see, she hugged her sister. “I love you sis, I don’t want to lose you.” Helen whispered into her ear.

            Emily whispered back, “you won’t, this is not about you David is. I’ll visit you every week, but you can’t let David know.”

            “I can’t believe I’m letting you go,” Helen sniffed, “I promise to keep your secret, I’ll miss you.”

            “I will stay with you the rest of the school year, I don’t want to hear how Terry and David are happily married.”

            Jimmy stood not knowing what to say, he knew David loved her, but he did something stupid after imagining things. Now he would lose her, “Emily, not to sound rough on you, but do you think you can get over him like that?”

            “I don’t know, but I’ll try. I never really had him, so I won’t be losing him, but I’ll lose myself, if I stay,” Emily said saddened.

            Jimmy scratched his head, he wanted to say it, it would be different if David wouldn’t have said it. Tomorrow will be the last time he saw her.

            “I’ll tell Mr. Emerson, I won’t just leave like that! I hope he understands. I’m leaving my note of resignation on his desk. It’s better that way. The temp can become the new anchor.” Emily smiled, “when he’s as good as me.”

            Jimmy disapproved, but he listened. He sat next to Helen looking thoughtful. I can’t do anything, to stop them. They went to his office, where he had the video equipment and prepared a new camera and placed it in front of her. While she was making her video, everyone was having fun.

            When she finished she turned it off and left excusing herself, with the excuse that the next day was the court date and that she couldn’t be late.

            The next day, she received a call from Jacob to remind her about the court appearance. Emily was nervous, Sam had nothing against the young girl who would testify against him, but she was another story.

            She didn’t want to wake David, it was five when she wrote her letter of resignation, explaining that she was offered a new job in New York. She knew it wouldn’t make sense since they offered her a job as a news anchor.

            David’s door opened, there were footsteps and a knock on her door, Emily answered it. “Hey let’s hurry or we’ll be late!” David said.

            “Jacob called I’ll be ready in a minute,” Emily said.

            “Be careful, Sam might try something,” David said.

            Emily didn’t answer, I’m worried too, she turned to look at Helen who was sleeping, “ok.” She finally said closing the door and putting the letter in her purse. She left to the office and placed the letter on Mr. Emerson’s desk.

            Emily left to meet Jacob and asked him about the microphones, they were ready the trial would start in a few minutes. She called Jimmy to tell him she was going to start and he should be there with the camera.

            Mr. Emerson went to his office, his secretary called him to remind him of documents that were important he sign them. He took the documents to his office while David received a call from Jimmy telling him that Emily had called to say she was in court, why didn’t she call me?

            When David got there, he saw Emily talking to Jacob. Jimmy was waiting for him, with the cameras ready. Soon they would bring Sam.

            They went in and sat with the audience, they saw Sam sitting in the defendant’s chair. David had to control himself when he saw him, not go and rip his heart out. His hands gripped around the camera, until his knuckles turned white. “I don’t want anything to happen, Emily.”

            Emily turned to him, “it’s almost over, I need to do this, ok?” Trying to sound calm, but he knew she was nervous.

            When they called Emily to the stand, David grabbed her hand, he looked worried he wanted to protect her, but instead whispered, “be careful.”

            “I’ll be fine,” Emily let go and he saw her with a feeling of despair, I can’t do anything, he nervously ran his fingers through his hair.

            When Sam saw her, the officers had to hold him down, he wanted to attack her. Emily walked passed him. When she stood at the stand she looked at David and she wasn’t afraid. “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”

            David could tell that Emily was trying to be strong, “I do.”

            Sam got something from his pocket and sat satisfied that no one had noticed. After her testimony, he threw a knife against her, David stood stunned. Emily ducked and the judge had seen enough, “get him out, call the next witness to the stand.”

            Sarah, the young girl from the accident gave her statement and told the judge that she was close to dying. He ran when she was still conscious leaving her for dead.

            After the girl’s testimony, everyone in the audience looked shocked that something like that would happen to such a young girl. Her parents were both listening to her story in the audience they seemed proud of Sarah.

            “Are there any more witnesses?” The Judge asked.

            “No your honor,” both the prosecutor and the defense answered.

            “Then let the jury deliberate,” the judge turned to the jury, “you are excused.”

            After a few hours, the jury announced that they were done deliberating. “We’ve come to a unanimous verdict.”

            Emily looked calm, David was relieved that everything would be over. Jimmy pointed the camera at the door where he was sure that Sam would be walking through.

            They called Sam back into the courtroom, he didn’t see Emily sitting next to David and Jimmy. He stood to hear his verdict, after they called him guilty the color of his face drained. He made so much fuss it took three police officers just to cuff him.

            They gave him forty years in prison, without a chance for parole. He was devastated and screamed as they took him away, “SHE DESTROYED ME! I’D KILL HER IF I HAD A CHANCE. IT’S NOT FAIR!”

            Mr. Emerson was in his office signing papers, he hadn’t seen Emily’s resignation letter under the file of paperwork on top of it. Finally, he was at the last document that lay right on top of Emily’s letter.

            When he picked up the last folder, the envelope fell to the ground and the phone rang, he picked up the phone. David was calling him to let him know of the results and what he tried to do to Emily.

            Mr. Emerson was happy to hear he had no chance of parole and he was going to a maximum security prison for a very long time. He hung up and remembered Emily was leaving today with Helen.

            He’d miss her she was a great daughter, employee, and a good reporter. He turned to his clock and saw he had to leave to say his goodbyes’ to Helen and Emily. He moved his chair back and saw Emily’s resignation letter, surprised he opened it, read it and sighed. I never imagined this, Mr. Emerson knew the reason, she loves David and thinks this is the best way. I’ll stop her.

            He arrived at the airport. Suddenly, he saw David and Jimmy arriving carrying their bags they were waiting for their jet while they had their bags checked and run through the x-ray machine.

            Mr. Emerson walked towards them, Emily sat silently next to David. Helen and Jimmy were chatting. David and Emily looked like total strangers, they weren’t even looking eye to eye. “Emily, Helen, good thing I’ve caught you on time. Helen, have fun sweety and study hard.” Mr. Emerson said.

            “Thanks,” Helen smiled.

            “Emily, I want to talk to you, about this,” he took out the letter and placed it in her hands and she took it.

            David took it from her and when he read it he was stunned, but didn’t say anything instead he waited for an answer. Emily wasn’t expecting it, “I was offered a job in New York, I want to live alone for a while. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

            “Are you trying to run from your problems?” David finally spoke up.

            Helen and Jimmy looked surprised, Emily’s eyes filled with tears. “Ms. McAllister, Helen, and Emily, your jet is ready.” They called.

            “I have to go.” Emily stood.

            “When are you coming back?” David asked.

            “After Helen’s graduation,” Emily left, the men carried their bags. David followed, he couldn’t explain it. It was like an invisible force pulling him. She kept going, Mr. Emerson and Jimmy saw David following Emily.

            The security guard stopped him, when she crossed over to get in the jet. He couldn’t speak, he just there nervous and speechless. As he saw her leaving, he remembered Jimmy’s warning. ‘She’s leaving after her testimony at the court.’

            He remembered their dance, the songs they danced and his own advice to Jimmy, ‘you can’t give up on her, not if you truly love her.’ “Emily!” He shouted but she wouldn’t turn. She was leaving and the security wouldn’t let him through.

            Jimmy walked towards him, “David! What’s gotten into you?”

            “I can’t lose her. Emily!” David screamed her name louder and he ran past the security guard towards her.

            The security came running behind him, “what’s wrong with you? If you don’t leave we’ll have to—”

            “His love just left and he couldn’t say goodbye.” Jimmy said coming to his rescue.

            Security said sympathetically. “I’m sorry, you’ll have to leave.”

            They went to the office, he walked to his chair he saw the empty desk in front of him. He saw Emily’s name plaque in the trash bin.

            Who threw it? She’s coming back! No one can say otherwise. David placed it in his desk drawer. Emily always loved working here.

            He remembered she had Stanley, her boyfriend. She’d never leave him, would she? I have to think positive! She’ll be back after Helen’s graduation she would stay for his father’s wedding and-wait a minute! What about the job in New York? I forgot about that. Will I ever see her again?

            It made him nervous, why do I care if she ever comes back? She didn’t even tell me she was leaving. Jimmy saw he wasn’t paying attention when he was speaking to him and knew he was thinking of Emily.

            “David, are you ok?” Jimmy broke his thoughts seeing he was worried.

            “I don’t need her, she is bossy and stubborn…very stubborn! Why do you ask? I mean, do you think I need her? I don’t!” David said defensively.

            “Great! I’ll tell her to hang up since you won’t talk to her,” Jimmy said.

            “What?! Wait! Here give it to me,” he picked up the phone. Jimmy left David

  who was chatting with Helen and Emily. I’ll see her for Helen’s graduation. She has to come back— for Stanley.