It's Never Too Late

Chapter 13

            On Christmas Eve, David went to the hospital to bring his mother over. He didn’t think it fair for her to spend another Christmas alone. He was waiting outside when he saw the nurses, leaving for the night. “Irene, need a ride?”

            “No, I think I’ll walk, to feel the fresh air.” Irene waved at her.

            “Girl it’s cold, why don’t you come with us?” The other nurse said.

            “I have to sleep in early tonight, I have work tomorrow and I don’t want to be late.” Irene said.

            “I’ll bring your Christmas present for lunch time, bye.” The nurse waved back.

            “Ok, see you tomorrow then,” Irene said.

            David walked towards her, “Ms. Wesley! I wanted to know if you’d like to spend Christmas with us. I know it’s last minute, but I would like you to come. It would help me to get to know you better.”

            Ms. Wesley was shocked, “I don’t know, what will your father think?”

            “My father is proud, but he’d like it if you’d come too, I know you guys don’t get along as you use to, it’d be great if you can be friends at least.”

            She had tears coming to her eyes, “of course I can come, I’m sorry it’s just-it’s been so long.” David embraced her and she hugged him back.

            When they arrived David got off first. Emily was putting up the Christmas tree with Helen’s and Jimmy’s help. Mr. Emerson was wrapping up the presents.

            David parked the car in the garage, “they don’t know we’re here yet,” they went through the door which connected to the kitchen.

            Emily was waiting for them when they walked in, “hi David, your dad’s busy with the Christmas presents and we’re done with the tree.”

            “Emily? But how did you know?” David looked surprised.

            “I saw you sneak off to your car and carefully turn it on. Your dad thinks you went to the store, here are the drinks, take them to the table. I’ll take Ms. Wesley to the room, I have something for her.” Emily explained with a smile.

             David was surprised, but he did. The table was set up for eight, Terry and Stanley were coming over. Mr. Emerson noticed minutes later, “Who’s the eighth person?”

            “It’s a friend, is it ok if she comes?” David asked.

            “Of course.” Mr. Emerson looked at David suspiciously. A friend? Every Christmas he’d try to get his father hitched. What now? Who's this friend?

            “Great! Because she’s here; Irene, can you come down?” David went to the stairs.

            Mr. Emerson turned pale, he was mad but noticed she was nervous standing at the top of the stairs, beautiful in a silver gown. Mr. Emerson went up to get her, “Irene?”

            She was relieved when she saw he wasn’t mad. They came down together, Emily wore her mother’s white gown. Terry arrived, David opened the door she threw her arms around him planting a kiss. David unwrapped himself and Terry was taken aback.

            Ms. Wesley noticed tense moments with Emily and Terry. She heard angry mutter from Terry, when Emily and David were together. David went to help Emily bring the food to the table. Terry walked over to Jimmy and Helen, “hi Terry.” Jimmy said.

            “Hi Jim, did you see what he did? He is acting so strange. Do you know what’s going on?” Terry sounded bothered.

            Jimmy sighed, “why don’t you ask him? Have you done something to make him act the way he is?”

            Terry was nervous, “no! Why would you say that? Who is she?” Terry pointed towards Helen. She was a younger version of Emily except for her eye color.

            Jimmy looked at Helen protectively and walked towards Terry not allowing her to come closer, “She is my girlfriend, Emily’s sister! I hope you’re—”

            “Wait, you think I said something to Emily? Helen is not falling for my man, trust me the night is not over I’ll make sure David chooses me over Emily. It’s either that or let him suffer. Emily loves Stanley, she needs to stay away from David.” Terry said.

            “Emily’s my friend, she works with David. How could you think that about her? She is not after him!” Jimmy said angrily.

            “I’m sorry,” Terry sounded fake, she whispered, “better be careful about that one, she might be the same.”

            Jimmy grabbed her arm pulled her away from view, “don’t talk about her. I won’t kick you out because this isn't my place, but stay away from us,” Jimmy said defensively.

            Jimmy left her, she saw David and Emily serving the plates, they were chatting happily, that angered her. “David, I’ll help you,” she took the red wine and opened it. She went towards the kitchen table, knowing Emily was coming through.

            Terry bumped into Emily and purposely dropped red wine all over her mother’s white dress. Terry smiled, my plan worked, “I’m sorry,” she giggled.

            Ms. Wesley noticed and went to help Emily, “come, I’ll look for something while you go inside, after all you helped me.”

            “I wasn’t watching where I was going,” Emily’s feelings were hurt but she wasn’t fighting with Terry now, my mother’s dress.

            Ms. Wesley noticed the hurt in her eyes, “I have something to give you. I know we haven’t started to open the presents, I think you’re going to love it.”

            They went upstairs, Helen knew Terry had done it on purpose. “My sister was wearing my mother’s dress, it was special.”

            “Please, she doesn’t need that old thing,” Terry smirked.

            Helen stepped on her foot, “watch your step.” Helen walked upstairs, “Emmy, you alright? I know what happened,” Ms. Wesley opened the door for her.

            “She said it was her mother’s, I think you should come in too.” Helen came in, “I said before I got her a present. I can have my friend pick it up, she’s going to love it I have something for you too. They were your mother’s.” Ms. Wesley explained.

            “Thank you Ms. Wesley,” Helen hugged her.

            “I’ll make the call.” Ms. Wesley called her friend, who worked at a dry cleaner.

            The doorbell rang minutes later, Ms. Wesley came downstairs, “may I? I’m waiting for something.”

            “Go ahead.” Mr. Emerson said.

            She opened the door, her friend was there, “I can’t believe it, look at you. It’s good you’re finally going out to have fun, here is the package.”

            “Thank you. I’ll call later, is that ok?” Ms. Wesley said.

            “Ok, tell me how your date goes. Can’t wait.” Her friend said excitedly.

            “But-” her friend left before she could explain this was not a date, and it was too late, Mr. Emerson was standing behind her he heard everything.

            “Don’t worry about it, we know we’re not dating, right?” Mr. Emerson said.

            “Right,” Ms. Wesley said disappointed, “I have to give this to Helen and—”

            Mr. Emerson was coming too close to her and Ms. Wesley didn’t know what was happening but for the first time in years, they felt right. “What happened to us Irene?” He whispered into her ear.

            “I don’t know William,” David, Terry and Jimmy observed, “I have to give this to the girls.” She said softly went upstairs, but couldn’t help turning back to look at him as she kept going. Their eyes met. “I wish things were different.” She said before going into the room, “early Christmas presents.”

            They opened the package, and discovered their mother’s gowns. “I had them arranged. We put this together to give to our daughters.”

            They remembered their mother’s gowns from pictures, they were beautiful one was long and blue dress and the other beautiful long gold colored. “Your mother, would’ve wanted you to have them.”

            Helen put on the long blue gown, which matched her blue eyes to a tee, she looked beautiful. While Emily wore the gold colored dress, they heard the doorbell, “it’s Stanley! Helen I’m not ready.”

            “Don’t worry, I’ll go.” Helen was coming down and Jimmy’s eyes brightened as he saw her, he had to pause to look at her. Am I dreaming? Helen didn’t see Jimmy coming up behind her speechless. “Stanley my sister’s getting ready, come in.”

            “Hey beautiful,” Jimmy said as she turned around and put her arms around him smiling. Ms. Wesley and Emily came down, David was jealous that she was dressed like that for Stanley, she looks so beautiful!

            Stanley stepped forward just in time to catch Emily in his arms, as she would’ve fallen. They looked into each other’s eyes and Stanley kissed her.

            David’s scowl became visible, he went to the kitchen got a soda since he didn’t see the wine and drank it fast. He saw Emily and Stanley chatting happily. Terry went to David, he kept looking at Emily. “She loves Stanley.” Terry whispered.

            “Terry, can I ask you something? I want an honest answer,” he sounded stern.

            Terry was aware of the way David was speaking to her, “what’s wrong?”

            “I heard about what you said to Emily in the office, I couldn’t believe it, why did you say that? What did she ever do to you?” David said defensively.

            “David! You can’t tell me you’re serious, I never said anything,” Terry lied.

            “Did you drop the wine over her dress on purpose?” David asked.

            “I didn’t see her, you know that! We bumped into each other and I didn’t know the wine was open and I dropped it. I’m probably clumsy, I didn’t mean it.” Terry lied again.

            “What did you say to her in the office?” David asked not believing her.

            “David, is this how you want to spend your Christmas? I was jealous. I can’t help it you don’t make it easy to love you, you remind me how you feel constantly and I don’t know what to do.” Terry cried.

              David saw how happy Emily was with Stanley, he was jealous of that. For a moment he wished he would feel something for Terry, but his heart belonged to Emily.

            David kissed her and she kissed him back Emily walked into the kitchen to get something, she turned back and got back into the conversation. “I don’t need anything right now, so what were you saying Stanley?”

            David let go of a happier Terry, he was glad he wasn’t alone when he saw Emily with Stanley. I don’t know what came over me, I don’t love Terry.

            Ms. Wesley didn’t know why Emily was suddenly acting strange until she saw David chatting happily with Terry. Mr. Emerson told her that they were in love, but are keeping it a secret. “They don’t know? How long has this been?” Ms. Wesley asked.

            “David wanted to get Emily jealous with Terry and Emily is doing the same to David with Stanley. This is going on six months.” Mr. Emerson sigh, “Irene…why did all this have to happen? Why didn’t you look for us?”

            Ms. Wesley was speechless she didn’t know what to say, she had to agree that she had missed him too. They both looked at each other longingly, I still love him! But does he feel the same? Would he forgive me for leaving all those years?

            Ms. Wesley told him what she went through to find them, while they watched Emily and David looking at each other longingly. “It'd be easier if they told each other.”

            Mr. Emerson didn’t know what to say when it came for the goodbyes. He loved her, he figured it out when he first saw her after many years, but he’d been hurt. Now I know why she did all that. Mr. Emerson wanted to ask her to marry him, he was nervous but wanted to say it. Seeing David and Emily makes me realize it’s better to just say it.

            He’d say it when they were giving a toast. “I want to make a toast I found a new person who was in my life a long time ago. I know all that she did was for love. Also, to a new beginning and Irene I never stopped loving you, I’d love it if you would marry me.”

            Irene was surprised, she looked at him with tears in her eyes she hugged him, “I thought you didn’t love me anymore-yes.” They kissed Mr. Emerson went to his study and came back with a box. Ms. Wesley smiled, “you kept them.” It was their old wedding bands with their names on it.

            Mr. Emerson got down in one knee and placed the ring on her finger, “of course I kept them, just promise me you'll never take it off again,” everyone was happy. There was soon going to be a wedding! David’s parents, who would’ve thought.

            Ms. Wesley stood “a toast, for a new beginning and for those who are in love but are too afraid to speak,” David looked at Emily, he hated seeing them together.

            Ms. Wesley had to leave, they decided to get together the next day for lunch. Mr. Emerson took her home. They kissed on her doorstep she went to her window. He

drove back, in the beginning of the day he never thought he would be this happily especially with his ex, much less asking her to marry him.

            Terry and Stanley left together, Emily and Helen went upstairs. David knocked. “Can I come in?”

            Helen turned to look at Emily with a question in her eyes, but they each knew what they wanted. “Ok, come in,” they said in unison.

            “I wanted to talk to you Emily, I know now why you were acting strange,” he cleared his throat. Emily went wide eyed, he knows! “I spoke to Terry, she won’t be doing that anymore. If I knew, I wouldn’t have invited her here.”

            Emily sighed relieved and dare she say— disappointment? That he didn’t know her secret. “Oh good-I mean don’t worry, I won’t steep to her level,” her spoke angrily. “Tell her not to come near me or Helen. I was right not to trust her, I wasn’t saying anything for you, but keep her away from us.”

            David sighed, “I know what she said and did is unforgivable, trust me it won’t happen again, you don’t have to worry.”

            “Thank you, but this isn’t your fault you shouldn’t apologize for her. I’m sorry for worrying you, but she’s right you shouldn’t worry about me anymore, I did what I had to do.” Emily assured.

            “What is she talking about?” Helen asked surprised to hear her sister say that, “what did you do?”

            “I helped Jacob catch Sam,” Emily said.

            “Jimmy told me, but I never heard the details,” Helen looked at Emily.

            “I don’t want to talk about it! I don’t feel sorry for doing that. I only feel sorry for making you worry, but never for doing my job!” Emily said while glaring at David.

            David grabbed her from her shoulders and shook her, “that’s not your job Emily, you’re a reporter not a super hero.”

            “You’re hurting me!” Emily freed herself, Helen was speechless, “don’t you get it? A young girl died because of me, she was murdered. It’s the least I can do.”

            “What is she talking about?” Helen looked at David confused.

            “That day your sister told me what she was up to, I followed to stop her from making the biggest mistake of her life!” David glared at Emily.

            “I knew he was after me, he wasn’t resting until he killed me,” Emily glared back.

            “I was going with her with her, but she drove off.” David explained.

            “Because you wanted to stop me!” Emily explained.

            “Why wouldn’t I? What would you have done in my shoes?” David reprimanded Emily and glared at her.

            “Then what?” Helen wanted to know.

            “I drove as fast as I could, until traffic stopped and the reason for the traffic was because of a hit and run. It was a car that looked like Emily’s. I thought the worst,” he sighed, looked at Emily with loving eyes, “I was thankful it wasn’t you. Why do you always have to put yourself in danger Emily?”

            “It’s my job David, I told you not to worry about me. Don’t make it any harder.”

            “Don’t make what any harder?” David sounded confused.

            “I - I - you wouldn’t understand, please leave, I don’t want to talk about it, I only brought it up to explain you don’t need to worry.” Emily said nervously.

            “Damn it Emily! Why aren’t you listening? I’m trying to tell you something and you don’t understand! I love you Emily- like a sister.” David thought quickly.

            Emily turned to hide the tears that were threatening, “I’m not your sister!” She said angrily, “I’m tired, you should leave.”

            She went to her bed he got out, Helen went to her sister and hugged her. David was trying to listen to their whispers, he thought he heard Emily cry, damn it! If only I knew what was going on. David knocked, “open the door. I need to talk to you, I want to know what’s wrong,” silence, “damn it! Emily, it’s important, open this door, now!”

            “Go away! I’m resting and I have work early tomorrow,” Emily said sternly.

            “That’s not true! Emily, open the door! Or-I'll break it down!” David said.

            “Leave me alone!” Emily said.

            “Fine! Then tell me why you were crying,” David said.

            “Goodnight David.” Emily said sternly.

            David felt anger and confusion take over, he wanted to break down the door but didn’t, he would talk to her the next day. “Ugh!” he pounded the door and walked away.

            The next day David woke up early in the morning, but he didn’t see Emily, she left early with Helen. Helen left a note on the kitchen counter. They were with the girl, who was supposedly killed.

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

            “We’ve been waiting for her to wake up,” the doctor explained, “but she’s not out of danger. We’ve prepared her parents. They say she’ll make it.”

            Emily would write a story she interviewed them and admired their faith that their daughter would wake up. They decided to come back Friday, to see any changes. “Can I visit her?” Emily asked the girl’s parents.

            Emily came out happier, she couldn’t believe it some good news, not only was Sam caught, the girl he ‘killed’ was alive. Her parents had faith their daughter was going to wake up.

            They left, “I’ll visit Jacob, he has to tell me when Sam’s trial starts, that way David can do the rest of the story,” Emily sighed, “I have to start working alone.”

            “What do you mean?” Helen looked concerned.

            “I told you I’m going with you, I’m happy Mr. Emerson’s getting married. I might not be able to get over David, especially after what he said yesterday. If I change places for a while I’ll probably get over him.” Her phone rang Emily looked at the caller ID, “speak of the devil, hello David.”

            “Emily, I woke up you weren’t here, I want to talk to you.” David said.

            “I’m going to see Jacob, I’m going to ask when Sam’s trial is. Do you think you can do the rest of the story, his trial should be soon, he can’t see me.” Emily reminded.

            “Yes of course,” David was confused.

            “I’m coming to see Jacob, have to hang up, ok? Bye!” Emily hung up, and turned the phone off, or David would keep calling her to come home.

            “Why did you lie? We’re not in the police station yet,” Helen said.

            “If he calls tell him I’m busy. I know he wants to talk to me, but I was embarrassed yesterday, I thought for a moment that he loved me, he’ll always see me as his sister. It’s not his fault, but it’s the only way I’ll ever get over him.” Emily said.

            Helen’s phone rang, “hello?…David, she’s still talking to Jacob. We’re going to leave right now, we’re leaving to the mall afterwards…Why?…Ok, we can talk later.”

            “What did he tell you?” Emily asked when Helen hung up.

            “He wanted to pick you up in the police station, I told him we’d be at the mall, he wanted to talk about yesterday. I think he heard I told him we’ll talk later.” Emily remembered he told her, he’d figure her out, “tell him it was because of mother’s dress, how special it was for you.” Helen suggested.

            “Well, it is special, I’m still keeping it, I know I can’t wear it anymore but it brings good memories. I just can’t believe it,” Emily looked saddened again.

            “I know, it is special for me too, I wish there was something we could do. Now we got new dresses they were mother’s too. We can keep the white one, maybe if you take it to a dry cleaner’s, I’m sure they’ll know what to do.” Helen thought.

            They got to the police station, Jacob attended them, “a week from now, Monday at eight am. I thought you knew, we sent you a witness notice to appear.”

            “What?! I thought he couldn’t see me,” Emily looked scared all of a sudden.

            Jacob sighed, “we need all witnesses, it’s the only way to put him behind bars, for good. There’s no bail and he’s being sent to a maximum security prison.”

            “I have to appear in court? I have to testify in front of him?” Emily turned pale.

            Jacob sighed, “Emily you have to. You don’t want to meet him in the streets, if you don’t testify he can go free.”

            “I might have more witnesses, it’s the young girl’s parents. They want that man behind bars, their daughter isn’t dead she’s in a comma.” Emily announced happily.

            “Really? Is she alive?!” Jacob asked hopeful.

            “The parents have faith that she’ll regain consciousness,” Emily said.

            “Emily you always believed that if the doctors say she’s—”Jacob stopped himself.

            Emily got mad, “it doesn’t have to happen that way Jacob I know how your father died and he believed in you. I’m sure he’d believe it if that were you.”

            “You had faith for your mother Emily but she’s not alive, my job is about looking at the facts.” Jacob reminded.

            “You’ll see, she’ll wake up and she will be fine.” Emily glared at him.

            Jacob looked at Emily, “I hope so. I really do.”

            Helen and Emily left for the mall, she tried enjoying herself, “I think we’ll call David and tell him, after the mall of course.” Helen said.

            After a while, Emily called David, “David, I have to talk to you.” Emily said.

            “Me too, Emily.” David sounded relieved.

            “I can’t say this in front of your father, can you meet us? I’m at the mall in the food court, I can buy you food…ok see you when you get here.”

            “I’ll pay for food Emily, you left mom’s dress in the dry cleaners’ you bought me this cute shirt, my shoes and this is a nice purse. I’ll pay the food.” Helen said.

            Emily looked happy, “I want you to have fun. I’ll wait for David, he will be here any minute and I can pay you back.”

            David walked through the door, looking around for Emily and he saw her sitting at a table waiting. “Emily?” He was glad to see that Stanley wasn’t with her. She signaled him to come he sat across from her. “What happened? It sounded urgent.”

            Emily looked worried, “I know we were saying you’d take over, I was called as a witness, I will have to—”

            “Was it because of Jacob? Is it his doing?” David was angry, no one noticed because he lowered his voice, for Emily to hear.

            “Here you go again.” Emily sounded bored, “I told you not to—”

            David raised his voice, “I can worry if I want to! He is going to see you there—”

            “Hey you guys. Emily I don’t know what you guys want,” Helen came back.

            Emily stood unexpectedly, “I’ll go with you.” Thankful that her sister arrived to stop her from arguing with David. Emily pulled Helen’s hand to the counter and asked for her food. They arrived with food, “David here’s yours.”

            “When is his trial?” David asked sternly taking his food from her.

            “Monday, eight in the morning.” Emily said. “Please David, I have to do this, oh yeah and guess what?” Emily smiled.

            “What?” David asked still angry.

            “The young girl in the car accident is alive! I was so happy to know. The doctor says she’s been unconscious since the accident, her parents believe she’ll be fine.”

            “She’s alive!” David was astonished, when I saw the car it was destroyed, but she survived it.

            “Yes, I don’t know how bad it was, she is still unconscious, they can’t tell if anything is wrong with her until she wakes up. If I testify against him, he could go to a maximum security prison for life.” Emily explained.

            “Well, there’s nothing I can say, what if he tries something when he sees you, you know how he can’t resist you.” David teased.

            “David he is going to be surrounded so he doesn’t try anything.” Emily said.

            “Fine! I’m going to with you, I’m not leaving you alone,” David said.

            “Yes you are you have to be there, with Jimmy, Stanley and Terry too.” Emily reminded him.

            “I wanted to talk to you about last night, why were you crying?” David asked.

            “Well…” Emily was nervous, “that dress was my mother‘s” I love you, but you don’t feel the same. “Don’t worry,” she lowered her voice. Emily was thinking that she couldn’t go with Helen to Nashville. She had court that day, she wanted to tell him but it got harder. Why did I take so long? We work together, why can’t I tell him?

            David noticed she had something in her mind, “Emily. I've also noticed that you have something on your mind, but you just won't tell me.”

            “David I have to tell you something, I couldn’t tell you before, something always came up I was always busy.”

            David was worried, there was something about her, he noticed that he probably wasn’t gonna like it. He sighed, “what’s in your mind?”

            Emily looked down nervously, “I needed some time off, after all that’s happened you know, to think. I was thinking of moving away- working from Nashville.”

            David paused putting his food down and looked at her astonished, “what?”

            “I’m taking a vacation I never told you because I didn’t have the time, or something always came up. I’m leaving as soon as the trial is over.” Emily said.

            “I see, that’s no problem, when will you be back?” David asked.

            Emily couldn’t face David, “I’ll be back with Helen after her graduation.”

            David got nervous he wanted to say, don’t go! Instead he grabbed his soda and drank it, “ok.”

            “You can work with a journalist, they’re trying out. You are going to see who you want to work with, you don’t have to worry,” Emily explained.

            “I wasn’t worrying about that, I think there’s more to this than you’re saying, I’ll find out.” David said warningly.

            “I know it seems so sudden, but I've actually been thinking a lot about it.” Emily justified herself.

            “Ok, what can I say? Have fun, when are they deciding on the temp?” David said to change the conversation.

            “Friday, you’ll choose who you want to work with, they’re not as good as me, but try not to miss me.” Emily laughed, expecting David to laugh too.

            David looked saddened, “I always worked with you, I’ll be happier once you’re back home.”

            Emily didn’t know what to say, she understood she was like a little sister to him, and he was going to miss her. “I’ll train the temp. You won’t feel the difference.”

            “I’ll go home to prepare, dad wants me to be his best man at his wedding. They haven’t decided on a date yet, but it looks like they want to do it by the summer of next year. They want everybody there.” David said looking at her.

            Emily smiled, “my sister would have graduated by then, and we’ll definitely be there.” David left feeling like something had changed between them, it made him feel depressed to think about it, Emily’s leaving.

            He got into his car he groaned and leaned forward thinking, his forehead on the car horn. She is driving me nuts I don’t know what to do about it. His hands clenched on the wheel, he thought about what Emily told him.

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

            “Emily I know how you feel, you really wanted to come to Nashville, right? I know you’re not doing it for the right reason. No matter where you are, you will think about him.” Helen said knowingly.

            “Helen, you’re not helping. I need time, you saw what he said yesterday, I’m not his sister, he thinks of me as a sister, I’ll get over him. Only time will tell.” She wanted needed to believe that.

            Emily didn’t want to come in between David and Terry, what Terry had done on Christmas hurt her deeply, but knew she was jealous for him. Although Emily loved him, he wasn’t meant to be with her. She’d keep repeating that to herself and let it sink, until she understood, I have to get over him.

            He isn’t the only guy in the world, Stanley is a great guy. “Stanley! I never told him.” Emily felt ashamed, how could I have forgotten? She put her head, in between her hands. Would I ever get over David? What am I doing?

            “You don’t love Stanley,” Helen looked at her, “you forgot to tell him.”

            Emily took a deep breath, “I don’t know what to do, I love David, I don’t want to hurt Stanley! He’s a great guy, I’m not in love with him. What do I do?”

            Helen looked deep into her eyes, “only you know the answer to that, what do you want to do? Remember Stanley is a great guy, he doesn’t deserve to be lied to.”

            “I know you’re right.” It was obvious what Emily had to do, she had to clear things up with Stanley, I won’t use him like that-it isn’t fair.