It's Never Too Late

Chapter 9

            David lowered his voice, “are you still in love with that mystery guy?”

            “I’ll get over him. It’ll be easier since I’ll have someone, I don’t love him but if he asks I’ll accept him,” Emily said.

            David was speechless all this time he thought she was in love with Stanley. But she wasn’t, surely he should have seen it, he kept looking at her, studying her.

            “What? I’m honest, I might say yes tonight, Stanley’s a great guy.” Emily said with a sigh.

            “But you don’t love him!” David looked at her and stood leaning over and putting both hands on his desk.

            “I might end up loving him, we have a lot in common. Did you know he used to go to our school? He moved, so he graduated in LA. His parents worked a lot, moved many times, and went to different schools, he moved to twelve different schools for middle school! Can you believe that? Twelve.”

            “I guess he has a lot in common there.” David sighed.

            “Very funny, he likes what I like, he used to go to the same restaurant where we went as kids, he knows Helen. I need to go out with him, he must be the one. I can’t sit here waiting for the one I like to look at me and say—”

             “I love you.” David couldn’t believe he just said it.

            “Exactly! You get me, I think Stanley could be the one,” Emily said, not understanding that David meant to tell her that he loved her.

            “But—” David looked astonished.

            “I get it, you want me to be happy and I can be if we spend time together, we’ll fall in love. Right?” Emily wanted to hear it from him to give herself the chance. But why did I ask him? He’s no one to decide for me, I must decide on my own. would she ever be able to date without feeling guilty?

            “I hope…” David couldn’t find the right words, I just told her how I feel, she thought I finished her sentence.

            She has no idea how I feel, I never told her. But why do I feel this way? Why is my heart aching? Somehow he knew why. I have to change the conversation. “Is Helen coming for winter break?” David asked thinking quickly.

            “Yes, I’m so happy, I can’t believe she’s graduating. I’m so proud, you know?” She smiled, as she thought of her sister’s approach for winter break.

            “What are you working out on?” David asked.

            “I’m checking out some stories, I don’t know, what do you think? I think I’m going to record about something like this.” Emily said.

            But he still found himself thinking of what she had told him, could she fall for this guy? I’m trying to forget her by going out with Terry, is it working? Would it ever?

            He had many unanswered questions in his mind, how can I answer if it would break my heart and I don’t know the answer myself? He wished he knew what to say, he didn’t have the right words.

            David was there but he wasn’t paying attention. He saw her worried gaze, “David are you ok?” Emily asked him.

            “What? Yeah, I’m fine.” David said.

            “I was telling you I didn’t know which story to use?” Emily repeated.

            “Why don’t you follow up on Sam Sanderson?” David said.

            “They won’t have his hearing until the end of the month, we’ll be live. We are talking about the war, a little on the White House news, weather, sports.” Emily said.

            “Well, then don’t you think that’s enough?” David said astonished.

            “I don’t have a story, they do,” Emily said going through her stories.

            “Why don’t you try to talk about this? It’s local and it just happened, interview people for the show,” David was looking at a story on her computer.

            She ended up doing that story. Emily was glad they could still be friends, no matter what she’d always be there for him that is all that mattered. Right? Wasn’t it what mattered? Oh well, she might never know.

            They recorded their stories that evening and went home to get ready. She rested her feet, since they were going out. She didn’t want to feel tired for the date. As she saw the clock ticking she became nervous, she didn’t know if she wanted the time to go quickly and get it over with, or if she wanted the clock to stop and rest.

                Mr. Emerson was downstairs talking to Stanley, Emily was getting ready to go when David knocked, “hey, your date is here.”

            Emily felt weird to think she was going out on a double date with David and Terry. There was no going back now, “I’ll be out in a minute.”

            She met David and Stanley at the end of the stairs. Terry was gripping David’s arm, Emily went along side Stanley. Emily went to the car with Stanley and Terry went into David’s car. “Emily, is he the man that you like?”

            Emily sigh, “yes, he’s dating someone, I’m trying to get over him.”

            “How long has this been going on?” Stanley asked.

            “About five months.” Emily said.

            “You want me to be your date so you’re not left alone?” Stanley looked at her.

            “I’m sorry if you want I can clear this out,” Emily said sounding embarrassed.

            “It’s fine, don’t worry I already knew this.” Stanley smiled at her. They were silent until they arrived. Stanley parked the car turning to her, “we’re here.”

            “I’m sorry about this, things happened, and one thing led to another.” Emily said.

            David walked to their car and knocked on the window, “you guys coming? We’re here.” What’s taking them? David wouldn’t admit he didn’t like them alone.

            “Ok, when I open the door, laugh like you just heard the best joke.” Stanley told her. Emily started laughing, and so did Stanley, “ok we’re coming.”

            David looked upset, but he was trying to fake it. He wasn’t going to let the fact that Emily was happy with a guy other than him bring him down. I’ll enjoy tonight no matter what, why do I feel this way?

            Terry couldn’t believe her plan was coming out so perfectly. She didn’t lift a finger, I’ll enjoy tonight because Emily is with Stanley. He can’t break up with me now.

            David and Terry went in line first and the four were passed through, people recognized Emily and David from the news, “hey, aren’t they from Emerson’s news?” They heard someone whisper, the men were admiring her.

            The nightclub owner welcomed them, “come in, you don’t have to wait in line, everything is on the house.” They walked in thanking the owner.

            David and Terry danced and had fun, Stanley decided to leave, “I have to go to work tomorrow early, I can’t stay any longer.” Stanley explained.

            “Emily, why don’t you stay? I can take you home after we’re done.” David said.

            Terry was not going to have that, “honey, she probably wants to be with him, why don’t we leave them alone?” If her eyes were lasers, she would have killed her, why are the men all over her?

            “I’d love to be with her on our own, unless you want to stay?” Stanley asked turning to Emily.

            “I want to go with you too,” Emily said, I’m not about to stay with David and Terry, that had been enough. They left the nightclub.

            “I think he likes you,” Stanley told her.

            “No, we were friends as children and after my parents died, his father adopted Helen and me. We grew up together,” Emily said disappointed.

            “I’m a guy, there’s more to him then he shows, there was something about his devotion to you.” Stanley said.

            “Devotion? Seems more like he’s trying over protect me like always, trust me, you are not there when they kiss at work.” Emily said.

            Time went by and Helen was coming home for winter break, they hadn’t talked on the phone that much. Helen wasn’t home, she went to a field trip, to study different medicine techniques and she wasn’t coming home until a week before her break.

            Emily was working hard, because of Christmas, meeting work deadlines and getting ready for Helen she was excited. Terry and David kept seeing each other. Stanley and Emily became a couple. They were telling everyone, she was tired of waiting.

            Emily would go with the flow, let life take course, Stanley was a great guy, there was nothing wrong. They attempted to make their relationship work after Stanley told her how he felt. Mr. Emerson was acting strange the last few days, he’d stay over at the office and come early the next morning.

            “Dad, you have been working too hard,” David would always tell him. Mr. Emerson would always give the same response.

            “There is something I must do, I’m going to be in my office. I’m kind of busy and I have to do this alone.” Mr. Emerson said before shutting the door to his office.

            David asked Emily about it, but she didn’t know what he did, David worried. Emily wondered what was going on with Mr. Emerson she did notice he was strange the past few days, “what could it be?” She thought aloud.

            “I don’t know, but I will find out.” Emily hadn’t seen him look this serious, as he did when he said this before and it scared her.

            “David don’t get ahead of yourself, it’s probably nothing.” Emily assured.

            “Are you telling me that you don’t see it?” David looked surprised and bothered.

            “I think he’s thinking about your mother, she died around this time,” Emily said.

            “Maybe, but he never acted this way and it worries me.” David sighed.

            Mr. Emerson overheard, “I’m sorry to worry you two, all I can tell you right now is that you will know soon enough.”

            “So, there is something going on? Why don’t you just tell me?” David asked.

            “It’s nothing calm down, I said there’s nothing, haven’t I?!” Mr. Emerson said angrily, he knew David wasn’t going to stop. I have to be careful or I’ll get caught.

            David believed his father was hiding something, I’ll figure it out, I won’t sit back I have to know, whatever this is. Mr. Emerson went into his office and locked the door. He picked up the phone, “Hello…” said a woman’s voice.

            “I told you I don’t want you calling. You left, you said you didn’t want anything to do-what?” Mr. Emerson hesitated, “hold on,” he checked so no one could hear.

            David was still with Emily and everyone was busy talking. “William, what’s going on?” The woman said.

            “Don’t you remember the day that you told me that you were leaving, and you weren’t coming back? I told David you died, I couldn’t bring myself to tell him the truth.” I’ll protect David, no matter what. “My son thinks his mother is dead.”

            “Why did you say that to our son? Don’t you think it would have been better for him to know that I’m alive? You had to have that your way.” The woman was angry.

            “What are you talking about?” Mr. Emerson asked furiously.

            “I saw you making out with her, what I can’t believe is that you’d do it with her, my own cousin,” She said disappointed.

            “Again, I don’t understand what the heck are you talking about?” Mr. Emerson was confused.

            “This is so like you. I want to talk to David, I am his mother after all,” She said.

            “The last time you saw our son he was five. You wanted to leave him, you said you couldn’t take him with you. Where were you all this time?” Mr. Emerson asked angrily.

            “I tried to come back, but years had already passed. I found him later with you, I would check up on him from time to time,” she explained.

            “What?!” Mr. Emerson said louder than he meant.

            “Don’t worry he didn’t recognize me,” she said calmly.

            “Do you know how hard it was to lie to him for years? I told him you died, later he said he saw someone that looked like you. My answer’s no!” Mr. Emerson said annoyed.

            “Fine! But tell me, is he fine? What does he do?” She asked.

            “Why? All of a sudden you call to know about him? What’s going on?” He asked.

            “I have to talk to you, both of you. There was a place I had to go to, it’s not what you think,” she said.

            Mr. Emerson lowered his voice, “you’re scaring me, what’s going on?” He left to meet her. David walked towards him, Mr. Emerson walked passed him ignoring him on purpose, I can’t tell him.

            David was surprised, dad had never ignored me. There has to be something wrong. Emily came out of nowhere and woke David from his thoughts, “hey David, what’s up?”

            “What’s up? There’s something wrong with dad, he ignored me completely. He’s acting strange, I have to figure out what’s going on.” David said decidedly.

            “I know how it feels, if there’s something wrong you will know I’m sure, what do you think it could be?” Emily thought.

            “I don’t know,” David saw Emily walking to the window, looking towards the parking lot. Mr. Emerson was walking towards the office and a woman was following.

            “David, your dad’s coming, someone is following him close,” he didn’t know why but he had to go.

            Mr. Emerson walked through the door, David took the elevator, when the door opened, he saw his dad with a woman behind him, “dad?”

            Mr. Emerson turned to him, “David, I have to talk to you.”

            “David? Look at how you’ve grown. The last time I saw you, you were so small,” the woman said.

            David couldn’t believe it. But, how could it be? “I’m sorry, who are you?” She seems familiar.

            “I knew your mother.” She said smiling at him.

            “Enough, you get out!” Mr. Emerson told her.

            “William let me see him.” She begged.

            Mr. Emerson lowered his voice so only she could hear, “haven’t you done enough? You abandoned him when he needed you most and you!”

            “Dad, what’s going on here?” David asked confused. Who is she?

            “Nothing! Go to my office, this woman is just leaving.” Mr. Emerson glared at her.

            “That’s right, but I’ll be back.” The woman said.

            Mr. Emerson was angry, how dare she? “Get out!”

            The woman left, “dad what’s going on? Who was that?”

            “No one!” That came out more stern than what he wanted. “I’m sorry son, I’m tired I have too much on my mind right now. I have to go back to work.”

            “Ok, just tell me one thing, what did she want?” David asked.

            “She wanted to talk to me about-”Mr. Emerson stopped himself.

            “About what?” David looked at him suspiciously.

            “Your mother.” He said finally.

            “My mother? Who is she? How did she know her?” David asked.

            “You know what? Alright let’s talk, in my office.” Mr. Emerson led the way. He closed the door behind him. “David there is something you have to know, I’ve-hidden something from you, for your good,” he paused.

            “Dad, what are you talking about? You’re scaring me!” David started to worry.

            “I-I’ve kept a secret from you.” Mr. Emerson said with a pale face.

            “What secret?” David asked wide eyed.

            Mr. Emerson tapped his fingers on his desk. He looked at David, “if you hate me after this, I won’t hold it against you. But, let me take my time, I never thought it’d be this hard, I never thought…don’t take this the wrong way.”

            “I want to know what’s going on,” David insisted.

            “Stay away from that woman, if you ever see her!” Mr. Emerson warned angrily.

            “Why? That’s all I want to know.” David asked impatiently.

            “Do it for your mother, the one that you remember,” Mr. Emerson said.

            “Wait a minute, she said she knew my mother, was she her friend?” David asked. Or an enemy?

            “That’s all, I have to get back to work,” Mr. Emerson told him sternly.

            “Father!” David screamed angrily.

            “I said leave!” Mr. Emerson screamed back.

            David walked towards the door, “fine, if you won’t tell me I’ll figure it out.”

            Mr. Emerson felt betrayed when she left, he thought she’d never come back. He married long ago, just to be abandoned and left with their son. Now she thinks she can come back, and start like nothing ever happened?! Who does she think she is?!

            David wanted to know who she was, she seemed familiar, “is everything alright?” Emily interrupted his thoughts again.

            “I don’t know. My father won’t tell me anything and I have to know who that woman was.” David explained.

            “Did you check if she signed the visitor sheet before coming in?”

            “How could she? My dad kicked her out, he told her to get out just like that, without giving her a chance. She told me that she knew my mother. Come to think of it, she looked familiar.” David looked thoughtful.

            “Why don’t you talk to security? See if they got her plate numbers, we can run it through the records.” Emily explained.

            “She came in dad’s car.” David explained.

            “That means, she lives nearby, did your dad say anything?” Emily asked.

            “No, I know she walked home, she arrived with dad and it’s too cold out to walk, unless she lives nearby.” David said thinking about it.

            “What did she want? Why did she look for your dad?” Emily asked.

            “All I know is that she wanted to talk to me, but my dad doesn’t want me talking to her.” David said.

            “Remember me? I snuck into the principal’s office to get a story for our high school paper. I can keep your dad busy while you talk to her. If she wants to talk she’ll find a way,” Emily assured him.

            Emily was always there for him when he needed her, “you’re right! I’ll talk to her somehow.” David smiled at her.

            “If she calls you, just meet her for lunch. Don’t worry, I won’t tell your father, I’ll keep your secret.” Emily said.

            “I owe you one.” David hugged her.

            All of a sudden Mr. Emerson opened his door, “David, you can go home early today, because we are staying late tomorrow.” He closed his office door as suddenly.

            David looked at Emily, “see? Why does he want me gone?”

            “Are you sure this is a good idea? He has to have a reason to do this. If you insist I’ll help you, but be careful,” Emily said.

            “I will don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” David said.

            The phone to Emily’s desk rang and she answered, “David...Yes, who is this? Hello? Hello?” Emily looked confused at him.

            “Who was it?” David asked her.

            “I think it was her, she wouldn’t give me her name. She wanted to know if you were here. Let’s try to do this, quietly and carefully. We don’t know her.” Emily said.

            “David are you still here?” Mr. Emerson walked over to them.

            “I’m on my way out. I’ll be back tomorrow, in the morning.” David turned to get his things.

            “Emily, I need to talk to you,” Mr. Emerson seemed concerned.

            She turned to face David as she walked to Mr. Emerson’s office and closed the door. “I don’t want you helping David look for this woman, unless you want to hurt him, understand?” Mr. Emerson warned.

            “Mr. Emerson, why would she hurt him? Is there something, you’re not telling me?” Emily asked.

            “All you have to know is you can’t help him look for her, she’s his mother!” Mr. Emerson couldn’t believe he told her the truth.

            Emily’s face went pale, “I thought she was dead, since when did you know?”

            “You can’t tell him,” Mr. Emerson sighed, “I could’ve forgiven her, if she left me, but why David? He needed his mother, he was only five,” Mr. Emerson said.

            “I had no idea. Did she say why she left? Did you ask? I know this is none of my business, but why don’t you try to talk to David about it? It’s better than hiding the fact that his mother is still alive.” Emily said. She wished her mother was alive.

            Mr. Emerson sighed, “you want to help, I want to ask you not to, she’s coming! Irene is coming I don’t want him to know. Promise me you won’t tell him.”

            “I can’t promise that, don’t ask me. Do you know how many times I wish my mother was alive?” Emily’s eyes filled with tears.

            “I know this is hard, but it’s better to think she died instead of finding out she abandoned him. Do you know what that could’ve done to a child? That’s why I worked hard to make his mother see what she left behind one day.” He sighed.

            “I understand,” Emily's eyes filled with tears, I’m sorry David. “I’ll be going to lunch, do you need me to do anything before I leave?”

            “Go,” Mr. Emerson hugged her. “Don’t cry, I promise it’s for his own good.” Emily had to leave, she didn’t know what to do. Many times I saw how David wished his mom were still alive.

            It would be easier if Mr. Emerson told David. What could she do? There was no way he would tell him. How was she going to break a promise that she made to David? She would hurt him, but she would also hurt him if she didn’t break the promise.

            The next day, Emily kept herself busy, she didn’t want to think about David’s mother, or the conversation she had with Mr. Emerson.

            Since she couldn’t stop thinking about David’s mother, she decided to go out, she needed to think.

            She couldn’t believe the traffic, Jeez, what’s going on? She was running late, so she cut through traffic to get there sooner. With only a little bit of time left, I’ll have to stay an extra hour or so to make up for time wasted!