The Night We Met

by Rinyu, Beth

  I threw my head back in defeat. I was doomed for God knows how many more hours of this. “I promise this is the last store. I’m just finding such neat things for the boutique here.”

  “Fine!” I huffed, taking a seat on the bench and gazing down at my phone as she disappeared into the next store.

  Oliver: Too bad you’re in New York. I’m in your neck of the woods, enjoying a nice German brew with a little hottie I met back in London.

  Me: Actually, you’re in luck. I’m here packing up for the next few days. Where are you?

  Oliver: Our usual spot.

  Our usual spot being the dive we’d get wasted at back in our university days, when he’d come back here with me for our semester breaks. I stretched my neck and looked into the store where Emmeline was at the counter, making yet another purchase.

  Me: I’ll be there in 20.

  “Okay, I’m done!” Emmeline announced with another bag in her hand.

  “Perfect timing! I want you to meet someone.” I took the bag from her hand and added it to my collection, leading her to the car before she could find any more stores she felt the need to go into.

  The tiny run-down building hadn’t changed much at all from our rowdy younger years. Oliver sat on the same barstool he’d spend hours upon, chasing down shots and drinking cheap beer all those years ago, and for a brief moment it was as if time had stood still. “Well, well, well, fancy meeting you here!” Oliver stood up with a mile-wide grin stretched across his face as I approached him, pulling me into a giant bear hug and pounding on my back. “You’ve done well, mate,” he whispered in my ear, referring to Emmeline.

  “That I did,” I replied. “Oliver, this is Emmeline.”

  “Emme.” She corrected, extending her hand and letting out a surprised laugh when Oliver grabbed her arm and hugged her before planting a kiss on her cheek.

  “So, you’re the one who finally stole this guy’s heart.” Oliver braced his hand on Emmeline’s shoulder and examined her. “Too bad I didn’t find you first,” he joked.

  Emmeline blushed and took my arm. “Actually, he stole mine.”

  “Aww...so in love the lot of you,” Oliver chaffed.

  “Speaking of love...where’s this new one of yours?” I looked around at the only other two people who just happened to be two older men. “Did she figure you out already and run?”

  “If she was smart, she would, and I’d hardly call it love. More like a roadie.”

  “A what?” Emmeline asked.

  “You don’t want to know,” I answered.

  Oliver’s roadies were women he’d pick up in the pubs by him, taking them along whenever he’d get the urge to get up and go on an adventure. He’d pay their travel expenses, and they’d pay him back indirectly in other ways. “She’s in the loo, but at this point, I wish she would run away. She’s annoying as hell. I’m so bored of the same old cookie-cutter sex after they promise you fireworks.”

  I looked at him and shook my head disapprovingly for speaking that way in front of Emmeline.

  “Sorry, Emme, but if you’re marrying my best friend, you’ll have to quickly learn I have no filter.”

  “Good to know.” Emmeline laughed it off.

  “Oh, joy to the world, here she comes now,” Oliver whispered in a loathing manner.

  As she came closer and into full view, something about her seemed so familiar. When our eyes met, I knew why. Fuck. It was the girl I had gone home with that night at the pub when I was visiting Oliver in London. What the hell was her name?

  “Lukas, Emme. This is Gemma,” Oliver introduced. “Lukas is my best friend and this beautiful lady here is his fiancée.”

  Gemma’s eyes lit up as she callously assessed Emmeline in the same catty manner any jealous woman would do. I cleared my throat and looked down at the floor.

  “Hey, how are you?” Emmeline greeted her in her usual bubbly manner.

  “I’m rather well,” she responded. I could feel her eyes burning into me as well as Emmeline’s and Oliver’s, as I fidgeted back and forth, still unable to look at her. Of all the random girls Oliver could’ve picked up, it had to be her. “Lukas, it’s so nice to see you again.”

  Oliver and Emmeline jerked their heads in unison, both with the same puzzling guise. I gave her a curt nod, knowing there was no way out of this, and even if there was, Gemma wouldn’t allow it. This was her chance to get back at me for rejecting her when she was all hot and bothered.

  “So, what do you guys want to drink?” Oliver, who had finally put the pieces together, tried his hardest to redirect the conversation, but Emmeline wasn’t biting.

  “How do you two know each other?” Emmeline asked, posing the question more as a demand.

  “Emme, are you a wine drinker?” Oliver tried his hardest to create a distraction, but Emme’s attention was still focused sharply on me.

  “Lukas?” She wasn’t backing down.

  I ran my hand down the side of my face. “Emmeline, let’s just go, and I’ll explain.”

  “Why can’t you just tell me here?” she snapped.

  “Yes, Lukas, what’s the problem? Just tell her,” Gemma started then narrowed her eyes. “If you must know—”

  “I didn’t ask you! I asked him!” Emmeline’s voice rose in agitation at Gemma.

  Oliver shook his head, holding up his hands in defeat, mouthing I’m sorry to me.

  “Of course, it’s funny how when I mentioned a girlfriend or wife when we were going at it a few months ago, you said you had neither,” Gemma continued, ignoring Emmeline’s demand. She was getting too much pleasure out of this whole situation. “Guess I forgot to mention fiancée. So, either someone was lying, or someone was too caught up in the heat of the moment to care.”

  “You slept with her?” Emmeline’s voice cracked.

  “No!” I answered sharply.

  Gemma let out a loud laugh. She wasn’t going to let up with this game she was playing. Emmeline looked up at me with tears welling in her eyes before darting out the door.

  “Emmeline!” I shouted, racing after her, finally catching up to her outside and grasping her hand. Her eyes steadied to the ground, refusing to look at me. “Emme,” I whispered, finally getting her attention.

  “Don’t call me that,” she whispered, connecting with my gaze.

  “I swear to you, I didn’t sleep with that woman.” I continued pleading my case.

  She shook her head. “You don’t have to lie to me, Lukas. It’s not like we were together when you did. It was just a little bit of a shock. I don’t want to pull a Rachel on you.”

  “A who?” I asked.

  “Obviously, you never watched Friends,” she mumbled.

  I was clueless as to what she was talking about. Just wanting to get my point across that I was telling the truth, I took her face in my hands. “I’m not lying to you. I swear to God, I didn’t sleep with her. I have no reason to lie. Yes, I went back to her place. Yes, I kissed her, and yes, she wanted more, but I couldn’t because the entire time I was thinking about you. I swear to you, you’ve been the only woman I’ve been with since the day we met.”

  “You mean that? Because I won’t be angry if I wasn’t...just a little hurt, but I meant it when I said I didn’t want any more lies between us.”

  “And there aren’t because there wasn’t anyone else.”

  The slightest of smiles adorned her face. “Okay,” she whispered.

  “Since we’re telling the truth...” I didn’t want to know the answer to that question. The thought of her being with someone else ate away at me and filled me with anger.

  “No.” She shook her head, and I expelled a relieved breath. She rested her head on my chest, and I pressed my lips on the top of her head. “Now that bitch must think she got the best of me.” Her voice perked back up.

  “You want to go back in there and beat her up?” I teased.

  “Not particularly...but you know, I could’ve totally taken her, right?” She moved h
er head and stared up at me with her bright blue eyes.

  “Absolutely.” I chuckled.

  “I’m sorry about your friend. He came all the way here and—”

  I waved my hand in a dismissing manner. “Don’t worry about him. I’ll catch up with him later.”

  Her smile was appreciative as she took my hand in hers and we walked to the car. “So, six long months?” She stared up at me as I unlocked her door. “How’d that work out for ya?”

  “I was ready to look into joining the priesthood,” I replied, holding the car door open while she got in.

  Chapter 41

  Emme

  “I THINK THAT’S it! We did it!” I high-fived Lukas after smoothing the packing tape over the last box. “I’m starving and exhausted…” His lips crashed down on mine, halting my complaining. “Well, not that exhausted,” I teased.

  His eyes widened. After we had gotten back to his place the night prior, something inside of me awakened. I wasn’t sure if it was my jealousy over meeting up with that woman who I had thought he’d slept with, but a switch was flipped that I couldn’t turn off, and let’s just say the sex we had was anything but cookie-cutter. The same could be said for the sex we had that morning and then once again on his living room floor right before we started packing.

  “Come on, let’s get you something to eat.”

  “Really?” I raised my eyebrow. I could definitely pass up food for him again.

  “I need to rest up a little, so there can be time for that later.” He took my hand and pulled me close.

  “Fine.” I pretended to pout.

  “Besides, I want to stop off somewhere after we eat while I’m still feeling up to it.”

  “Where?”

  “You’ll see.”

  He jerked his head in the direction of the door, and I followed behind.

  After finishing up at the restaurant, we got into the car. Lukas seemed a little on edge all throughout dinner, but even more so now. His hands were visibly shaking as he went to shift the gear. “Are you okay?” I asked.

  He nodded and stared straight ahead at the road. We remained unusually silent during the car ride to wherever it was we were going, so I used that time to look out the window and take in the scenery. Germany certainly was a beautiful country, more beautiful than I could’ve ever imagined. I was amazed at the amount of people who spoke English, which made me feel a little more comfortable being so far from home. Lucky for me I had Lukas as my translator in the few occasions when I encountered those who only spoke German.

  We pulled up to a villa-type home just outside the city, and I looked at Lukas, wondering if he was finally going to tell me where we were going or whose home this was. When he got out of the car without saying a word, I was guessing not. He gripped my hand tightly as we walked onto the porch and he rapped on the front door.

  “Just don’t let go, promise?” he asked, looking down at our hands clasped into each other’s.

  I nodded, still trying to figure out what the heck was going on. A tall, beyond gorgeous blonde with a baby on her hip opened the door, staring at Lukas as if she was looking at a ghost. Lukas’ eyes clouded with emotion as he gazed at the toddler she was holding on to. Then it dawned on me where we were and who this woman was.

  “Lukas…” She began to say something in German.

  “Is my brother here?” Lukas was sharp and to the point with her.

  “Yes, yes.” She nodded, this time replying in English.

  “Hi, I’m Emme,” I introduced myself, feeling totally out of place, but I promised him I wouldn’t let go, and I was going to keep that promise.

  “Hello, I’m Hannah.” She smiled. “Please come into the living room, and I’ll go get Alfred.” Her voice cracked. We followed her through the spacious hallway and into the light-filled living room containing a beautiful brick fireplace and a bright sunporch area just beyond. “Have a seat, please.” She motioned to the large white sofa before exiting to get her husband. I went to speak, but Lukas shook his head to stop me, raising my hand to his lips and planting a gentle kiss on my knuckles.

  “Lukas,” a deep voice bellowed and a man in a wheelchair who resembled Lukas in so many ways appeared with tears already building in his eyes. We both stood up, and I was feeling more uncomfortable than ever. He needed to be here alone just him and his brother. I was feeling like an intruder on a moment that wasn’t mine.

  “I-I’m just gonna go wait in the car.”

  “No, please stay.” Lukas shook his head in a state of panic over the mere thought of it. I nodded as his brother wheeled himself closer.

  “Hello, I’m Alfred.”

  “I’m Emme.” I shook his hand. His eyes were the same almond shape as Lukas’, but a deep brown as opposed to Lukas’ hazel. His hair fell into the same wavy pattern as Lukas, but the color was more of a jet-black instead of Lukas’ sandy-brown.

  “I’m just going to see if I could get this one down for a nap.” Hannah excused herself with her son, who was doing his best to wiggle out of her arms.

  We sat back down with Lukas’ hand still latched tightly to mine. “How are you getting on?” Lukas asked his brother.

  “As well as could be expected. Doing therapy twice a week. I can stand with the braces. The doctors seem confident that I’ll be able to walk again someday.”

  Lukas nodded, eyeing up his brother sympathetically.

  “So, Emme. You’re American, no?”

  “I am.”

  “So, I heard from Mother and Papa that congratulations are in order for the two of you?” He smiled.

  Lukas nodded while I responded with a “thank you.”

  “How did you meet my brother?”

  “When he was in New York on business a while back.” I tried to stretch out the small talk to avoid the blatant silence that lingered between the two of them.

  “I’m moving to New York,” Lukas blurted out.

  “Oh.” His brother raised an eyebrow. I sensed some disappointment in his tone. Lukas had finally come around, and now he was leaving.

  “I came here today, to tell you…” He squeezed my hand. “To tell you, thank you.”

  I stared up at Lukas in surprise, as did his brother.

  “Thank me for what?” His brother shook his head.

  “Because if you hadn’t done what you did, I would’ve probably been spending my life with the wrong woman, instead of finding the right one. One who makes me happier than anything in this entire world. One who made me realize I’m still capable of feeling. One I love more than I ever thought possible.”

  My lashes moistened with tears.

  “Emmeline once told me that I would know in my heart when I was ready to forgive you, and I know that it’s right now.” Tears spilled from his brother’s eyes, and mine quickly followed after.

  “I love you, Lukas, and I’m so—” Alfred started.

  Lukas put up his hand to stop him. “No more apologies. I’m happy, Alfred. For the first time in my life, I can honestly say, I’m truly happy.” Lukas stood up, letting go of my hand. He was finally able to face his brother on his own. He extended his hand to him, and his brother pulled him down on his lap, throwing his arms around him and running his knuckles over the top of his head, messing up his hair. “You’ll always be my bratty little brother.”

  I wiped my tear-streaked face, feeling the love they had for one another, the same love I had for Bridgette.

  Lukas stood up, just as the little boy galloped back into the room with Hannah following behind him, trying to catch up to him. “Sorry…” She started and then stopped herself when Lukas bent down, staring into the little boy’s eyes, running his hand through his messy platinum blond hair.

  “William, das ist dein onkel Lukas,” Alfred said to the little boy.

  The little boy examined Lukas closely, touching his face and letting out a deep belly laugh when Lukas said something to him in German. Lukas’ eyes lit up with emotion, one of the most beautiful sights
I had ever seen. I noticed the entire time, Hannah kept her distance as if she didn’t want to throw a monkey wrench into this joyous reunion of brothers and uncle and nephew. In an odd way, I felt kind of bad for her, knowing that Lukas would accept her husband and son, but never her. It had to be a tough pill to swallow, but it was one she created. She chose to do what she did and now she’d have to live with the side effects of it.

  “Emme, would you like some tea?” Hannah’s eyes were pleading me, almost willing me to say yes.

  “Umm…” I gazed at Lukas, not wanting to overstep my boundaries. He gave me a wary nod, and I followed behind Hannah.

  I stood in the kitchen, feeling more uncomfortable than I ever had in my entire life as Hannah put the kettle on for tea. “Your home is lovely,” I whispered.

  She turned around to face me with tear-filled eyes. “I did love him very much.” Her voice cracked. “I still love him…not in that way,” she clarified. “But you know what I mean.”

  I nodded, not knowing what else to do. It wasn’t every day that you had your fiancé’s ex, who was now married to his brother, telling you they still loved him. My mind was whirling just thinking about it.

  “Lukas was incapable of loving me back. He tried. He really did.” Her mouth curved into a painful smile. “But I think his parents screwed both of their children up. Alfred was able to cope with their distance and still open his heart. Lukas never could…until now. The way he looks at you, that’s the way I always wanted him to look at me, and he never could. And now...” She choked back a sob. “He can’t look at me at all.”

  My eyes moved in every direction. “I-I don’t know what to say.”

  “There’s nothing to say, except thank you for allowing him to feel love. The same kind of love his brother has with me. Thank you for bringing him back to his brother and allowing my son to know his uncle. I know he’ll never forgive me, and that’s okay. But I wasn’t okay knowing I broke up a once indestructible bond, so thank you for being the glue that put them back together. I’ll forever be indebted to you for that.”