For You, Forever

by Sophie Love

  “That gives you a few months to work things out,” Emily said. “But tell him sooner rather than later. You can’t just spring this on him last minute.”

  Serena nodded but she didn’t look convinced. Emily felt bad for her friend, but at the same time she was thrilled for the Serena she knew before Owen came into the picture. In fact, she was sure Serena was worrying unnecessarily. Owen would follow her to the ends of the earth. Sure, she’d be down a piano player and singing teacher for Chantelle, but Roman could probably recommend a million others to fill the gap.

  They reached the spa doors and Chantelle bustled ahead. Emily gave her the key. She held it up above her head theatrically, then placed it in the keyhole. She twisted it until it clicked.

  “I now declare the Sunset Spa officially open,” she said.

  With a flourish, she shoved open the two double doors.

  The space was amazing. At the far end, the entire wall was made of glass, giving a wonderful view of the ocean. The infinity swimming pool had one invisible edge so that it was impossible to see from this angle where the pool ended and ocean began. With the dark sky and twinkling stars reflecting on the surface it was like stepping into space.

  People began to walk inside, treading delicately, as if they didn’t want to disturb the tranquility of the place. Chantelle gasped loudly and looked up at Emily.

  “It’s even better than I expected,” she said.

  Emily grinned. She pointed to the mezzanine level. “Up there are the treatment rooms,” she said. “The sauna is over there. And of course, there will be a nail bar up and running once we’ve hired a technician.”

  “I can have painted nails again?” Chantelle beamed.

  Emily nodded. “You bet. But only toes, remember.” She was about to say that she didn’t want Chantelle to get in trouble at school but thought better of it.

  “Am I allowed to swim whenever I want?” Chantelle asked.

  “Absolutely,” Emily replied. “As long as you’re supervised.”

  “Even at night?” she asked, her eyes widening.

  “Even at night,” Emily said with a nod.

  Chantelle threw her arms around Emily’s waist.

  “Do you like it?” Emily asked the little girl.

  She felt Chantelle’s head nod against her stomach. “I love it, Mommy.”

  Emily felt herself swell with relief. Chantelle was happy again, at last, and that was the most important thing in the world.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Emily felt on tenterhooks over the next couple of days, worrying about whether Chantelle would have another meltdown at school, missing Daniel who was putting in extra hours at work. So it was with great relief when she found herself on Saturday morning sitting in the passenger seat of Amy’s car, thrumming along the freeway.

  They’d met up at 6 a.m. that morning, knowing that the drive to New York City could take up to eight hours, and were a couple of hours into their journey already. Thanks to the unseasonably hot weather, the windows were open and a warm breeze stirred Emily’s hair. The radio buzzed in the background. A song they’d loved from college came on and Amy turned the sound up. They sang along loudly and out of tune, unconcerned about whether any other cars could hear them. Emily felt so free. It felt so much like the old times she’d shared with Amy in their youths.

  “Did you tell Harry what the purpose of the trip was?” Emily asked once the song had ended and the volume in the car reduced.

  Amy kept her eyes on the road, both her hands on the steering wheel, and shook her head. “I said it was you. That you wanted a layette shower with your New York City friends. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t mind,” Emily replied. “But you need to speak to him eventually.”

  She realized it was the same advice she’d given Serena at the restaurant opening. Communication was essential, something she and Daniel had learned the hard way, after much hurt and many mistakes. She didn’t want her friends to go through such unnecessary anguish. But she also knew it was easier said than done.

  “The thing is,” Amy said, “Harry is basically perfect. A little young, but I have no problems being labeled a cougar.” She laughed. “But he’s also insanely naïve. Like everything is easy for him. You love each other the rest will work out. I don’t want to be the one to shatter that image for him. At the moment he adores me. If I rock the boat, he might realize that I’m fallible. That everyone is. It would be like telling a kid there’s no Santa.”

  Emily laughed. “Ew, Amy, don’t compare your partner to a kid!”

  “Weird analogy, but you get my point.”

  Emily’s chuckles subsided. “Yes, I get your point. But have you considered yet that Harry might just be right? Maybe the fact that you love each other does make things more simple. Loving Daniel certainly made the decision to stay in Maine easier for me.”

  Amy gave her a sideways glance. “There was certainly no other explanation for your crazy, flighty behavior,” she mocked. “I always thought you were the sensible one.”

  Emily smiled to herself and shrugged. “It was still the sensible option,” she replied. “Just look at what I have now.”

  Amy looked down at Emily’s bump and twisted her lips to the side. “You really think I could have all that with Harry?”

  “Definitely.”

  “Do you think I’d be happy?”

  “I am.”

  Amy sighed. “But we’re different, Em. And so are our situations. You were unhappy in New York City when you met Daniel. You had been in a crappy relationship for years. You hated your job and your mom sucked.”

  “Thanks for reminding me,” Emily quipped.

  Amy carried on. “It’s not like that for me. The context is completely different. I love New York City. I have a business, a group of friends, and my family around. I miss all that stuff when I’m in Sunset Harbor. Hell, I even miss my Pilates instructor!”

  “You should get lessons from Tracy,” Emily told her.

  Amy rolled her eyes. “Not the point.”

  “Sorry, I know,” Emily said.

  She mulled over Amy’s words. Maybe her friend was right after all. Chucking New York City for love in Maine had been a much simpler decision for Emily to make. She had nothing to lose and everything to gain. The risk for Amy was much greater, the possibility of it all going wrong much more likely.

  “Well, I guess this is the time to make the decision,” Emily told her friend. “We’re heading to New York City. Whether it’s for a final blow-out or not is up to you. But use this opportunity to make the decision. Don’t drag it out forever. It’s not fair to Harry.”

  Amy looked suddenly very serious. Almost a little pained. Emily recognized her expression as the unique one associated with the thought of letting down the person you loved the most in the world. It was a very telling expression, she thought. Amy had never looked like that for anyone else.

  “You’re right,” she said. “Thanks, Em.”

  They fell into an easy silence. Then Amy grinned, suddenly brightening.

  “Can we stop for sushi the second we reach New York City?” she asked Emily. “There are literally no sushi bars in Sunset Harbor and I’m getting withdrawal.”

  “Sure,” Emily said. “But I’m not allowed to eat raw fish.” She patted her stomach.

  “Oh, I forgot,” Amy said. “Mexican then. Which is also woefully lacking in Sunset Harbor.”

  Emily laughed. “Mexican is fine. And you know there’s one person who can bring the sushi and the Mexican to town. Harry.”

  Amy’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, you’re right! I just need to twist his arm and get the menu changed. Rip out that wood-burning oven.” She winked.

  “I mean for when he opens his own restaurant,” Emily replied with a laugh. “Not in mine. I’m quite happy with authentic Italian.”

  “It was really great,” Amy agreed. “I’m going to get fat if I eat there all the time.”

  “Especially without
your magic Pilates instructor!” Emily added.

  They both dissolved into giggles.

  *

  They entered New York City and Emily was shocked by the noise of the place. It was amazing how much she had shed her old New York City skin. It was so busy, so loud and polluted. In Sunset Harbor she was used to people strolling down sidewalks, but in New York City people practically ran. It was like the whole place was on fast forward. How on Earth had she ever lived like this?

  Amy still had her old apartment, so they went into the underground parking lot.

  “When are we meeting Jayne?” Emily asked.

  “Not sure,” Amy replied. “She said she’s got meetings all day.”

  “On Saturday? That’s a shame,” Emily replied. She really wanted her other best friend there at the party.

  They got out of the car and headed to the elevator.

  “I remember these things,” Emily laughed, touching the cold metal doors with her fingertips. She hardly ever had cause to use elevators in Sunset Harbor. None of the buildings were tall enough.

  Amy laughed. They went inside. The elevator was covered in graffiti and smelled terrible.

  “I also remember this,” Emily said with a grimace. She covered her nose.

  “It’s not that bad!” Amy argued.

  “Pregnancy hormones,” Emily said. “They give me a very honed power to smell.”

  “That kind of sucks,” Amy said.

  Emily nodded. “Yup.”

  They laughed and rode the elevator together to the fifth floor. The doors pinged open and they exited, then walked along the corridor toward Amy’s apartment door. Emily felt a wave of nostalgia. Amy had been the first of her friends to own her own home thanks to the success of her fragrance and candle business so they’d spent many carefree days and nights in this apartment as young women. Emily missed those days, even though she wouldn’t change anything to go back in time.

  Amy rummaged in her purse for her key, then put it in the lock. She turned and pushed the green door open. It creaked and revealed the dark apartment.

  Amy reached in and flicked on the light switch. But it wasn’t just the bright light that startled Emily. A cacophony of sound and a flurry of movement made her gasp and step back.

  “SURPRISE!”

  The whole apartment was filled with balloons and streamers, and there were a ton of people inside.

  “Oh my God!” Emily exclaimed, covering her gaping mouth with a hand. She turned to Amy, tears glittering in her eyes. “You arranged all this?”

  Amy nodded.

  “And me,” Jayne cried, bustling forward. She hugged Emily tightly.

  “I thought you were in meetings all day!” Emily cried.

  Jayne shook her head. “Nah, just tricking you.”

  Emily was taken aback. The shock of it all made her heart race. But she was very touched, and pleased to see so many people had made it out for her.

  “Come on,” Jayne said, grabbing her hand. “Baby wants some cake.”

  She dragged Emily over to the table where there was a huge pink frosted cake and cut her a slice. She placed it on a pink polka dot paper plate and handed it to Emily. At the same time, Amy came up from behind and placed a shiny pink cardboard cone hat on her head, affixing it beneath her chin with a pink silky ribbon.

  “This is amazing, guys!” Emily exclaimed.

  “Better than our last attempt,” Amy added.

  Emily blushed. She’d been in a bad place psychologically when Amy had tried to treat her to a baby shower. It still made her feel bad to recall how she’d rushed out, leaving all her friends confused.

  They sat on the couch and Emily greeted all the old friends and work colleagues who’d come along. It surprised her to see some of them—like Daisy from college, and Zainab from her old marketing firm. She hadn’t considered either of them friends at the time, though she’d spent countless evenings out with them. It felt so strange now to compare these old relationships with the ones she had now. Her friendships in Sunset Harbor felt deep and important. These had only ever been superficial.

  “Presents!” Amy cried, rushing away and coming back with her arms filled with squishy-looking bundles. She placed them all on the coffee table.

  “Guys, you really didn’t have to do all this,” Emily gushed, excited to see some cute newborn girl’s clothes. She herself had only bought the practical things like onesies and sleepers. The thought of pink dresses and floral pinafores made her heart swell with excitement. “I feel completely spoiled.”

  “Me first,” Jayne said, handing her a parcel.

  Emily unwrapped it. Inside was a red and black gingham dress, matching tights, and a green cardigan with a Christmas tree on it.

  “Oh my god, I love it,” Emily gushed, feeling the soft fabric beneath her fingers.

  Jayne grinned, clearly pleased with herself. “It’s her Christmas outfit. Every girl’s got to have one.”

  Emily moved onto the next gift—this time from Daisy—and was surprised by how lavishly decorated the box was. She opened it up and was surprised by a pair of cute, shiny T-bar shoes. She recognized the brand name as a very exclusive New York City kids clothing company and gasped.

  “Daisy, wow,” she said. “This is too much.”

  The shoes were so overblown, especially considering the fact they would only fit the newborn for a matter of weeks, and especially considering the fact that Daisy wasn’t even someone Emily spent much time thinking of at all!

  Daisy looked smugly across the rest of the people in the room. “Italian leather,” she said.

  As Emily continued unwrapping the beautiful clothes, she couldn’t help but wonder whether the people in attendance were being generous because they liked her or because they were competing to give the best gift. Each parcel she opened seemed to be more lavishly decorated than the last, the clothing inside more overblown. Oscar de la Renta dungarees. A whole outfit from Burberry. A jacket from Armani Junior. Emily was stunned by it all, by the expense and—what she couldn’t help but feel—waste. Baby Charlotte would grow out of this stuff before she’d had a chance to wear it twice! Emily didn’t want to be ungrateful, but she felt like everything back in New York City was just gloss. Other than Jayne and Amy, her true friends, the rest of these people were here to tick boxes and take photos for their online social media profiles. In fact, half of them were on their phones, lost in their own worlds.

  Amy reached over and touched Emily’s hand. “Okay, I need to tell you something.”

  Emily didn’t like the sound of that. “What is it?”

  “There’s someone coming you might not have anticipated.”

  “Oh?” Emily said, her mind starting to sift through a myriad of absent faces. “Who?”

  Amy squinched her eyes. “Your mom.”

  Emily’s eyebrows shot up her forehead. “My mom is coming to the layette shower?”

  She’d been anticipating seeing her mom at some point during the weekend to tell her about Roy, but she hadn’t known that her mom was going to be here at the party!

  Amy nodded. She was gritting her teeth as though in anticipation of Emily losing her cool. But Emily took the news gracefully. In fact, she was kind of glad her mom was going out of her way for her. Usually she demanded that Emily visit her. The only time she made any effort to contact Emily was to give her a piece of her mind. She could drive across states to shout at Emily and berate her, but she wouldn’t usually travel across the city to make Emily feel loved.

  Just then the bell went. Amy stood. “That will be her. Are you okay about this?”

  Emily nodded, surprised to find that she was actually looking forward to seeing her mom. Their last encounter had been more fraught than ever. And with things how they were with Roy, Emily didn’t want to leave things so badly with Patricia. What if she died unexpectedly and the last words they’d exchanged had been angry and vitriolic? It may just have been the pregnancy hormones messing with her head, or perhaps the i
ncreased sense of responsibility pregnancy had already given her, but Emily discovered that she wanted to make amends with her mom. She wanted to let bygones be bygones. Her maturity startled her.

  Amy opened the door and, as predicted, there stood Patricia. She looked like she’d dressed for a meeting with the DA, in a salmon-colored two-piece suit. Her hair was coiffed to perfection, and a row of pearls hung against her neck. Her perfume was floral, in complete contrast to the sharp personality Emily knew she possessed.

  She glanced around the room hawk-like, then her gaze rested on Emily. There was no softness there, but Emily hadn’t expected there to be. Her mom was incapable of expressing kindness on her face. She wore her confidence like a mask.

  She strolled purposely inside Amy’s flat and went up to Emily, then handed her a parcel.

  “Hi, Mom,” Emily said, fighting the urge to wilt under her mom’s foreboding presence. “You got me a gift?”

  Patricia nodded. “It’s customary, isn’t it?”

  Emily took the gift and chose not to rise to the bait. “Thanks, Mom,” she said.

  Patricia sat on the couch beside her and folded her hands neatly in her lap. Emily opened the gift wrap and saw a smooth, white box. She opened it up. Inside was a gorgeous gold watch.

  “It’s for when she grows up,” Patricia said. “It’s worth something so if she needs to sell it to fund her studies or, god forbid, buy a car, she’ll have the option.”

  “Mom,” Emily gasped. She was beyond touched. It was so out of character for her mom to give a thoughtful gift. “I love it,” she finished.

  Patricia nodded as though she understood.

  “Do you want some cake?” Emily asked.

  Patricia looked disgusted. “I’d prefer a gin and tonic,” she said.

  “I’ll fetch one,” Amy said, leaping up.

  Emily could tell she was relieved that things were remaining civil between the two of them.

  She became aware then of the sound of cell phones ringing. She looked up and saw both Zainab and Daisy checking theirs. Another woman sitting in the window answered hers.