Being Emerald (Skimmerdale Book 2)

by Sharon Booth

  'Eden never said they'd split,' Jed said. 'Just that the wedding was off.'

  'A week to go,' Cain sighed. 'If they'd given me a bit more notice I'd have got me deposits back.'

  'Is that really all you care about?' Jed asked.

  Cain tutted. 'Nah. Course not. It's nothing much, really. I can't believe it. Can't get me head around it. No rhyme or reason. You said you were at the farm today? How did they seem to you?'

  Jed shrugged. 'Business as usual. Eden was busy making cream teas, and Eliot was flat out, bringing the sheep to the shed for clipping. But they were happy when I told them about me and Beth, and then, ' he smiled at the memory, 'later on, they'd gotten Deborah's solicitor's letter, and they were floating on air. Took a whole weight off their minds.'

  'Yeah, well,' Cain muttered, feeling a sharp pang at the mention of Deborah. He couldn't think about her now or he'd be lost. 'This better be a mutual decision. That git better not have broken Eden's heart, that's all.'

  Emerald sniffed, and he rummaged in his pocket and handed her a crumpled tissue. 'It's clean,' he assured her, as she looked at it doubtfully. He gave a big sigh. 'Well, I suppose I'd better start writing some cheques. Seems not only have I left it too late to get me deposits back, but some of these firms want the full whack due to late cancellation. Got to say, Emerald, you really went to town on this wedding, didn't you? Must've bought half the florist's. And a stretch limo! What was the point of that, eh?'

  'I was thinking they could all travel in it together on the way to the reception — the children, too. I thought they'd like it.'

  'I think they'd have loved it,' Jed reassured her.

  'And this menu! Fuck me! Look at the price of it. Thank Christ we didn't hire Ashington Hall, that's all I can say. I mean, a toastmaster! What were you thinking? Can you see them two wanting one of those, eh?'

  'I'm sorry,' Emerald said, wiping her nose. 'I feel bad about this, really I do. You said you wanted a grand wedding for them, and so that's what I went for. I got it wrong. I can see that now.'

  'You're all heart,' Cain said, feeling distinctly uncomfortable. This new, humble Emerald was freaking him out. Why wasn't she ranting and raving at him, blaming everyone but herself for this debacle? Maybe the Yorkshire air had frazzled her brain. 'Well, I suppose you did what I asked — more than what I asked. Let's be grateful they refused a honeymoon. Thank God they insisted they couldn't spare the time, else I'd be forking out another couple of grand, no doubt.' He sighed. 'I'm guessing you won't be coming with me to Fleetsthorpe?'

  She shook her head and he frowned, looking up at Jed for some sort of reassurance or explanation.

  Jed looked back, his eyes full of sadness. 'Tell you what, Emmy,' he said, 'how about I go with Dad and you keep Beth company? She'll be heading down to dinner soon and I don't want her alone. Would you mind staying with her until I get back?'

  Emerald shrugged. 'If you like, though I'm not very hungry.'

  'Thanks.' Jed turned to his father, who was sitting with his mouth wide open at the news that Emerald wasn't hungry. 'Dad, you ready to go? The sooner we head off the sooner we get back.'

  'What? Oh yeah, yeah.' Cain hoped Eden had some grub on the go. Broken hearted or not, people had to eat, after all, and he was starving.

  He needed to keep his energy up, anyway, 'cos he intended to visit Debs tonight in her room. Not to get his leg over. No, he wasn't in the mood for that. When Jed had informed him that she'd done it, that she'd actually left her husband, he'd had a real panic. This was real. He'd broken up a marriage, and now Debs was his responsibility. He didn't want to think about it too much. Not until he had to. But he supposed he'd better go to see her later to discuss their future. Maybe.

  He'd been quite right in his earlier pronouncement, he decided. It was all a bleeding catastrophe. He didn't have the faintest idea how it was all going to pan out.

  ****

  Eden opened the door and Jed was relieved to see she looked quite cheerful, if a little flushed. 'Oh! I didn't expect to see you,' she said, casting a hurried glance over her shoulder. 'Er, come in. Everyone! Cain and Jed are here!'

  Cain gave Jed a meaningful look as she hurried back along the hallway, leaving them to close the door behind them. 'She's all flustered,' he muttered. 'Bet you a pound to a penny they've bin rowing.'

  Jed followed his father along the hallway and into the kitchen, where Eliot was bundling some papers into a folder and the girls were sitting at the table, watching Cain with wide eyes. Jed frowned. They were definitely behaving oddly. Maybe his dad was right. Maybe they had walked in on a row.

  Eliot handed the folder to Eden, and she stuffed it in a cupboard. 'Cain,' he said pleasantly. 'Nice to see you.'

  'Is it?' Cain sounded less than certain. 'Well, wish I could say the same to you, mate, but I ain't happy and that's a fact.'

  Eden began to chivvy the girls away from the table. 'Why don't you go and see Flora?' she suggested. 'It's a lovely evening out there. Go and get some fresh air before bedtime.'

  The girls needed no further encouragement, shooting out of the room without a glance at Jed or his father. It wasn't like them. They were usually so friendly and talkative.

  'Where's George?' he enquired.

  'In bed,' Eliot said briefly. 'No Beth?'

  'She's at the hotel with Emerald,' Jed said. He saw Eliot tense at the mention of his sister, but Eden forced a smile.

  'How is Beth?' she enquired.

  Jed and Cain exchanged glances. Jed could barely wipe the smile from his face. 'Pregnant and blooming,' he announced.

  Eliot and Eden stood stock still, their faces showing profound astonishment. They glanced at each other, then there was a loud whoop and they were both gathered around him, patting him on the back and offering their heartiest congratulations.

  'I can't believe it,' Eden said, her eyes shining. 'After all this time. It's fantastic.'

  'Tell her I'm right glad for her,' Eliot said. 'It's brilliant news. The best.'

  'That's all very well,' Cain said grumpily, 'but what about your news, eh? That ain't exactly brilliant, is it?'

  Jed pulled out a chair and sat down as Eden and Eliot turned away. Eliot leaned against the worktop, while Eden put the kettle on.

  'Cup of tea and a piece of ginger cake, Cain?' she offered, at an outrageous attempt at bribery.

  'Don't change the subject,' Cain said crossly. He hesitated a moment then added, 'But yeah. In fact, make it two. All the stress has made me hungry.'

  Jed noted the sly grins Eliot and Eden exchanged, as she reached for the cake tin. He smiled to himself. Whatever was going on, they were evidently still very much a couple, which cheered him up enormously. He knew it would be a huge relief to Beth, too.

  As the sound of mewing reached his ears, he bent down and stroked Bella. 'Hey, kitty,' he murmured. 'I know someone who's really missing you.' The cat looked at him hopefully, then seemed to sigh in defeat and stalked out of the kitchen.

  'She's not herself,' Eden admitted. 'I think she's pining for Emerald.'

  Cain looked astounded at that information. 'You're telling me she bonded with the cat? Bleeding hell, who'd have thought it?'

  Jed grinned. 'She adores that cat. Not so fond of old Tuppence,' he admitted, nodding over at the elderly sheepdog who was lying in her basket. 'Emerald has issues with her health problems.'

  Cain frowned. 'Health problems?'

  Eden smirked. 'Tuppence does suffer from wind, sometimes. We're all used to it, but Emerald struggled quite badly.'

  She sounded quite pleased about the fact, and Jed supposed he couldn't blame her. He felt a pang of sadness for his sister, all the same.

  As Cain sipped tea and ate cake, Eden tried to explain to him why they had called off the wedding.

  'It didn't feel right,' she said. 'We've had a rough time of it lately, and there were things that gave us cause to believe that this wasn't the time to be getting married. We have a lot to sort out first. I'm sorry for th
e inconvenience.'

  'And the money,' Cain muttered through a mouthful of ginger cake.

  Eliot's eyebrows knitted together. 'I'll pay you back,' he said. 'Every penny.'

  Cain waved an arm in the air. 'Bugger off, daft bleeder. It ain't about the money. Not really.' He pushed away his empty plate and sighed. 'Anyway, let's face it, this is my fault, not yours.'

  'How on earth is it your fault?' Eden said.

  'I put Emerald in charge of your wedding. Should have known it was a mistake. Doomed to failure, weren't it? Bet she'd have made a right pig's ear of it anyway. Probably best you called it off, eh? Maybe, in a few months, you can organise your own wedding, the way you want it.'

  Jed didn't miss the flicker of Eliot's eyes as he shot a sideways glance at Eden who, in turn, moved hastily towards the sink and dropped her cup in the bowl, but not before Jed noticed the faint flush of pink on her cheeks. He folded his arms, suddenly curious. What were they up to?

  'Mebbe, one day,' Eliot said gruffly. 'No rush is there?'

  Jed narrowed his eyes. After living and working with this man all these months, the one thing he knew for sure was that, for Eliot, his marriage to Eden couldn't come soon enough. And frankly, neither he nor his intended were very good liars. They looked guilty as hell, and he had a very good idea why. He also thought he'd sussed why Libby and Ophelia couldn't wait to get away from the kitchen. He glanced at the cupboard where Eden had hastily shoved the folder that Eliot had handed her, and his lips twitched with sudden amusement. So that was their game!

  'You know what? While you guys discuss this, I think I'm gonna head outside to see the girls and pay my respects to that little pony of theirs.' He had to stop himself from grinning as he saw their anxious looks.

  'Wouldn't you like some cake, Jed?' Eden said. 'Or another cup of tea, perhaps.'

  'No thanks,' he said pleasantly. 'Fresh air will do me good.'

  Cain waved his hand in the air. 'Oh, let him go if he wants to,' he said. 'Now, about this wedding ...'

  Jed left them to it and headed out of the house into the yard. As he strode towards the paddock, he spotted Libby and Ophelia standing on the bottom bar of the gate, patting Flora and fussing over her.

  'She sure is a pretty little pony,' he announced, as he drew near.

  'We know,' Ophelia said proudly. 'The prettiest in Skimmerdale.'

  'In Yorkshire,' he contradicted her. 'Maybe even in the whole of Britain.'

  Libby laughed. 'You haven't even seen all the ponies in Britain.'

  'Don't need to,' he assured her. 'What pony could possibly be better looking than this little beauty, huh?'

  He leaned on the gate and rubbed Flora's nose. It wasn't a lie. He genuinely thought that the little Welsh Mountain pony was stunning, but he did have other motives for flattering the girls.

  'So,' he said carefully, 'how do you guys feel about the wedding being cancelled?'

  Libby and Ophelia looked at each other and he saw an immediate rush of colour to Libby's face. She was always the more transparent one, he thought. She would give any secret away with an expression. But she was also fiercely loyal. Ophelia was the one most likely to spill family secrets deliberately. Tricky.

  'It's a bit sad,' Ophelia said with a shrug, 'but happen they'll get wed one day.'

  'It is sad,' he agreed solemnly. 'Your mom and dad are perfect for each other, and they've been through such a lot that they deserve a wedding. I feel real bad that it won't be happening.'

  Libby looked distinctly uneasy. 'It will happen,' she said at last. 'Just not yet.'

  'But everything was going so well,' he persisted. 'Everything was organised — all the flowers, and the car, the cake, and the photographer, the church. It's such a shame.'

  'But it weren't really what Mum and Dad wanted,' Ophelia explained, clearly ignoring the warning look that Libby shot her. 'It were all posh and stuffy and they didn't want that. Emerald spoilt the wedding and it should be how they want it, not how she wanted it, shouldn't it?'

  'Definitely,' he agreed. 'But, you know, they only had to say what they wanted, and Emerald would have done it that way for them. Maybe, if we go and have a talk to them, we can persuade them to go ahead with it after all?'

  'They don't want Emerald to do it,' Libby said quickly.

  'They can do it best themselves,' Ophelia insisted.

  Jed smiled at them. 'And is that what they're doing?'

  At their horrified faces, he said, 'Don't worry. I won't tell on you. It was your dad and Eden who gave themselves away. They're terrible liars.'

  'You can't say anything,' Ophelia said. 'It will spoil it all if you do.'

  'So, what's the plan?' Jed enquired. 'Emerald's cancelled everything she arranged, so what next?'

  'Emerald didn't arrange everything,' Ophelia said.

  'Shush, Ophelia,' Libby said urgently. 'We can't say.'

  'It's only Jed, though,' Ophelia said, obviously relieved to be able to blurt it all out. 'He's our friend, aren't you, Jed?'

  'I sure hope so,' he agreed. 'I certainly think of you and your parents as my friends.'

  'See?' Ophelia looked around, as if checking for approaching parents, then leaned towards him, her eyes wide and serious. 'They didn't cancel the church service. They went to see Mr Edwards, and he agreed to move it back to half past two in the afternoon, so no one would know about it. They're gunna carry on as normal during the morning, so everyone will believe it's off, then after dinner, we're all getting changed and rushing off to Camacker.'

  Jed nodded. 'Sounds like a great plan,' he said. 'Who's all?'

  'Me, Libby, Dad, Mum, Georgie, Mickey, Adey, and Mum's mam and dad.'

  'No one else?'

  Libby shook her head. 'Nope. They're getting wed, then they're coming straight home. Mum says we're going to have a little tea party, though. She's making some sandwiches and a little cake, and they're having a bottle of wine and she says we can have a little bit mixed with lemonade. Not Georgie, though, 'cos he's a kid.'

  'Obviously. Well, that sounds a bit sad, though. Just a little tea party? What about photographs? Flowers? A car?'

  'They're going in Dad's Land Rover.' Ophelia shrugged. 'He says he'll wash it first. And Eden's dad takes photos. He's got a posh camera cos he's retired, and Eden's mam says he's got nowt better to do these days. We spoke to her on the phone t'other night. She's ever so funny.'

  'And Mum's having flowers,' Libby continued. 'Same as ours but a big bigger. Ours match our frocks.'

  'Mum said she wanted a natural look,' Ophelia added. 'Our frocks aren't too fancy, you see. Even hers. Dad hasn't seen her dress yet, but he's going to love it. She looks right bonny, doesn't she, Libby? We went to the fitting with her, and she looked gorgeous. Dad's going to be proper happy. Mum said she felt a bit overdressed, what with their being no party afterwards or owt, but Dad said it were still a church wedding, and she were still his princess.'

  Jed nodded. 'It all sounds amazing. I'm real happy for you guys.'

  'And you promise you won't say owt? Mum and Dad might call it off properly if they know anyone's found out,' Libby said anxiously.

  'I swear I won't tell your Mom and Dad that you breathed a word,' Jed promised.

  'Thanks, Jed,' Ophelia said happily. 'I knew you were our friend.'

  They turned back to Flora and the conversation changed to the forthcoming Skimmerdale Show, and their plans for gymkhana victory. Jed joined in enthusiastically, but a part of him was thinking sadly about a little tea party, and an almost empty church.

  ****

  Beth passed the jam to Emerald, who nodded her thanks. She was evidently too deep in thought to immediately dive on her teacake, which they all knew was a bad sign. Emerald loved her food, but the fact was, she'd barely eaten a thing since they'd been staying at the hotel. Seeing her picking at her grub worried Cain.

  'I know they're not quite up to Eden's standards, but even so —'

  Emerald sighed. 'I'm not hungry, to be honest.
'

  Cain gave Jed an anxious look.

  'Come on, Emmy,' Jed said gently. 'You didn't eat dinner last night, and you barely touched your breakfast.'

  'Ain't like you, Ems,' Cain said, giving her an affectionate nudge. 'You usually can't wait to stuff the grub down yer neck.'

  Beth rolled her eyes and Jed grinned. 'Really got a way with words, haven't you, Dad? Explains all those beautiful love songs you wrote back in the day.' He winked at Beth. 'I won't repeat the titles. You're far too much of a lady.'

  'Yeah, well, I had a reputation to think of,' Cain pointed out. 'Can you imagine the metal heads crooning some of the soppy stuff you write about?' He felt a sudden glow of satisfaction as he recalled the conversation he'd had that morning with his manager, Derek. Industry insiders were raving about the track he'd recorded with Sun King, and the record company had decided it would be the first single release from the album. Let Quentin, Kent and the rest of them jumped up public schoolboys stick that up their arses. He wished he'd been around to see their faces when they'd been given that little gem of information. 'Speaking of which, have you done any songwriting lately, or is that sumfink else you've given up on?'

  Jed spread butter on his teacake and shook his head. 'Not at all. Song writing's always gonna be something I do. I don't see any reason to stop.'

  'Good boy,' Cain said approvingly. 'That's where the real money is, ya know. I made enough from singing and recording and stuff, but the real dosh is from the songs I wrote. You wanna try selling some. Even if you don't want to perform any more, you could still make a packet writing for other artists. Maybe even carry on writing for Raven's Wing.'

  Jed and Beth exchanged glances and Cain wondered what the story was.

  'I think I've moved on from Raven's Wing,' Jed said lightly. 'But you're right about selling my songs. I'm gonna need an income, after all, now I'm gonna be a dad.'

  'You ain't skint?' Cain was appalled. All he needed was another kid with no dosh. 'Tell me you ain't wasted all your royalties.'

  'Of course not.' Jed shrugged. 'I'm okay for money for a good while, but that's not the point, is it? Truth is, I need something to occupy my time. Something to do with my life.'