And she’d been left to pick up the pieces of her life and move on. Again.
“Emily?” Matt called out. “Emily Madden?” Matt walked to where she stood, hand in hand with a pretty brunette. A pretty, very pregnant brunette.
Emily’s mouth felt so dry she wasn’t sure if she could form words. “Hi,” she choked out.
“Wow, it’s been a long time.”
She nodded toward the brunette’s protruding belly. “Clearly.”
“This is my wife, Dana.”
The woman smiled at Emily. “Nice to meet you.”
Emily nodded. “You, too.” She felt a hand on her back and looked up at Andrew.
He quickly introduced himself to Matt and Dana while Emily stood, mute.
She listened to them make small talk around her, trying to force words from her mouth. But none would come.
“You ready?” Andrew asked, bumping against her. “I know you wanted to try and beat the crowd.”
“What? Oh, yes.” She forced a smile. “So nice to see y’all.”
Andrew firmly took her arm and led her toward the exit. “Are you okay?”
She didn’t answer. If she opened her mouth, she was sure she would cry.
“Do you want to stay here and watch the rest of the game,” he asked.
Emily shook her head. “No,” she whispered. How embarrassing. She liked to keep her private life just that. And now this guy she’d just met was witnessing her having a meltdown.
Andrew didn’t respond, just walked along beside her until they reached the sidewalk outside of the stadium. “I’m guessing that Matt guy used to be someone special in your life?”
She nodded. “Thanks for getting me out of there so fast.”
“I was kind of afraid your knees were going to buckle. I saw that happen at a wedding once. The maid of honor turned the same color you were and the next thing we knew, she hit the ground.” He smiled at her. “I was just trying to save you the embarrassment of going through something like that.”
She gave him a tiny smile, knowing he was trying his best to keep the mood light. “I appreciate it.”
“You maybe want to grab a burger or something?”
Emily sighed. “Actually I think I just want to go home if that’s okay.” She glanced at him, hoping she hadn’t hurt his feelings. “Rain check?”
“Sure. I need to get some stuff unpacked tonight anyway. My parents will be here tomorrow and I hate for them to walk in to complete chaos.”
They walked in silence to the parking garage.
Emily couldn’t believe they’d actually run into Matt. She’d known he was dating someone because Suzanne had seen them last year at the Cooper Young Festival. But hearing Matt introduce someone as his wife and seeing that she was great with child was just too much. Especially today.
“You okay?” Andrew asked as they neared the car.
She clicked the key fob and they climbed inside.
“I’m really sorry about freaking out like that.” Emily noticed the worry etched on Andrew’s face and somehow it made her feel better. He wasn’t looking at her like she was just some dumb, emotional girl. There was definitely concern in his blue eyes. “Matt is my ex-fiancé.”
Andrew let out a low whistle. “Wow.”
“Seeing him and finding out that he’s married now and expecting a child was just a surprise, that’s all. I had no idea.”
“I’m sorry. That must be really tough.”
She nodded. “But enough about that.” She buckled her seat belt. “Let’s get you back to your truck.”
Emily slowly backed out of the parking space, still feeling as if she’d been kicked in the stomach. The joy of a nice night with a cute guy had been replaced by the feeling that had plagued her for as long as she could remember.
How was it that now, at almost thirty years old, she still struggled with the same feelings she’d had as a teenager? That she wasn’t good enough, wasn’t special enough.
Back then, her Sunday school teacher had reiterated over and over again that everyone was special in God’s eyes. And for a time, Emily had believed it. But over the years, she’d had the rug pulled out from under her so many times that she’d started to doubt.
She’d started to feel forgotten.
Like she didn’t matter.
And as far as Emily could tell, that might be the worst feeling of all.
Chapter Six
Andrew picked up the last box from the middle of the living room and carried it into the small kitchen. “Well, what do you think?”
Mom looked up from where she was placing silverware in a drawer. “It’s nice. But considering what you’re paying in rent, it should be a palace.”
Dad laughed. “Martha, what did you expect? That he’d be paying the same thing he paid in Soso?”
She frowned. “It just seems like an awful lot to me.”
“Jared is giving me a really good deal and throwing in most of the furniture.” Andrew pulled a frying pan out of the box. “This is considered a very safe area of town. My neighbors are great. Actually, I’ve been really impressed with how nice everyone I’ve met has been.” His thoughts immediately turned to Emily. He hoped she was okay. The other night she’d seemed so rattled after seeing that guy and his wife.
“That’s nice, dear. I hope you’ll make some friends here.” Mom came around the counter and gave him a side hug. “I think what you’re doing is wonderful. I know Sarah and Mary Kate don’t feel so alone knowing you’re nearby.”
For now, Mary Kate was being monitored weekly by the physicians at St. Jude. She even had to stay in the hospital some. But once her treatments tapered off, Sarah and Mary Kate could drive back and forth from Laurel. With Andrew in Memphis, they’d have the option of staying with him some if they weren’t up for making the drive. “It’s the least I can do.”
“Do you like the church we attended today?” Dad asked. He sat down at the old-but-sturdy kitchen table and regarded his only son. “Do you think that’s where you’ll go regularly?”
Andrew shrugged. “It’s awfully close to my house, which makes it very convenient. And I liked the sermon today. Plus a few of my colleagues attend there, so I already know some people. But I’ll probably visit around just to make sure I’m not a better fit somewhere else.”
“That’s a wonderful idea.” Mom finished with the silverware and closed the door. “I think we should go get a few things for your house before we go see Mary Kate and Sarah. Maybe a new bedspread. And wouldn’t you like to have some dinnerware that matched? You might want to entertain sometime.”
Andrew laughed. “I doubt that I’ll be throwing any dinner parties, Mom. I’m more of a take-out kind of guy. But if you want to go shopping, that’s fine.” He opened the back door that led to the fenced-in backyard. “Ruby,” he called.
The dog bounded over to him, an expression on her face that could only be described as a smile.
“Hey, girl. Do you like your new place?” he asked, kneeling down and rubbing her neck. He led her to the living room where he’d placed her dog bed. “Here’s your spot,” he said pointing to the bed.
Ruby regarded him for a moment then jumped onto the couch and sprawled out so she took up more than half of it.
Andrew sighed. “So that’s how it’s gonna be? Sarah told me you had a mind of your own.” He walked to the doorway. “Add Febreeze to your list, Mom.”
He took one more look at the big dog and shook his head.
***
“I want to hear all about the wedding plans,” Emily said. She and Suzanne sat at Starbucks on Union Avenue on Sunday afternoon.
“There are so many choices, I’m having a hard time making decisions. And you know my background. You’d think this would be easy for me.” Suzanne previously worked as a wedding planner at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s home in Memphis. She’d left the position a few months ago to work for a nonprofit.
“No Elvis wedding though, right?” Emily grinned.
>
Suzanne shook her head. “We figured a proposal at Graceland was enough.” Nick had surprised her in the wedding chapel at Graceland and proposed with the help of his dog, Presley. “We’re actually considering having the wedding at the church we attend and the reception at the Peabody.”
Emily raised her eyebrows. The Peabody was the grandest, most exclusive hotel in Memphis. It was known far and wide as the South’s Grand Hotel and events there were legendary. And expensive. “Is that Nick’s grandmother’s idea?”
Suzanne laughed. “Obviously.” She played with the giant diamond on her ring finger. “There’s no way me and my family have the budget for a big reception at the Peabody on New Year’s Eve, no less. It’s Mrs. Taggart’s wedding gift to us.” Nick’s grandmother was the epitome of old money. She lived in a huge home in Germantown and was well connected in the city. But she was also a charming, vivacious lady who’d welcomed Suzanne into her family with open arms.
“That’s very nice.” Emily grinned. “I admit, I wasn’t totally sold on a New Year’s Eve wedding at first, but having the reception downtown seems really cool.”
Suzanne nodded. “I think we’re going to have a couple of buses take people from the church to the reception so no one even has to worry about parking. I’m really excited. We’re trying to decide on a band right now.” She grinned. “We’re going back and forth between a traditional band and an eighties cover band.”
Emily laughed. “I’m sure Mrs. Taggart and her friends will love that.”
“She doesn’t care as long as it makes us happy.” Suzanne frowned. “The only problem I’m having is trying to figure out who should walk me down the aisle. With my dad out of the picture and Grandpa passing away last year. . .I’m not sure what to do.”
Emily reached across the table and clasped Suzanne’s hand. “I know that’s tough.”
Suzanne nodded and grabbed a paper towel to blot her eyes. “It’s stupid to be so upset, I know. I mean, I’m so happy and I love Nick so much, but all I can think of is how walking down the aisle alone isn’t what I ever imagined.”
Emily couldn’t help but think of Mary Kate. Someday when she grew up and got married, her uncle Andrew would probably be the one to walk her down the aisle. “How about an uncle? Doesn’t your mom have a brother?”
Suzanne glanced up. “Yeah. But we aren’t close or anything. I think that would be weird.”
“Even though things don’t turn out the way you imagined they would, it doesn’t make them any less special,” Emily said softly. “You’re marrying the man of your dreams. He’s your best friend. Maybe it doesn’t matter if the day doesn’t look the way you thought it would back when you were a little girl.”
“You know, you make a lot of sense sometimes.” Suzanne laughed. “So you don’t think me walking alone would be weird?”
When Emily and Holly were in junior high, they’d bought a bridal magazine and had spent one whole summer planning their future weddings. Emily had wanted hers to be very traditional, while Holly had wanted something different. “Do you think Dad will get his feelings hurt if I choose to talk down the aisle alone?” Holly asked. “I saw a wedding on TV and the girl walked alone and it was so cool.” Emily shook her head at the memory. “I think walking alone is fine. Your day, your way. Right?” She smiled at Suzanne.
Suzanne nodded. “I guess so.” She brightened. “Anyway, I don’t want to be one of those girls who gets engaged and can only talk about the wedding. What’s new with you?”
Emily filled her in on the Redbirds game and the run-in with Matt and his pregnant wife. “I don’t know why it hit me so hard. There I was, having a perfectly nice time, and boom.” She clapped her hands together.
“It’s only natural. You were going to marry the guy. And to just run into him like that with no notice and him with a wife. A pregnant wife.” Suzanne shook her head. “Anyone would’ve had a reaction to that shock. Not just you.”
Emily shrugged. “It was just awful. Not that I wish it were me with him or anything. Because I don’t. At all.” She managed a smile. “But it just made me feel terrible. He didn’t want to get married or have a family with me.” She shook her head. “It wasn’t that he didn’t want those things. It was me.”
“But that just means y’all weren’t right for each other. It’s not some reflection on you as a person. You know that, right?”
“It’s kind of hard not to take it personally.” Emily frowned. “At least he could’ve been honest and not given me some line about not wanting a commitment and family.”
Suzanne took a sip of her mocha and eyed Emily across the table. “Maybe it was true then. Maybe he didn’t want that until he met what’s her name.” She shrugged. “I know it has to be difficult, but try to see it that way. It isn’t about you.”
Emily frowned. “Maybe.”
“Besides. You’re over Matt. You’ve told me a million times that it was for the best. Remember how you told me you’d had doubts too, but tried to chalk them up to cold feet?”
Emily made a face. “Do you have to remember everything? Can’t you let me have a pity party just once?”
Suzanne laughed. “Nope. No pity parties allowed. Especially since you’ve met some cute new guy. . .what’s the outlook there?”
Emily shrugged. “After the way he saw me fall apart after running into Matt, I seriously doubt he’ll even want to see me again. Besides, he’s related to one of my patients. I’m not sure that is appropriate.”
“So see if you can get someone else to take the case for you.”
Emily shook her head. “No way. I’m crazy about that kid.”
“Well, you’ve only been out with him once. And that wasn’t even a real date. Will you go out with him if he asks?”
Emily thought for a long moment. On the one hand, her life would be a lot less complicated if she ignored Andrew Beckett’s existence. But on the other hand, she’d felt so lighthearted the other night, at least up until they’d run into Matt. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt that way. Normally, it seemed like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. But sitting at the Redbirds game, eating cotton candy, and laughing with Andrew had made her feel carefree. Maybe that was a good thing. “I’m not sure. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
Suzanne grinned. “Isn’t that awesome? That you could have this whole amazing romance waiting around the corner for you?”
Emily wrinkled her nose. “Careful there. You’re starting to sound like Miss Hopeless Romantic herself.”
“Where is Jade, anyway?”
“Right here.” Jade tossed her keys on the table and grinned. “And I heard what you called me. I’m not even going to pretend to be mad. There’s nothing wrong with a little hope.” She grinned. “Especially where love is concerned.”
Emily laughed with her friends. Could she allow herself to have hope that for once, things would work out for her? Only time would tell.
Chapter Seven
Andrew could hardly believe it was nearly time for school to start. He’d spent the past few days in meetings and working in his classroom. There were some great people on the faculty of his new school. Many of them knew what had brought him to Memphis and had let him know they were praying for Mary Kate.
He’d opted to teach at a private Christian school for that very reason. He wanted as many people as possible offering prayers on Mary Kate’s behalf.
“Are you settling in okay?” Lindsey Stevens asked with a grin once their meeting was over. Her classroom was right across the hall from his, and she’d been one of the first faculty members he’d met.
Andrew nodded. “I guess so. It’s hard to believe students will be here next week.”
She held her hand up. “Shh. Don’t say that. I’m not ready to let go of the summer just yet.”
He laughed. “I know what you mean.” This summer in particular had passed with a blur. Mary Kate’s diagnosis came at the beginning of the summer, then
he was off to China, and all of a sudden he was in a strange city about to start a new school year. Life certainly threw some curveballs every now and then.
“So do you know anyone in Memphis? Besides your sister and niece?” Lindsey asked.
Andrew nodded. “I’ve made a few friends.” Maybe a few was an exaggeration, but he’d known girls like Lindsey before. She’d eyed him like a lion eyes fresh meat as soon as she’d spotted him at yesterday’s faculty meeting. He suspected she was fresh out of college and couldn’t deny that she was attractive. But his interest was elsewhere.
“That’s nice.” She smiled again. “Well, my number is on the faculty list. If you get bored or want a tour guide, call me.” One more smile and she turned and walked away.
“That, my friend, is trouble.” Jared Rogers walked up just as Lindsey left. “This is her second year here.” He shook his head. “I’m not sure what it is about twenty-something girls these days, but they seem much more aggressive than what I remember.”
Andrew laughed. “Maybe it’s a new class they’re teaching in college.” He shook his head. “Actually they aren’t all bad. Last year there were a couple of right-out-of-college teachers at my school and they were great.”
“Must just be her then,” Jared observed. “She cornered me last year at the beginning of school, wanting me to show her the ropes. Except that pretty soon it was obvious that showing her the ropes meant more than just giving her a tour of the teachers’ lounge.”
“How’d you get away?”
“I got married.” Jared laughed at Andrew’s startled expression. “I was already engaged, so it wasn’t specifically to get away from Lindsey or anything.”
“I wondered.”
“And you can thank my wife for your mostly furnished house,” Jared explained. “She’d already pretty well decorated her home when we met. And I admit, her taste is much better than mine. So when we got married at the beginning of the summer, we just left my old furniture in the rent house.”
Can't Help Falling in Love (Memphis Moments Book 2) Page 4