Forever, With You

by Sophie Love

  “Jenna!” Simon exclaimed. “That was it. Yeah, Jenna was hot, you’ve got to admit, but she wasn’t the settling down, having babies type, which is what I suppose you’re going for with Amy. And it’s always good to get with a girl that we haven’t all been with before for a change.”

  The laughter continued, but none of it was coming from Amy or Fraser. Emily could see the accusations her friend was throwing at Fraser, the questions, the horror on her face. Fraser was trying to calm her down, telling her it was all a joke, that Simon was just being funny. She seemed to be accepting it, though her face remained thunderous, and she sat back with her arms folded.

  Speeches over, Owen began to play. Emily took this as a chance to check in with Amy.

  “That was a bit awkward,” she said, trying to brush off the utter crudeness of Simon’s speech. But when Amy looked up, Emily saw that her friend was crying. “Oh, hon,” she said. “It’s okay.”

  Amy shook her head, her bottom lip trembling. “No it’s not. I’ve never heard of this Jenna girl.”

  “I’m sure it was just a joke. A disgusting misogynistic joke, but I doubt there’s any truth in it. Fraser’s marrying you. He loves you. The past doesn’t matter, just the future.”

  But Amy just kept crying. At that moment, Simon, Andy, and the other Fraser clones started heckling Owen, shouting at him to play hits from the charts. They were being mean, berating him. Poor Owen looked terrified. Then he stood suddenly, clearly no longer able to take the taunting, and folded up his piano music.

  “Owen,” Serena said, rushing toward him as he barged his way out of the room to the sounds of shouts and jeers. Emily watched her follow him out.

  Amy had seen enough. She stood suddenly, so abrupt her chair fell over. Fraser was on the other side of the room, bantering with his frat boy friends. He hadn’t even noticed that Amy was crying.

  “Do you think he’d even notice if I left this here?” she said, holding up her ring.

  “Amy, you don’t mean that,” Emily said.

  “Don’t I?” Amy said bitterly. “He’s humiliated me. He’s not the man I thought he was.”

  Emily took her by the shoulders. “Sleep on it, okay? Don’t do anything rash. Just let the whole thing sink in before you make any decisions.”

  “I don’t want him in my bed,” Amy said.

  Emily nodded. “I can make sure he’s put in a different room.” She looked over at the rowdy table as they downed yet more shots. “If they ever sleep, that is.”

  Amy nodded and snuffled up her tears. At last she seemed to have calmed down a little.

  “Thank you, Emily,” she said, quietly. “I’m sorry this has been such a disaster. Do you think you could stay with me tonight? You and Jayne?”

  Emily nodded. “Of course. Whatever you need.”

  Amy hugged her friend and then left the ballroom. Emily watched her go, her heart aching for her poor, disgraced friend.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  When Emily awoke the next morning, she found herself in the bridal suite bedroom. Jayne was curled at the foot of the enormous bed, snoring loudly. But the space beside her where Amy should be was empty.

  Emily checked the time. It wasn’t even six yet. Had Amy slipped away before Fraser could stop her? It was just as she was thinking this that she heard voices coming from outside. She rushed over to the window and looked out. Down below, right at the other end of the vast lawn, stood Amy and Fraser in a heated argument. They must have been yelling loudly for Emily to hear it all the way from the other end of the backyard and through a double-glazed window.

  Emily quickly threw on her clothes and rushed out of the room. Out in the hall, she was shocked by the amount of mess. There were empty bottles littering the floor. Someone had smashed a glass and brown liquid had stained the carpet. And worse, there were cigarette butts everywhere. Emily looked at the devastation, her heart sinking. Fraser’s friends had really done a number on the place.

  She rushed down the stairs, aghast the moment she saw what the downstairs hallway looked like. Someone had knocked a painting from the wall. A vase lay smashed on the floor. Emily gasped.

  Suddenly, Serena popped up from behind the reception desk.

  “Emily,” she said. “I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to fix it. I spent all night.”

  “What happened?” Emily stammered. Maybe leaving Serena in charge had been a stupid idea. But Amy had needed her.

  “I was in the ballroom. I think some of them must have decided to spread the party to the living room and I didn’t notice.”

  Emily looked at the closed door. Suddenly Serena rushed toward her and stood in front of it. “Don’t go in there. Vanessa’s already made a start. You don’t need to see it.”

  Emily groaned loudly. But Serena was right. She didn’t need to see it. She needed to be with her friend.

  “Fine,” she said, relenting. “I’ll leave it in your capable hands.”

  Emily went through the corridor and into the kitchen, then out the back door. She headed quickly along the garden path, heading toward Fraser and Amy and their loud screaming match.

  “We weren’t exclusive!” Fraser was screaming. “What about that don’t you understand?”

  “Because usually when someone asks you to be their girlfriend they don’t have another one waiting in the wings!” Amy screamed back.

  Fraser growled. He looked a state, still in last night’s suit but with the shirt hanging loosely out of his pants. There were stains on his jacket and a cigarette hole burned into his tie.

  “She wasn’t waiting!” Fraser shouted. “When I asked you to be my girlfriend, that was when I ended it with Jenna.”

  “How can I believe you?” Amy cried.

  “Because it’s the truth,” Fraser replied, exasperated.

  “Not according to Andy it isn’t,” Amy spat back. Then her face twisted menacingly. “Yeah, one of your little henchmen told on you. At least one of your pathetic friends has a conscience!”

  Emily turned then, realizing someone else had headed up the path also. It was Andy, looking equally disheveled. Then she noticed all the other guests had been awoken by the fight and were beginning to congregate on the patio outside.

  “You!” Fraser yelled the moment he spotted Andy. “What have you been telling her?”

  Andy tried to calm the situation. “I didn’t say a word, you have to trust me. We’ve been friends forever. You know I wouldn’t do that to you.”

  “Do I?” Fraser spat back. “It’s not like you haven’t done it before!”

  Now it was Amy’s turn to speak. “You’ve cheated before?” she cried at Fraser.

  “It wasn’t cheating!” Fraser yelled. “My GOD, woman, when are you going to get that into your thick head?”

  “Hey!” Emily said, suddenly inflamed with protective rage.

  “Sleeping with more than one woman without them knowing is pretty much my definition of cheating,” Amy screamed.

  Emily grabbed her friend. She’d never seen her in such a state. She tried to pull her into an embrace but Amy fought her off.

  “I should have taken you up on that offer, Andy!” Amy cried. When Andy’s face fell and Fraser’s grew incensed, Amy continued, reveling in her ability to hurt Fraser, even if it was only a fraction of the amount he had hurt her. “Didn’t he tell you about the time he propositioned me?”

  At that moment, Fraser lost it. He launched himself at Andy and the two tumbled into the grass, trading blows. Andy landed a punch right on Fraser’s nose and blood began spurting from it. Amy watched, horrified, as the two rolled around. Finally Simon and the other bachelors pulled the two apart.

  Fraser stood there panting, his suit torn, blood dripping down his face. Amy faced him, then wrenched her ring off her finger and threw it at Fraser.

  “You’re not the man I thought you were,” she said. “It’s over.” Then she turned to face the guests who had crowded by the door. “Everyone go home!”

  They
stood there stunned, not quite believing what they were hearing.

  “I said GO HOME!” Amy screamed. Then she was running, pelting down the path for the driveway.

  Emily took off in a sprint after her.

  “Em!” she heard Jayne shout from the door of the inn. She was still dressed in her silky nightwear. “What’s going on?”

  Typical of Jayne to have slept through all the drama. Emily just beckoned. “Come with me. We need to find Amy. The wedding’s off.”

  Jayne raised her eyebrows in surprise. But she didn’t argue. She ran out of the house, her feet bare, wearing nothing but a black silk camisole.

  Together they rushed down the drive, out onto the street, and were just quick enough to catch sight of Amy disappearing down the path that led to the ocean. They raced after her.

  When they burst out of the foliage and felt the sand beneath their feet, Amy had already collapsed onto the beach. She was sobbing uncontrollably. Jayne and Emily rushed forward and scooped her up into a hug.

  “I was such an idiot,” Amy wailed. “I should have known it was too good to be true.”

  Emily stroked her hair. “Don’t feel bad about trusting someone. He’s the one who’s done wrong. He’s the idiot.”

  “I’m so sorry for putting you through this,” Amy said. “For the damage. I’ll pay for everything. I just had no idea he had that side to him. I thought he was amazing, successful, healthy, but he was hiding a horrible side.”

  “I guess it’s a good thing you found out at the engagement party rather than the wedding,” Jayne said.

  Emily punched her in the arm.

  Amy looked at her sadly. “Why can’t I find someone as perfect for me as Daniel is for you?” she mumbled.

  It took Emily by surprise to hear her say that. She’d been envious of Amy, and yet all along her friend had been envious of her. She realized then that what she had with Daniel was special. It was real. It may not have looked perfect on paper but it was perfect between the two of them. They were a team. Why did it matter if they had an unconventional relationship to the casual spectator? Anyone who knew and loved them could see that their relationship was something unique and wonderful. She suddenly felt terrible for the argument she’d had with Daniel yesterday. She hoped he’d let her atone. She just had to sort out Amy first.

  Amy began to sniff back her tears. “I want to go home,” she said in a meek voice. She sounded like a lost child.

  Jayne and Emily helped her to her feet. “I’ll drive,” Jayne offered.

  “What about you know who?” Emily said to Jayne between her teeth. “You guys all came together.”

  Jayne flashed a wicked grin. “He can get a lift back with his friends. I think he and Andy have a lot of stuff to talk through, don’t you?”

  Emily smiled. Jayne could be brash but she had a heart of gold. “As long as he doesn’t stay at my B&B a second longer,” Emily replied.

  They walked back up the path and onto the street. As they passed along the driveway, Emily noticed that Daniel was peering out of the carriage house window. He must have been awoken by the shouting as well. Emily waved at him, feeling a little sheepish. To her relief, he waved back.

  Once they reached the porch, Amy sat down on the steps. She watched quietly as the guests left, slinging their bags into the trunks of their cars and speeding off. Emily and Jayne stood beside her like bodyguards. No one was brave enough to say anything to her. Most just left quickly, their tails between their legs.

  When Fraser came out onto the steps he shot a nasty glance at Amy.

  “Thanks for embarrassing me in front of my friends. Good thing I never deleted Jenna’s number.”

  Amy stared at him coldly. “I’m happy for you. You two sound like a perfect match. I know the first thing I look for in a partner is them having slept with all my friends.”

  Fraser glared at her. “If you’re going to be such a bitch about this, then I want back that diamond necklace I gave you.”

  “You mean your grandma’s necklace?” Amy said, reaching inside the collar of her shirt. “This one that I’m about to give to Emily to pay for all the damage you and your disgusting entourage caused?” She dangled it out on one finger, then grabbed Emily’s palm and shoved it in.

  Emily faltered, not wanting to be caught up in the whole thing, but also not wanting to turn down the much needed financial assistance in clearing up the whole mess.

  Fraser made a disgusted noise and stormed off down the porch steps. But when he saw there were only two cars remaining—Jayne’s and Simon’s—he stopped, looking from one to the other. Emily couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Let me make it easy for you,” Jayne called. “You’re not coming with me!”

  Fraser seemed livid as he got into Simon’s passenger seat. A moment later, the rest of the men left the B&B. Amy, Jayne, and Emily didn’t say a word as the guys crammed into the car and sped off down the drive so fast their wheels kicked gravel into the air.

  Finally silence descended.

  “You know you can stay here as long as you need to,” Emily said to Amy.

  Amy nodded. “I know. But I just want to get back to New York.” She stood and wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’m sorry about everything.”

  Emily pulled her into an embrace. “You have nothing to be sorry about.”

  Jayne wrapped her arms around them both and the three women stood like that for a while, holding each other.

  “Come on then,” Jayne said. “Let’s go.”

  “Uh… Jayne,” Emily said. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

  Jayne looked down and realized she was still in her nightwear. Everyone began to laugh. Even through their sadness they still had each other.

  As soon as Amy and Jayne were gone, Emily flew down the garden path and straight for the carriage house. She knocked on the door. A moment later, Daniel appeared.

  “What’s going on?” he asked, concerned.

  But Emily didn’t speak. She threw her arms around Daniel and pressed a kiss onto his lips. When she finally pulled away, Daniel blinked, as though dazed.

  “I’m sorry,” Emily said in a huge rush. “I was being a jerk. I don’t care about having a ring or getting married. I just care about you. You and Chantelle.”

  Daniel pulled her into an embrace. She sank into him, feeling loved and relieved.

  When they pulled apart, Emily added, “You missed one hell of a party.”

  “Oh?” Daniel asked, leading her inside.

  The carriage house had been completely transformed. Emily hadn’t been in there since Daniel had moved out. It looked so strange, without any of his stuff inside of it. Instead, it had all the old furniture from Chantelle’s room, but there wasn’t quite enough of it to fill the space, which left it looking bare and unloved.

  “Amy and Fraser broke up,” Emily explained. “He wasn’t quite the man she thought he was.”

  “That would explain all the shouting,” Daniel replied.

  “Did we wake you?” Emily asked.

  “Oh yeah,” he said, laughing. “But thankfully Chantelle slept through it all. She’s still sleeping now. Is everyone okay?”

  Emily nodded. “They’ll survive. I’m not sure about the B&B though. When I left it was in a state.”

  “Wow, I really did miss the party,” Daniel joked.

  He slung his arms around Emily’s waist and she rested against him. “Will you two move back in today? As soon as Chantelle’s awake? Actually, as soon as the B&B doesn’t stink of cigarettes and alcohol.”

  Daniel leaned back and observed her. “It was never permanent. You know that, right?”

  Emily nodded. “I guess. I just want to move on now. Look toward the future. I mean, we have Halloween to prepare for. We have a kid now. It’s going to be all pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating.”

  “Oh,” Daniel said, “I hadn’t thought of that.”

  “Well,” Emily teased, “you’d better start thinking.”


  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Three pumpkins sat on the kitchen tabletop in a row, each plucked from Daniel’s garden. His and Chantelle’s were both very large. Emily herself had opted for the smaller of the three, knowing it would take significantly less effort to scoop out the insides and pierce through the flesh with her scalpel.

  “What are you going to carve?” Emily asked Chantelle.

  The little girl shrugged. She was dressed in black leggings and a large sweater with a kitten on the front.

  “How about a cat?” Emily suggested.

  “That’s not very spooky,” Chantelle contested.

  “What about a cat with fangs?” Emily said.

  Chantelle began to giggle. Daniel got to work carving through the thick bits of skin before scooping out the middle for Chantelle. Then he began on his own pumpkin.

  “I think I’ll do a bat,” he said.

  “That’s quite ambitious,” Emily teased. “I’m sticking with a good old jack-o’-lantern face. Nothing wrong with tradition.”

  “I’ll do a jack-o’-lantern too,” Chantelle said.

  It made Emily smile to think of the young girl copying her. She still wasn’t her mom—wasn’t even close—but she could tell that Chantelle admired her, had found within her the calm and caring qualities her own mother lacked.

  “So, how is everything going with rehearsals at school?” Emily said, as she began making incisions in the pumpkin.

  Chantelle had a performance coming up and was nervous about it. She only had a very small speaking part, but she still had to join in with the others on the songs, and this was what was worrying her.

  “They’re okay, I guess,” Chantelle said a little evasively. “I just don’t like singing in front of people.”

  “Even when there are others singing along?” Emily asked.

  Chantelle nodded. “I don’t want to mess up and spoil it for everyone.” She sounded very glum.

  Emily shot a sad glance at Daniel. They still had a long way to go with Chantelle before she could be the happy, confident child she deserved to be.

  “Hey, I have an idea,” Daniel said. “Why don’t we go out on the boat today? It’s going to be our last chance before it gets too cold and I have to dock it for the winter.”