For You, Forever

Daniel laughed again. “Yes. I am glad that Chantelle is doing well at school.”

Emily smiled, contented. Sleep seemed ready to take her.

“I’m only sad about one thing,” she said.

“What’s that?”

“That my dad won’t be around to enjoy it all with us.”

Daniel fell quiet then. She felt his arms tighten around her.

“I know,” he said. “I’m sad about that too. But let’s just make the most of the time we have with him now. Let’s make sure every day is as good as it can be. Let’s make each day count.”

Emily nodded with affirmation. “I think we made today count,” she said, yawning. “We bought an island, after all. It’s not every day that happens.”

She felt Daniel’s chest shudder with his laugher. She squeezed herself even more tightly against him, overjoyed and welling with love. Wrapped in one another’s arms, their heartbeats synchronized. They fell asleep in unison, in perfect harmony, two people united by love.

CHAPTER FOUR

Emily took a final sip of her decaf coffee and put the mug down on the kitchen table. She’d slept deeply but had awoken feeling groggy – partly because of the alarm clock being set a whole hour earlier than she’d gotten accustomed to over the summer – and she really could have benefited from some actual caffeine. It was probably the thing she was most looking forward to once Baby Charlotte arrived, the thing she missed the most and yearned for the most. She watched Daniel enviously as he drank his across the table from her.

“Right, darling,” Emily said at last, looking at Chantelle. “It’s time to head to school.”

Chantelle was sitting with her head bowed over a pile of clock pieces, her tongue sticking out the corner of her mouth in concentration. Her empty bowl of cereal was beside her, discarded haphazardly so she could pursue her task.

“Can’t I have five more minutes?” she asked, so absorbed in her task she didn’t even look up. “I just need to work out where to put this cog.”

Since their return from England, Chantelle had been determined to make a clock like Papa Roy. Emily thought it was very sweet that Chantelle was so inspired by her grandfather, but it also broke her heart at the same time. She and Daniel had not yet told Chantelle the news of Papa Roy’s illness; the girl would be utterly crushed when she lost him. They all would.

Daniel took command then. “Nope, sorry, sweetie. You need to get in on time to meet your new teacher and new classmates.”

Chantelle put her screwdriver down with a reluctant sigh. “Fine.”

Emily wished she could convince Chantelle to do her mucky, oily work somewhere more appropriate – the garage, or shed, or just about anywhere that wasn’t the kitchen table, really. But Chantelle wouldn’t hear of it. Papa Roy did his clock fixing at the breakfast table so Chantelle had to as well!

They all headed out to the truck together, Daniel taking the driving seat since Emily was finding it too uncomfortable to fit her growing belly behind the steering wheel. Chantelle hopped in the back into her car seat.

“I can’t wait until Baby Charlotte comes on the ride with us to school,” she said, glancing across at the baby seat they’d recently installed (at Amy’s instance, of course, because you never know when the baby might decide to come and the last thing you’d want to be doing is fiddling with a complicated seat while in the painful grips of contractions).

“Me too,” Emily said, resting her hands against her tight belly. It seemed to be becoming more uncomfortable with each day that passed.

“First she’ll just be coming along for the ride, but it won’t be long before she’ll be walking through those doors with you,” Daniel said with a chuckle. “She’ll be in kindergarten before we even know it.”

Emily felt wistful at the thought. She knew what Daniel meant, that time went by quickly, that they should appreciate every moment because it would disappear from them like sand sifting through a timer. But the future Daniel was alluding to was also one in which her father had long passed. He would not be there when Charlotte started kindergarten. He’d never see the numerous photos that Emily would take of the two girls heading into school together, hand in hand. That future, though she couldn’t wait to be living it on the one hand, would also be fraught with grief on the other. She’d be a different person, changed irreparably by losing Roy.

They drove along the familiar Sunset Harbor roads and turned into the parking lot at the school. It was already very busy with parents eager to deposit their children after the long summer break.

“It’s Bailey!” Chantelle cried, pointing to where her best friend played on the grass. Bailey’s normally unruly auburn hair had been styled into two long plaits. Emily had never seen her look quite so presentable. “But who is she with?” Chantelle added.

Bailey was playing with an unfamiliar child, a very skinny, pale girl with long, straight blonde hair.

“I don’t know,” Emily said. “I’ve never seen her before.”

Daniel parked and they got out of the pickup truck. Emily noticed Yvonne leaning against her four-by-four, chatting with Holly, another one of the moms they were well acquainted with.

“Why don’t you go and say hi,” Daniel told her. “I can supervise Chantelle and do the teacher handover.”

Emily deliberated. She wanted to meet the new teacher but she felt a yearning to reconnect with the friends whose company she’d missed over the summer.

“I’ll be super quick,” she told him, one hand clicking the passenger door catch and pushing it open.

Daniel chuckled and headed off in the direction of the steps where all the teachers were congregated supervising the morning play session.

Emily went up to Yvonne and gave her friend a big hug. Then she hugged Holly as well.

“How was your summer?” Emily asked.

Holly blushed then. Yvonne seemed to be holding back a smirk.

“It was great,” Holly told Emily. “Logan and I took the kids to Vancouver to visit family.”

“And…” Yvonne prompted.

Emily frowned, looking from one woman to the other.

“And…” Holly said, her blush deepening. “We’re pregnant.”

Emily’s eyes pinged open. “You’re kidding!” she exclaimed.

Holly shook her head. She looked shy, but thrilled.

“I’m so happy for you,” Emily cried, hugging her again. “Our babies will be able to have playdates.”

“With Robin,” Holly added, referring to Suzanna’s new son who was just two months old.

“They can be a little gang,” Emily added with a laugh.

Yvonne pouted then. “Ugh, I’m jealous. I wish I was having another.”

“Was it planned?” Emily asked Holly. “You’re blushing like it wasn’t!”

“No,” Holly told her. “It was a surprise. A welcome one, but Minnie’s not even one yet so we didn’t think anything was possible! But in Vancouver the kids were doted on by relatives and we were able to get rest and go on dates and, well, one thing led to another.”

Everyone laughed. Emily felt happy to be back in the company of some of her other school parent friends. Though Yvonne was very much one of her best friends, and Suzanna to a lesser extent, the wider circle of parent friends was very much context dependent. She realized then that she’d missed their company, she’d missed having people to share the trials and tribulations of parenthood with.

“Look at my little Bailey,” Yvonne said then, glancing over at the playground. “She’s taken the new girl under her wing.”

Emily looked over and saw the two of them zipping around the playground. Chantelle, she noticed, was not playing with them. Instead, she was with the boys, Toby, Levi, and Ryan, engaging in a much more rough and tumble kind of game. She wondered why they weren’t all playing together.

Under her breath, Yvonne whispered, “I hope she doesn’t invite her over for playdates though. I met the mom this morning. She’s as sour-faced as her daughter. And the kid’s name is Laverne.”

Emily couldn’t help but giggle. It felt so good to be back with her parent friends, back at the school gates. Last time she’d done this it had all been new and strange. Chantelle had appeared out of nowhere and knocked Emily’s life for six. But she wouldn’t change a thing now. Becoming a mom had been the best experience of her life, and she loved the feeling, the opportunities it had given her, and the people she’d met because of it.

She looked over and saw Suzanna approaching, baby Robin strapped to her chest, his little feet bobbing along with each step she took. That would be Emily soon, she realized, her heart swelling at the thought – both from excitement but also anxiety. Charlotte was going to change everything again, just like Chantelle had. And Roy would not be there to support her through it all. But as she looked from Suzanna to Yvonne to Holly, she knew that she had the best people in the world beside her, watching her back. She could do it. She could do anything with her friends supporting her.

She realized then that she’d gotten so absorbed in catching up with all her friends that she’d lost track of the time.

“I’d better go and meet the new teacher,” she told them, turning to head toward the steps.

But at the same moment she did so, she noticed Daniel approaching. He was looking at his watch with an expression of alarm.

“Daniel!” Yvonne cried enthusiastically.

“Hello, everyone,” he said, sidling up to the group of moms. “I’m afraid I can’t stop to chat, I have to get to work.” He turned to Emily. “Am I still dropping you at Joe’s?”

“Can I introduce myself to the teacher first?” Emily asked.

Daniel looked tensely at his watch. “Um… well…” he said, sounding a bit flustered.

Emily could sense he was clearly eager to make a good impression in his new elevated position at work. She decided to drop it and not cause a fuss.

“Don’t worry,” she told him, relenting. “I can meet the new teacher at pickup.”

She said goodbye to each of her friends, sad to be torn from their wonderful company, and headed toward the pickup truck with Daniel.

“We’ll catch up soon,” she called over her shoulder, waving as they climbed back inside.

Slamming the car door, Emily turned to Daniel. “Remind me not to do coffee dates with Amy on school days. At least not until I’m back in the driving seat of my own car!”

She missed the freedom she’d had before her pregnancy. Missing out on meeting the teacher made her feel terrible. She hoped she hadn’t made a bad impression because of it. She didn’t want to look like an uninterested parent, distracted and self-centered.

Daniel drove out the lot, heading toward town.

“So how was the teacher?” Emily asked him.

“Miss Butler,” Daniel informed her. He shrugged, as though he hadn’t been paying much attention. “She seemed a bit more stern compared to Miss Glass. A little older, a little less soft around the edges.”

“I wonder how Chantelle will take to her,” Emily mused. The little girl struggled at times with authority figures. The soft approach worked well with her, but the main thing for Chantelle really was boundaries. As long as she knew what was expected of her she could excel. She just hoped this new, sterner teacher had the patience needed to reach that point.

“Gail was there as well,” Daniel said. “She’s going to be Chantelle’s counselor again this year.”

“That’s a relief,” Emily replied, thinking again of her father. Chantelle would need Gail’s help more this year than ever. Not only because of the consistency Gail gave her, but because of the life experiences she’d need to be guided through this year.

“So what are you and Amy chatting about today?” Daniel asked.

His question jolted Emily out of her anguished reverie. “I’m not sure, but I think Harry. Did you notice anything odd between them on the island?”

“Not at all,” Daniel said, bemused.

It didn’t really surprise Emily that Daniel wouldn’t have picked up on the nuances of Amy’s behavior. Amy was her best friend after all; she knew her inside and out and could read the smallest signs in her expression.

“They’d better not be breaking up,” Daniel said sternly as he turned into a side road. “We’re about to open the restaurant. I don’t want Harry over-salting the soup with his tears!”

Emily chuckled. “I’m sure it’s not that. It’s probably the opposite, I think. Amy’s ready to marry him but wants me to tell her she’s not moving too fast. You remember what happened with Fraser?”

“How could I forget,” Daniel said with a wince.

They made it to Joe’s diner, and Daniel pulled over. He kissed Emily, and she slid from her seat out of the truck, no longer able to hop sprightly like she’d done before gaining fifteen pounds of pregnancy weight.

“Have a good day at work,” she told him.

He smiled and waved, then drove away. Emily headed inside the diner.

“Well, if it isn’t Emily Mitchell,” Joe exclaimed as she entered. “I haven’t seen you in a long time!”

She hugged him hello. “It’s Emily Morey now, don’t forget,” she told him.

“Of course,” Joe laughed. “And to think you had your first date here.” He beamed. “Coffee?”

Emily patted her stomach. “Decaf please.”

Joe went off to make a fresh batch of coffee while Emily found the booth that Amy was already sitting in.

“This is just like old times, isn’t it?” Amy said as she kissed her friend hello. “Grabbing coffee before work, whenever we could, of course. Breakfasts and lunches and cocktails at night.”

“Cocktails!” Emily exclaimed, patting her stomach. “Don’t remind me.” She laughed. “It is wonderful to have you around more often. And you’re right, it is like the old days, except without the high rises or rows of yellow cabs.” She smiled as she recalled their old lives in New York City. It seemed so long ago now. “So, what’s the deal?” she asked Amy. “How are things?”

Amy chewed her lip as though deliberating opening up. She clearly decided against holding back and launched straight into the heart of the matter. “It’s Harry. We’re arguing.”

“Oh,” Emily said, sadly. “That’s a bummer. I’m sorry.”

Amy shrugged and pushed her sleek blond bob behind her ears. “It’s inevitable, isn’t it? The distance. The fact we’re from different worlds. I mean, I joke about things being like they were back in New York City, but they couldn’t be more different. I just don’t know if I can commit to living here. How did you do it?”

Emily pondered the question. “Honestly, I think New York City didn’t have anything left to offer me.”

“Oh thanks,” Amy said with a pout.

“I don’t mean you!” Emily exclaimed, backtracking. “I mean career wise and relationship wise. Things with Mom were terrible. Then Ben was a jerk and it just felt right to get away. Coming here forced me to confront a lot of things. You know, with my dad and Charlotte’s death. It just made sense that I’d find myself here. Then there was Daniel.” She smiled to herself as she recalled meeting him for the first time. Of the hesitation she’d felt, the resistance at letting herself fall for someone new. But the risks had all paid off.

“So basically you’re saying I need to fix up an old house, start a business, and find myself,” Amy said with a giggle.

“And fall in love,” Emily added. “So you’ve ticked one box.”

Amy sighed. “I know. That just makes it harder. I don’t want to walk away from what I have with Harry but I just don’t know if I can be happy here.”

Emily reached across the table and held her friend’s hand. “Is this because of what happened with Fraser? I really don’t want that one bad experience to taint this. Because I’m sure you can tell it’s completely different. What you and Harry have is a thousand times better than what you and Fraser did.”

“Is it though?” Amy said with a strained voice. “At least Fraser and I were from the same worlds. We wanted similar things. Holidays and careers and property. Kids, but there’d be a nanny to help, obviously. Harry is the opposite of that. He’s … I don’t know. Rustic? He’s…”

“…he’s Sunset Harbor,” Emily said with a decisive nod. She knew exactly what Amy was getting at. “But need I remind you that Fraser was a cheat? Harry would never do that. He’s honest and kind and loyal. That’s what you get with a Sunset Harbor man.”

Joe arrived with their waffles and Emily’s coffee. The two friends hunkered down, continuing their conversation.

“The thing is,” Amy added, “you never had to worry about this stuff. Like, you and Daniel didn’t have to debate about long distance or who would move where. It was always going to be here. But Harry and I seem to talk about it endlessly. Could we be long distance? Can I really leave my life behind, my business, for a man? It’s against everything I stand for!”

Emily smiled and sighed. “Amy, is that really what’s holding you back? Or is it something else?”

Amy chewed her waffle slowly. “I honestly don’t know. I’m so on the fence.”

“Do you think you might just be scared?” Emily asked. “I know you don’t get scared, that you’re a confident, no-nonsense businesswoman, but is there just a small chance that perhaps you’re scared of the fact that Harry adores you and that he might be the One, and that if you move your life here and take that risk you might be happy?”

“I guess,” Amy said. “But it’s not happy I’m scared of. It’s content. It’s… bored.”

She looked at Emily apologetically. Emily knew Amy was suggesting that life in Sunset Harbor was boring, but she didn’t care. She wouldn’t change it for the world. If this was boring she’d take it over exciting any day!

“Maybe I should go back to the city for a bit,” Amy said. “Clear my head. Check in with the business. Remind myself of my roots, you know?”

“If you think it will help,” Emily said. She forked some waffle and put it in her mouth. “Man, I haven’t been back to New York City in ages.”

Amy’s eyes widened then. “Oh my God! Come with me!”

Emily looked at her, surprised. “Um…”

“Please, Em,” Amy added. “We can have a long weekend together. I’ll throw you a layette shower, since the last shower was a bust.”

Emily blushed as she remembered how she’d awkwardly run out on the baby shower Amy had arranged for her. She couldn’t help but hesitate.

“Please, please, please,” Amy continued. “You deserve some time off. And the rush of the summer is over. I’m sure the inn can survive without you for a few days.” Amy snapped her fingers then. “And if we have the shower in New York City, your mom can come!”

Emily instantly recoiled. “Okay, now I definitely don’t want to come,” she said, remembering the huge fight she and Patricia had been in last time they spoke. Indeed, every time they spoke.

“Em,” Amy said with a maternal tone. “She’s about to become a grandmother for the first time. How long is this rift between you going to last?”

“Forever,” Emily said glumly. “You have met my mom, haven’t you?” she added wryly.

But as she thought it over, she realized there was one very important thing she needed to speak to her mom about, something that couldn’t be done over the phone. And that was Roy’s illness. She needed to know.

“Actually,” Emily said, “I am overdue a trip to New York City. Maybe my mom will be less of a handful in her own territory.”

Amy clapped her hands. “Really? This weekend?”

Emily shrugged. “I guess so.”

When was a good time to tell your mom her ex-husband was going to die? There didn’t seem like a solution to Emily, so the approaching weekend was as good a time as any.

Amy bounced up and down in her seat, excited. “This is going to be so much fun. I’m going to tell Harry.”

She grabbed her cell phone and punched in his number. At the same time, Emily’s cell began to ring.

She pulled it from her pocket and answered it at the same time as Amy. It really was like their old New York City days!

“Is this Mrs. Morey?” the voice on the other end asked.

“Yes, who’s this?”

“It’s Miss Butler, Chantelle’s teacher. I’m sorry to disturb you but there’s been an incident. I think you should come in.”

Emily leaped up. “What kind? Is Chantelle okay? Is she hurt?”

“She’s fine,” Miss Butler replied. “It’s a behavioral incident.”

Emily frowned. What did that mean?

“I’m on my way,” she said, hanging up and slinging her cell into her purse.

Amy was chatting with Harry on the phone, but she looked up at Emily, using her amazing multitasking abilities to carry on a wordless conversation with her friend without missing a beat in her telephone call.

“Chantelle,” Emily mouthed. “School.” She mimed a driving motion. Daniel had the car so Amy was her only way of getting there.

Amy nodded and pointed at their waffles. They’d barely eaten them. But Emily shook her head. She had to go right now.

Without questioning her at all, Amy stood, collected her purse and, still chatting with Harry, headed out of the restaurant toward her car, Emily in tow.

As they went, Emily hoped everything worked out between Amy and Harry, because it was in moments like this one, when Daniel was busy and life had thrown a spanner in the work, when Emily needed her friends more than ever.

CHAPTER FIVE

As Amy drove Emily back to the school, Emily felt her nerves increasing. She hated it when Chantelle had a behavioral outburst because it felt like a step backward, and reminded her of the terrible start the girl had had to life, the scars that she still carried despite her happy demeanor.

“Do you want me to come in with you?” Amy asked, glancing over at Emily’s pale face in the passenger seat.

Emily didn’t usually bite her nails but the anxiety was making her do so. “No, no, it’s probably best if it’s just me,” she said, feeling flustered, her face stiff with panic.

They reached the parking lot, now empty, and Amy swung into the closest space to the school doors. “Well, I’ll wait here and drive you home when you’re done.”

Emily already had a hand on the door handle, and she shook her head. “Thanks for the offer but I have no idea how long this will take.”

“How will you get home?”

“I’ll figure it out later. Back of Raj’s delivery truck? Handlebars of Cynthia’s bike?” She was cracking jokes, but only as a way to distract herself from her anguish.

Amy smiled tenderly. “Are you sure?”

“I promise,” Emily said, shoving the door open and quickly getting out.

She slammed her door shut and blew Amy a kiss before hurrying as fast as her pregnant belly would allow her up the stone steps. She pressed the intercom button and the receptionist answered, crackling out a greeting.

“Mrs. Morey,” Emily said into the silver speaker. “Chantelle’s mom.”

There was buzz. She heaved the door open and hurried to the desk. It was the same girl as last year, Emily realized, young, freckled, with a sweet smile that showed off a gap between her teeth.

“Hi, Emily,” the receptionist greeted her as she hurried in.

Emily realized – feeling a little distressed at the thought – that she was well known enough at the school for the receptionist to recognize her and remember her name.

“Here’s your visitor badge,” the girl added.

She handed the pass to Emily and Emily saw that she’d written her name in a red marker pen, in cursive, surrounding it with stars. It was a sweet gesture, but Emily was too flustered to appreciate it. Her focus was solely on Chantelle. But she did notice the girl’s name badge: Tilly. She made a point to commit it to memory so that at least the next time she saw the girl, hopefully in less stressful circumstances, she could be kinder.

“They’re down the hall in the counselor’s office,” Tilly said. “Do you know the way?”

“Unfortunately I know it all too well,” Emily replied.

Tilly gave her a sympathetic smile, and Emily hurried off down the hallway to Gail’s office.

Through the small window in the door, Emily saw the familiar bright red couches, the play table, reading nook, dolls house, and art station. She recognized Gail right away, sitting on one of the grown-up-sized chairs with her hair in a neat bun on top of her head. The other two women Emily didn’t know. And Chantelle was nowhere in sight. She could hear her, though, hear her yelling and screaming even through the thick pane of glass in the reinforced fire door.

Emily knocked quickly and saw Gail turn toward the window. Through the glass, she beckoned Emily in.

It was only once she was inside the room that Emily got her first glance of Chantelle. The child was curled up in the corner, crying desperately, surrounded by ripped up pieces of paper.