HAPPY FOREVER AFTER

“What’s been going on at work?” Emma asked Karen and Monica as she poured herself another glass of apple juice.

“Wow,” Monica said. That looks a lot like wine”.

Emma laughed and raised her glass. “I know,” she said. “First time Daniel saw me do it, he thought I was drinking. You should have seen the look on his face. It was so funny”

“Poor guy,” Monica said.

“I asked you guys how it was going at work,” Emma said. “It’s bad enough that I’m stuck here doing nothing. I swear I can’t wait to get back to work”.

“Ermm… I got a promotion” Karen said excitedly.

“What?” Emma yelled. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”

“Relax… It just happened two days ago. Frank and I were celebrating and you seem to have a lot going on these days… You know… With the baby, so I just decided to wait till I came over today.”

“Fine,” Emma said. Rolling her eyes. “What’s up with you, Monica?”

“I rented a restaurant,” Monica said. “Finally”

“Wow. I’m so happy for you guys… And a little jealous too if I’m being honest. You guys are doing great” Emma said. “I feel like all I have to do right now is just baby stuff.”

“Awwwwn… Sorry boo… But looking on the bright side, how is it going at Hotel Rohan?” Karen asked and Monica giggled.

Emma frowned, feigning annoyance. “Please don’t call it that. It sounds weird” she said. “And how the hell is that a ‘bright side?'”

“Sorry dear” Monica piped. “But it’s kinda what it is… This place is amazing though” she said looking around. “How are you guys holding up?”

“Pretty well” Emma replied. “It was kinda weird at first. We argued a lot, but we are starting to get used this ‘having a baby together’ idea. Her hands went to her stomach.

“Are you going to keep living here after the baby comes? Karen asked.

“I honestly don’t know… I don’t think so” Emma replied. The question caught her off guard. She hadn’t even thought about what was going to happen when the baby arrived. “Daniel and I haven’t talked about it”.

“You don’t know?” Monica repeated.

“Yeah, I don’t,” Emma replied. “I have been so focused on the pregnancy part that I haven’t really thought about that. I guess I would just move back into my apartment. I’m just here because the doctor said I needed to stay in bed and I needed someone around with me.”

Karen and Monica stared at each other and then back at her.

” So… You and Daniel aren’t going to… I don’t know.. Maybe date and see if you can make a relationship work?” Karen asked.” I thought you were in love with him?”

“I guess not,” Emma replied. She shrugged. “And I don’t really know about the love part anymore”.

“Okay” Monica said. “So what happens when he starts dating… Maybe get married to someone else. You are just going to be happy taking care of his child while he goes off with his new family?”

“I don’t know, ” Emma said. The hurt inside her threatened to turn into tears. “I have my baby. We’ll stay together and make each other happy”.

“Tell him you love him,” Karen suggested. “You know you do”.

“I did,” Emma said, her voice hoarse and louder.

“Hey… Calm down,” Karen said. “No need to yell”

“I did… I told him” Emma repeated. “And he didn’t say anything. He just brushed it aside. It was like that information meant nothing to him. And I’m not going to bring it up again. It doesn’t matter… It’s probably for the best… I..”

She stopped talking when the front door opened and Daniel walked in, carrying bags of groceries.

“Oh… Hello” he greeted when he saw Karen and Monica.

“Hey” they replied.

“Need some help?” Emma asked.

“Nah it’s fine… I got this” Daniel said.

“Why are you shopping at this time?” Karen asked.

“I have been really busy today. Lost track of time” he said and dropped the bags on the table. “Having some kind of girls night?” he asked, staring at them.

“Kinda… Wanna join us?” Monica asked, smiling. Emma rolled her eyes.

Daniel laughed and shook his head. “Hell no” he said. “I remember my sister used to have one of those when we were growing up.. With her annoying friends. And I don’t know if y’all do the same thing at girls night, but I definitely don’t want to be a part of that..”

“Why not?” Karen asked, laughing.

“Ermmm… Let’s just say the only thing missing was a big black pot they could all stir”. He replied.

Emma couldn’t help laughing. “Are you calling us witches?” she asked.

“Oh no no” he said, raising his hands playfully. “I said no such thing”.

“But you were implying…”

“No, no,” he said. “You are not going to suck me into this. I’m going to put these away” he pointed at the contents he had removed from the bags. “Then I’m going to bed…. But… Feel free to invite me if you are having a pillow fight… Now that… I would like to be a part of… I honestly don’t know why. You guys have fun”. He said and walked into the kitchen.

Monica stared at Emma and raised her eyebrows. Emma rolled her eyes again.

“I wonder why you would let him go,” Karen said.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

“I know right,” Monica added. “He’s caring and funny”

“And rich” Karen added while Emma gave her a look.

“And hot,” Monica said.

“Keep your voices down… You idiots” Emma whispered. “He might hear you”

“Did I mention rich?” Karen asked, smiling and ignoring her.

Emma threw a pillow at her.

———————————

“So how do you celebrate Christmas?” Emma asked Daniel.

She was tucked into his side, her hip bumping against him as they walked down the street. Emma had suggested they take a walk that evening because she was so damn tired of being inside the house all day.

We shouldn’t go far,” he cautioned. “You aren’t supposed to be on your feet for this long. I promised the doctor you would be getting enough rest.”

“Relax, I have been doing everything the doctor said, I have been indoors for so long I think I might go crazy” she said lightly. “And the walks I take around your house aren’t doing it for me any more. A little wall won’t hurt the baby”

He frowned and his hand tightened around her waist. “I know, but we should start heading back .”

She didn’t respond, but turned back toward his house. Daniel’s hand slipped from her waist as she walked ahead of him.

When they walked back inside the house, Emma sank into the plush couch.

“Would you like something to drink?” he asked.

“Juice.” she replied. “Juice would be nice”

He rummaged in the well stocked fridge and came back with a glass of orange juice a moment later and handed it to her.

“You should go on to bed,” he said gently after she took a sip. “You need to rest.”