CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Emerson
I’M THANKFUL THAT CHASE DIDN’T pressure me to talk last night. We just came back here, I broke down, went to bed and we snuggled together. It was exactly what I needed, but when I woke up this morning to an empty, cold bed, a pang of sadness shot straight to my heart. I thought I had pushed Chase away. Then I smelled coffee and knew that he was still here. Rolling to my side, I climb out of bed and realize I’m still in my dress from the night before. Shrugging my shoulders, a force beyond my control over takes my body, and I follow the caffeine smell that is currently permeating throughout the cottage.
“You are my hero, Chase Archibald, coffee is just what I need,” I say as I walk into the kitchen. Pausing mid-step, my mouth drops open. “What time did you get up?” Before me is a feast fit for a king, well, queen in my case. There are waffles, bacon, scrambled eggs, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. There’s even muffins, but I’m pretty sure they are from Tiff’s.
He smiles at me as he saunters toward me, only wearing his jeans, and my mouth begins to water and not from the food. He pulls me into his embrace and kisses my temple. “I just wanted to give you a treat and cheer you up.”
“I’m fine, Chase, it was just a shock seeing Shez.” I look up at him and nuzzle his jawline, his morning stubble tickling my lips. “Chase, can we please devour this feast? Then over more coffee…or tequila, I will tell you everything.”
“I’d like that, Ems. Now let’s eat.” He grabs my hand, lifts it to his lips, gently placing a kiss on my knuckles. He then leads me into the kitchen and hands me a plate. Filling my plate with a little of everything, I join Chase at the dining table and dig in. “Oh my God, Chase, this is divine. Where did you learn to cook like this?”
“Pa taught me.” My head snaps up at that revelation.
“I thought it would have been Ma,” I say in shock.
“I know, right? What most people don’t know is that Ma is a terrible cook. She can’t cook toast without setting off the smoke detectors. The only thing she can cook is pancakes.”
“Wow, I’m totally shocked at that. Next time I see Pa, I’m going to have to thank him for teaching you to cook like this.” Taking another bite of my waffle, I moan in delight. Chase and I eat in silence. When we are finished, he grabs our plates and places them in the dishwasher. Picking up my coffee, I stare into the black liquid and realize that I’m totally full. “Looks like I’ll need to go for a fifty-mile run this afternoon to burn this off.”
Chase glances at me over his shoulder and winks suggestively. “I can think of other ways we can burn this off.”
“Can you now?” I playfully reply. Standing up, I walk over to him and wrap my arms around him from behind, seductively whispering into his ear, “And what did you have in mind?”
He leans back into my arms and says, “Meet me in the bedroom and I’ll show you exactly what I have in mind.” He turns his head and gently kisses my cheek, his lips lingering longer than necessary. “And I suggest you lose the dress if you still want it in one piece.”
Stepping back, I lift the dress over my head and drop it in his lap. “Deal,” I say, as I turn and skip down the hall to my bedroom where Chase and I burn off our breakfast…and then some.
* * *
We shower separately, and when I walk into the kitchen, Chase has cleaned up the breakfast dishes and there’s a fresh coffee waiting for me on the counter. “Chase, you didn’t have to clean up. The rule in this cottage is ‘if you cook, you don’t clean.’ Keep that in mind for next time.” I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his waist, resting my head on his chest. The beating of his heart is calming, until he says, “So, you want to talk about it now?”
With my arms still wrapped around him, I look up into his eyes—today they are blue with flecks of grey. Just staring into them, a sense of calm washes over me and I know that I can do this. “Yeah, okay. Let’s sit down and I’ll tell you everything.” He stretches out his hand and together we walk into the living room. We take a seat on the couch. I tuck my legs under me and rest my coffee cup on my knee. I stare into my cup and take a deep breath. I glance over at Chase and say, “As you know, I lost everyone that fateful day in Central Park. I fell apart after that…”
Chase interrupts me, “Ems…”
Raising my hand to stop him, I butt in, “Just let me get this all out, please?” He nods at me before he grabs my hand and squeezes it. He scoots closer to me and laces our fingers together before placing our joined hands in his lap. “I fell apart, I pushed everyone away. I became a hermit. I was angry and I hated everything and everyone. Shez is the corporate lawyer at my family’s company.”
“The James Corporation,” Chase says, it’s more of a statement than a question.
Nodding my head, I continue. “Shez stepped up to the plate and handled everything after it all happened. She called me one day and left a message saying that there were decisions that I needed to make. Rather than deal, I ran. I booked my trip and took off. Ignoring all my problems and the company in the process.” Lifting my coffee mug to my lips, I take a sip to compose myself. “In my absence, the company started to fall apart. No decisions could be made because I wasn’t there. Now the company is on the brink of failure and it’s all my fault.” A tear slips down my cheek. “For a few weeks now, I’ve been avoiding Shez’s calls and because of me over seven hundred people may lose their jobs. If only I had answered the phone, I could have done something. That’s why she came here, because I need to make a decision on where to go from here.” Pausing, I sadly look over at Chase, tears are now streaming down my face. “Chase, I don’t know what to do.”
He doesn’t say anything. He grabs my mug, places it on the coffee table and pulls me into his lap. Wrapping his arms around me, I snuggle into him. “Ems, you are a strong individual. Tell Sheridan that you will look over what she has and go from there. Tackle one issue at a time. I have faith that you can turn this around.”
“Will you help me, Chase?”
“If you want me to, I will. But Ems, I think you already know what you need to do.”
“I know,” I quietly whisper. “Can we just stay like this for a little longer?” Silently I add, because I don’t know how much longer this is going to last.
“We can do whatever you want.”
For the rest of the day, Chase keeps me occupied. We head to Nelson Lake and go for a hike before having a dip to cool down. We stop in and visit Ma and Pa on our way back. As night falls, Sheridan texts me.
SHERIDAN: Files are on your doorstep.
EMERSON: Thanks. I’ll look them over.
SHERIDAN: Thanks, Ems. On my way back to NY, chat in a few days
Chase notices a change in me as I slide my phone into my pocket. “Everything okay?”
Nodding my head, I reply, “Yeah, that was Shez. She dropped off the files for me to look over.”
Reaching over, he squeezes my knee. “I know you can do this. You can’t move forward until you confront your past. I’m here to bounce ideas off anytime.”
“Thanks, Chase, but I’m scared. I was just an assistant, actually, I was unemployed before this all happened, and now I’m the head of a multi million dollar corporation on the brink of collapse because I was a chicken. Some CEO I am.”
“Emerson, don’t be so hard on yourself. You will get through this.”
“I hope you’re right, Chase, because if those people lose their jobs because of me I will never forgive myself.” Looking over at him, I hesitantly ask, “Do you mind if you drop me home? I need a night alone to process all this.”
“Of course I can. Just know, I’m here of you need me.”
“Thanks, Chase.”
The rest of the car trip to my place is silent, my mind racing with a million different scenarios. Before I know it, we’ve pulled up at my place. Turning to face Chase, I say, “Thank you for this. Wanna do lunch tomorrow?”
“That sounds perfect. I suggest you go inside, pour a wine, grab your latest smut fest, and have a relaxing bath. Tackle it tomorrow when you have a clear head.”
“Are you in my mind? That is exactly what I was thinking of doing.”
He taps the end of my nose lightly and with a smile declares, “I know you better than you think, Emerson James. Now get out of my car.”
“Yes, boss,” I cheekily reply. Leaning over the center console, I kiss him goodnight. “See you tomorrow, Chase.”
As I’m closing the door, I swear I hear him quietly whisper, “I love you.” But the door is now closed and, with a heavy heart, I turn and head up the front stairs. Picking up the package from Sheridan, I unlock the door, wave goodbye to Chase, and head inside for a relaxing bath with a wine.
* * *
My phone is ringing and I see that it’s Sheridan. She only left yesterday, so if she’s calling me so soon, it can’t be good. Picking up my phone, I answer on the third ring. “Hey, Shez.”
“Emerson, you need to come deal with this now. I can’t hold them off any longer. When I returned, they expected you with me, they weren’t happy. I’m sorry,” she immediately says, my stomach sinking as what she says fully registers.
“It’s not your fault, Shez. We always knew this day would come. We could only hold the board off for so long.” Rubbing my forehead, I sigh. “When do you need me there?” I ask, but I already know the answer.
“Yesterday,” she replies. “Ems, while you are on your way back, you need to decide what you want to do.”
“I know, I know,” I confirm, breathing out deeply. I close my eyes and sadly tell her, “Funny thing was, I was just sitting down to go through everything right now.”
“I knew you would do it, I wish I’d come to see you sooner.”
“This is not your fault, Shez. You have gone above and beyond your job description. Dad was right, you are a godsend. I’ll leave this afternoon. See you soon…ish.”
Hanging up from Sheridan, I dejectedly sigh. I sit down and look at the papers from her. Picking up the top file, I shake my head and throw it back on the counter. I know that I have to go back and face it all…and I know that I have to do it alone. Standing up, I grab an apple, take a bite, and a laugh escapes me. “Looks like I’m going back to the Big Apple,” I sadly say to my empty kitchen, staring at the apple in my hand.
Not wanting to get there too soon, I decide to drive—the twenty-eight-ish hour drive will give me time to accept that I have royally screwed up, both my past and present. And it will allow me to time to process it all and hopefully come up with a solution. Who knew that running away would have such dire consequences?
Heading into my bedroom, I quickly pack a bag. Placing it by the front door, I walk into the kitchen and fill my travel mug. It’s going to be a long drive from Nels Cove to New York. While I wait for my coffee to brew, I take pen to paper, and just like last time I ran away, and I write a note.
Dearest Chase,
Writing this is so hard because as much as I want to stay and be with you, I can’t. I need to face my past and that means going back to New York. We always knew my time here in Nels Cove was temporary.
I’m a city girl, you’re a country boy. Maybe one day our paths will cross again. But if they don’t, know that you are a wonderful man who made me live again. You brought me back to life, you taught me to love again.
I love you, Chase!
Love, Ems XoXoX
Folding the note in half, I kiss it as I slip it into my pocket. Putting the pen and paper away, I turn to my coffee machine. I fill up my travel mug, screw on the lid on, and walk toward the door, grabbing my bag as I head out.
Jumping into my car, I have one stop to make before I go. I’ll get them to pass this onto Chase. I wish I was strong enough to say goodbye in person, but I’m not good at goodbyes. Reversing out of my driveway, I drive over to the homestead to see Ma. When I pull up, she is sitting on the porch swing. As I’m getting out of my car, she walks over to me. Before I get a chance to say anything she says, “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”
Nodding my head, the first tear falls. “I have to, I can’t put it off any longer. How did you know?”
“Oh, sweetness,” she says as she wraps her arms around me. “You knew this day would come and so did I. I just hoped it would have been a little longer.”
“I know, but I don’t want to leave Chase. I…I love him.”
“I know you do, and he’ll be here when you get back.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be back,” I tearfully say.
“Emerson, you will be back. You and Chase are meant to be, I feel it in my bones.”
“I hope so, Ma. Can you please give him this?” I reach into my back pocket and hand her the letter. “I’m not good at goodbyes.”
She takes the letter and places her palm on my cheek. “You are better than you think Emerson. I’ll give this to Chase and I’ll see you soon.”
Wrapping my arms around Ma, I cry into her shoulder. She hugs me tightly, just like Mom used to, and it’s just what I need. Pulling away, I tearfully smile. “Bye, Ma.” Turning around, I put one foot in front of the other until I climb into my car. For the second time in my life, I sadly drive away from the homestead with someone I love sadly watching on.