Chapter 23

Emily giggled as she tried to fix her hair with Keith kissing her neck. They were both fully clothed again, but as soon as she put the shoes back on, he wasn’t able to keep his hands off her.

“As much as I’d love to stay in this room all night with you, we can’t.” Emily turned into his arms.

“It’s the fucking shoes.” He groaned.

“Well, if you let me fix myself, and let us get back to the party, I’ll wear them when we get back to your place.” Emily wiggled her eyebrows, and he grinned.

“Deal, but I’m just gonna wait outside the room.” He groaned. “I can’t stay in here and not want to toss you on that bed again.”

“Dear Lord, the shoes have created a monster.” Emily laughed.

“Hey, Princess,” Keith said as he opened the door.

“Yeah?” Emily glanced at him.

“I fucking love you.” He winked.

“I love you too.” He closed the door behind him, and she sighed.

Emily loved him more than she’d ever thought she could love anyone. It was why it was even more important to get the man who hurt her mother to show himself. As terrified as she was, it had to end. She couldn’t start a life with Keith if she weren't free to live.

They walked back into the tent with Keith holding tightly to her hand. Emily searched the room for her friend. Mitchell had been uncomfortable with the glares Keith was giving him. At one point, he’d told Emily, Keith looked like he was about ready to kill him.

Of course, Emily did enjoy seeing Keith squirm, but it wasn’t fair to Mitchell. Her friend had agreed to help her bring out the stalker, not get death glares from Keith. She needed to introduce them properly and make sure Keith understood that Mitchell was only a dear friend who wanted to help.

“What are you looking for?” Keith asked.

“Mitchell,” Emily replied.

“What the hell for?” Keith grumbled.

“Because we owe him an apology for vanishing, and I want him to meet you without thinking you're going to kill him.” Emily spotted Mitchell off to the left talking to his parents. Great! She didn’t mind Alfred, but she wasn’t in the mood for Judy’s nasty attitude.

“Do we have to do this now? The ice queen is shooting daggers at me.” Keith nodded his head towards Judy.

“Fuck her, I’m going to talk to Mitchell and say hi to Alf.” Emily wasn’t afraid of any of the snobs in SummerBrook. Probably because she’d dealt with them her whole life. She never let any of them get to her anymore.

“Hey, Em.” Mitchell glanced at Keith.

“Sorry we took off like that, but we needed to get some things straightened out. Mitchell Palmer this is Keith O’Connor.” Mitchell held out his hand to Keith, and it took Emily giving Keith’s hand a squeeze before he took her friend’s hand.

Stubborn ass.

“Nice to meet you, Mitchell.” Keith smiled.

“I’m glad you two worked things out.” Mitchell was being genuine, and Emily knew it.

“Me too.” Keith gazed down and smiled.

“We never got properly introduced, I’m Alf Palmer, Mitchell’s father and this is my wife, Judy.” Alf smiled at Keith as they shook hands.

“I’ve had the pleasure of meeting your wife at the hospital. It’s good to see you again Mrs. Palmer.” Keith was being so polite, but Emily wanted to burst into laughter when Judy’s mouth dropped open. She quickly snapped it shut again and gave what was supposed to be a smile. At least Emily thought it was a smile. It looked somewhere between a snarl and a grin.

“This is my daughter Tiffany and her fiancé Woodrow Manchester.” Alfred motioned to Tiffany and the much older man she was hanging all over.

Emily had been chatting with them when Keith pulled her onto the dance floor. The guy would be a good one around Penny. He didn’t seem to be able to look above the chest area. He gave Emily the creeps, and she had no idea what Tiffany saw in a man that looked old enough to be her father.

“It’s nice to meet all of you, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to make up for missing most of the dancing with my princess here.” Keith nodded, and Emily thanked him in her mind for getting them away from the Palmers. Well except Mitchell. She glanced back at him as she walked away. He looked lost.

“Okay, everyone. We’re going to speed things up a little, and I want to see everyone dancing.” Nick’s voice echoed through the tent. “This is a new song release by Aaron Goodvin called Lonely Drum. It’s only fitting we get A.J. to get us all in a dancing mood.”

“Oh, I love this song.” Emily started to pull Keith onto the floor, but he shook his head.

“Don’t do fast dances, Princess.” He chuckled as he pulled her back against him.

“Oh, but you are. So, get over yourself and move that ass.” Emily tugged and dragged on his hand until they were in the middle of the dance floor. She was sure if he really were against dancing she wouldn’t be able to budge him. The man was a brick wall, but damn didn’t he look hot in a tux.

It didn’t take Keith long before he started to get into the song. She expected the typical man dance of moving feet back and forth and barely moving arms, but she was pleasantly surprised. Keith O’Connor knew how to move that body.

Emily eyed her mother and father dancing as well and almost fell on the floor when her dad tried to copy what Keith was doing. Her mother never married her father for his dance moves that was for sure.

 She had to admit it was probably the best music they’d ever had at one of the Sweet Heart Balls. Even her sister and brother were busting out their moves with their dates.

Emily scanned the crowd while she enjoyed herself. Of course, Judy stood off to the side glaring at everyone as if they were committing murder. She was alone, so it seemed like the rest of her family were enjoying themselves, but Emily could only see Mitchell.

“Oh, my God, Emily this band is incredible.” Ginger Dwyer twirled by with her date.

“They really are.” That was Cinnamon which was really surprising. Emily hadn’t seen the girl since she left the salon in a huff, but to Emily’s shock and amazement, Cinnamon hadn’t said anything to anyone. At least not that Emily had been told.

“They’re Keith’s brothers and some friends,” Emily yelled over the music.

“Awesome,” Ginger shouted as she and her sister danced away.

The song ended, and according to Aaron, they were slowing things down again. Not that Emily minded because Keith grabbed her hips and pulled her into him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gazed up at him.

A thought crossed her mind as he smiled down at her. Keith had sung to her a few times, and he had an amazing voice. She found it odd that he wasn’t on stage with his brothers.

“Why don’t you sing with them? Or James and Ian?” Emily asked.

“Not my thing. James doesn't like to be in front of crowds. He actually hurled on stage in high school during some talent show, and Ian’s too shy. Not that they can’t sing.”

“Poor James.” Emily giggled.

“Plus, I only sing for you and my grandmother,” Keith whispered into her ear.

“I love when you sing to me.” Emily wrapped her arms around his neck and swayed with him. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with this man. She honestly couldn’t see her life without him in it.

“Princess, I want to ask you something.” Keith touched her cheek.

“Anything.”

Before he had a chance to say a word, the room went black. There were three loud pops as if fireworks had been shot off. Her mother hadn’t mentioned anything about fireworks. Emily looked up and then laughed at herself. How the hell were they supposed to see them inside a tent?

When she pulled her hands away from Keith, they were wet and sticky. Keith seemed to be putting most of his weight on her.

“Keith, what are you doing? You’re going to knock me down.” Emily shouted. The only thing she could hear were screams and crying, but she couldn’t understand why people were screaming.

The lights flickered and came on again, but as if everything was happening in slow motion Emily watched Keith fall to his knees. When she looked down her pink dress was covered with something red and wet.

“Emily….” Keith gasped.

“Keith, what’s wrong?” Emily screamed and fell to her knees as he fell to his side.

“Emily, get down.” She barely heard Bull speaking with everyone screaming.

“What’s wrong with him?” She hadn’t seen Ian at first, but he was next to Keith with Sean pressing a cloth against Keith’s chest.

“Honey, I need you to go with Bull,” Sean spoke soft, but she knew it wasn’t a request.

“No, what’s wrong with Keith?” Emily pulled away from Bull and grabbed Keith’s hand.

“Em,... Go….. Bull.” Keith was gasping for air.

“What the fuck is wrong with him?” Emily yelled.

“Emily, he’s been shot. Bull needs to get you out of here.” John crouched in front of her. She couldn’t completely understand what Keith’s brother was telling her.

“Shot?” Emily stared down on the floor where Keith was gasping and staring back at her. His eyes were wide, and there was blood in the corner of his mouth. His chest was rising up and down way too fast.

“Em…” Keith gasped and coughed.

“No….no….” She shook her head. When Bull tried to pull her away again, she swung at him.

“Emily, please come with me,” Bull begged.

“I’m staying with him. Go get everyone out of here.” Emily clung to Keith’s hand and rubbed her thumb across his knuckles. Minutes later the loud clang of a siren pulled into the driveway. She was so tired of hearing sirens.

Emily ran into the hospital behind the paramedics. Her dress was soaked in blood, and the metallic smell was sickening. She didn’t care. They had to save him. 

“Emily!” His voice was tight and barely audible.

“I’m here, Keith.” She stood at the foot of his bed as the emergency team cut off his clothes.

She’d watched them in the ambulance as they hooked Keith up to an I.V. The paramedics made her sit in front but she had sat with her back to the front of the ambulance.

Now he was in the emergency room with half a dozen people running around him. They kept telling her to stay back so they could work on him but it was so hard when he was calling out to her.

“I want to marry you now.” He rasped.

“Honey, don’t worry about that now.” Emily sobbed.

“Now. Emily. I need to marry you now.” Keith cringed as the doctor turned him onto his side. She heard the doctor say there wasn’t an exit wound and her knees shook. It meant the bullet was still inside him.

“Mr. O’Connor, we’ve got to get you to surgery.” The doctor said as Keith was rolled back.

“Not … Ugh… before I marry… ah .. that beautiful woman.” Keith’s teeth were clenched as he reached for her. Emily sobbed and couldn’t answer. She could only hear the way Keith was gasping for air.

“What the fuck happened?” Emily felt a large hand on her shoulder. Dr. Cramer stood behind her.

“Got… shot… asshole.” He was trying to make a joke. Really? Had he completely lost his mind?

“Who shot him.” Adam turned Emily to face him.

“I... I ... d... d... on’t know. I don’t even know what happened. It happened so fast.” John appeared out of nowhere and pulled her into his arms. Emily took a quick glance around. All his brothers were just outside the room, and their expressions spoke volumes.

“I… need… marry… her now.” Keith stammered and roared as the doctor pressed something against his chest.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Ian stood at the side of the bed. Emily hadn’t even seen Ian enter the room. Of course, her eyes barely moved from Keith.

“We don’t have time for this conversation, and all of you can't be in here. He needs surgery.” The Doctor didn’t seem to know what family he was dealing with. “We’re taking him to the O.R.”

“The hell you are,” Keith grunted. “Nobody’s taking me anywhere until I marry her.”

“Come on Keith, you need surgery.” Ian tried to reason, but Keith reached out and grabbed Ian by the front of his shirt.

“You get Father Wallace here. Now.” Keith pulled Ian down. “I don’t want to die without being married to her, bro.” Ian didn’t hesitate and ran out of the room. There was no way he said the word die, Keith wasn’t going to leave her.

“Keith, stop being a stubborn ass.” Emily sobbed and grabbed his hand. “The doctors are going to fix you. You’re not going to die.”

“Princess, please I need to be married to you. Even if it’s just saying the words.” Tears ran down the side of his face. “I’ll die a happy man.

“You’re not going to die. Keith, please don’t say that.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as he gasped. “I love you so much. I can’t lose you. Not when I finally found you.”

“I love you more than life itself, but I need to marry you now.” The emergency team was moving the gurney out of the room, and he clung to her hand. “Where are you taking me?” Keith gasped.

“Surgery.” The nurse said as they pushed him down the hallway. It broke her heart the way his expression turned to complete panic.

“No!” He roared. “Father Wallace.”

Ian stood in the hallway with the parish priest. Keith reached out and grabbed the priest. Emily had no idea how Ian got him there so fast.

“Now. Father, please.”

“My son we can do this after you’re well.” The priest said.

“Father, please now,” Keith whispered.

It was the strangest sight to anyone walking by. A priest at the foot of a gurney of a bleeding man and a woman covered in his blood. Nurses were surrounding them with tears in their eyes.

“It won’t be legal, Keith.” Father Wallace warned.

“I just want to say the words,” Keith’s voice sounded weaker.

“He’s losing a lot of blood.” The doctor snapped.

“Quick Father.” Keith grabbed Emily’s hand. She was accustomed to his hand being warm and comforting, but when he covered her hand with his, it was cold and clammy.

“I’ll make this quick.” Father Wallace said. “Do you Keith Gregory O’Connor take Emily Mary Bradshaw to be your wife?”

“I… I.. I .. do.” Keith gasped.

“Do you Emily Mary Bradshaw take Keith Gregory O’Connor to be your husband?”

“I do.” Emily sobbed.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Father Wallace finished. Emily leaned down and pressed her lips to Keith’s.

“I love you,” Keith whispered and with those words his eyes rolled up into his head.

Someone grabbed her by the arms and pulled her back from the bed, and Keith’s hand dropped to his side. Lifeless and cold.

Dear god, was he gone?

“He’s crashing.” The doctor yelled, and a nurse climbed up on top of the gurney as the rest of the team pushed Keith through the doors of the operating room. Emily’s legs lost all their strength, and she fell to her knees as sobs racked her body. She couldn’t catch her breath, and her chest hurt. Her hands were pressed against her chest, and she gasped for air.

“She’s hyperventilating.” Ian’s voice seemed so far off, but strong arms picked her up off the floor.

“I can’t lose him.” She screeched into the shoulder of whoever had picked her up. She did not care who it was. Nothing mattered if she lost Keith.

“My brother’s one of the strongest men I know, Emily.” Was that James?

“I love him so much and if he dies….” She stopped. James placed her on a bed in one of the hospital rooms.

“Now you listen here, Emily.” It was John. “You’re not going to lose him, and I’m not going to lose a brother. Do you hear me?” John grabbed her arms and gave her a little shake.

“Calm the fuck down, John.” Ian pulled John back from her.

“No. I’m not letting her give up on him. He loves her.” Emily saw the tears in John’s eyes. Not just John’s, but Ian and James as well. They were all so close.

God, I don’t pray often, but please watch over him.

Emily had her knees curled up to her chest on the bed. The room was completely silent except for the usual sounds of the emergency department. Well, until she heard a booming voice echo in from the hall.

“Where is my daughter?” Her father.

“Dad,” Emily whispered as her father charged into the room with her mom behind him. He wrapped his arms around her, and she clung to him. They didn’t always get along, but he was always there when she needed him most.

“Dad, Keith … he... was ... shot…” Her body shuttered as she forced out the words. It still seemed like she was speaking something foreign. Nobody ever got shot in Newfoundland.

“I know, baby girl,” Nelson kissed the top of her head.

“Dad, Keith’s in surgery.” She sobbed into his chest.

“I’ll make sure he has the best care,” Nelson squeezed her tightly against him, and her mother wrapped her arms around her from behind.

“He’s my life, dad.” Emily sobbed.

Edward and Elaine showed up a little while later and brought her a change of clothes. Her dress was soaked in blood. Keith’s blood. She couldn’t even look at the dress when she took it off. She told her sister to throw it away. She didn’t want the reminder of what had happened.

She joined Keith’s family in the waiting room once she’d cleaned up. It was almost three hours later, and Keith was still in surgery. Nobody seemed to know how it was going and even Ian or his father couldn’t find out. The only response they could get was Keith was still in surgery, and they’d send the doctor out as soon as he was done.

She looked around the waiting room. Keith’s family filled almost every chair, and the ones that weren’t occupied by his family had his friends. Keith’s parents sat across from her. Kathleen was wrapped in Sean’s arms with her hands folded in front of her. Tom and Nick sat on both sides of Nanny Betty holding her hands. It was the first time she’d seen Nanny Betty so quiet.

John was on the other end of the room with his elbows resting on his knees and his head in his hands. Stephanie was making small circles on his back as she stared off into space. James and Marina were wrapped in each other’s arms in the corner of the waiting room with the same somber expression as everyone else. Ian sat with Sandy holding hands and her head on his shoulder.

Kurt and Alice sat next to Keith’s parents, and Cora and Brian were next to them. His cousins and friends were scattered around the rest of the room. All of these people waiting to hear that Keith was okay. All of them here because of her family’s drama.

“Ian, are all the kids okay?” It was the only thing Emily could think to say.

Keith’s nieces and nephews loved him. They’d always been so excited to see him, and he lit up when they were around. They’d be devastated if something happened to him. God, she had to stop thinking that way.

“Doug and Janet have Olivia and the boys. Dad  and his girlfriend have our girls and Alex.” Sandy answered for Ian. Doug and Janet were Marina and Stephanie’s, parents. Emily had never met them, but she knew they spent a lot of time with the O’Connors.

“Why is this taking so bloody long?” Her father grumbled.

“Nel, please don’t start.” Her mother pleaded.

“No, da man is right,” Nanny Betty snapped. “Why aren’t dey tellin us anything?”

“I wish I knew, Nan.” Ian leaned back in the chair and plowed his hands through his hair.

“You know considering there are two doctors in your family, you think you would be able to get some information,” Her father was being an ass. “And how was this bastard able to get on my property without anyone noticing?”

“Now just one minute you self-centered, son of a bitch.” Cora stood up with her fists at her sides. “We’re allowing you to be here because of Emily. She loves Keith, and we want her here too, but you need to shut your mouth. The only thing you’re doing is upsetting your daughter and our family. If you want to stay with us and support your daughter than stay, but for once in your life keep that big mouth of yours closed. This is not the time or the place for this.”

“That’s my girl!” Nanny Betty nodded with pride.

The shocked expression on her father’s face would have been comical if Emily wasn’t so terrified. She couldn’t remember ever being so scared in her life. She closed her eyes, and for the second time that day, she prayed. God had to be listening. Keith was a good man, and he shouldn’t have to be fighting for his life. He spent his entire life watching out for other people. He was selfless, kind and the most wonderful person she’d ever known.

Watch over him.

Emily ran through the events of the night in her head. The lights had gone out before the popping started. She knew now that it was gunshots but how could someone just shoot blindly.

“How did he shoot when it was completely dark?” Emily whispered mostly to herself.

“What do you mean?” Ian hadn’t missed her question.

“Remember, the lights went out, and it was pitch black, I thought the popping was fireworks.” Emily glanced at Ian.

“He could have had night vision goggles, or he could’ve just been shooting randomly. Bastard probably didn’t care who he shot.” Kurt’s voice was gruff but cracked at the end of his statement.

“You know everyone is saying he. With everything that has gone on over the last few years, we are aware women can be crazy too.” Marina said. “Is it possible this could be a woman?”

“Anything is possible.” James sighed.

The only woman Emily could think of was Judy, but there was no way snooty Judy would hold a gun let alone shoot it. Besides, Emily had seen her just before the lights went out.

Thirty minutes later the doctor walked into the room. The look on his face made Emily’s body go cold. He didn’t look like he was about to give them good news.

“No,” Emily whispered, and everything went black.