Chapter 19

​ Thick, angry tears rolled down Emma’s face. No matter what happened to her, something always managed to tear her down, to remind her how horrible her life was.

​ “Why is everyone being so horrible?” she thought of Will leaving cash, and treating her like a sex worker. She hated herself for ever thinking she could mean something else to him. And Vivian, coming to attack her like that? All she wanted was to never see her again, but Vivian wouldn’t leave her alone.

​ Emma wanted to throw herself in her bed and have a good cry. Her plan was to come to her room, pack a few things and go to the hospital to be with her father, but now she didn’t have enough time. Vivian was always around, getting in her way.

​ Emma cleaned herself off, and went back downstairs. She’s hoped the driver would be gone, but much to her dismay he was still there.

​ “Don’t you ever go home?” she asked, but then blushed as that was harsher than she intended. “I’m so sorry. That was mean.”

​ “It’s quite all right, Miss Wells. Mr. Stewart has instructed that should he not personally be able to transport you, I am to ensure your safe travel. Now, please. Where may I transport you to this evening?”

​ “City Center Hospital, please. May I ask your name?”

​ “Please call me Jack.”

​ “Thank you, Jack.”

​ “You’re welcome, Miss Wells.” He held the door open for her, and waited until she was safely inside.

​ Emma felt horrible for being rude to Jack. He was just a man doing his job, and he did not deserve her attitude.

​ “I am sorry for being rude to you, Jack.”

​ “Please don’t worry, ma’am.” He answered professionally. The effect that Will and Vivian’s nastiness was having on her made her sick. She refused to be like them. She refused to be like them. She thanked Jack warmly when he dropped her off, and ran up to her father’s room.

​ The room has been freshened up. An essential oil diffuser had been turned on, pumping the soft scent of lavender into the room. Soft sheets covered him, instead of the standard, stiff hospital sheets. Emma smiled. Her father was indeed in good hands. She sat by his bedside.

​ “Hi, Daddy. You look very comfortable. These sheets have to be better than the ones Jane has at home. I’m sure neither or Anna have been to see you at all. You deserve better than her. I think she may have loved you at first. But not anymore. When you get better, I need you to see that. And I’ll do better too. I promised Mom, that I would take care of you. And I will. I’ll be the best daughter ever. You’ll see.” She gave her father a kiss on the forehead. “But you have to try. You have to try to give up drinking. I know you miss Mom, but she’d hate to see you like this.”

​ Emma leaned over her father and cried. There was no way she was going to let him go back to Jane after he recovered. As far as she was concerned, Jane was out of their lives forever. Emma spent a little time reading to her father, and fluffing his bedsheets. A nurse came in to administer some of his IV medications.

​ “I see our Mr. Wells is being well tended to,” the nurse smiled.

​ “Do you know if he’ll wake up soon?”

​ “No, sweetie, I don’t,” the nurse lamented. “That’s entirely up to him now.”

​ “I see. Is there a room I could go lay down in?”

​ “Of course, darling. This way.” The nurse led Emma down the hall. “Right here. This room is empty, and not used for patients. Please take all the time you need.”
​ “Thank you.”

​ Emma walked over to the bed, and set her bag down on it. As she went to sit down, a pang of dread hit her.

​ “Will’s phone,” she whispered in terror. She’d turned it off that morning in spite, but forgot to turn it on again. Emma held it as though it was a bomb about to go off in her hand. She turned it on and saw 14 missed calls from Will. “God, he’s going to kill me.”

​ The phone began to ring. Emma took a deep breath and answered.

​ “Hello?”

​ “What the fuck, Emma?” Will shouted. “I’ve been calling you all day! Why is your phone off?”

​ “The battery was dead,” Emma lied. “I must have forgotten to put it on the charger last night. You know, after… everything.” Emma tried to use the memory of their lust fueled night to soften him.

​ “It better never happen again,” Will hissed. “Where are you? I’m coming to get you.”

​ “I’m at the hospital, visiting my dad.”

​ “Are you dressed well? Hair brushed, make-up on?”

​ “Well yes, I—”

​ “Good. I’ll be there soon.” He hung up, leaving an icy sense of dread in Emma’s chest. He was very angry. Emma took a look at herself in the mirror. She looked okay enough. After about 30 minutes, she got another call on the phone.

​ “Yes?” she answered.

​ “I’m outside. Come down.” *Click.* She went outside, and Will’s car was waiting where Jack would usually be. Emma took a deep breath, and got in the car.

​ “I’m sorry about the phone…” Emma started, but stopped when she saw Will’s face. His expression was stony and cold. He was in a terrible mood. “Where are we going?”

​ “Shut up,” he hissed.

​ Emma was incensed. What she wanted to do was to slap him. She hadn’t forgotten about the stack of cash from the morning. And at some point, they would discuss it. She had a lot to say to him. But not when he was in such a testy mood.

​ They arrived at a posh looking bar and Will gave his keys to a valet. He offered Emma an arm, and she looped hers around it. *He may be an asshole, but at least he knows how to act like a gentleman.*

​ The bar was loud and lively, but classier than Tremaine’s. They headed towards the back where the private VIP rooms were. There were three men in the room when they arrived. They were all very handsome, close to Will’s age. They were smartly dressed. They must have been rich playboys too.

​ “Hey, Willie,” one of the men called. “Took you long enough.”

​ “Who’s your friend?” One of them looked her up and down like she was something to eat.

​ “This is Emma,” Will introduced. “Emma these are the guys. Alex, Bryan, and Derek.”

​ “Hello,” she greeted shyly.

​ “Emma, you seem like a nice girl,” the one introduced as Alex said. “What are you with this idiot?” He laughed. Emma forced a chuckle in response.

​ “She is different from your usual type,” Derek added.

​ “Don’t be shy, sweetie,” Alex winked. “Why don’t you come and sit here with me?”

​ Emma blushed furiously and she felt Will’s grip tighten around her.

​ “Don’t be jerks,” Bryan quipped. “I think it’s awesome that Will found someone nice. It’s great to meet you, Emma.”

​ “It’s nice to meet you, too,” Emma.

​ Will and Emma slid in next to his friends. Alex continued to flirt with her, while Will downed drink after drink. *Why am I even here?* Emma wondered. Will hadn’t given her any attention at all, and Alex kept flirting with her. Was she supposed to be his escort or something? Emma sipped on a few drinks throughout the evening. But it was more than she realized. The alcohol was making her bold, and after another hour of watching Will trying to drown himself in liquor, Emma had had enough.

​ “Will, I think you should slow down. You’ve had quite a lot to drink.”

​ “You don’t tell me what to do,” Will slurred. “You are no one to me. No one!”

​ His friends looked sad for Emma, and upset for Will. They seemed to know why he was acting like this.

​ “Come on, man. It’s been three years. You’ve got to move on,” Derek lamented.

“You can’t still be holding a torch for her,” Alex added. “I’m sure Emma could help you forget her. Couldn’t you, doll?” He winked. “And Will, if you don’t want Emma, I’ll be sure to keep her company.”

“Shut up, Alex,” the men said in unison.

“But seriously,” Bryan continued. “She moved on. You should too.”

“Yeah, I know,” Will answered with irritation.

“No, I don’t think you do. She’s… getting married. To Denis.”

“What?” Will roared. “To fucking Denis?” He threw a glass against a wall, and everyone flinched.

​ The wheels in Emma’s head starting turning. Will was upset because of a woman.

​ *Grace.*