Chapter 38
Emma and Conrad continued their stroll through the pampered, manicured gardens. Rows of sunset colored tulips, romantic red roses, elegant orchids, and ethereal stargazer lilies stretched out as far she could see. She could spend in eternity in this garden. It was the most beautiful place she’d ever seen.
“Come back inside with me. I’d like to show you something,” Conrad urged. Emma obliged and he led her inside to his study. It was a classy, sophisticated room. A rich cherry wood bookcase dominated the far end of the room. The other side had a large mahogany desk. A plush leather sofa sat in the center. Shades of red, brown and cream gave the room a smart, chic, and refined feel. It was perfectly Conrad.
“This room looks like you,” Emma commented. Conrad chuckled.
“Will used to say that when he was a boy. That’s what I wanted to show you, actually.” He sat down on the leather sofa and patted the space next to him. Emma giggled and perched next to him. He was flipping through a thick photo album.
“What’s this?”
“This is our family photo album. Will didn’t like to have his photo taken as a child. But, I always snuck some of him. He was such a good, sweet boy. This album is full of photos of him.”
A good, sweet boy? Emma held back a laugh. She couldn’t even begin to imagine that. Conrad pointed out a photo of Will, and Emma’s heart melted. A small boy holding an ice cream cone smiled at her from the page. His bright and happy face was frozen behind a thin sheet of plastic. Emma giggled. Conrad watched her reaction to baby Will, and smiled. It made him happy. Will had finally found a nice girl to care for him.
“He was four years old in this photo. It’s one of the few of him where he’s smiling.”
Conrad continued flipping through, stopping every now and then to point out specific photos. And his grandfather was right. Will was stern and serious as a child. Emma noticed though that there was a young girl that appeared in many photos with him. And he always smiling in the photos with her. In some they held each in a happy embrace. The photos chronicled their childhood together, and how they grew. They were always together. The last photo in the album was a more recent photo. Will’s smile took her breath away. She’d only seen moody, angry brooding Will. She would do anything to see him smile like that at her.
The girl was beautiful, and it was clear they cared about each other. A pang of jealously shot through her.
“This girl is a lot of these photos. He seems to be really happy when he’s with her.”
“That’s Grace,” Conrad said. “Will was a very shy child. He kept to himself, but Grace was able to somehow get him to come out of his shell.”
The pang of jealously turned into a large streak. Grace was clearly someone important in his life. It was someone she would never be to him.
“How special,” she lied.
“Indeed. Well, I believe you’ve indulged this old man long enough. It’s late, my darling. I’ve prepared a room for you. Allow me to escort you.”
“Thank you.”
Conrad led her through the hall to a room with large white double doors. As they walked, she couldn’t stop thinking about Will’s relationship with Grace, and who Will used to be. When had he become so stoic? Had Grace hurt him that much?
“Here you are, my dear,” he said with a conspiratorial smile. “Have a good night.”
“Good night, Conrad.”
The original plan had been to go back to Will’s apartment after dinner, but Conrad was insistent they spend the night. And Will could never refuse his grandfather.
Emma walked into the dark, cool room and turned on the lights.
“Oh my God!” she yelped in surprise.
“Were you expecting someone else?” Will answered. He was sitting up in bed, wearing Emma’s favorite shirt on him… None.
“I wasn’t expecting anyone. Conrad said he was escorting me to my room.”
“Apparently,” Will chuckled. “Pop had other ideas. Are you going to stand there all night?”
She shivered with excitement at the thought of sharing a bed with him. But the memory of Grace dampened her enjoyment.
“Pop kept you for a long time,” Will said as Emma slid into bed with him. “What were you talking about?”
“He showed me the garden, and then took my into his study and showed me an old photo album. We talked about you.”
“What about me?” he asked, his finger making lazy trails along her collarbone.
“What you were like as a kid. You were cute,” she whispered. Discomfort settled in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t want to talk about this with him. Grace was like a wedge between them. He would never let go of her.
“I’m not cute now?” Will teased. He leaned towards and started kissing her neck creating a fog in her brain.
“Yes, I mean… No. I mean… You used to smile.”
“I’m smiling right now,” he hummed into her neck sending vibrations into Emma’s skin.
“Not like that,” Emma struggled to maintain her composure.
“You’re resisting me,” he chuckled, nipping at her neck.
“I’m trying to.”
“Why?” Will’s hand slid underneath the covers down her body.
“I’m not sure,” she breathed.
“Then don’t.” Will’s hand slipped in between Emma’s legs. He captured her moan with a searing kiss.
As things began to heat up, an urgent knock came at the door.
“Master William!” the butler called from beyond the door.
“This better be important,” Will grumbled and pulled away from Emma. “What is it?” he called out.
“It’s Master Conrad! He’s fainted.”
Will was up in a flash; he threw on a robe and dashed out of the room. Emma followed.
“What happened?” Will demanded.
“I’m not sure, sir. I went to go check on him and saw him on the floor.”
They burst into the study. An open bottle of pills was spilled on the floor next to Conrad’s unconscious body, and the photo album. Will threw himself on the floor, scooping his grandfather up.
“Pop!” he cried, gently shaking him.
Emma choked back a sob. She had never seen Will so shaken. It was terrifying.
“Bring my car to the front!” Will screamed, thick tears falling freely from his eyes. He held his grandfather close, patting his face gently. “Come on, Pop. You’ve gotta wake up. Please wake up.”
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