Chapter 29
JJ could not help the smile as she took in Emily's home; pictures littered the walls as though they were telling a story. A young looking Emily with a young blonde wrapped around the back of her. There was a lightness to her, which JJ had never seen. She seemed to take in each picture as though burning it to memory.
Emily had not said much as she carefully sat down on her couch. "You look so happy" JJ whispered her eyes fixated still on the pictures.
"She was my world," Emily said easily.
"I can tell" JJ said with a slight smile. In all honesty, she was trying to break the uneasy silence, which had fallen around them.
Emily followed her eye line, noticing she was looking at the first picture on the wall. "She had just graduated, there. She had so much energy, it took eight attempts to get photo she couldn't stay still," Emily said as she chuckled.
"She looks to be swinging off your neck," JJ said softly.
"She was always hyper but that day she was on top of the world."
"She was younger than you?"
Emily nodded "Eight years younger" Emily shook her head. "Age never came into it, sometimes you could tell other times you thought she was the oldest" Emily sighed. "You remind me of her in a way"
JJ looked at her puzzled "How?"
"She could always find the good in people, she had so much empathy for them," Emily sighed. "She had a love for life, for helping people. Doing the right thing."
JJ smiled she could not help looking intently at the photos. "Your mother said something that puzzled me"
"She has a habit of that," Emily said dryly
"She said we didn't know because you was keeping her safe"
Emily nodded. "Her parents disowned her, they were so angry, so hateful towards her" Emily shook her head. "And yet she was the sweetest person I have ever known."
"Is that why you know so much about aversion therapy?" JJ asked carefully. They had all been curious why Emily seemed to know so much about it.
"Do you fancy a coffee?" Emily asked changing the subject.
She just was not ready to talk about everything and more importantly, she did not feel comfortable talking about Stacy. It was hard talking about her. JJ could only nodded as Emily swiftly changed the subject.
"I'll make it. What do you fancy for dinner?" JJ asked as she got up to head into the kitchen.
"I haven't got much in JJ," Emily said softly.
She struggled to get up off the couch, but she managed she slowly made her way into the kitchen, she took a moment to study her friend. Tension laid in her shoulders, she seemed to have lost some weight, and her whole demeanour seemed drained.
"Sorry," Emily whispered catching JJ's attention. "I'm just not ready to talk about her" JJ could hear the emotion in Emily's voice as she spoke.
"It's okay," JJ said as she turned to look at her. "I think we are going to be on take out" JJ said as she raised her eyebrow.
"Yeah, I haven't done much shopping lately" Emily admitted.
"Much shopping? The only thing in your cupboard is wine and ice cubes in the fridge," JJ said as she let out a slight chuckle. "And neither of those are edible."
"Italian or Chinese?" JJ asked as she pulled the takeaways off the fridge.
"Chinese" Emily sighed slightly.
"How about we have this" JJ started as soon as she put the phone down. "We turn in for the night. You will just have to show me where your room is" she paused slightly.
Emily chuckled "I will and the guest room is always set up" Emily closed her eyes slightly.
Once the food was ordered, JJ pulled out the bag containing the medication. "This isn't up for discussion." JJ said firmly. "I have been told you've to follow these to the letter or you will end up with side effects."
"Yes boss" she muttered before taking the tablets.
"When was the last time you did any shopping?" JJ asked carefully.
Emily shrugged, "Before Stacy headed to Europe," she sighed slightly. "This was our home JJ." She paused slightly. "It's just" Emily shook her head. "Too much" this time she could not hold back the emotion she began to cry uncontrollably.
"Oh Emily" JJ whispered as she knelt down in front of her wrapping her arms tightly around her as she gently rubbed her back. They stayed that way for about fifteen minutes before the sobs turned into shallow hiccups and shuddered breath. JJ gently moved the stray hair away from Emily's face.
The only thing that disturbed them was the ringing of the bell. JJ gave her one last rub on her arm an act of comfort. She seemed to take a few moments before she arrived back into the kitchen and plating the food up. She placed the plates on the table; before helping Emily to sit comfortably, they ate in comfortable silence.
Emily gave a slight yawn. "Do you mind if I call it a night?" she asked before looking up at the stairs.
JJ smiled, "Sounds like a very good plan, just let me move these cups and I will give you a hand," JJ said not giving Emily chance to refuse.
"Thank you"
JJ smiled once Emily made it into her bedroom. It was only then did JJ's heart truly break, clothes scattered the floor, not one item looked like Emily wore, make-up, curling irons cluttered the vanity. A picture frame laid next to some pyjamas and a pillow. JJ knew that must have been Stacy's side. As she looked around the room, she could tell it was all Stacy's.
"Sorry" Emily muttered as JJ helped her into her nightwear.
"What for?" JJ asked slightly puzzled.
"I haven't" Emily paused slightly.
"Haven't what?" JJ asked
"You must think I'm a right slob"
JJ shook her head "Have you seen my office?" JJ mused earning herself a slight smile from Emily.
"I've only just started sleeping back in here," Emily mumbled, as she automatically reached for the spare nightwear wrapping it around her hand as though that one action would heal everything.
"Just rest Em, I'll just be down the hall" JJ said as she gently stroked the side of her face. She stayed that way for a few moments making sure Emily was fast asleep before she moved out of her bedroom. She felt like an intruder when she had entered the room.
She made her way down into the guest room. She was taken aback slightly the room smelled solely of one thing. Emily. She began to wonder if the stubborn women had slept in her bedroom since finding out Stacy was dead. Had the room been left in disarray from her leaving to go to Europe? Alternatively, had Emily made the room feel like Stacy was there? Each way JJ looked at it, her heart broke more. Emily was only just holding on with a thread before this happened. She could only hope her stubbornness would win out.
