Sorry it's been a while. With finals, then a vacation, and now Christmas, this was the first time I had enough down time to get some work done on the story. But anyway, the next chapter!
Chapter 53: Beginning to Forgive
9 months ago…
Emma Gilbert casually checked the clock on her phone. "2:45" shown back at her. She still had fifteen minutes before she had to be at work. It was only a five minute walk to the hotel where her job was, giving her the last few minutes of rest before she had to leave her apartment. Working the front desk wasn't a really bad gig, and especially with summer and tourist season approaching for Clearwater, she would get a hefty paycheck before returning to university the following fall.
Just then, her roommate, Claire yawned and walked into the kitchen, still in her sleepwear. "Did you just wake up? This late?" Emma joked playfully.
"Well… Since today is Friday and I don't have class, I can sleep in and do what I want. I don't need your judgement," Claire teased back. Emma laughed and took another sip of her coffee. Claire was a nice girl. She was a bit ditzy and lazy, but she did have a good heart. "Going to work soon?"
"Yeah… In a few minutes I will," Emma replied, rechecking her phone. "Well… I might as well go now. Don't want to be late."
"Godspeed to you! Make the American men swoon over your awesome Aussie accent," Claire quipped.
Emma just rolled her eyes. "Oh whatever… I mean, whatever gets me good tips I suppose." Emma waved bye to Claire and stepped out of the door.
The sticky heat hit her immediately. Even though it was the middle of April, it was still brutally hot in Florida. Sure, she was from Australia and used to heat, but there was something about the Florida sun and humidity that made everything worse. She scuttled along the street quickly, heading directly to her hotel. The walk went quick, and soon she stepped into her hotel, a ten story tall Holiday Inn near the beach.
Emma breathed a sigh of relief as she entered in the air-conditioned lobby. The cooling wave of air rolled over her, and Emma relaxed a bit. Her co-worker at the front desk, Helen, waved her over. She was roughly the same age as Emma, cheery and bright. Maybe she was just happy since she got to go home because Emma showed up. Either way she seemed chipper. "Good! You made it!" Helen beamed.
"What's the news today?" Emma asked, stepping behind the front desk and clocking in.
"The hotel has been mostly dead all day from what I've seen. Not many people checking in today," Helen informed. "Although…" Helen pointed Emma toward the hotel bar on the other side of the lobby. Only one person was sitting at the bar; a woman with blond hair. She was hunched over at the bar, only casually taking a sip from her drink every now and then with a shaky hand. But, she was clearly intoxicated.
"Who's that?" Emma asked.
"Some woman who came in here earlier this morning. She's just been drinking there for hours. The bartender is about ready to cut her off. She keeps mumbling about how she ruined her career and her life. She made a huge mistake and destroyed everything she cared about," Helen explained. "That's a direct quote through her drunken ranting."
Emma raised an eyebrow skeptically. "I don't know what that even means," She replied.
Helen only shrugged. "Beats me… She sounds like she's in a career rut or something. But, she's hammered though so I doubt anything that comes out of mouth will be anything coherent or logical." Helen grabbed her bag from the behind the desk and clocked out. "Either way, my shift is over. So, good luck with her!" Helen quickly exited, leaving Emma standing there alone and bewildered.
Emma looked out over on the woman at the bar. Her back was mostly to Emma, so she couldn't see the woman's face. But, she did look distraught. What career calamity could cause someone to drink that heavily at 3 in the afternoon? Curiosity got the best of Emma, and she casually walked over to the bar. She nodded at the bartender, who just shrugged and gestured at the woman like he was trying to say that even he didn't know what was going on. Emma leaned against the bar next to the woman. Surprised by Emma's sudden appearance, the woman jerked back and looked straight at her.
Emma's body went completely cold…. She knew the woman… It was the woman who almost destroyed everything for her and her friends. The vilest woman Emma had ever seen. And, she was staring straight back at Emma. The woman recognized the connection as well, and her eyes went big as she stared at Emma. Her face went pale. For a moment, no one moved. Then, the woman chuckled, turning back to her drink. "My demons must be coming back to haunt me," She slurred, spinning her glass along the counter. "Sorry miss, you jus' look a lot like a girl I used to know a long long long time ago… I almost ruined her life... That mistake has been haunting me ever since that.. blasted day. It's why I'm in this fuckin mess right now. Every moment I'm reminded how much a failure I am, that I destroyed someone's life for my own gain.. Like what is my career anymore…"
Emma spoke flatly. "Hello Dr. Denman."
Dr. Denman jerked back, even more afraid this time. "No… it is you… You're… No… but that's…" She couldn't finish the sentence. But, in a quick moment, the initial shock ended. Denman chugged the last third of her drink and set it back down on the bar. "The Universe must love it some good ol fashioned irony… Or is that karma..? Whatever it is, it's funny you would see me at my lowest point. So… what was your name again, Emily? No… Emma right? Anyway, come to gloat now? Now that my career is in ruins…"
"I don't want to brag or gloat about anything," Emma spoke calmly. She was still cautious. Denman seemed mostly harmless now. But, Emma was still on edge talking to her after all these years.
"That's surprising… Ya choose not to, even though you have every right in.. fuck.. every right in the world to beat the piss out of me for what I did to you and your other friendos," Denman ranted. She turned away from Emma. "Bartender! Get me another whiskey. Imma need another."
The bartender shook his head. "I'm sorry Miss. You've had enough to drink. I'm cutting you off," He spoke firmly.
Denman hung her head. "So, Miss Emma Gillian… How has your life been over the past couple years? No doubt you've been thriving more than me. Or at least I hope so. I've felt pain on whether or not I ruined your life," Denman rambled. "I always imagined you falling into depression or whatever after I took away… ya know. And now I'm the one in this depressive state."
Emma leaned against the bar. "You never ruined my life Denman. Granted, I no longer…you know... am able do the things I used to be able to do because of you… But, even so, I've learned to live a good life despite that. And, I'm happy now," Emma lied. She was only lying about not being able to be a mermaid. She still very much had her tail. But the other stuff… Denman never had ruined anything in her life. She was still living a good life. It was Denman who felt ruined. That guilt began to eat away at Emma's heart.
"Do you 'member the last thing you said to me after all was done that night all that time ago?" Denman questioned.
"I don't recall exactly," Emma trailed off.
"You told me, word for word, 'It's over, why don't you go home.'" Denman picked up her empty glass. "Well fucking ta-da, I made it home. My home now is the bottom of this whiskey glass. This is where I am. And this is where I'll stay. I will not be moved… or whatever."
Denman tried to stand, but almost fell over. Emma rushed to her aid and stabilized her. "Ok… I think we need to get you to your room," Emma spoke, escorting Denman toward the main hallway where the elevators were.
"Right right right right. I had too much of the sauce." Denman muttered. "423 if you please…"
Emma hauled Denman up to her room, which she was able to do without too much incident. When they reached Denman's room, she spent a minute or two fumbling around in her bag for her room key before she finally found it. As soon as they entered the room, Denman collapsed on the bed. "Thank you… Emma…" She spoke slowly. "Thank you for making me realize I didn't ruin you."
"Denman. It is ok… You did a bad thing before. But… you show the capacity for change. So, I think it's ok to let the past stay behind us," Emma replied.
Denman smiled and closed her eyes. "Now… I can get a good night's sleep for the first time in months." And true to form, she was instantly asleep.
Emma stepped away from Denman's sleeping form, honestly confused. Am I… beginning to forgive Dr. Denman? The woman who almost stole everything from us? But… Why? I don't know if I have the right to forgive her. What would Cleo and Rikki think? No.. I need time to think.
Emma stepped out of the room and sighed. It was obvious that Denman had been absolutely intoxicated, and probably wouldn't even remember the conversation they had, let alone being serious about feeling sorry. Emma walked back down the hall, unsure of what to think. I need answers. Real answers.
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The next day, Emma re-entered the hotel. It was morning, enough time for Denman to sober up and at least be coherent. Emma was shaky and nervous. This wasn't drunk Denman anymore who could barely control what she said, weak and open. This was the sober and very real Devil Doctor. One that would have very real questions, maybe ones that Emma couldn't even answer. So, Emma prepared questions of her own. She needed to see if Denman was actually serious about being sorry. Or if it was just the alcohol that made her like this. Hopefully it was a situation of "In vino veritas," but Emma wasn't sure.
Helen was at the front desk when Emma arrived, a puzzled look on her face when Emma walked by. "What are you doing here, Emma?" She asked. "Today is your day off. You don't have to be here!"
"Yeah I know. But I'm visiting an old friend who's staying at the hotel," Emma answered before heading straight to the elevator before Helen lobbed another question her way. Within a minute, she was standing outside of Denman's room. Emma raised a hand to knock, but lowered it immediately. She took a step back and began pacing outside Denman's door. What the fuck am I actually doing here? I shouldn't have come back. She's the enemy! Sure last night I didn't know she was here, but now I'm going into the devil's lair! Emma focused and raised her hand again, standing directly in front of the door. No. I'm done being afraid. Time for answers. She loudly knocked on the door.
Within a moment, she heard a groan from inside the room. "Go away will ya!" A voice complained. "I don't need housekeeping right now."
"Dr. Linda Denman. I would like to speak with you," Emma proclaimed, feeling courageous.
There was a pause, for a tense minute. But, Emma didn't move. She knew that she needed to do this now. The door slowly creaked open, revealing the timid frame of Denman, blond hair in wild knots, dark bags under her eyes. She looked wildly hungover, which in all fairness she definitely was after all she drank the previous night. Denman looked at Emma, fear and regret in her eyes. "So…" She began meekly. "You're actually here and real. I wasn't sure if we talked in a dream or not… I was pretty pissed last night. Now, I know you're really and saw everything I did and said last night. I don't even remember much of what I said last night. I only remember your face, which is why I wasn't sure if it was a dream or not."
"Well, I'm obviously here Denman… So, what do you think? You talked all last night about how sorry you were for everything you did to me and my friends? So… Is that true? Or was it just drunken rambling and you're still a terrible person," Emma ranted.
Denman hung her head and shame. "So I apologized for everything? Figures… Figures you would be here now to see me at my lowest. Anyway, I probably should tell you everything. So… if you want to come in, it may take a while."
Emma hesitated for a moment. She didn't trust Denman for a moment, and now she was inviting Emma into her room like they were somehow actually old friends instead of enemies. "I don't think I'm going to come in," Emma argued.
Denman sighed and looked at the floor. "I don't blame you. After everything I did to you and your friends, I would hate me too. Well in fact, I do hate me and what I did. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't think about you and your friends and my failure. I had built my entire career on a strict code of ethics and fight for the 'greater good' of mankind. I was one of the best at that. And then… When I met you and your friends, I threw that all out the window for some personal glory, and fame and fortune. It wasn't until the end that I realized what I had done. When you gave up everything special to escape me, I knew I had become the evil in the world I wanted to fight. Do you remember what you said to me after you gave it all up?"
Emma raised an eyebrow. "You already explained that quote last night. I told you that it was over and you should go home," Emma replied skeptically. She barely remembered that moment many years ago, but it seemed like Denman had both sober and drunk. That moment seemed to be leaning heavily on her conscience. Maybe she actually is feeling some amount of remorse.
"Thus my issue with the drinking. That night, as the three of you got out of the water, completely normal, I knew I had failed everything," Denman added.
"Glad I was only completely normal after I gave up… my certain abilities," Emma chastised.
"You had a wonderful gift, one that I was possibly jealous of. And now it's gone, because I ruined everything," Denman whimpered. Emma saw a tear fall off her cheek. Denman quickly wiped it away. "The woeful irony is now though, that you would see me at my lowest point. You look like you have your life together despite giving up your greatest gift, while my life is falling apart because I took it away. Don't take pity on me Emma. I don't deserve it." Denman retreated back into her room and sat back down on her bed, defeated.
Emma once again looked at Denman closely. She actually did seem sad by what she had done. Emma looked back at she had done over the past years since Denman left. She had gotten storm powers, they had dealt with Charlotte, she broke up with Ash, she had traveled the world with her parents, reunited with the girls and met Bella, and moved to Florida with her family and went off to University. She had so many experiences, while barely thinking about Denman. And, during that same time, Denman thought about her, Rikki, and Cleo every day, enough to make her regret everything in her career. At what point has she suffered enough for her mistakes? And at what point do I become the evil one for refusing to take away the torture she puts on herself every day. Emma made her choice. She stepped into the room and stood facing Denman.
Denman raised he head, her eyes red and puffy from holding back tears and trying not to cry with Emma there. She really was depressed. Emma couldn't bare to see anyone like this, not even Denman. "What do you want now?" Denman asked, barely keeping her voice from breaking.
"I'll be honest Denman, I can't see you like this, without feeling guilty. You're right. Despite losing my abilities, I have lived a whole life. I have done many great things, enough to be happy with my life now. At the same time, your life is in ruins. I don't want you to give up your entire career. You're too good of a scientist for that. You should not worry about me," Emma spoke.
"What do you mean?" Denman questioned.
It means I forgive you," Emma spoke confidently. Emma saw a wave of relief race across Denman's face. A fear happy tears rained from her eyes, but she wiped them away as well. "I can't speak for my friends, but for myself I forgive you. You have suffered the punishment enough for years, and it's time for you to be free of that pain."
"Thank you Emma," Denman replied quietly. "Thank you." Emma smiled down at Denman who smiled back. For some reason, Emma felt free. She was free from her hate from Denman. And, that was all she needed to feel better.
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A few weeks later
Emma and Elliot walked together down to the docks. Emma had been really cryptic all day about what they were doing, and Elliot was a honestly confused, but he did trust his sister. She only said that she had a surprise for him, but that was all. Soon, his curiosity got the best of him. "Ok Emma, what is this big thing that's going on?" Elliot questioned.
"Ok fine. I suppose it's time to reveal to you," Emma spoke as they neared where they were going. "Look up there." Emma pointed up to a boat in front of them. Denman stood on the deck, moving a box into the cabin. The word "Redemption" was painted on the side of the boat.
"Is that Linda Denman? One of the most famous marine biologists in the world?" Elliot asked, his eyes growing wide.
"Well of course. You said you wanted some experience in the field before deciding if you wanted to study it at University. So, I brought you hear to meet with Dr. Denman, and possibly something better. Her and I are old friends," Emma explained.
"That's amazing. How did you get this whole thing figured out?" Elliot questioned eagerly.
"You can ask her yourself," Emma replied.
The both of them shimmied up the gang plank and onto the deck just as Denman returned out of the cabin with a girl with short brown hair and a serious face behind her. Elliot couldn't believe it. He had done a research project on Denman some years before, and he wanted to learn about her career. Denman smiled when she saw Emma. "Good! You made it! And I see you brought Elliot with you as well."
Denman stepped up and shook Elliot's hand. "I'm a big fan of you Dr. Denman. I'm interested in marine biology so I wanted to see what it was all about," Elliot spoke quickly.
"Well, you are in luck," Denman spoke. "Would you like to explain, Emma?"
Emma smiled. "Elliot, Denman would like to hire you as her intern on a research trip to the Galapagos Islands," She spoke. "It would give you good hands on experience in marine biology if you actually want to go into it for a profession."
Elliot whipped around to Emma. "Wait seriously? Oh wow…. Emma, I don't know what to say…" Elliot trailed off.
"First of all, a thank you would be in order," Emma teased, "But seriously, don't worry about it. I figured this would be good for you." Emma nodded at Denman.
Elliot turned back to Denman. "Wow this is… It's so good. Thank you for this opportunity. I won't let you down!"
Denman smiled. "I don't doubt it. I owed a favor to Emma anyway, so this was a good idea for both of us." Denman motioned to the girl behind her. "This is Laura Collins by the way. She is my other intern. Laura, this is Elliot Gilbert."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Elliot spoke, shaking her hand. "I look forward to working with you."
"Likewise," Laura answered politely. "Just as long as I don't have to babysit you."
Everyone laughed. Elliot turned back to Emma and hugged her deeply. "Thank you Emma. This means so much to me."
Emma patted Elliot on the back. "Anything for my younger brother. Now go have fun."
Emma watched Elliot go with Denman and Laura back into the cabin. A small amount of hesitation entered Emma. She wondered if she made the right choice. As she descended the gangplank, she felt more confidence in her decision. It was good for her to forgive Denman and let Elliot be her intern. She felt really happy with herself with what she had done. And, that was just fine with her.
You all said you wanted more Emma. Well, here you go. An entire chapter was dedicated to her. I hope you liked it!
