NAYERT
Chapter Eight-The Wedding
I had to tell someone. I had to tell Joey.
It kept nagging at me. I had to tell him soon before the wedding.
But the wedding arrived and I still hadn't been able to tell him. Now, I was standing in a room at the back of the church, dressed in a white off-the-shoulder wedding dress. My hair was straightened and it hung down around my face. I had a shoulder length veil, which was attached to a crown piece with diamonds. I had light blue eye shadow on and clear lipgloss. Becky was helping me get dressed. Michelle, D.J, and Stephanie were the bride's maids. Danny and Jessie were the best men.
"Emma, you look beautiful!" Becky gushed.
I was silent.
"Is something wrong?" Becky asked, alarmed.
I looked at her. I had to get it off my chest…I would just have to tell Joey later.
"Something happened to me a few years ago. Actually, it was Mike who did it," I said, slowly and quietly.
"Did what?" Becky prodded gently.
"He beat me badly that at one point, he broke 2 of my ribs…plus, he…" my voice trailed off as I swallowed. This was the worse part of it.
"He forced me at times…to…you know…against my will," I replied.
Becky's face drained of all color.
"Oh. My. God," Becky whispered. "I had no idea."
"Please don't say anything to Joey yet. I want to tell him. I'm supposed to tell him," I pleaded.
"Sure," Becky said, solemnly.
I could see it deeply bothered her.
"Thanks," I replied, relieved.
It felt good to tell someone. Now, I was going to have to tell Joey.
BECKY.
I had no idea what Emma had gone through. I wished I had been there for her. Now, I was feeling guilty for not being there at all.
Once I made sure Emma was all set, I left the room and walked out into the corridor. Danny appeared, dressed in a tuxedo, followed by Jessie, also in a tux.
"Joey looks great," Jessie replied, but then stopped when he saw my expression.
"Are you okay, Becky?" Danny asked alarmed.
"Huh? Oh yeah," I replied, forcing a grin. I wasn't going to betray Emma's confidence.
"Sure? You look like someone let off a stink bomb," Jessie replied.
I smiled.
"I'm fine. Come on. Let's take our places," I said, forcing a grin.
We headed back out.
Joey did look great. He was standing at the base of the altar. He was dressed in a tux as well. He was positively beaming.
Michelle, D.J. and Stephanie looked beautiful dressed up.
I took my place.
Then, the ceremony began.
"Here comes the Bride" began playing. Everyone stood up and faced the back of the church.
Emma began walking up the aisle. She looked absolutely lovely. I could see Joey's expression. He was beaming and just alight with happiness.
Emma reached Joey's side and the priest began.
"Dearly beloved, we are here today to join Joey Gladstone and Emma Donaldson in holy matrimony.
Do you, Joey Gladstone take Emma Ann Donaldson to be your lawful wedded wife, to honor and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, till death do you part?"
"I do,"
"And do you, Emma Ann Donaldson, take Joey Gladstone to be your lawful wedded husband, to honor and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, till death do you part?"
"I do,"
"Exchange rings,"
They had taken off the engagement rings and now were ready for the real thing. Joey slipped a diamond ring on my left hand. Emma slipped a solid gold wedding band on his left hand.
"You may kiss the bride," the priest said smiling.
Joey stepped closer to Emma and gently took her face in his hands. He kissed her.
"I now pronounce you, husband and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone!"
Everyone cheered as Joey and Emma made their way down the aisle. They passed us. I was still quiet. Emma and Joey climbed into a white limo parked outside the church. The waved merrily to everyone before climbing in. The door closed and the limo pulled away.
EMMA.
WEDDING NIGHT
I was now going to be sleeping in Joey's room. Everyone had gone to bed early. I climbed into bed beside Joey.
"Is everything okay?" Joey replied.
I looked at him.
"Why do you ask?"
"You seem quieter than usual," Joey said, looking at me concerned.
"I'm fine," I said, forcing a smile.
Joey scooted closer to me. We started to get 'involved'. A few minutes into it, I pushed Joey off of me.
"Em? What's wrong?" Joey asked, alarmed.
"I'm sorry! I have to tell you something!" I sobbed.
"What is it?"
I looked at him with tears in my eyes. He was looking so concerned and worried that my heart melted.
I took a deep breath and launched into the whole story.
He listened intently, but I could see it was deeply bothering him as well.
"My God! How could he do that to you?" Joey asked, stunned.
"It was my fault partly. I got him angry," I replied, drawing my legs up to my chest. I wrapped my arms around them.
"Emma, none of that was your fault! Mike has issues! He likes to beat on women. Don't you think for one minute that it was your fault!" Joey said, scolding. "Does anyone else know about this?"
My heart sank even further.
"I told Becky before the wedding," I said, quietly.
"WHAT?" Joey cried. "You told Becky before me? How could you? We're supposed to be best friends as well!"
"I'm sorry!" I cried, bursting into tears. "I was afraid to tell you in case you didn't want to marry me anymore!"
"That's ridiculous! I don't care what that moron did to you! I'm not like that at all! You were supposed to trust me!"
Joey got up and walked over to the door to his room.
I had tears streaming down my cheeks.
"I do trust you! I was just scared to tell you!" I sobbed.
"You've got a funny way of showing it," Joey said coldly as he opened the door and left the bedroom.
Apparently our shouting had woken Stephanie, D.J. and Michelle up. D.J. came rushing in.
"Aunt Emma? Are you alright?" D.J. asked, alarmed as she rushed over to me and sat down beside me on the bed.
"Why were you and Joey shouting?" Michelle asked.
I just hugged D.J. and cried.
"Um, I think you'd better go get Aunt Becky or Dad," Stephanie said, gravely to Michelle.
Michelle hurried out of the room.
"Oh, Deej, I am so stupid," I sobbed.
"What happened?" D.J. asked.
I told her and Stephanie what happened.
"Geeze," Stephanie said looking upset. "That wasn't your fault."
A few minutes later, Danny and Becky came rushing in.
"Emma? What's wrong?" Danny asked, sitting on the other side of the bed where Joey was. He looked concerned.
I told them everything.
"Why didn't you say anything, Becky?" Danny asked, turning to her.
"She couldn't. I asked her not to say anything and now Joey hates me," I sobbed harder into D.J's shoulder.
"Where is he anyway?" Becky asked.
"He left. I don't know where he went," I sobbed.
"I'll find him and talk to him. You guys stay with her," Danny said.
Jessie appeared next.
"Are you guys having a sleepover or something?" Jessie asked, groggily.
We filled him in too.
"I'm going with Danny," Jessie replied.
He and Danny left.
I just cried.
DANNY.
Jessie and I found Joey in the backyard.
"Joey? What are you doing out here?" I asked.
"I can't believe she didn't tell me," Joey said, shaking his head.
"Joey, she was terrified to tell you because she was scared. That's a normal reaction for someone who went through what Emma went through. She didn't mean to hurt you. I know she loves you very much," Jessie replied.
"I love her very much! I can't understand why Mike would've done that to her!" Joey said, angrily.
"Neither can we…but she needs you now more than ever, Joe. Give her some time. She'll come around," I said, gently.
Joey looked at us.
"She must hate me,"
"Well…" Jessie began but I quickly hit him in the stomach.
He cringed.
"She's just scared that you hate her,"
"I don't," Joey said. "I could never hate her."
"Then you'd better go talk to her," I said.
Joey nodded and headed into the house again. We followed.
EMMA.
Joey came back into the house shortly and stood outside the room.
"We'll leave you two to talk," D.J. said as she released me and she, Stephanie, Becky and Michelle left the room. Danny and Jessie left as well.
Joey came over to me and threw his arms around me, hugging me tightly.
"I can't believe that Mike did that to you! I'm so sorry!" he whispered in my ear.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," I sobbed into his shoulder.
"It's okay. None of that matters now. I know you need time. I'm not pressuring you at all. When you're ready, let me know," Joey replied softly.
I hugged him tighter.
A FEW MONTHS LATER.
BECKY.
We were all sitting at breakfast eating and talking. Emma and Joey came down shortly. Emma was glowing for some reason…but I recognized the glow.
"Emma? Is there something you'd like to tell us?" I asked, breaking out into a grin.
Everyone looked expectantly at Joey and Emma.
Emma nodded grinning.
"I'm going to have a baby!"
We all squealed and rushed forward to hug her.
She hugged us all back. Jessie and Danny congratulated Joey before hugging me.
"How far along?" I asked as I tried to feed Alex, who was sitting in a high chair next to me and the table.
"2 months," Emma replied.
"If it's a girl, what are you going to name it?" Michelle asked.
"Well, if it's a girl, we decided to name it Haley, and if it's a boy, David," Joey replied.
"Wonderful names," Stephanie said, grinning.
"Is everything okay now?" I asked, meaningfully.
"Oh yeah. Everything's back to normal," Emma replied.
EMMA.
They all beamed with relief.
Then, they all got up and hugged Joey and I again.
NINE MONTHS LATER.
I gave birth to a baby girl. When we brought her home, everyone was so thrilled and eagerly offered to baby sit.
"I don't change diapers," Michelle said, frowning.
We laughed.
"Don't worry, Michelle. You won't have to. That's up to Joey," I laughed.
Joey looked at me.
"Eh?"
We laughed again.
"Aww…does Joey want to be the diaper monitor?" I asked grinning broadly as I cradled Haley in my arms.
Jessie snorted.
"He's too busy changing his own,"
Becky smacked Jessie in the back of the head.
"What?" Jessie asked, innocently.
"Hey, Emma? Can I baby-sit too?" Stephanie asked.
"Sure! Why not?" I asked, beaming.
"Never mind," Stephanie replied.
Joey and I looked at each other then we shrugged.
"Dad? I'm going upstairs for a moment okay?" Stephanie asked standing up.
"Sure. Are you okay?" Danny asked.
"Not feeling to well," Stephanie said.
"Oh. Okay," Danny said.
Stephanie then headed upstairs.
"Is she okay?" I asked, looking at everyone.
"I don't know. She seems kind of pale," Jessie replied, looking after Stephanie.
"Joey? Take Haley. I'm going up to see if she's okay," I said, handing Joey the baby.
"Sure," Joey said, gently taking Haley.
"I'm going too," Danny replied.
Danny and I headed upstairs and stood outside of Stephanie's room. Danny knocked on the door, which was closed.
"Steph?" Danny asked. "Can we come in?"
"Sure," Stephanie called
Danny opened the door and we entered.
Stephanie was lying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
"Are you okay?" I asked, sitting beside her on the bed.
"I'm not feeling well," she replied.
Danny felt her forehead.
"She's got a fever,"
