I am soooo sorry this took so long to put up...there's going to be one or two chapters left hopefully (maybe three) and I promise those will come up quicker. Thank you so much for those kind reviews! Thanks for telling me your fave parts...yes, there will be more angst as time goes on...lol!

The night was dark and stormy.

Emily buried herself in her black cloak and walked carefully along the streets. Carrying a copy of The North Shore Farm, she was paying a trip to Teddy Kent's residence. Emily had expressed a wish one day to read the book, and Teddy had obligingly dug it out for her from his mother's treasure chest that she had gifted him before he went to live in Montreal.

The clouds gathered closer and closer together on the horizon and the sky turned a pale, pearly shade of grey. Rain drops began falling from the sky (as if they were tears from the earth) and Emily felt them on her skin and face.

She finally arrived at Teddy's home. Emily had admitted previously and yet again that she admired her childhood friend's tastes. While it was no Disappointed House, it was a delightful house with bottle green shutters and a welcome mat, as well as brass knockers. It was just the house Emily had dreamed about once upon a time.

When Emily motioned to knock on the door, it swung open and revealed was a small, short woman with a white scar on her face and blazing eyes. Emily almost instantly shrunk back at the vision. Mrs. Kent stood at the door.

Mrs. Kent stayed at the door, watching over the woman who she knew to be her rival. Aileen Kent looked pointedly at Emily's finger and noted the existence of the emerald ring. She glanced back at Emily.

Emily was the first to recover from this confrontation. She did not fear Mrs. Kent, not even that night at Blair Water a long, long time ago when Teddy had saved her from old mad Mr. Morrison.

"Good evening Mrs. Kent. Is Teddy home?" Emily inquired politely.

Mrs. Kent stared at her wildly. "You've come after him, haven't you again? Do you not have any shame, girl? And he can't resist you..."

"Mrs. Kent," Emily interrupted, direly hoping that she could be anywhere, anywhere but here. "Either you tell me or I'll go."

Mrs. Kent hated Emily more at this moment than ever. But she conceded defeat. "No, he is not. He went out for some time."

"I'll leave then, " realizing that she still held the book in her hands, she decided in that quick instant to give it to Mrs. Kent. "Here is the book that I borrowed, Mrs. Kent. Please make sure that Teddy gets it."

"Thank you," said the other woman coldly. As she glanced at the title, Mrs. Kent's scar whitened with deep emotion as

Before Emily turned to leave, she remarked. "Do you know there was a letter in this book, Mrs. Kent?"

Mrs. Kent looked at her sharply.

"A letter. Addressed to you. Good night," and with that, Emily unceremoniously fled.

----

Emily sat by her window, starring into space. The confrontation with Mrs. Kent had brought a weariness to her. Would Aileen Kent always hate her? Was there never any possibility that they could be in peace? Even if (when, she corrected herself abruptly) she married Dean, would Mrs. Kent refuse to let go?

She stood up. No longer could she take it. She needed to get out anywhere, just walk and walk and walk to search for an escape. In a sudden move, she took off the emerald ring and threw it on the dresser and placed a cloak around her shoulders.

Walking out she breathed a sigh of relief. Yes, one could be free here.

"Emily, Emily Starr," Emily was walking out on the dusty path one evening suring star-light time when she was confronted by a woman. Emily stared at her confused, only to surmise that she knew the woman from somewhere.

As Emily approached closer, she was surprised beyond belief that it was Mrs. Kent.

"Emily," said Mrs. Kent.

Emily looked at her in wonder. Mrs. Kent had changed. The angry look had faded from her eyes. It seemed as if Aileen Kent was at peace and the madness was gone.

Mrs. Kent caught her arm. "It's you who has done this...I have lived in hell. And noe you have helped me come out of it,"

Emily shook her head, not understanding. "I don't understand."

"The letter," Mrs. Kent said. "The letter..." See Emily's Quest for the letter's contents....

"I hated you," Mrs. Kent's voice was far away. "But now I understand what love is. It beckons to you even after you have rejected it. It is the voice of the dead that comes back to spare you from further grief,"

She asked abruptly, "You said you loved my son, Emily. Do you still love him?"

Emily was reeling back from Mrs. Kent's story. So much so that she did not understand Aileen Kent's question.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Do you still love Teddy?"

Emily wanted to say no, she had forgotten. But those old stirrings could not prevent her from admitting this:

"I care for him, but I can't love him, Mrs. Kent. Dean is in my heart now."

Mrs. Kent gazed at her, almost knowingly. "Do you think Teddy loves you?"

"No," Emily said. "He does not,"

"I think you know he does, Emily," Mrs. Kent spoke, no hatred in her voice. "It is my fault it is too late...I wrote to him of your flirtations...if I could only tell him what you felt,"

"No," Emily said sharply. "It would do no good and cause much evil. He never has loved me, Mrs. Kent. He treats me with especial regard because I am his friend. He would do the same for anyone."

"You're not a fool, Emily Starr," Mrs. Kent's eyes bore into her own. "So tell me, why do you feel you must marry Dean Priest?"

Emily stood up, wishing that she could not be confronted by what she felt. It was fate that seemed to force Mrs. Oliver and Mrs. Kent to confront her with what Teddy and she felt for each other. It almost wasn't fair.

"I cannot break a heart, Mrs. Kent. Look what has happened to you, thinking that you had. I could not live with the same guilt," and with that Emily turned and disappeared into the forest, with Teddy's mother looking at her figure walking further and further away.

If anyone has any ideas as to how to continue, please send a review or e- mail me. I've some ideas, but I'm not sure they'll work. Please let me know!