"Emily!" Aunt Laura's voice pierced the bustling passengers as she hugged her niece tightly. "Emily child! How was your trip?"
"Fine, thank you, dearest of aunts," Emily's voice was muffled, so Aunt Laura did not notice the tinge of sadness or the fact that Emily seemed to want comfort.
She pulled back. "Look at you! You seem thinner though. Have you not been eating well? Well, Elizabeth has a cherry pie waiting in honor of your arrival! We missed you," she hugged Emily yet again. "And of course, Dean has been fairly haunting New Moon." At Emily's tightening up, Aunt Laura continued. "Oh, yes Dean! He arrived a week earlier than planned. We didn't send word because he wanted to surprise you. But he's waiting there. He said he'll visit tomorrow because you would be tired. Which you are...my poor dear,"
Emily mustered a smile. "Yes, a little"
"Let's go..." and Aunt Laura led her to the buggy home...
(BREAK)
He didn't eat dinner, just stared out at the dark sky. She didn't love him...he had prepared himself for the possibility, just not the fact she would flee to get away from him and not even say goodbye; weren't they chums at least? If he could not have her heart, he could at least take some possession of her friendship.
"Teddy?" His mother's voice near the door.
"Yes, mother?" He said wearily, almost dreading the incessant questions she would field at him.
But Aileen Kent said nothing. Instead, she crossed the room and took her son in her arms. Teddy, surprised, leaned his head on her shoulder. In her, he finally saw the wiseness of mothers, something Mrs. Kent had lacked for some time.
"Did she leave?" Mrs. Kent finally asked.
Teddy jerked back and got up crossing the porch. "Who, mother?" He asked, not facing her.
"I think you know who I mean,"
"What does it matter?" He threw back bitterly. "I made a mistake. Like you did. Only you paid for it for 28 years and I am paying for it now."
"I do not want you to be like me," she said. "I do not want you to forget what it was like to love...like I did."
"But your love was returned at least once," he said. "Mine is not,"
"And you know this because..?"
"I know," he cut her off. "The only woman I ever wanted in my life is someone I can never have. But it must make you feel better, no, Mother? I belong to no one else."
Aileen Kent gasped. But she came near him. " I never wanted you to suffer, Teddy. You know the story of your father and the letter now. But you don't seem to know that knowing this has changed me. I know I was not the best mother to you, Teddy, forgive me if you can, but I cannot watch to see my only son be unhappy when I know...." she trailed off. No, she could not break the one promise she made to Emily.
"What, mother?" Teddy sensed her hestitation. Is there something you would like to tell me?" He noticed her scar had become whiter. Whenever it did, she felt a deep emotion.
How she yearned to tell him! But she owed Emily her life back. And she could not betray the oath she had done. Emily had asked her not to tell Teddy of her love, and she must obey it.
"No, but find out," she entreated him. "Do not give up...and you, I know, are much like me. No one will suit you but the one."
He made no answer, but turned on his heel and left, arriving at his room. He moved to his coat pocket and took the piece of paper out. It may be his own ticket.......to her heart.
(BREAK)
The wedding was the day before and Emily was pacing back and forth in her room. Cousin Jimmy watched Emily and thought she must be thinking of a story and it beat him to think how she did it.
Yes, his Emily was growing up, Cousin Jimmy mused. He couldn't say he was the happiest of men knowing she would wed Dean Priest on the morrow. But what was good for Emily was good for him. Yet he noticed that ever since she had returned from Montreal two weeks before, she was a changed woman. How she had spurred Dean to preponing their wedding two months ahead...how she had said "she would like it to happen as soon as possible"...but watching her again, Cousin Jimmy noted it did not seem as if Emily was in high spirits. But was it another of his queer spells? Cousin Jimmy shook his head. Any girl would be happy on the day before her wedding. He was just probably affected by his somewhat dislike of Dean.
Perhaps Dean and Cousin Jimmy shared a kinship for he noted much of the same manner. As he went up the stairs to greet his future wife, he was struck by her pacing. He nodded a hello to Emily's Cousin Jimmy as Cousin Jimmy went down the stairs. Emily was quieter, a bit paler ever since Montreal. But was it modesty or something else? Lord knows he had pestered Emily for details about her trip but she remained obstinately silent. She discussed her purchases, the association with the Olivers (who had recently sent their last-minute regrets as a cousin of Mr. Oliver's had died) and the events she attended.
"Dearest," Dean said as he entered. Emily whirled around and smiled somewhat hastily.
"Forgive me," she said. "I did not hear you come in,"
He smiled, took her hand and kissed it. "I can forgive you anything."
"Is there anything you would like?" Emily asked, struggling to keep a portion of rebellion in her from rising up. He can forgive you anything, he said! Tell him! Tell him how you feel! You love Teddy...how can you say you cannot be with him, when the Flavian and Montreal trip show you otherwise?
"No, nothing. Just wanted to see you one last time as Miss Emily Starr," he teased and noted the open notevook laying on her desk.
"You're writing again?" He exclaimed. "Good for you, Em! Perhaps another book?" But in his eyes, Emily noted, a fire had risen despite his fervent good wishes.
"A friend told me," she said. "that I shouldn't forget my promise to Mr. Carpenter and the belief in myself and my writing."
The words hit home.
"Yes, yes, of course," Dean said. "As a married woman, you know, you shall be able to delineate characters more convincingly. Society will bring you much more quirks while wedded than not. You will have an access to a more colorful variety of people."
"Is that so?" Emily's voice was carefully neutral.
"I know so," he said and left her with a kiss on the cheek. "See you tomorrow, my wife," his words were weaved in with possession.
"Dean," she said, catching his sleeve. "I need to tell you something. Meet me near Lofty John's Bush tomorrow,"
"Of course, Emily," Dean said, puzzled. "Why?"
"I will have something I need then," she replied.