Chapter 18

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Emma and Sean were spending their morning celebrating the time they spend together by having coffee, laughing along and having a wonderful time but occasionally Emma would occasionally look at the door hopelessly still worried about Manny. If it wasn't that it was the compulsive checking of the phone to hear any word from the status.

Sean was understanding but stern about it not being Emma's place to pry but her stubborn nature would always decide otherwise.

It was about afternoon and they were still in their warm pajamas and Emma in her kimono all snuggled and warm on their third round of coffee.

Now it had been hours since Manny had left to talk things out with Jay. It had been a while too long for antsy Emma and she knew that there were going to be snags in the break up or what only could be assumed was happening but she didn't expect her to be gone terribly long. She hoped things had gone well but she wasn't sure and that was the most nagging thought of all. What if everything wasn't going to be okay, she knows though their relationship is not something she meddles with, but would that mean Jay wouldn't want to be her friend any longer? That is what is unclear. Emma stared at her cell phone like it was her enemy between sips and chats with Sean. She was still in her kimono, too lazy to dress. A hangover was clearly the least of their worries, in fact the pair still seem a bit buzzed from the night before. The coffee helped with the peppiness problem, they were wide awake and had no plans for slumber, they just waited.

"Stop looking at your cellphone." Sean whispered snapping his fingers at Emma shaking his head, he characteristically shrugged his shoulders, looking at her compassionately and with assurance, "She'll call."

"I'm just worried." Emma whined, "I don't know how he is when he's angry. At least with you . . I know a roundabout idea of how you might react. Jay is scary -"

"Jay? Jay Hogart, we're talking about, right?" Sean asked inquiringly disagreeing by his demeanor, laughing it off, "Jay is the opposite of unpredictable."

Emma threw her hands in the air shaking her head, changing the subject, "I just I don't know, should Manny call me? Should I give Manny a call?"

"Why don't you wait for Manny to come by and then call Jay later?"

"Sean, you're a complete and total genius." Emma beaming from ear to ear. She picked up her coffee mug and sipped her warm coffee. Relaxing completely already.

"Really?"

"You just know what to say, every time." Emma complimented him with a smile still smacked on her face.

Sean beamed at Emma as he dug his hands in his pocket patting it with the ring inside. The ring he wanted to give to her the night before but so much unexpected occurrences between the pregame festivities, the bar itself, Alex Nunez surprise visit and then Manny and Jay's epic breakup frenzy not to mention them spending time together left little time for him to have alone time with her to muster up the confidence to give her the gift. While he would've waited a week or two for Christmas he just couldn't. He wanted to make her feel better about the thing, so he sprang up, and reached for her hand from his side of the table smiling back at her, taking the compliment in stride. "Emma, there's something I want to give to you."

"What is it?" Emma raised her brow skeptically.

"Uh, it's a surprise." Sean said hesitating, debating how to prose it internally wondering what exactly he was going to say to her, "I want you to close your eyes and hold your hand out."

Emma questioned it in her movements and body language but eventually cave to his request, she closed her eyes and pulled out her hand toward him, with her other hand she sipped her coffee once more before resting it on her coaster at the kitchen table where they sat. Sean tested Emma to make sure her eyes were shut before he took the ring out he held her hand as he gingerly slid the ring up her finger, causing her to open her eyes she looked down at it speechless and then looked up at him with complete and utter awe. "Sean, it's beautiful."

"It's a promise ring." Sean replied, "That I mean everything and I was hoping we'd get to it yesterday but . . extenuating circumstances happened and I was just glad we got some time alone.

Emma simply admired the ring, it was visually breathtaking. It was dainty when it needed to be, it resembled an engagement ring but it also had something special in it that was likely why he picked it out. It had within the details engravings this branch and leaf motif that just reminded him of her, their live, their deeply rooted relationship. Here it all was in one symbolic ring. He wanted it to be special for them, just them. "I don't even know what to say?"

"You don't have to say anything." Sean said beaming proudly, "I'm glad you like it."

"Like it? Sean, I absolutely love it. It's beautiful."Emma smiled as tears brimmed within her golden eyes. She had never been graced with such a costly present. When she was married to Spinner they never showered one another with luxe gifts. When she was with Spinner, he used a family heirloom and when the marriage and assets were broken she gave it back to him. It wasn't her ring to have and it also didn't fit. She couldn't figure out why, in their drunken mess why he would have a ring on him. The truth was that ring was never meant for her. It was meant for Jane, initially she later discovered.

Emma scooted over closer and planted Sean with a kiss on his cheek, "Come on, I have something to show you."

Emma took him in the bedroom causing him to raise an eyebrow, "Not what you think." Bursting his bubble ever so gently as she raced to her closet, "It sounds corny but I found my diary."

"Although I'd love to hear your inner workings . . isn't it private?"

"I guess not anymore." Emma said matter of factly, "Besides, Sean it's an old diary."

Emma took out the little blue box, but Sean took other things out. The first thing to catch his eye was the photographs she had kept. He smiled as he picked it up, Emma also picked out a jewelry box, she looked at him with a wondering glance, "Do you remember these?"

Sean scratched and cocked his head with wonderment until she opened it and it was that pair of emerald earrings. The beautiful earrings she had never worn. Still nice and tidy in the box. Fearing if she wore them something would happen to them, so they stay when Sean left in the box that contained their memories. She never thought she'd ever see him again. The ring wasn't the first thing he had bought her, those earrings were the first but even when he gave them up to her, she couldn't accept them. He admired them, and looked up at her, "I do."

She sat on the bed still holding the box, "I never could wear them because, they always would remind me of you." She exhaled in a sigh before she added, "I had em in my jewelry box. I had millions of opportunities. When you left, I couldn't wear them. They'd always remind me of you, who I'd lost."

Sean grimaced bitterly but when Emma looked up at him beaming, he couldn't help but soften his grimace, "I just hate that you had ever felt that way."

Sean pulled his arms around Emma and pulled her close to her, her eyes again returned to those earrings. He had saved up so long for them and Emma hated the way she acted, for good reason that she had her reasonings but they were so special, so beautiful and she didn't feel at all deserving of it. The unwavering adoration, the love he had for her she just felt as if it was all some sort of bluff then. It was somehow different then. "Hey, c'mere." Sean said with his finger lifting her chin, "I made a promise and I'm sticking to it. I'm not that lost, miserable, downward spiral guy anymore."

Emma looked down for a second, back at the emerald earrings and then back up at Sean and his azure blue eyes beaming down at her and she knew in that moment there was no place she'd rather be. Even looking like a disheveled mess, he still thought she was the most beautiful girl of all and that was enough. Although beautiful exquisite jewelry was a gesture of kindness and devotion, his love for her had no bound, remained ever-so never-ending. They didn't matter. It was just them forever and always. Emma changed the subject before it got too heavy, "Sean what do you want for Christmas this year?"

Sean was taken back, he impulsively shook his head, and tapped her playfully on the nose, "You are my Christmas present. Being with you, here as cheesy as it sounds -"

"I'll go to the store and be totally lost but you're not getting out of the woods that easy." Emma said smiling. Their tender moment was to be short-lived.

It was in that moment, Manny walked in looking deflated, devoid of emotion, joy anything. She said nothing, but threw herself breathlessly on the couch hiding her face with pillows although there was nothing that could stop Niagara Falls permeating from her eyes. Emma wordlessly with an air of concern looked over from the open back bedroom unsure what to say or do in that moment. She just called her name, softly and sadly. Seconds later Alex came in with bags. Emma was shocked to see Alex but she was kind, "Would you like a cup of coffee? Manny, you too?"

Alex question-filled eyes was surprised that of all people Emma Nelson was being unwavering and kind to her. She accepted skeptically, "Sure."

Manny sat up and smiled at Alex, saying to her, "Thank you for your help, you're a lifesaver. Yes Emma, you know how I like it. "

As Emma entered the kitchen to get the fixings out she put on another roast, why the hell not. She was always able to get more from work and order more as needed. She tended to buy in bulk, making things easier and transitional smoother at both work and at home. Sean reentered the room, this time with sweatpants he reluctantly tossed Emma's way, "We have guests."

"Anytime, Santos. It's uh a shame we likely won't be seeing much of each other considering." Alex inside knew that she would have to see Emma often.

Emma laughed slipping them on from the kitchen over top of her bare legs and joined Manny and Alex in the living area. As Alex came in with the last of the plastic bags filled to the brim with Manny's salvageable clothing Alex plopped down on the couch awkwardly putting her hands in her hoodie pockets. She looked around sheepishly and looked back at Emma.

"How'd you sleep last night?" Emma asked Alex kindly.

"Fine." Alex smiled, "I figure to extend the olive branch since I know we'll be seeing more of each other."

"No need, I really don't have any qualms with you." Emma said calmly, "Alex, how do you take your coffee?"

"Black."

Sean ran over making Alex confused as he reached for her hand to give her an impromptu high-five, "I don't know anyone who drinks their coffee black."

"Not even you Sean?"

"You know I'm a glutton for sugar."

Alex roared with laughter at that remembering some silly details about Sean, "Emma, yo listen to this guy, this is also coming from the guy who kept a chocolate cake in his refrigerator for fucking breakfast no less."

"Hey! I'm living the dream those days, the only kid who wasn't living with their parents." Sean defended himself breathless from laughter. Emma poured Alex and Manny their cups and prepped Manny's coffee a skim milk and two sugars. Manny silently thanked Emma laughing at the series of discussions that followed. She eyed Emma as she walked away seeing that healthy glow on her blushing face that things were going well between her and Sean, and there was something she had missed.

"Emma what's that you got on your hand?"

Emma empty-handed looks down happily at her promise ring and looks at Manny, "I uh, Sean gave it to me."

Manny thought back to the story Jay had told her about Sean and him in the mall jewelry store the day before. She sighed closing her eyes respecting that moment for a second or two before she decided against spoiling a romantic and happy moment between an unexpected group of people. She pulled Emma closer, "Let me get a look at it."

Manny looked to Sean and gave him a thumbs up after examining the ring, the diamond and the detailing, "Good work, Sean."

Alex leaned in to look before she got up off the couch, "I should really be getting back."

"So soon?" Emma asked with concern and a sheepish expression looking at Alex.

"Yeah? I'm sure Manny and you have a lot of catching up to do and besides, Jay needs me."

"Tell him I'll come by later on after a shower." Emma said kindly as Alex gave her the coffee back, she had a few sips. Emma quickly poured the remaining in a styrofoam cup as opposed to a mug so she gave that to Alex shortly before she left so she had a coffee.

"Thanks, Emma. See you around guys." Alex said as she left the room down to her car and back home to Jay's.

. . .

After breakfast, Randy was called by work to come in and do things so it left Spinner and Darcy alone to spend time together. They took to the couch followed by the bedroom kissing frequently actively stealing that time and taking advantage and capitalization on it. On her bed, they cuddled and kissed. As he teasingly traced his fingers gliding them over her legs as he leaned close in front of her, she smiled up at him with joy, but she had a lot on her mind. Spinner's history was so spotty and she wanted to understand him better. She didn't want him to feel constantly obligated to spend time with just her. She liked her friends and she liked her new relationship, but she didn't want to ruin things by keeping him away from his friends. She also missed some of her old friends, the ones she attended school with. People like Manny Santos or even Emma Nelson. She had liked them then and she would only assume to like them now, "I wish I was still in touch with people from school and such."

"I've burned those bridges long ago." Spinner said looking away.

"You shouldn't have had to." Darcy beamed at him.

"It's better this way." Spinner stated with a hopeless shrug, changing his positioning on the bed to cross-legged sitting up, "Besides, it's not like anyone would send a search party out."

"I'm sure some people would be worried. Weren't you friends with Jay Hogart? Why not reach out to him?" Darcy inquired sitting up as well against her head-board, hugging her knees to her chest.

"I don't know, he knows Emma and -"

"You said the divorce was amicable." Darcy relented, "Come on, I'm sure she's worried too. Degrassi is your home. Besides," Darcy said running her fingers through Spinner's curly locks, "Nobody likes a mope."

Spinner faked a frown mockingly and spat, "I don't know, what's wrong with me spending all my time with you?"

Darcy beamed delightfully at the thought but relented, "It's just not healthy, you have your friends and believe me I get boring."

"Darcy you - you are the completely the opposite of boring." Spinner said to her flirtatiously, nudging her, "Especially not after last night."

Darcy couldn't wipe that big old smile off her face as she leaned in closer to him, "Do tell."

"Only if you kiss me first." Spinner said leaning in closer to her now and planting her with a passionate kiss as he pushed her lightly back onto the pillow as the concluded their banter for a few moments longer, while they had the time as they laid together in the bed, entangled within their hearts and their bodies. She raked her fingers through his long curly locks as she frequently did, he pulled away a moment, "Perhaps today might be a good day to chop off my hair don't you think?"

Darcy popped up and beamed, "I could take you if you want. I have the perfect place."