Chapter 29
Sean and Emma are leaving to go back home from their trip
Emma: I can't wait to be home, as nice as it was away,
Sean: I miss our house and our bed.
Emma: Me too. Did you have a good time?
Sean: Oh, definitely.
Emma: I had an amazing time. Thank you for this babe.
Sean laces his fingers in Emma's and gently pulls her hand for him to kiss her hand
Sean: I'm just glad you had a good time and most importantly, you said yes!
Sean said as he laughs
Emma: Did you think I would say no?
Sean: I hoped you wouldn't have said no
Sean said with a chuckle
Emma: Even if you would have asked 2 years ago or 2 years from now I would have still said yes
Sean: Good.
Sean's phone rings
Sean: Hello?
Tracker: Little Brother, nice to see your alive
Sean: Hey Tracker, yea Emma and I went away for the Holidays we're on our way back home now.
Tracker: Oh nice. Where did you guys go?
Sean: I took her to Niagara Falls.
Tracker: Awe my little brother getting all romantic, how sweet.
Emma laughs
Emma: Hi Tracker
Tracker: Hey Emma.
Sean: Hey you going to be home? Maybe we'll stop by on the way home.
Sean briefly looks over at Emma and smiles.
Sean: We got some news we want to tell you
Tracker: Alright cool, yea I'll be home.
Sean: Alright sweet. We'll see you in about an hour.
Tracker: Cool
They hang up
Emma: Tracker's going to be so proud of you babe.
Sean: He's always been my toughest critic.
Emma: You're getting your life back on track after the leaving the army, it takes years for this to happen usually, but you had a plan right when you got home.
Sean (chuckles): How do you know all this?
Emma: I had some free time in between classes when I thought you were coming home. I did some research, so I knew what to expect when you came home.
Sean: You did that for me?
Emma: Of course.
Sean: Is it possible to fall more in love with you Emma Nelson?
Emma: I don't know, Sean Cameron, you tell me?
Sean and Emma laugh
Sean: Call your mom if you want babe.
Emma picks up her phone and facetimes her mom
Spike: Hey babe!
Emma: Hey mom, we're on our way back from Niagara Falls
Sean: Hi Spike!
Spike: Hi Sean
Spike: So, how was the trip?!
Emma: Magical. We want to go back.
Spike: Oh, I'm glad you guys had a good time.
Emma: Hey Mom, is Snake and Jack around? We have some news we want to tell you guys.
Spike: Yea, hang on, Emma
Spike yells for Snake and Jack to come in the living room
Snake: Hey Em, Hey Sean
Sean: Hi Mr. Simpson
Emma: Ok So we have some news we want to share with you guys.
Jack: Please don't tell me I'm going to be an uncle
Spike: Jack!
Everyone chuckles
Emma: Nope, sorry buddy that's not happening yet.
Snake: So, what's the news?!
Emma holds up her left hand that's laced with Sean's
Emma: Sean proposed!
Snake: That's amazing! Congratulations honey! We're so happy for you.
Spike: Emma I'm so incredibly happy for you. I always knew how special Sean was to you.
Emma: Thank you guys.
Sean: Hey Jack buddy, I got a really big question for you.
Jack: What's up?
Sean: How would you like to stand by my side next to me when I Marry Emma?
Jack: You want me to be one of your groomsmen?
Sean: Yea man! Emma and I already talked about it and it'd mean the world if you would.
Jack looks at Spike and Snake
Snake: It's up to you Jack, if you want to or not buddy.
Emma: It's ok if you don't Jack. We know it's a big deal
Jack: I'd be happy to Sean.
Sean: That's awesome buddy! Thank you bud
Emma: Thank you Jacky, that really means a lot to me.
Jack: I know it does. I love you Sis.
Emma: I love you too buddy.
Spike (to Jack): Go finish your chores bud.
Spike: So, how did he propose?
Snake: Christine!
Spike: What? I want to know the details, sue me, she's my babygirl Archie
Emma: It was perfect mom! Like out of a fairy tale perfect.
Spike: Awe, baby I'm so happy for you.
Emma: It was Christmas Eve, snowing and we were dancing to Iris by Goo Goo Dolls, the same song we shared our first dance to, just as the sun start to set, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him
Snake: Good job Sean.
Spike: How romantic
Emma: It really was mom. I wish you guys could have been there.
Sean: We're almost there, babe.
Emma: I got to let you guys go. We're stopping by Tracker's on the way home. Mom I'll call you tomorrow I love you guys
Snake: Love you Em.
Spike: Ok, I love you too Emma.
Emma hangs up
Emma: I'm so glad Jack said yes.
Sean: Me too. I would feel like an ass if he would have said no
Emma: I know, I would have felt bad.
They pull up at Trackers and knock on the door. Sean and Emma walk in
Sean: Track Man?
Tracker: Hey buddy
Tracker gives them both a hug
Tracker: You good look Brother.
Sean: Thanks.
Tracker: Good to see you again Emma
Emma: You too Tracker
Tracker: Come on in, have a seat, get comfy.
Sean and Emma sit on the couch
Sean: So, we have some news for you
Tracker: I'm going to be an Uncle!
Sean looks at Emma and laughs
Emma: No, My little brother said the same thing
Emma pulls her hand out of her pocket
Sean: We got engaged
Tracker: Dude that's amazing! I'm so proud of you Sean.
Sean: Would you be my best man, dude?
Tracker: You kidding? I'd be honored
Emma: Sean's been pretty amazing since he came home, you should really be proud of him, Tracker.
Emma looks at Sean and Smiles
Sean: I love you. You've always been by my side even when I didn't need it.
Tracker: Emma, you really are the best thing that's happened to Sean since we moved to Toronto.
Emma: I'm lucky to have him, Tracker
Tracker: So, what have you been doing since you got out brother.
Sean: I'm back at Tony's and he's made me part owner.
Tracker: Hell yes brother. I'm so damn proud of you dude.
They talk for a little while later.
Sean: Come on babe, it's getting late. I know you got to go back to work tomorrow.
Tracker gives them a hug goodbye
Tracker: I love you bro, Congratulations buddy, I'm so happy for you both.
Emma (smiles): Thank you Tracker.
Sean (smiles): Thanks buddy. I'll call you tomorrow
They leave Tracker's house and go home
Sean: Let's go home Babe.
Emma smiles
Emma: Home. I miss that place.
Sean: Tired baby?
Emma: Yea, I'm getting there.
Sean: Well, we'll get you to bed soon as we get home baby
Emma smiles
Sean: You're cute when tired.
Emma: Your handsome
A few minutes later, they arrive at home.
Sean: Emma, honey wake up. We're home.
Emma groans. Sean quietly gets out of the car, unlocks the house, goes back to the car, and gets Emma out of the car, takes her in the house and tucks her into bed
Sean (kisses Emma's forehead and softly whispers): Goodnight baby. I love you
Sean goes to the car and gets their luggage and empties they're suitcases. A little while later, Emma comes downstairs
Emma: Babe?
Sean: What are you doing up babe?
Emma: Well, first off, I rolled over to snuggle with you and your side hadn't been touched. Plus, I heard you quietly going through the suitcases
Emma said with a chuckle
Emma: Sean, Come to bed babe. Its 1 am
Emma gently grabs Sean and brings him to bed
Sean: Ok, I'm coming honey
Sean chuckles and follows Emma to bed.
Sean climbs in next to her, as Emma climbs in bed next to him and snuggles close to him. She drifts back to sleep in Sean's arms. Next morning, Sean gets up and leaves for work, but not before softly kissing Emma on the top of her head goodbye.
Sean (softly whispers): I love you, baby
Emma (groans): Are you leaving for work already?
Sean (softly whispers): Yea, I'll see you when I get home tonight. Go back to bed babe.
Emma: I love you
Sean: I love you too baby
Sean quietly leaves for work. A couple hours later, Emma wakes up. She calls her mom
Spike: Hey Emma
Emma: Hey mom what are you doing?
Spike: I'm on my way to work. What are you doing honey?
Emma: I just woke up. I took today off because I knew we'd be back late, you know?
Spike: You need a day of rest anyway after all the fun you had on your trip. I still can't believe you're engaged!
Emma (smiles): I know it took me a couple days to get used to it too. Mom, I'm so happy now. Sean and I are stronger than we've ever been.
Spike: Oh honey, that's great. I'm really happy for you.
Emma: Did I tell you he surprised me at my graduation?
Spike: No, you didn't. I though you said his sergeant wouldn't let him have time away?
Emma: No, turns out he finished his deployment early like 3 months ago. He surprised me after I was graduated with a bouquet of flowers
Spike: That's sweet, but why didn't he return your emails?
Emma: Because if he would have, he would have wanted to tell me he was going to be home for my graduation.
Spike: So, instead he worried you into thinking he could have been dead or injured all to risk not ruining a surprise?
Emma: I know, I said the same thing!
Spike: Well, as long as you're happy that's all I care about Emma.
Emma: I'm really happy mom. I can't wait to marry him. I'd like to have you and Snake both walk me down the aisle, if that's ok.
Spike: I'd be honored and so would Snake, I'll talk to him tonight and see.
Emma: He's even going to help with the wedding planning mom. How great is that?
Spike: That's amazing!
Emma: I can officially say, I'm head over heels in love with the man I want to spend the rest of my life with.
Spike: I'm so happy for you Em.
Emma: We got our first song already
Spike: Oh, really? What is it?
Emma: It's by Edwin McCain-
Spike: I'll be?
Emma: Yep! That's it.
Spike: I love that song. Listen honey I got to let you go, I just got to the salon. Call me later if you want ok?
Emma: Alright, I love you
Spike: Love you too sweetie
Emma hangs up. She gets on the computer, uploads all the pictures from their trip. Her phone rings.
Emma: Hello?
Manny: What are you doing?
Emma: I'm at home uploading the pictures from our trip on the computer. What are you doing?
Manny: In my car at the Studio, trying to avoid my producer
Manny said with a chuckle
Emma: Why?
Manny: I don't know honestly. I'm sure he'll probably complain I didn't get any songs written while I was gone, but I told him when I left, I wasn't going to do any writing. You know what I mean?
Emma: Right. You were on vacation. A vacation that was much needed, I might add.
Manny: I know.
Emma: hang on a minute Manny.
Emma looks at her phone to see who's on the other line
Emma: Let me let you go, Sean's calling. Call me when you get done with the studio
Manny: Alright
Emma switches to Sean's line
Emma: Aren't you supposed to be working Mister?
Sean (chuckles): I wanted to hear your voice for a little bit. I miss you
Emma: I miss you too. Are you working late tonight babe?
Sean: Probably until 5 or 6, depends on how much we get done.
Emma: What do you want to do for dinner tonight?
Sean: I don't know, what are you thinking?
Emma: I can make my mom's pasta if you want.
Sean: Sounds good to me babe.
Emma: Alright, I'll put it on about 5:30.
Sean: You're going to be an amazing wife you know that?
Emma (smiles): I hope so
Sean: I got to get back to work. I'll call you later Em.
Emma: Love you.
Sean: Love you too Babygirl
Sean hangs up. Emma goes back to uploading pictures. After a couple hours of uploading pictures and printing them. Manny calls her
Manny: How's the Pictures coming?
Emma: Good, just finished uploading the rest of them not that long ago, I'm printing them off now. How was the studio?
Manny: Well, we got part of a song written. It's called boyfriend.
Emma: Interesting title.
Manny: It's something a lot of girls and women can relate to, claiming someone took their boyfriend from them, when in reality she didn't steal him.
Emma: I can't wait to hear it when it's done
Manny: I hope it'll be a hit single honestly.
Emma: I'm sure it will be.
Manny: I hope so Em, I just want this whole album to be successful. What if It flops?
Emma: You're doing it again, Manny
Manny: What?
Emma: Over thinking things. The album isn't even halfway finished and you're thinking it's going to flop. Relax, Manny, Isn't your producer one of the best in Toronto?
Manny: And my label, G major. Both are really successful. I want to do right by this label.
Emma: You will, I'm sure of it.
Emma goes into the closet and pulls a shoebox of Photos down from the shelf in the closet. Some of the photos fall out of the box onto the floor
Manny: What was that?
Emma: I was getting a box of photos down and some of them fell out.
Manny: Photos of who? You and Sean?
Emma: I think so, It's Sean's handwriting and it just says Photos on the side
Emma opens it up, she finds pictures of her and Sean
Emma: I think it is pictures of us.
Manny: Oh man, there's probably some oldies in there.
Emma: Yea there's a few of them.
Emma goes through the pictures and finds letter from Ellie to Sean
Emma: Hey, you going to be home soon?
Manny: Yea, I should be home in like 5 minutes. Why?
Emma: I'm coming over soon
Manny: Ok. Call me when you get here
She hangs up, looks at the Letter for a minute
Emma (to herself): Sean, why would you do this?
Emma leaves a note on the table and places the letter and her ring next to it. She drives to Manny's
Manny: What's wrong?
Emma: That box of pictures I found?
Manny: Yea?
Emma (voice breaks): I found a letter from Ellie in there.
Manny: Are you kidding?
Emma shakes her head no and she starts to cry
Emma: Do you think he's seeing her still?
Manny: Emma, I doubt it.
Emma: Then how would you explain the letter Manny?
Emma: What if he's trying to live this fairy tale with me to make me happy?
Manny: You've known Sean for 14 years; do you really think he'd do that?
Emma (crying): I don't know Manny. Would he?
Manny: It's probably an old letter from High school, he forgot he had Emma.
Emma: I can't, I won't be a part of a lie.
Manny: His love for you is real, Emma.
Emma: Unless he wants us to think it is.
Manny: You're not wearing your ring?
Emma: I left it at home with a note and the letter
Manny: You left him?!
Emma: I told him I love him, but I can't be a part of his secret life
Manny: Emma, he's been in love with you for 14 years, you're gonna crush him when he sees that.
Meanwhile Sean's finishing his day at the Shop, he calls Emma but no answer, so he picks up take out on the way home. He comes home and find Emma's car is gone
Sean (walking into the house): Emma?
Sean: Babe, you home?
Sean finds a note on the table and Emma's ring. He reads the note and see's the letter from Ellie next to it.
Sean: Damn it! I thought I got rid of everything Ellie.
He calls Emma again but no answer
Emma (voicemail): Hi, you've reached Emma Nelson, leave it at the beep.
Sean: Emma, Baby please call me. I love you
Sean calls Manny's phone
Manny (to Emma): Sean's calling me.
Emma: You can tell him I'm here if you want, but that's up to you.
Manny (to Sean): Hey Sean
Sean: Manny, Is Emma with you? She left a note with her ring at home, and I'm worried, she's not picking up her phone.
Manny looks at Emma
Manny: Yea she's here but she's pissed at you.
Sean: Cause of that letter?
Manny: I think you need to come over here and you guys need to talk things out.
Sean: I love Emma with all my heart and Soul, I would never do anything to hurt her.
Manny: I know.
Sean: I'll be there soon
Manny (to Emma): He is coming over and you two are going to talk things out
Emma: Manny-
Manny: Emma, you're being ridiculous, you know damn well, Sean's crazy about you.
Sean knocks on Manny's door, Manny lets him in
Emma: Why are you here, Sean? Shouldn't you be with Ellie?
Sean: Emma, babe. That letter was from High school, I forgot I had it, I honestly thought I got rid of it with the rest of the shit from Ellie.
Emma: Why do you still have her letter?
Sean: Babe, I thought I threw it out when she and I broke up for good. Emma that letter was from when she and I were together in High School. She and I broke up 6 years ago, after I left Wasaga after my first deployment. I honestly forgot I had it until I saw it next to your ring, which broke my heart seeing it on the table at home.
Emma: How could you forget about throwing away a letter like that Sean?
Sean: Babe I'm sorry. I destroyed it when I heard you were in an accident. You're the only one I want. The only one I'll need. I love you, with all my heart. Ellie is my past and you are my future.
Emma: I love you, but I'm still upset at you. Seeing that really upset me.
Manny looks at Chester and Sean
Chester (to Sean): Hey why don't we go to the Dot and get some food, on me.
Sean nods
Sean (to Emma): I love you, Emma
Chester kisses Manny as he and Sean leaves to go to the Dot.
Manny: Em, you know I was talking to Sean a couple months before our graduation,
Emma: And?
Manny: And all he could talk about was coming to graduation and surprising you! He kept telling me how excited he was to see you!
Emma: You believed him, Manny?
Manny: Yes, I did Emma. His love for you is real.
Emma: Yea, sure it is.
Manny: He told me he hasn't spoken to Ellie in 6 years. When he was on his first deployment, he found out she was back to her psycho-emo High School self again and was cutting and Drinking again. When Sean was done with his deployment, he went to her place while she was at work one day, packed all his things and Stayed with Tracker until he got his place
Emma gives Manny the side eye
Emma: Sounds funny to me
Manny: Emma, do you really think he'd cheat on you with smelly mcsnoodypants?
Emma chuckles
Manny: Em, trust me. He's coocoo bananas, head over heels in love with you. He always has been.
Emma: I see your point. Maybe I overreacted some
Meanwhile, back at the Dot
Chester: I heard you're in the doghouse with Emma
Sean: Yea, she found a letter from my ex and I from High School and she flipped, I thought I got rid of it with the rest of Ellie's shit, but I guess I didn't
Chester: Good one man.
Sean: Thing is, Ellie never once meant as much to me as Emma does.
Chester: Does she know that?
Sean: I would think so. I proposed to her. I mean I've been in love with her for 14 years
Chester: Proposing to a girl don't tell them how much they mean to you dummy
Sean: I fucked up didn't I?
Chester nods yes
Chester: I'll keep the couch open for you tonight
Sean and Chester laugh.
Chester: But seriously, my advice dude, I'd show her how much she means to you.
Sean: Yea, your right man.
They get up and head back to Chester and Manny's
Sean: Hey I got a question for you anyway buddy,
Chester: What's up?
Sean: I was wondering, if you'd be one of my groomsmen If Emma will still marry me after this
Chester: I'd be honored Sean.
Emma: Sean-
Sean: No, I'm sorry. I honestly forgot I even had that letter from Ellie, It was from High School. I haven't spoke to her in 2 years.
Emma: I know, Manny told me. I'm sorry babe, I overreacted about the letter.
Sean: If I knew I had it I would have gotten rid of it a long time ago and you wouldn't be in here right now. I can't begin to tell you how guilty I feel.
Emma: Hey, it's ok. I overreacted babe. It's not your fault
Sean: I'm just glad you're going to be ok.
Emma: I'm sorry, I love you.
Sean: I love you too Baby.
Sean softly kisses Emma on her forehead
Emma: Sean, I'm sorry I overreacted, I jumped to conclusions when I should have just trusted you.
Sean: No, I should have it away. I promise I have nothing left of Ellie I can promise you that.
Emma: I believe you.
Sean: But first, this belongs back on your finger.
Sean slips Emma's engagement ring back on her finger and kisses Emma
