Thank you, everyone, for your continued support. Nearing the end now...
EPISODE TEN: There's Murder on the Dance Floor
CHAPTER ONE
"To Emma and Ethan,"declared Ted as everyone present clinked their champagne glasses together.
Emma and Ethan blushed under the attention of the rest of the group: Ted, Kristin, Dan, Sutton, Laurel, Mads and Jordan. "Thank you,"Emma said quietly.
"So have you set a date yet?"Laurel asked enthusiastically.
"Well, we think we might finish school first,"Ethan noted.
"A very wise decision,"Ted replied approvingly.
"Seconded,"Dan agreed.
"Can I be bridesmaid when you do?"Laurel went on, her enthusiasm undiminished.
Emma glanced awkwardly at Sutton and Mads. "Well, I've certainly got a lot of people to choose from."
"I guess your sisters should come first,"Mads suggested.
"No, no,"Laurel went on,"this is perfect. Ethan can have Dan as his best man and he can partner Sutton, then Jordan can be groomsman and partner Mads…Any chance you can have Thayer in your party?"
Ethan actually couldn't think of anyone he'd like less but he wasn't going to dampen Laurel's mood. "I'll think about it."
"Maybe Dan and Sutton could get married as well and you could all have a double wedding?"Jordan suggested.
Sutton sighed. "Wow, now things are awkward."
Laurel clapped her hands together in delight. "We should have a party."
There was an awkward silence. "Well, yes, we could,"Kristin agreed.
"Tomorrow,"Laurel decided. "We can have it here, Mum can sort the food, I can sort the invites…" She gave an infectious grin. "It'll be so much fun!"
Thayer answered the door to find Laurel there. She skipped past him into the house, grinning broadly. "I have got the best news ever."
Thayer did his best to stop his true feelings from showing. "Emma's pregnant?"
Laurel looked at him in surprise. "How did you know about that?"
Sometimes the truth was the easiest answer. "Ted mentioned it to Rebecca."
Laurel nodded. "No, that was a false alarm. Emma and Ethan are getting married!"
Thayer's hopes, raised a moment earlier, were suddenly dashed. "What?"he asked weakly.
Laurel was oblivious to his mood. "I know, isn't it great? We're holding an engagement party tomorrow night, you'll be there, won't you?" Thayer managed a wooden nod and Laurel kissed him lightly on the lips. "I have got so much to organise. See you later!" She hurried out.
Rebecca emerged from the direction of the kitchen, her face full of cold fury. "Did I just hear right?"
Thayer's fury matched hers. "How can she marry that idiot?"
Rebecca's anger finally boiled over. "You're feeling affronted? You just got invited to her engagement party! Where's my invite? I'm her mother!" She raised her clenched fists and began thumping them against Thayer's chest. "They are my family and they treat me like I'm nothing! And what good are you for? You were meant to be helping me and you've done nothing! Nothing!"
Thayer swept her away with his arm, knocking her to the ground. She looked up at him as though expecting an apology. But he was done with apologising to her. He looked back at her without a shred of remorse.
Rebecca got to her feet. "You'll pay for that. You'll all pay."
Then she left the house for the last time.
Thayer headed up to his room. He swept the top of his cabinet clean with an angry blow. What had it all been for? Everything he'd done to make Emma like him, the depths he'd sunk to, these last few months working for Rebecca, had it all been for nothing? Was he going to have to stand back and let her marry a loser like Ethan?
Then a thought struck him. His eyes alighted on the box under his bed. He pulled it out and opened it, revealing the rusty metal bar. The bar he'd killed Theresa with. He'd kept it hidden all this time but now it suddenly felt appropriate to use it again. Theresa would have kept him away from Emma so he'd killed her. Now Ethan was doing the same and he would have to die too. And eventually Emma would realise what a lucky escape she'd had and come to him.
Thayer suddenly felt a lot more positive about the future.