AUTHOR'S NOTE- This has taken a while, I know. But writing when you are depressed makes your work depressing. So I waited till I could do my reader's justice. I am so grateful for everyone's continuing support and your kind words.
Thanks to the person who read this when I thought I was going nowhere, shared their thoughts and told me what I needed to work on. You will see your advice has made this so much better.
Leave me a line if you like/hate this. Both will be greatly appreciated.
I WON'T HURT EMILY, I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN
"What do you mean 'she's asleep upstairs'?" Spencer was almost yelling at the other end of the line.
Emily held the phone away from her ears, to spare them the trauma of everything that Spencer yelled for the next two minutes. Not that she needed to hear any of it to know Spencer's opinion on the matter. She had known Spencer since Emily had moved to Rosewood from Austin, when she was nine and she could almost always tell exactly what her best friend thought.
Spencer was the kind of person who you would never be in danger around. Mostly because everything she did was well thought out and risk-assessed, to ensure it was the option that had the highest probability of an excellent outcome. And also if she loved you, she would fight a hungry lion for you.
"… this straightened out. I'll be there in 10 minutes," was what Emily heard when she finally held the phone to her ear again.
"No, I don't need you here, Spence. Enjoy your morning with Toby. Come meet me later. I have got to open the cafe, in about an hour and a half. I think I'll survive the next few hours." Emily replied, almost laughing.
The thought of the sweet, scared girl harming her seemed quite ridiculous to Emily, but she got why Spencer was freaking out. It was not sensible to take a stranger in and not contact the authorities about it. Especially if the person was hurt and obviously on the run. But Emily meant what she had said last night. Alison did not seem like a stranger to her and no amount of Spencer's scary statistics, were going to make her feel, like she should have done anything any differently.
She placed the phone in the back pocket of her jeans and continued getting the place ready to open an eight. Once done, she unlocked the back door, for her employees and she headed back upstairs to get showered and changed.
Emily noiselessly opened the bedroom door, to find Alison still asleep under the covers. She had rolled onto her front and all Emily could see was a spray of blonde curls all over the pillow hiding her cherubic face.
Emily took off her sneakers and tiptoed in bare feet to the bureau of drawers in the corner. The bottom drawer held clothes that she left here. She pulled out a pair of khaki shorts, a black tank and a yellow plaid shirt and walked into the attached bathroom, after grabbing a towel from another drawer. Ten minutes later she walked out fully dressed, with wet hair and the shirt tied casually around her waist.
Without looking towards the blonde asleep on the bed, she headed to the mirror, on the wall opposite the bed, and began combing through her towel-dried hair with her fingers.
"Should I be worried about your intentions? Or should I be flattered that pretty blue eyes are staring at me?" Emily turned around to find the blonde looking away, flustered that she had been caught staring at the brunette.
"Good morning!" Alison said, turning back after she had composed herself. "I'm sorry. I was just a little lost when I woke up and then you walked out of the shower and I remembered. I guess that's why I …" Her words stuck in her throat when Emily walked over and sat at the foot of her bed, inches away from her.
"Its okay, I was just trying to get you to smile. I like seeing those remember?" Emily tried to put Alison at ease. "How are you feeling? Did you sleep well?" she enquired.
Alison smiled softly seeing a crease appear between Emily's eyebrows. She had watched those come and go numerous times yesterday. Every time Emily was thinking or worrying, the crease would appear and Alison found it almost as adorable as her disarming smile and cute dimples. Almost!
"I'm so much better, thank you. I didn't think I would be able to sleep, but I did," she replied. Remembering Emily's sleeping arrangements last night she continued, "Are you feeling okay? It could not have been really comfortable on that chair."
"That chair is about 10 times more comfortable than any bed. I told you last night, I have lots of practice sleeping on that thing," Emily assured her.
"Would you like some coffee and breakfast? We normally have breakfast at 7.30, before we open at 8. It gives us a little time to catch up and relax before a hectic day. Everyone comes in at 7, so they should be downstairs by now. Why don't you freshen up and come down?" Emily had rambled on and then noticed Alison staring at the foot of the bed.
Alison had been perfectly fine just being around Emily. But other people seeing her in the state she was in was not something she was prepared for. Strangers who would judge, pity her or interrogate her seemed like the last thing she needed right now. "No, I'm not really hungry. Thank you," she mumbled in response to Emily's query.
Emily hesitated a few seconds before she stood up and moved to Alison's right. "Is it okay if I sit down?" she inquired, pointing to the spot near the blonde. She was answered with a nod. She sat at the edge of the bed and looked at the blonde. Her eyes wandered to the dainty hand lying on the bed over the duvet. Her fingers reached out, almost afraid to travel the distance, but finally caressed the top of the blonde's hand, before taking the hand in her own.
"I don't know what you have been through. But it couldn't have been good." Her eyes were focused on the pale smaller hand in her own. She looked up at Alison and continued, "I promise to not ask any questions if you promise to talk to me; if and when you need to. You trusted me enough to let me help you, so know that I will make sure you are safe here. Do you think you can do that?"
Alison looked up into the brown eyes that looked at her so earnestly. "I know there are bad people in the world but I am right here with you now. I will be your friend if you let me." Emily's words were heartfelt and Alison really didn't have words to respond. She gently squeezed the hand, that had sought hers moments back and smiled at the girl before her. The smile reached her sparkling blue eyes and in turn earned her a beautiful one from the brunette.
"How about breakfast up here? Does that make you hungry?" Emily had a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Alison shyly smiled back. "A little," she responded.
Emily looked at the girl smiling at her, with a hint of pink on her pale cheeks. Her eyes were bright; no tears clouded the brilliant blue. Her hair sat in soft curls around her perfectly sculpted face. Her lips were full yet delicate. Her smile was inviting yet innocent. Her dimples were alluring yet childish. She looked like someone you would want to protect and keep away from any harm. And yet here she was hurt and wounded, emotionally and physically.
Lost in thought, Emily's soft features morphed into something hard and determined, with flashes of anger in her otherwise warm eyes. She wasn't going to let this girl down. She wasn't going to ever let her go back to the dark hole she was in the night before. Yes, she knew almost nothing about the girl. But she knew that she had found her outside the cafe for a reason.
More than a decade back, a frightened 8 year old had found herself standing outside that same cafe, looking up at a kind old woman — her Grandma Ali. Emily had met her Grandma just once before but now was the only family she had left. That frightened child had found love, happiness and a safe home again with her Grandma.
Thirteen years later, Emily was again orphaned and alone.
Eight months ago she came home and she still had everything — the cafe, the house she lived in with her Grandma and her friends. What she didn't have was the one person that bound all these things together- the person who was Emily's home. Her Grandma Alison was gone.
For the past eight months she had tried to fill that gaping hole in her heart. She had taken a break from culinary school in Philadelphia and spent all her time at the cafe around familiar faces and places that held memories of happier days. But the feeling of being alone in the crowd never left Emily. She loved her old friends from Rosewood and they loved her. Everyone who worked at and came to the cafe knew and loved her. She had everything and yet without her Grandma, Emily was lost at sea.
And then last night she had found herself staring into eyes that looked as lost as she had felt these past months. Outside the doors of the cafe another Alison had come into her life.
She knew Alison was the hurt one, the one who was running and needed shelter and the one who needed a safe harbor. But yet for some reason, she was the one whose heart felt mended and whose life found purpose. She had found someone whose presence made her feel not so alone anymore.
Emily had definitely met Alison for a reason.
Alison looked at the girl who stood silently, looking down at her. She didn't know what it was but from the expressions on Emily's face, she could tell that the brunette was struggling.
"Hey! Where did you go?" Alison asked softly, getting out of bed and tilting her head to the left. Emily snapped out of her thoughts and looked down at the girl inches away.
"I was just thinking about how you saved me." Emily looked into surprised blue eyes.
"You did all the saving Emily. I am indebted to you for life," was Alison's sincere response. Emily shook her head and insisted once again, "Sometimes people don't look as broken as they are." A second later she continued, "Anyway, let me get you breakfast. I'll be right back."
Emily returned downstairs to find both Talia, her cook, and Alex, her barista, seated at the table in the back, discussing the baby shower hosted at the cafe last weekend. The two of them and Cece made up the staff at the cafe.
Talia was a great cook and had always been someone Emily looked up to for sisterly advice. Her influence in Emily's life also probably resulted in Emily's decision to go to culinary school. She had always loved cooking but Talia made her realize it could be a great career too.
An aspiring musician, Alex was the prettiest boy in the neighborhood and his looks accompanied by his charm ensured excellent sales and lots of returning female customers for the cafe. Years back when still in high school Spencer and he dated for a while. The pair didn't make it as a couple but they had stayed friends. His easy charm was the perfect buffer for Spencer's over-analytical approach to life. He always knew how to diffuse the tension in a room and Emily loved people who made life happier.
"Hey, where have you been?" was Alex's cheerful greeting when Emily walked down the stairs. "You crashed here last night?" Talia chimed in.
"Good morning to you too!" was Emily's cheerful response. "Let me get some coffee before we play 20 questions." She took out a tray and placed two cups and two plates on it. She then proceeded to pour coffee into the cups.
"I see someone wasn't alone last night Tal. Are you going to be the one telling Ce about her rooms being used as a love nest or should I? Her expression will be priceless." Alex deliberately did not look at Emily as he spoke to Talia, breaking into laughter at the end.
Emily raised an eyebrow at the thought of Alison as someone she had 'spent the night' with but wordlessly proceeded to place a blueberry muffin and a hot croissant on each of the plates on her tray.
Talia did not want to pump the younger girl for information but she looked on with a curious expression on her face.
"At least this one gets breakfast in bed. Cece kicks her visitors out before the sun is up," Alex went on, his mouth full with his second muffin. This time Emily turned around to face Alex; no way was she going to be compared to Cece's 'sexcapades'!
"Hold your horses there. Its a friend from Philly. Nothing like the colourful images in your filthy mind right now." Alex threw his hands up in the air. His smirk vanished on account of Emily's somber tone. "She got here late and we lost track of time, so we crashed upstairs. She might be here for a few days so please behave. She is shy and has been through some stuff lately. She needs a friend not a flirt right now, no matter how charming he might be." She raised an eyebrow at Alex as she finished.
He nodded and smiled reassuringly at her. Her expression softened as she continued; addressing both of them this time, "Her name is Alison and I'll introduce her to everyone later."
Talia looked at Emily more closely. She seemed a little worried and yet happier this morning. She smiled more brightly when she said good morning and was stern to Alex, which she rare. She mused who this 'friend' was that Emily had never mentioned before. She would definitely have remembered Emily mention a friend named Alison! But she did not question Emily further.
"You should be able to hold the fort fine for a while, right? I'll be back before the morning rush, I promise." Emily smiled and walked back up the stairs balancing the tray in front of her.
Once upstairs, she placed the tray on the table for two near the window and walked into the bedroom, knocking before she entered. Alison was at the far end of the room looking at the pictures in frames on the wall. She turned around to face Emily with a big smile on her face. She pointed to a picture of an elderly lady in an apron in the kitchen downstairs and a younger Emily sitting on the counter eating pie. "That's you and your Grandma isn't it?"
Emily walked over to stand next to Alison. "I think I was about 14 then. All bones and legs as you can see. I never left her side." Emily smiled but her eyes were sad. Alison looked at the girl in the photograph. "I don't think you were all bones and legs. You were as beautiful as you are now." Alison realized she had called the brunette beautiful a second too late. The words had escaped her lips without warning.
She sneaked a glance at Emily, who was looking at her with an amused expression on her face. "I think I have my Grandma's old glasses in the kitchen downstairs. Let me get them for you." Emily moved like she was going back to get the glasses mentioned and Alison giggled. Emily joined in and led them to the table she had set the breakfast on earlier.
Alison beamed at the sight on the table. "You are spoiling me. How am I ever going to make up for all this?" Her eyes darted up to meet Emily's.
"Tell me its delicious and we are even", Emily easily responded, pulling out a chair for Alison and placing a cup of coffee and a plate before her. She sat down herself and immediately attacked the croissant. "I love these. Talia makes the most amazing French food. Try it," she said, nudging Alison's plate closer to her. Alison had not seen Emily eat yet but one look at the girl attacking the croissant and she knew the brunette loved food.
Alison bit into her croissant and agreed Emily wasn't exaggerating. Once the croissants had vanished off their plates Alison tried the muffin and couldn't help her eyes from opening wide. "Oh my god! This is heaven. Your cook really is amazing!" she said, taking her second bite of the heavenly muffin and licking the gooey blueberry compote that had oozed out of the center from her lips.
Emily smiled back shyly, a slight bush on her cheeks. "Oh! Those are mine. I do the deserts and all of Grandma's dishes that are specially requested by customers. You really like it?" she looked back at Alison with an expression that said her opinion meant the world to her.
Alison found herself melting at the sight of those big brown doe eyes seeking her approval. 'Her' approval!
"This really is to die for. If I had known how good the food here is, I would have driven here everyday from across town all these years." She then fell silent. Her words had opened up the door to her life; the twenty-one years she had existed before she had found herself outside the cafe last night.
The silence in the room was interrupted by a voice from below the stairs, "Emily! Mrs. Lewis is on the phone inquiring if we can accommodate her son's birthday party this Friday." Emily got up and walked to the top of the stairs to discuss the details with Talia and returned a few minutes later to find Alison done with her breakfast. Emily downed her coffee and piled the plates and cups back into the tray.
"Alison, do you have any place to go to? If not, I was thinking you could live with me or a while. The house is big and I live there all alone. The company would be great." Emily picked her words carefully. She did not want to ask any questions that the blonde was not ready to answer. She then went on, "I would let you live here but Grandma gave Cece this place a long time back. I have some stuff here for emergencies but otherwise I don't impose."
"I don't want to cause any more trouble. I'll be fine. You don't need to inconvenience yourself." Alison was looking down at her hands on the table, her voice distant.
"Leave? And go where?" Emily inquired.
"I'll figure something out." Alison's eyes did not meet Emily's. She didn't want her to see the fear in them.
Emily had made up her mind. "You can figure it out staying at my place. I am not taking 'No' for an answer." Her tone left no room for argument. "I have got to be here to help with the morning rush. You are welcome to stay up here or come downstairs if you are up to it. I'll take the rest of the day off and we'll leave after lunch. Does that sound ok?" Her tone had softened.
Alison's eyes finally found her and were filled with an unsaid gratitude. She nodded and Emily let out a sigh of relief.
"I'll be downstairs," she said as she walked out, tray in hand. Halfway down the stairs she found herself looking at a tall, lean brunette with a displeased stern look on her face.
"I see you didn't care about a word I said this morning." Spencer spat out.
Emily was in no mood for an argument. "I did Spencer and I agree with everything you said. I just know that none of it is applicable in the present scenario," was her solemn reply.
"I can see that! The girl is obviously upstairs and I didn't see a cop car out front indicating the authorities have been informed." Her tone was sharp. Her expressions did nothing to hide her displeasure with the way Emily was handling the situation.
Spencer knew Emily as well as Emily knew her. The expression on her face told Spencer she was going to go nowhere if she pushed her. Spencer sighed and continued less forcefully, "Did it occur to you that the girl could be a victim of a serious crime, if not a criminal herself. Shouldn't the police be arresting whoever was responsible? You want to look out for the girl, right? Wouldn't she be safer if the person who attacked her was behind bars?"
Emily's shoulders relaxed. She knew Spencer was right but she just didn't have the heart to push the girl to talk. "I know all of that Spencer. I told you before; I agree with you. I just don't think she is ready. I don't want her hurt anymore than she already is."
"And you don't mind getting hurt in the bargain?" Spencer's voice was raised, her frustration evident. "She could be part of a drug cartel, a thief, a murderer. You have no way of knowing she isn't. The best-case scenario is that she was actually a victim and someone tried attacking her. Do you think they would be fine knowing she is out there somewhere capable of bearing witness to their crime? They would seek her out. This is Rosewood not NYC! Where is the room to hide? So they find her and she is with you. Do you think you are going to be safe? Emily this girl is bad news, no matter how you look at it. I will not let someone harm you, intentionally or otherwise. She will hurt you Em!"
Spencer's words were cut-off by a soft voice from behind Emily. "I won't hurt Emily, I can't let that happen. I will never be the cause for that. You are right. She has already done so much for me. I'll be out of here."
Emily swung around to find the blue eyes clouded over again, the sparkle in them gone. Alison was standing behind her with her overcoat on, Cece's sneakers on her feet, ready to leave.
Cliffhanger! Don't hate me. Leave me a review or talk to me on twitter ( shaylovesjustme Yeah, she does!)
