Page 1 of Since the Day We Wished

Chapter 1

Emma

Hadley Cove, Georgia

Emma Wright couldn’t stomach another bite of the veggie sandwich in front of her, unable to shake off the image of her soon-to-be ex-husband, Chad, and his new girlfriend, Ashley, leaving the courtroom arm-in-arm. A sigh escaped her lips as she reclined in the chair, her fingers sweeping the auburn curls away from her face. She had taken great care in preparing herself for the day’s court appearance, aware of the inevitable encounter with the man who had vowed to love her forever and the young woman who now had stepped into the role that was once hers.

At the dignified age of forty, Emma bore a beauty that had ripened with time. Her features, though etched with the subtle lines of life’s experiences, held a charm that was alluring. Yet, in the glow of Ashley’s youthful radiance, she felt the weight of the years she had weathered. Ashley, fifteen years Emma’s junior, carried sun-kissed blonde locks and a vitality that accentuated the striking contrast between her fresh bloom and Emma’s seasoned grace—a poignant reminder of the relentless march of time.

“Aren’t you gonna try to eat? We have to head back soon,” Lisa said, the contours of her face shaped by worry.

“I don’t think I can. I just want this all to be over.”

“It will be soon. We just gotta head back in there and listen to the judge’s ruling on the divorce. That’s it; pretty soon today will be nothing but a distant bad memory.”Lisa gave Emma’s arm a comforting squeeze and rose to her feet, picking up the red plastic basket. “I’ll go up to the counter and have them wrap this up. You can eat it later.”

Emma nodded as she walked away, barely hearing what her friend had said. She stared out the deli window, sipping down the last bit of water from her Styrofoam cup. Her brown eyes gazed toward a tree, where she saw two birds swoop by. She watched in envy as they soared through the air, landing gracefully on the rooftop of the Hadley Cove courthouse. Unlike the birds, Emma’s life hadn’t been so smooth over the past few months. Sheneverimagined this day would arrive when she took her wedding vows sixteen years ago.

“Alright. You ready?” Lisa asked upon returning.

Emma stood up and grabbed her purse. “I guess it’s time to get this over with.”

Back at the courthouse, she walked toward her lawyer and sat down next to him. He wasn’t one of the most prominent attorneys in coastal Georgia, but he was all she could afford on her own.

Emma turned toward Lisa, who had taken a seat behind her in the gallery and was met with a soft smile that had felt like a silent reassurance. But when Chad strolled in with Ashley hanging from his arm, Emma’s heart raced, pounding like a resounding drumbeat throughout her body.Why did he bring her with him?And why did she agree to come?As she continued watching them, Ashley reached up to Chad’s lapel, picking off a piece of lint and kissed him on the lips. Then as she took her seat, he gave a light tap on her behind.

The color drained from Emma’s face as she turned around and drew in a deep, shaky breath, fighting off the tears that had begun to sting her eyes. Years that seemed like a lifetime, spent beside this man, filled with the memories and the relationship she thought she had—and this is how it all would end.

“Don’t let him and that homewrecker get to you,” Lisa said, placing a hand on her shoulder, gently kneading to alleviate the built-up tension. “You’re worth more than both of them put together.”

Emma looked back and mouthed the words, “Thank you.” Digging into her purse, she grabbed a tissue to dab at her eyes, and noticed her lifelong friend staring daggers at Chad.

“What a total jerk. I’m about to go over there and tell him to make that girl leave.”

“Lisa, I love you, but please don’t. I want today to be as drama-free as possible. There’s already been enough arguing and shouting between us.”

Lisa sighed. “Okay. I won’t. But let me know if you change your mind. I have no problem telling Chad exactly what I think of him.”

A smile shined through despite Emma’s somber mood. “I know.”

At that moment, the judge walked back in from his chambers. An officer followed him out and stood to the left of the bench. “Court is now back in session with the honorable Judge Williams presiding. All rise.”

Emma stood, smoothing out the knee-length black skirt she was wearing, and kept her eyes straight forward. The last thing she wanted to do was look at Chad again knowing she wouldn’t be able to control her emotions. It was bad enough her eyes were probably red and puffy looking. If only she could run to the bathroom to fix her face, she thought. But there was no time for that now.

“Please be seated.” Emma’s heart thudded against her chest as Judge Williams spoke.

“Now that we’ve had a recess, it’s time to finalize the divorce between Chad Alan Jones and Emma Leigh Wright.”

The judge shuffled through the papers in his hands and began to read. “The combined assets of Mr. Jones and Ms. Wright, acquired during the time of their marriage, furniture, jewelry, etc., shall be sold, and the profits will be equally divided. Since Ms. Wright has refused alimony from Mr. Jones, she will keep all her personal belongings, as well as full custody of Riley, the rescue dog they adopted together. Next, their place of residence at fourteen twenty-two Muscadine Drive will be sold, with the profits being equally divided between Mr. Jones and Ms. Wright. This will conclude all conjugal property…”

A solitary tear rolled down Emma’s cheek at the mention of her house. The mere thought of selling it tugged at her heartstrings, as it had been her grandfather’s home before gifting it to her as a wedding present. The house held countless cherished memories; its walls steeped in the moments that shaped her journey. She had always envisioned it as the place where she would grow old and spend her twilight years sitting on the porch and watching the sunset every evening. Then again, Chad had always been in that picture too. At that point, Judge Williams had finished reading and banged his gavel on the wooden block in front of him, declaring the court session over.

Emma’s gaze shifted to Chad, curious about his response to the judge’s ruling. She felt a knot growing in her stomach, watching the wry smile stretch across his face as he shook hands with his lawyer. Turning toward Emma, he shrugged his shoulders and flashed her a smirk.

Unable to bear the sight, she looked away, closing her eyes. She focused on her breathing, inhaling and exhaling in measured rhythm. Silently, she began to count down from ten to recenter herself. Before she could finish, Lisa came to her side.

“Are you alright?”

“No, not really. I just need to get home. While it still is home, anyway.”

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