Page 102 of Merrily Ever After
‘Emily?’ The two of them broke apart as Merry’s voice interrupted their moment. ‘I’d like to come back and chat to him again. Would that be OK?’
Emily beamed. ‘Of course! You don’t have to ask my permission. You’re family.’
Merry reached for her hand and squeezed it. ‘Thank you.’
‘Is that definite then?’ Cole asked, looking between the two women. ‘You’ve confirmed that Ray’s your father?’
Emily and Merry exchanged glances and nodded.
‘We’re definitely family,’ Emily confirmed.
‘Family.’ Merry’s eyes shone with tears. ‘I never thought I’d hear anyone say that about me.’ She looked up at Cole apologetically. ‘Blood relatives, I mean, as opposed to by marriage.’
Cole wiped away a tear from her cheek. ‘I know what you mean.’
‘Awww,’ Kylie sang out from behind the reception desk.
The four of them looked at her and she blushed. ‘Sorry, I can’t help listening. I’ve been WhatsApping my friendswith updates. No names, obviously. But this long-lost family story is everything.’
‘It is everything.’ Emily’s eyes glittered as Will slipped his hand into hers and gave it a squeeze.
‘Hey, you two should come to our pre-wedding dinner party on Friday,’ said Merry, her eyes dancing. ‘So you can meet Cole’s family. Nell will be there, who you’ve met.’
‘Thank you, I’d love to come,’ said Emily. She looked at Will nervously. She’d feel braver if he was there, but it was a bit early in their relationship to be thrusting a big family event on him, especially when it was family she hadn’t even met herself. ‘Um, Will?’
‘I’d like that, if you’re sure? I wouldn’t want to intrude.’ Will looked at her for approval and she could have kissed him.
‘We’ll both be there,’ Emily confirmed, feeling giddy with happiness. ‘Will Harley and Freya be there?’
Cole shook his head. ‘Unfortunately not, they’re with their mum.’
Merry pulled a face. ‘Surely Lydia wouldn’t mind as it’s a special occasion?’
‘They’ve already got plans, darling.’ Cole looked awkwardly at Emily and Will, clearly not comfortable discussing this in front of them.
Emily took the hint. ‘Not to worry, another time.’
He smiled gratefully. ‘They’ll be at the wedding; you’ll meet them then.’
Emily felt her cheeks get hot and didn’t know where to look; this was the first she’d heard of an invitation.
Merry gasped and smacked a hand to her forehead. ‘YES! Oh heavens, I haven’t invited you to the wedding.’ She grabbed Emily’s hands. ‘Can you come? Do you already have plans? I mean, it’s Christmas Eve, I wouldn’t expectyou to change them for us. But it would mean a lot to have you there.’
Emily was laughing by the time Merry took a breath.
‘There’s nothing I can’t shuffle around,’ said Emily. The only things she’d got in her diary over Christmas was to clear Dad’s flat and Julia didn’t mind when she did that. ‘I wouldn’t miss my sister’s wedding for the world. But I can’t answer for Will, we’ve actually only been on one date.’
‘And that was to stand outside Merry and Bright,’ Will butted in.
‘Can you come?’ Emily bit her lip, feeling terribly guilty about putting him on the spot in front of the happy couple. ‘Are you free on Christmas Eve? I mean, it’s a big ask, I’ll understand if you—’
‘Hell yes!’ Will said with a grin and held Emily’s gaze. ‘I’d love to. Thanks for the invite.’
Merry’s eyes shone, and she shook her head in disbelief. ‘I’m going to have my family at the wedding, somebody pinch me!’
Just then, her stomach gave a massive rumble, even bigger than the one in the café, and they all laughed.
‘Someone needs dinner,’ said Cole, putting his arm around her. ‘We should head off.’
