Page 121 of Merrily Ever After
‘I make a total mess of it, make no money and have to go back to being a secretary feeling like a failure?’
‘But it won’t have been a failure because you’ll have learned stuff along the way,’ Merry argued. ‘Look, next year is going to happen anyway, so you might as well spend it doing something you love. And if this time next year, you end up being a secretary again, at least you’ve had a stab at living the dream.’
Emily stared at her. ‘I can’t decide if that’s the worst or the best career advice I’ve ever had in my life.’
Merry grinned. ‘You’re going to take it though, aren’t you?’
‘You know what?’ said Emily, her mind whirring with possibilities. ‘I think I might.’
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Emily
24 DECEMBER
‘You keep staring at me.’ Emily gave Will a sideways look. ‘I can feel your eyes on me.’
It was Christmas Eve, the day of the wedding, and she and Will were walking along the corridor towards her dad’s room, hand in hand.
‘Do I?’ He smiled, all wide blue-eyed innocence. ‘I can’t help it. You look so beautiful.’
It was on the tip of her tongue to brush off the compliment, say something derogatory, like how her outfit hid a multitude of sins, but instead, she smiled, her heart bouncing with joy. ‘Thank you, I feel beautiful.’
She’d found the vintage navy dress, tipped with pink and matching jacket (very Jackie O, the shop assistant had whispered) only yesterday. It had been a last-minute shopping trip with her mum, who Merry had invited to the wedding along with Emily’s stepdad. Tina and Ian were busy this afternoon but would be joining them at Hester’s house for the reception later. The wedding dress now fitted like a satin glove and Merry had cried when she’d seen her reflection. In fact, they all had. And although not completely pink, Emily thought her outfit would fit in perfectly with the bridesmaids’ dresses.
‘You scrub up nicely yourself.’ Emily brushed a tiny piece of fluff from his borrowed suit jacket.
Will tugged at his shirt collar. ‘I’ve only ever been to one wedding and it was on a beach in Cape Verde. We all wore shorts, including the bride and groom.’
They stopped outside her dad’s room and faced each other. Emily ran her hands down his lapels, smoothing the fabric, which, she acknowledged to herself, was just another excuse to touch him.
‘Right now,’ she said, already worrying about the state of undress they were going to find her dad in, ‘that sounds like the dream.’
Will’s eyes flashed. ‘I’ll bear that in mind for future reference.’
Emily’s hands curled around the back of his neck, and he stepped closer. ‘So, do you think we have a future then?’
He held her gaze. ‘For as long as you’ll have me.’
Her heart swelled. The truth was that she was falling in love with this man. And yes, she’d only known him less than two months. But she couldn’t imagine a future without him.
‘I …’ Emily interrupted herself with a gasp and laughed. ‘I almost said I love you then. But it’s too soon, isn’t it?’
‘Oh yes,’ he said with mock seriousness. ‘Far too soon. Wait until tomorrow morning at least. It can be my Christmas present.’
‘Deal.’ Happiness bubbled up inside her. And he was hers. Along with finding Merry, he was the best present she could wish for. ‘Now all we need to do is get Dad to the church on time.’
Will kissed her. ‘It’ll be fine, I love a challenge.’
‘It’s only us,’ she called, opening the door. ‘Emily and Will.’
Her dad was in the bathroom drying his hands, dressed in trousers and a shirt. Good start.
‘Don’t lethimin,’ Ray grumbled, jerking his head towards Will. ‘Always making me do daft stuff.’
Emily smiled, bemused, but pleased he knew who they both were today without prompting. ‘What stuff?’
‘We’ve been working on his balance,’ Will explained. ‘Walking in a straight line, standing on one leg, heel lifts. Have you been doing those exercises I told you about?’ he asked Ray.
