Page 93 of Merrily Ever After
‘Oh, my Lord!’ Emily laughed, looking around. ‘We’re the last ones here.’
‘Everyone must have left without us even noticing,’ I said in surprise.
We stood up and got our things together and bickered over paying the bill.
‘I’m the oldest,’ I said, enjoying the sound of that for the first time. ‘My treat.’
We thanked Delilah, leaving her a tip and promising to come back soon, and left together. The ice-cold air swirled around my face, and I pulled my scarf up and put my gloves on.
‘So, what next?’ I asked. ‘Where do we go from here?’
Emily grinned. ‘How do you fancy meeting Dad?’
‘Would that be OK?’ My stomach pinged with trepidation. ‘When?’
Her eyes sparkled in the reflection of the café fairy lights. ‘Is tonight too soon?’
My heart swooped with joy and I gave a burst of laughter. ‘Seriously? Tonight would be amazing.’
We quickly sorted out the details and hugged our goodbyes. The decades of being an only child were over and I felt like my heart might just break with happiness.
Chapter Thirty
Emily
14 DECEMBER
Emily could hear her dad humming in his bathroom. He always took ages. Sometimes he was so long that she had to knock on the door to check on him. Usually, he’d forgotten what he’d gone in there for, and he’d be reading the back of a shampoo bottle or something random. But at least he was humming, which was a good sign. He could be very curmudgeonly when he wanted to be. And she wanted this first meeting with Merry to be a success.
She pulled back the curtains a little bit and opened a window. Dad had eaten his dinner in his room and there was an eggy pong in the air. She didn’t want Merry sitting there holding her nose.
Her phone buzzed with a text message from Izzy asking for an update and her heart skipped. She pressed call and Izzy answered on the first ring.
‘Emily!’ Izzy breathed a sigh of relief. ‘I’ve been going out of my head wanting to know how it was all going. And I didn’t want to call in case you were still with her and it was obvious I was after the gossip.’
‘God, I miss you at times like this.’ Emily sighed wistfully.
‘I miss you too, but cheer up, you’ve got a sister now.’
‘Wethink,’ Emily reminded her. ‘There’s no actual proof; Merry didn’t ever know who her dad was. But whether we are related or not, I’ve definitely gained a new friend. Not that she’ll ever replace you.’
Izzy laughed. ‘Glad to hear it. Sounds like your coffee date went well then?’
‘Really well. I’m in Dad’s flat now and she’s on her way over.’
‘You are kidding me!’ Izzy gasped. ‘Wow, you sisters don’t hang around.’
‘We’ve hung around long enough,’ Emily replied. ‘I can’t wait for you to meet her. She is lovely and funny. And she’s made a real success of her life after a tricky start. I’m really proud of her.’
‘Oh, Em, I’m so pleased it’s gone well so far,’ Izzy said softly. ‘And a new man on the scene too. I couldn’t be happier for you. You deserve all the good things.’
‘I can’t wait you for to meet Will in person either.’ Emily felt a thrill at the sound of his name. She’d phoned Izzy back after Will had left last night and told her all about him. Izzy approved.
‘New Year’s Eve party at ours?’ Izzy suggested. ‘Bring him with you. Just think about it.’
Izzy had the best parties and where she lived meant that she and Andrew could have a fire on the beach and see in the New Year under the stars with the sound of the sea as their soundtrack. Will would love that. Emily had said no when Izzy had first asked her because she was still looking after Dad. But now … her head whirled, wondering. Maybe there was a chance …
The sound of the toilet flushing signalled that her time was almost up.
