Throw Away the Key

Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“?Wait, she just left?” Zora stepped away from all of the excitement when she saw Granny pulling Emma away to console her in Zora’s office. “What's going on?”

“I don't know. One minute, Reid was proposing to you and everybody was excited, and I looked over and Granny was so happy– all of us were just cheering. And then I looked at Sadie and there was something in her face, it was like her whole vibe changed immediately.” She’s spooked. Maybe for good this time.

“She did say bye to me,” Granny cut in. “She apologized and said she had to leave.”

“Yeah, she said the same to me, but no reason for why things were so abrupt,” Emma realized she was wringing her hands and clasped them behind her back.

“Maybe she got an emergency text message from a tenant or something… Maybe, it's something completely unrelated to what was happening here,” Zora said hopefully.

Emma tried to smile, but she wasn’t feeling it. “Or maybe it was directly related to what was happening here.”

Reid strolled over, pride apparent in his face as he joined his bride-to-be.

Emma walked from behind the desk to give him another hug. “Congratulations again, bruh, that was so beautiful.”

“Yeah, man, I wanted to tell you–I just wasn't sure that you would be able to keep it to yourself,” Reid squeezed Emma before standing behind Zora, kissing the crown of her head.

“Who was it that told you that I can't hold water? I keep secrets all the time.” Zora and Granny looked at each other and looked away, Zora staring at the ceiling as Granny peered over her shoulder, plucking at imaginary lint. “I can keep a secret,” Emma emphasized, even as the different secrets she blurted out came to mind–like that time she lost Zora’s favorite sweater. “Don't play me like that… maybe I could keep a secret.”

Zora snorted. “That’s a strong maybe, sis.” Granny bit back a laugh.

“So what’s going on? Didn't you come here with someone?” Reid wrapped an arm around Zora’s waist, and she leaned into his body, her hand caressing his.

“Yeah, she cut out after you… after Zora said yes.” Was it because she said yes? Is she a commitment-phobe?

“Damn, well I hope she's okay.”

“Yeah, I'll check on her when I go home. It definitely threw me off,” Emma shook her head and waved off the thought to regroup. “But this time right now is about y'all. We need to celebrate!”

Zora glowed. Her thick curls were pulled up into a fluffy pineapple, her fresh-faced look accentuated by a golden highlight. “I like to see you take charge like this, especially since you're gonna be my maid of honor.”

Emma blinked in shock. “Me?” Warmth emanated from her chest as the weight of responsibility fell on her shoulders like a cement block. “For real?”

“Well, who else would be my maid of honor, really? How many best friends do you think I have?” Zora giggled.

“Well, Granny is one,” Emma counted on her fingers. “And Reid is one at this point…” She tried to think of other close friends, but Zora kept her immediate circle small. “Maybe a cousin?”

“Girl, what? Granny is gonna walk me down the aisle and obviously Reid is the groom, so that only leaves one person available for the job. I love the rest of my family, but you are the only other person I would want to stand with me. There is one thing though–something that I really, really need for you to promise me.” Zora leaned her head closer as Reid grinned behind her.

Emma held her breath. “What's that?” On one hand, her chest swelled with love for her chosen sister. On the other, the coordination of different moments ignited her anxiety. She’d never been maid of honor before, and planning events was not her strong suit.

Zora stepped out of Reid’s arms and reached for Emma’s hands, squeezing them tightly. “I need you to promise me that you understand,” she spoke slowly, deliberately, her gaze so intense it made Emma’s eyes widen, “that if you lose the wedding bands before the wedding, I will kill you.”

“Um,” Emma's eyes darted from Zora to Reid to Granny, none of them smiling or laughing. “Uh, are you sure you want me in this role? You and I both know my strengths and weaknesses, and I prefer to stay amongst the living.”

“Do your job correctly, and you will.” Zora stared her down ominously.

Emma laughed awkwardly. “Ah, okay, I, I hear you. Maybe don't give them to me until the very last minute?” Reid nodded behind Zora, assuaging Emma’s fears. Do they make wedding carabiners?

“But you’re saying yes, right?”

Emma nodded, willing herself not to fuck up. “Of course. I’m probably going to ugly cry while y’all say your vows, but that would be true no matter where I was in the room.”

Zora’s face softened as she pulled her best friend into a tight embrace. “I mean it, Em. I wouldn’t want anyone else to stand up there with me. But come on, let's go back–we've still got some more creatives doing readings. Intermission’s almost done.”

The crowd of people had descended on the dessert table and were milling about, chatting and laughing while lo-fi beats played in the background.

“Okay, sounds good,” her voice hollowed. All she could think about was getting home.

Zora examined her best friend. “Listen, are you okay? Do you want to get out of here? I’d totally understand if you wanted to leave and go check on her.”

“No, no, I'm fine. I want to be here and celebrate with y’all after.”

Zora nodded. “Okay, sis.”

The emcee called the audience back to their seats and introduced the next performers. Each went up with a different flavor and style–the spoken word was sexy and daring–a variety of artistic demonstrations of emotion and strength and grit. Zora and Reid went back toward the side of the stage while Granny returned to her seat.

Emma leaned her head in her hands, her elbows on the counter. She tried to remain present, to hear the art being shared, but she had a hard time not allowing her mind to drift to thoughts of Sadie. What the hell was her problem? Why’s she so shifty?

“Hey,” Joy walked up to the counter, her voice jolting Emma, from her thoughts.

“Hey, Joy. Are you having a good time?” Emma tried to sound cheerful but her tone fell flat.

“I am! I wish we’d known about these a while ago–I will definitely be coming here with more frequency,” she gushed before her expression morphed into something more serious. “Listen, I saw Sadie leave. Did something come up?”

Emma pressed her lips together, pulling them into a tight smile as she shrugged. “She didn't really say.”

Joy nodded, knowingly.

“Um, should I be worried?” Emma asked. “The timing of her departure makes me wonder if maybe the proposal was triggering for her.”

It was Joy’s turn to vaguely tug at the corners of her mouth, genuine care in her face. “It's not my business to share, but I want to encourage you not to give up. There's something between you two, and I can tell that Sadie likes you a lot.”

Emma blew out a frustrated breath. “Should I be worried?”

“I don’t think so. Just talk to her.”

Emma nodded. “Thanks, Joy. You know, Granny and I were talking about your art installation and we want to bring Zora and Reid to come and see it.”

“Yes, I'd love that! Shoot me a text and let me know when–I’d love to be there when y’all come through.”

“Will do, I still have your card.”

“Perfect. Well,” she reached over the counter to pull Emma into a hug. “Take care, and I'm sure I'll see you soon.”

“Sounds good. Probably at the farmer's market,” Emma smiled.

“Right,” Joy grinned.

Emma waved as Joy exited the store, her shoulders drooping as time passed.

Later that night, as she arrived back home from having drinks with Zora and Reid and Granny, she knocked at Sadie's door, but there was no sound and no answer. She could hear the faint sounds of Billie Holiday and assumed that Sadie had either fallen asleep or simply wasn’t ready to talk, so she climbed her steps to her apartment,

wondering whether she and Sadie had made a mistake.