49. Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Forty-Nine
E mma
The wind skitters over the river and sweeps through my hair, fluttering it around my face. I brush it back and take a deep breath, inhaling the fresh smell of the lake, and the comforting eggnog smell of Grandpa seated beside me, his Chinaman’s hat obscuring his eyes.
We're currently sailing in the middle of the lake, close to Litchie's cave. The soothing swish of the water and occasional bird call are the only sounds we hear, but the silence is comfortable. I can tell Grandpa is deep in thought.
I allow him to do that while brushing his shoulder with mine to let him know I'm here in case he needs to talk. It’s been a rough few weeks, for him especially.
He went to visit Rick in jail earlier today for the first time since he learned of everything that happened. I was initially against the visit. I didn’t want Grandpa to do anything that would trigger another heart attack, but he insisted that he was fine.
When I'd first told him the story of everything that happened, he got very quiet and was too shocked and maybe also too furious to visit Rick.
But today when he finally went to the station, it was Rick who was silent.
Rick sat in the jail cell, his head bowed, with his back to the wall. He couldn’t meet Grandpa’s eyes, not even when Grandpa told me, "Leave us alone."
I reluctantly obeyed. I took that opportunity to go grab us some lunch. I was gone for about thirty minutes. I don't know what they talked about but by the time I returned, there were tear streaks down both men’s cheeks.
"Grandpa?" I whispered as I approached them, with my throat tight. Seeing Grandpa cry made me want to cry too.
Grandpa shook his head and turned away from Rick. "Let's go, Emma Jane."
So we left and went fishing. He's been pensive ever since.
I don’t blame him. Rick’s crime shook a lot of people in this town, perhaps especially Lou. I saw her a few days ago at her restaurant during closing time, and she was standing at the counter staring into space.
Her eyes were tired and red, her cheeks streaked with tears, her face swollen. I had no doubt she had been crying the whole day, which was a difficult thing for a tough woman like her to do.
When our eyes met, I didn’t say anything. I simply walked to her and gave her a hug from behind. She held herself stiffly at first, too proud to break, but finally the sobs tore from her throat and she sagged against my body.
“He said he did it for me,” she cried as she turned around to hold me tight, shaking like she was going to shatter into pieces. “When I went to see him in jail, he told me that he wanted us to have money to retire, so I wouldn’t have to work so hard. What a fool!”
“It’s okay,” was all I could say as tears jumped into my eyes too. Rick’s situation hurt me too, as much as I tried to hide it and hold it together for Grandpa. I still had a lot of affection for him but that kind of betrayal, I wasn’t sure I could get over it. I could deeply relate to how Lou was feeling.
“It’s not your fault,” I tell her. Because even though Rick might have had a few altruistic reasons for what he did, it doesn’t take away the fact that he committed a series of crimes that could have killed or at least seriously injured Declan’s daughter. It also led to the deaths of several members of this town. As much as we love him, he needs to pay the price for that, even if we all suffer as a result.
Just like Grandpa is suffering now.
"Are you okay?" I ask him, my words somewhat muffled by another gust of wind.
He turns to me and smiles sadly. "I’m okay, kiddo. It’s just Rick I’m thinking about. I’m pissed at him, and the Mayor Duncan. But I mean with Mayor Duncan, I always knew he was kinda shifty even though we were pals. But Rick…I never in a million years thought he would end up there."
“Me either.” I lean my head against his shoulder. "You’re worried about him?"
"He’s always been chasing something." Grandpa murmurs as though talking to himself. "We both grew up poor but Rick was worse off than I was. And he hated it, especially when he saw how the other half lived, whenever they would come to the hotel for their vacations and he would be stuck catering to them. He started chasing that one thing that would make him a millionaire, like them. I thought he’d grown out of that as he got older. After we opened the bar, I hoped he was content and had settled down. So I didn’t see the signs that anything was wrong.
I take his hand and squeeze it. "I’m sorry Grandpa."
"It’s alright, darling, it’s not your fault. It's not mine either. I just wish I saw it before it was too late."
A distant lark chirps and Grandpa lazily swings his fishing pole.
"If it makes you feel better, Declan isn't pressing any charges against Rick," I point out, straightening. People died in his cabin and Rick has to face the consequences for that but Declan is dropping the kidnapping and breaking-and-entering charges
"That’s nice of him," Grandpa says, tugging his pole halfheartedly. "He’s a good man."
"He is," I say. "I’m in love with him, Grandpa."
"I know." My grandfather gives me a droll look that reminds me of Amelia. "I may be old but I’m not senile. Anyone with two working eyes could tell you were in love with him. And he’s in love with you too, even though he may not know it."
"Oh, he knows it. He told me."
"Well, that's good." Grandpa chuckles. "I guess you finally picked one right." He throws me a sidelong look with a smirk.
"Grandpa." I groan.
"Sorry hon. I couldn't resist."
I also finally reminded Grandpa of who Xavier is and explained how he was involved in this whole thing. Apparently, he'd found out about the Rainbow Pearl business through his uncle, when Xavier showed him the pearl I gifted him.
Xavier's uncle had then told him of men who dealt in pearls, and Xavier's investigation of this led back to Rick. Xavier eventually went to Rick in person and asked to be included, starting a very messy business relationship.
It’s also why he wanted to get back together with me even after we broke up. It had nothing to do with his feelings for me. He was just determined to use me to get more information on the Pearls and ensure that Rick didn’t sideline him.
For some reason, that particular piece of news relieved me. It’s nice to know that the pearl exchange curse isn’t real. Xavier was never obsessed with me in the first place. He simply was obsessed with money.
Like Rick, Xavier was also sitting in prison, which is strange because I expected his family to bail him out by now. Then again, according to Jensen, Xavier's family had fallen into debt, which is why he took on this crazy scheme in the first place. I haven't spoken to Xavier since everything happened, not wanting to waste any more time on him, but I know Declan in particular is eager to have his charges stick.
"At the very least he has to pay for what he did to you," Declan said. And while I don't encourage vengeance, it's sweet that he's so mad about the stalking on my behalf, especially since I was afraid for so long that no one would believe me.
"We have to go soon," I point out to Grandpa. "Declan is expecting us at the Pink Hotel." Today kicks off the beginning of the fall festival, and Declan has generously agreed to let the town use the hotel front lawn for the fair, even though the hotel isn't renovated yet.
Unfortunately, the Tiki Bar is closed for the time being until the FBI's investigation is over, but at least we can have some fun at the party.
"Okay," Grandpa says. "Help me up."
I rise and take his hand pulling him to his feet. But then he quickly falls back to sitting, dragged by something on the end of his fishing line.
"Quick help me," he says, his eyes wide. "I think I caught a big one.
I squat and put my hand over his, helping him pull. My eyes immediately widen at the strength of the force in the opposite direction. It really must be an enormous fish.
The catch fights back, trying to drag us into the water, but I dig my heels in and lean back.
"Come on," I mutter. "Come on out you sucker."
Finally, the line slackens and we pull with all our might, as the fish leaps into our boat slapping on the floor violently.
"Jesus." It's the largest pike I've ever seen in my life.
"I got it." My Grandpa says and laughs in pure elation. "I finally got the damn bastard. I told you I would."
I don't approach the fish, for fear that its violent dancing will knock me into the water. "Is it real?"
"Of course it's real, Emma Jane! I told you. It’s a strange little town we live in."
A surprised laugh escapes me as Grandpa pulls me into a celebratory hug. We laugh and jump together and when the fish finally stills, we approach it to extract it from the hook.
That's when we see that Grandpa's fishing hook isn't the only thing in its mouth.
There's something else, an orb that makes my mouth drop open and my heart stop.
Deep in the fish's mouth, near its throat, about the width of a coin is a shining pink pearl.
Grandpa is all smiles when we get to the Pink Hotel, ready to tell everyone of his feat. I'm eager too to announce that we found a Pink Pearl. It's so unbelievable that I can barely believe it myself. Amelia is going to have a heart attack when she finds out. I'm not sure yet if we can keep it. If the FBI doesn't confiscate it, or if they say I can keep it, I would like to put it back in the Pink Hotel where it belongs.
As Grandpa and I step onto the lawn, the air is ripe with smells of cotton candy, and noise and children playing around the stands. Kites float in the air, and frame the sunset and chatter fills the atmosphere. It’s such a nostalgic scene, I’m instantly elated. I wish I could have brought Remy, but I didn’t want him barking at strangers and causing a scene, so we left him home.
Through the crowd, I search for Declan, eager to tell him what I've found.
"Dr. Han!" Grandpa waves. The minute Grandpa spots the poor doctor, he makes a bee-line for him and immediately steers the innocent man away from his date, likely telling him about the pike and the pearl.
I glance around, still searching for Declan over the heads of everyone else. It seems everyone in town is already here and I even notice some unfamiliar faces. I finally find Rachel and Amelia standing near the entrance of the hotel, quibbling about something. Sandy is beside them, looking amused. And then there's Declan’s dad standing with Micah.
Finally, a few feet away I find Declan.
He's standing alone with his hands in his pockets, staring straight at me. Underneath his sleeve, one of his biceps is still wrapped in a bandage and as he walks to me, his movements are slightly awkward, favoring his wounded side.
I still can’t believe I almost lost him.
My heart squeezes in fear again, but I refuse to let it overcome me and take away my happiness at this moment.
A lovesick smile sits on his lips, probably the same one spreading mine as I run to him.
"Hey," he says when I reach him. He drags me close and kisses me on the lips right there in front of everyone, making my heart feel like it's exploding out of my chest. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." We haven’t had much time together due to the chaos of everything and my body lets me know how much it misses him, practically purring into his touch.
"I have to tell you something, Declan. The most amazing thing happened."
"In a bit," he says. He glances at someone over my shoulder, signaling them.
"Why?" I try to look back, but he doesn't let me, keeping his hand on my chin. "What's going on?"
But then suddenly the music stops. Everyone around us pauses and then Declan finally smiles, putting his hands on my shoulders and turning me around.
I gasp and slap my hands over my mouth.
There are words in the sky. I don't know how he got them up there, likely with kites, but there are letters suspended over the lake.
It's such a beautiful sight that I'm in awe and it takes me a second to read the words.
But when I do, my heart stops.
It spells out: "Will you marry me, Emma?"
I look around and notice that everyone has stopped whatever they're doing and is now staring at us.
Declan just proposed to me.
My mind slowly processes it.
He planned this whole thing to propose to me.
In a daze, I glance back to Declan who is now on one knee, holding a glittering ring in his hand.
"Emma, my sunshine, the love of my life. I don't have enough words to tell you how much you mean to me, and how much I want you to be mine. Will you marry me?"
I jump up and down on my toes, squealing so loud that I probably trigger any wildlife for miles. As Declan straightens, I jump right into his arms and he winces.“Oh I’m so sorry! Did I hurt you?” I retreat instantly, but Declan laughingly pulls me back into a sweet kiss. Choruses and cheers break out around us.
"I can't believe you planned all this," I practically sob from happiness when we finally come up for air.
"I helped," Amelia says, trots up from behind her dad. She hugs both of us simultaneously. "And mom did too. She's the romantic one out of all of us."
"That I am," Rachel says with a proud sniff. She gives me a genuine grin. "Congratulations, Emma."
"Thank you," I let go of Declan to take her hand and draw her into a hug. "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome, sweetie," Rachel responds, hugging me back.
"Well, I guess I missed out on my chance." This comes from Micah who saunters up to us. Declan shoots him a mild warning glare, to which Micah holds up his hand defensively.
And then I feel a finger tap my shoulder turn around to see Poppy and...."Tate?"
I gape at my best friend's freckled face as she smiles. "Hey babe. I'm back."
"Tate!" I throw my arms around my best friend and we squeeze each other tight while making barely intelligible noises. "Oh my God. I didn’t know you were coming."
"Of course, I was going to be here," She pulls back and her eyes are also misty, her red curls escaping her bun and falling around her face. "My best friend is getting married, I wasn't going to miss the proposal."
My eyes widen. "Wait, you knew?"
She nods. "My mom told me."
I turn to Poppy who gestures to Declan. "He told me and asked me if I could get Tate to come."
"Wait, you two talk?" I glance between them. Last I knew, Poppy hated Declan.
But now she shrugs mildly. "He's not so bad," she says, which for Poppy is pretty much a love declaration.
I’m amazed and wonder how they started talking in the first place. It probably has to do with Declan dropping Nate Huntley’s charges, and Poppy’s determination to put that boy back on the straight and narrow. According to her, that’s why she went to see him in jail so many times, trying to get through to him.
“I knew his grandmother,” she told me. “Nice lady. I thought it’ll be a real shame if this is all her grandson amounts to.”
"Just how many people knew about this?" I ask Declan while still staring at Poppy. “Everyone?”
Declan shrugs. “Everyone who is important.”
"I didn't," Grandpa says, sounding mildly offended as he walks to us, with his arm laced through Dr. Han's as though preventing his escape.
"That's because you got a big mouth and can't keep a secret to save your life," Poppy points out to which Grandpa frowns and opens his mouth to say something.
But I don't quite catch what Grandpa says. In fact, I tune out the rest of their bickering because I'm too busy staring at Declan.
He's staring at me and I can see the love glowing from his eyes.
And I can't help but think that with this and the discovery of the Pink Pearl, it was all fated to be. That the universe really is resetting itself. That all this is a new beginning for everyone in Laketown.
"Just so you know, I think we're going to be together forever," I tell Declan in a low tone.
He smiles bemused "Why do you say that?"
I shake my head. "Just a feeling."