Chapter 31 Andrew
Emily slips back into the ballroom, but something in her posture catches my attention. She doesn't look around or search for me.
Instead, she makes a direct line for Lisa, and within seconds, the two of them are huddled together, their heads close, expressions tense.
I cross the room toward them, weaving through the remaining guests. As I approach, my attention is drawn to Emily’s posture. Her shoulders are drawn tight, her fingers clenching and unclenching as she talks to Lisa.
Worry stirs in my chest.
“Emily,” I say as I get closer.
She’s startled, looking up, and for a split second, there’s something like fear in her eyes. But it vanishes quickly, replaced by that familiar smile I know so well.
“Andrew,” she says, her tone light.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, watching her closely.
She nods quickly, brushing off my concern with a wave of her hand. “Everything’s fine,” she replies, her smile unwavering. But there’s tension there, barely hidden.
I study her face, searching for the truth behind her words. “Is it your mother?” I press gently.
“No, no, my mother’s fine,” she says with a small laugh that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “She was just tired and begged to leave early. I told her it was fine.”
Her hand touches mine, her fingers cool and soft, and she flashes me a flirty smile, a glimmer of the Emily I know and love. She’s okay.
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, a wave of relief flooding through me. Maybe it’s just been a long day, or maybe my mind’s working overtime.
I’ve never loved anyone this deeply before, and it’s strange, this mix of worry and devotion .
Emily tilts her head toward the dance floor. “How about we finish that dance?”
I smile, holding out my hand. “Let’s do it.”
We return to the center of the room, and I wrap my arms around her, feeling her warmth against me as we sway to the soft music.
But she’s quiet, her mind seemingly elsewhere, and I can feel the slight distance, even as I hold her close. For the rest of the evening, that same quiet lingers.
She smiles at the guests, nods when others speak to her, but she’s in another world, her focus turned inward.
While she’s talking to my mother, I notice Lisa at the bar counter nursing a drink. I head towards her. Even though she’s Emily’s best friend, we barely know each other, but, hopefully time will remedy that.
“Hey,” I say and she looks up at me and smiles.
“You guys did a fantastic job. It’s all over the internet,” Lisa says.
“Thank you.” The Army Base is not what I wanted to talk to her about. “I want to ask you something and I need you to be completely honest with me,” I say.
She suddenly looks uncomfortable, fidgeting. “Sure, Andrew, what is it?”
“It’s about Emily. Something is obviously bothering her and I can’t get it out of her. I want to make it better for her but I really need to know what’s going on?”
At first, I was poking in the dark, but, Lisa’s reaction confirms it for me. She looks like a trapped animal.
She takes a gulp of her drink and makes a show out of swallowing. I’m in no rush. I’ll wait for as long as necessary. I’m patient when I choose to be.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she says in a choked voice. “Today’s been a great day but tiring as well. Maybe that’s what you’re sensing from Emily. ”
I lean on the counter and lock eyes with her. I hate that I’m putting her in this spot but she’s the only one who can help me right now.
“I know when my wife is tired,” I say. “This is not exhaustion bothering her. It’s something else.”
Lisa slides from her stool and stands up. “I really need to go to the washroom.” She flees, weaving between people as if she’s being chased.
I’m more puzzled than ever. Frustration grows inside me and I order a drink from the barman. As I sip on it, something dawns on me. I’m doing exactly what Emily accused me of doing when I renovated her apartment.
I’m attempting to control a situation.
If there’s something wrong, Emily will tell me herself in her own time. I drain the last of my whiskey. I’m going to trust her and believe that she can make her own decisions without me.
Eventually, the last of the guests say their goodbyes, and as the lights dim in the ballroom, Emily and I step out into the night.
The quiet of the evening feels soothing after the endless mingling, and I reach for her hand, feeling the coolness of her fingers against my own.
The drive home is peaceful, and I don’t push for conversation. I can sense her exhaustion, the weight of the day on her, and maybe it’s just that simple. It’s been an emotional night, full of nerves and excitement.
We pull into the driveway, and as we step out of the car, Emily’s phone rings, breaking the stillness of the night.
She looks up at me, apologetic. “It’s my mom. I’ll just talk to her, then join you inside?”
I nod, squeezing her hand. “Of course. Take your time.”
She gives me a small smile, gesturing for me to go ahead as she answers the call.
Inside, I head upstairs, exhaustion settling over me. A shower will perk me up. I’ve been looking forward to a private celebration with Emily. I step into the bedroom, pulling off my jacket and slowly unbuttoning my shirt, hoping she’ll join me soon.
I strip down, the cool air prickling my skin, but in the back of my mind, I imagine Emily here with me, close and warm.
I finish showering and wrapping myself in a towel, I step back into our bedroom. Emily hasn’t come yet.
I enter the bed naked and lay on my back, the events of the day running through my mind. The launch couldn’t have gone any more perfectly. My father called me aside and expressed his pride and confidence in me that Bennett Construction will be in safe hands in the future.
I didn’t get a chance to tell Emily. We have so much to talk about tonight, but first, we need to take care of this. I stare down at the tented duvet cover. I’ve never wanted my wife as I do tonight.
The door knob turns and the door opens.
“There you are,” I say to Emily. “I was about to send out a search party.”
She smiles. “No need. I’ll just jump into the shower.” She blows me a kiss as she disappears into the bathroom.
The sound of the shower follows minutes later. I’m impatient for her to be done and in bed with me.
I want tonight to be good, to end on a high note after everything.
The bathroom door opens, and Emily steps out, wrapped in her robe, her damp hair falling over her shoulders.
She looks so soft, so beautiful, and all I want is to hold her, to forget whatever distance has come between us today. She walks to the dresser, finds her nightgown, and slips it on before coming to bed.
When she lies down, I reach for her, pulling her close, pressing a kiss to her lips, feeling her warmth. Her lips meet mine, soft and familiar, but then she pulls back slightly, giving me a small, apologetic smile.
“Not tonight,” she says gently. “I’m just so tired. Can we take a raincheck? ”
I nod, swallowing down the sting of rejection. I brush it off with a smile, not wanting her to feel guilty. “Of course,” I say, trying to sound casual, even though I can feel something clench tight inside me. “Long day, right?”
She nods, turning to her side and nestling into her pillow. “Yeah, it was just a lot. I’ll be fine after some rest,” she says, her voice already drifting, her eyes closed.
I lie there, staring at the ceiling, trying to tell myself she’s just tired, that it’s not personal. But it’s hard not to feel the ache, that strange hollow feeling when someone you love seems to pull away.
I turn onto my back, trying to shake the unease. She needs sleep; that’s all it is. She’s right here beside me, after all.
I stare at the darkened ceiling, willing myself to ignore the thoughts gnawing at me, to let sleep take over.
Yet sleep doesn’t come easily. And somewhere in the quiet, all I can think about is what she’s not telling me.