Chapter 22
22
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
I t was nice to get together with family after work to celebrate Martin Luther King Day. The sharp knock at the door interrupted the peaceful hum of conversation inside Doug’s cozy living room. Emily, seated near the fireplace with Noah, Lila, and Jack, glanced up, her brow furrowing. Doug rose from his armchair, exchanging a puzzled look with Nancy before heading to answer it.
The sound of murmured voices reached Emily before she saw him. Derek. Her stomach clenched as Doug stepped back, allowing Derek into the house.
“Sorry to barge in,” Derek said, his tone overly casual. He gave Doug a thin smile before his eyes landed on Emily. “I was hoping to have a word with Emily.
Emily stood slowly, her heart pounding. Why had Derek come to Doug’s home? How had he even known she was there. Hustling across the room she hissed, “What are you doing here?”
“I just need to talk,” Derek said, his hands shoved into the pockets of his coat. “It’s important.”
The tension in the room was palpable. Lila and Jack exchanged wary glances, while Doug folded his arms, clearly unamused. “Do you need anything, Emily?”
“No thank you, Doug,” Emily said tightly, “I will chat with Dereck outside for a moment on the porch. I won’t be long.”
Doug went to stand, but Emily waved him down. Dereck was a part of her past and he wasn’t going to get to her—not anymore.
Derek followed her onto the porch, the crisp night air biting at her cheeks. The snow-covered yard glittered under the moonlight, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside her chest.
“What do you want, Derek?” Emily demanded, crossing her arms tightly.
Derek shifted, his usual confident demeanor replaced with something more desperate. “I lost my job, Em. Things have been rough. I thought… maybe you could help me out.”
Emily blinked, her disbelief quickly giving way to anger. “Help you? After everything you’ve done to me?”
“I know I messed up,” he said, his tone softening as if he thought it might win her over. “But you’re a good person, Emily. You’ve always been kind. I just need a little help to get back on my feet.”
She stared at him, incredulous. “Do you hear yourself? You didn’t come back because you care about me. You came back because you think I’ll fix your problems.”
“It’s not like that,” Derek insisted, though the edge in his voice betrayed him.
“Then what is it?” Emily shot back. “Because all I see is the same manipulative behavior you’ve always had.”
Before Derek could respond, a car door from the drive creaked open. Emily looked up to see Sarah stepping around a bush and onto the porch.
Her stomach sank.
“Mom?” Emily’s voice wavered with confusion and suspicion. “What are you doing here?”
Sarah smiled tightly. “I was checking in, Darling. Thought I might help smooth things over with your boyfriend.”
“My boyfriend? Smooth what over?” Emily demanded, her voice rising. “With Derek and me? That’s crazy. Why are you even talking to him?”
Sarah waved a dismissive hand. “Derek needed a friend. Someone who understood what it’s like to be in a tough spot. I thought maybe he and I could… help each other.”
“Help each other?” Emily’s voice cracked as realization dawned. “So, you’ve been scheming with him.”
“It’s not scheming,” Sarah said, her tone defensive. “It’s collaborating. Something you used to do before you became so self-righteous.”
Emily’s breath caught, a mix of betrayal and fury bubbling to the surface. “Self-righteous? Are you kidding me? You’ve been stealing from the community funds. Do you know how humiliated I was when I had to tell them my mom is a thief? And here you are teaming up with my ex to what—exploit me? The town? ”
Sarah stiffened. “You’re blowing this out of proportion.”
“No, I’m not,” Emily snapped. “This ends now. Derek, you need to leave Mistletoe Hollow. And Mom, if you want to stay, you’d better figure out how to pay the town back and to stand on your own. Because I’m done. I am not giving either of you a dime.”
The silence that followed was deafening. Derek muttered something under his breath and stalked off into the snow, his figure disappearing into the dark. Sarah hesitated, her expression flickering with something like guilt, before she straightened and began to pull on her gloves.
“Fine,” Sarah said coldly turning to follow Derek. “Have it your way.”
Emily watched them go, the weight of their betrayal settling heavily on her shoulders. She stood there for a long moment, her breath visible in the cold air, before finally stepping back inside.
When Emily returned to the living room, the warmth inside felt almost oppressive after the cold. She leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
“You okay?” Noah’s voice startled her. He was standing by the fireplace, his expression unreadable.
Emily nodded, though her voice wavered. “I will be. I just… I hate that I let them get to me.”
“Let’s go talk in the kitchen,” Noah said, stepping closer. “You didn’t let them do anything. They’re the ones who took advantage of you, not the other way around.”
She shook her head and followed Noah until they were out of earshot of the group, tears threatening to spill. “I feel like such an idiot.”
Noah reached out, gently tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “You’re not an idiot, Emily. You trusted people, even when they didn’t deserve it. That’s not a weakness—it’s one of your greatest strengths.”
His words sent a wave of warmth through her, chasing away some of the lingering chill. But what he said next took her completely by surprise.
“I’ve been spending so much time in the city,” Noah began, his voice quieter now. “Not because I didn’t want to be here, but because I’ve been trying to tie up loose ends. Getting my house ready to sell, sorting out the logistics of moving my construction company down here.”
Emily’s eyes widened. “You’re… moving here?”
Noah nodded, his vulnerability raw and unguarded. “I’ve spent years running from love, Emily. Ever since my college girlfriend left me for someone with deeper pockets, I’ve told myself it’s easier to push people away than let them get close enough to hurt me.”
Her breathing hitched at the raw honesty in his voice. “Noah…”
“But then I came here,” he continued, meeting her gaze. “And I met you. You taught me what it means to be part of something bigger than myself. You made me want to stay. To give us a chance.”
Tears welled in Emily’s eyes, and she couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at her lips. “You really mean that?”
“I do,” he said, his voice steady. “I want this, Emily. I love you.”
Emily stepped into his arms. “I love you, too. So very much.”
When she tilted her lips up to meet his, the fireworks were there, just as they had been before. Noah was her happily ever after.