Chapter Three #3
“We will get the fool together if we need to,” Louis vowed. “For now, how is Emerald?”
There was silence for a moment as his cousin considered the question. “Numb. But free. At least that is something. Right now, she is in the bathroom crying.”
Today, Emerald was finalising her divorce from her cheating husband.
As the money earner in their marriage, she had now paid a major price for that freedom, but at least she was free.
Howard had been dragging this along, enjoying the drama and pain he was causing in the hope of a big payout to make it stop.
Emerald had found out that Howard had cheated on his wife of six years with her best friend, Ava, the hard way. Ava had a daughter named Margot, who called Harold “Dad” in front of Emerald.
Just once was all it took. She had never done it before.
Whether it was a slip of the tongue, new information for her that she didn’t know how to disguise, or a secret she no longer wanted to keep, they had no idea.
Didn’t matter, that slip was enough to help save Emerald from being used any longer.
Confused, Emerald had demanded to know what that meant from Ava. A paternity test later, it showed that they had a daughter together, who Emerald thought was the daughter of an ex-boyfriend and helped raise Margot. A child conceived after Emerald and Harold had gotten married.
Emerald adored that little girl, and now she would probably never see her again. Louis was so glad he wasn’t playing today. He was volatile.
“Thank you for calling.”
“Of course, Oldie. We didn’t want to leave you in the dark.” There was a flushing sound. “I better go and check on her. She will probably call you anyway and let you know. We know you like talking to both of us. But let her call you when she is ready, okay?”
Yeah, no doubt she would not want to call with puffy red eyes.
“No, it isn’t a like. I need to talk to both of you. You are my family and I love you both,” Louis corrected. Just because he wasn’t there in person didn’t mean he wasn’t there in spirit. “Let her know to call me when she is ready, and not a moment sooner.”
“I will tell her. We love you, too, Oldie. See you soon. I am heading back in a few days, and I will convince her to come with me.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Louis hated that she had moved away to be with Harold. It had left her all alone since none of her family were with her. But she was a big girl, and she had loved Harold, so she had moved.
Hopefully, this would mean she could come back home. Here, Louis and Vince could protect her. And any man in the future that wanted to date her? Well, he’d have to go through them both first.
And Vince was a lot scarier than Louis.
Considering Louis was a captain of an ice hockey team, what did that say about his cousin?
With that, Vince hung up. It left Louis feeling numb since he had no idea how to make this better. Emerald was now single again. But she had lost her home. Her relationship with her husband and best friend. It had damaged her trust. It had not just cost her a lot of money, but Margot, too.
Emerald would be broken for a long time, and he would be there to help her put herself back together.
Walking back to the gym, Hank was waiting on the other side of the door with Spencer nervously beside him.
Hank knew Emerald, but Spencer did not which was probably why he was unsure whether to be there.
He patted both their shoulders, thankful to his best friends for supporting him when he needed them. He knew they were just as worried.
“Not good?” Hank asked, offering a hug.
Louis shook his head and accepted the hug. Spencer patted his back. Once he was ready to talk, he freed himself and sighed.
“She got the divorce. He got half of everything.”
Hank’s lip curled. He adored Emerald and even gave her the nickname Green because of her name. Which Margot had also called her, her Aunty Green. Hank and Emerald had never met in person, but they talked regularly on the phone. They were friends, which meant he was hurting for her, too.
Spencer was furious. Never had Spencer met her or spoken to her, but he knew Emerald was important to Louis. Which made her important to him. The fact that she had been cheated on made him livid and ready for war.
Louis was incredibly grateful for two amazing best friends. No doubt if Vince acted on his threat, his cousin would have not one but three hockey players to back him up.
Louis had told Rosie that he didn’t want to share Emerald’s issues with strangers. These two didn’t know Emerald well, but they knew about what was going on because he had been so volatile one day, it had just fallen out of his mouth. Ever since, they had offered to help.
That meant he didn’t want to disappoint Emerald by sharing with someone else.
She was glad he had told someone, because he needed support to deal with his thoughts and feelings.
They were his friends and would want to help him.
But someone else, someone that had been an enemy two hours ago, felt like a betrayal.
Maybe one day he could let Rosie in without frightening her off with everything going on.
Checking the room, he needed to make sure Rosie was safe and well. He spotted her in the corner talking to Ajax. They were laughing. Good, at least she was happy. Seeing her helped him relax. Her laugh soothed him.
That was when his phone went off again. Emerald’s name appeared on the screen. Surprised she was calling so soon, it took him a moment to process. Inclining his head to his two friends to apologise for walking away again, he answered her. He needed to check on her with his own two eyes.
“Hey, you,” he said.
“Hey,” Emerald’s response was so weak.
His sister’s face appeared on the screen. Blue eyes stared at him but also seemed so lost. That beautiful face held no joy. Her blonde hair looked like a racoon had made a nest in it.
Harold had truly destroyed this woman.
Heading back to the corridor, he waited for her to talk. Only, this time he was followed.
“Is that a girl?” Spencer asked.
Louis glared at him, but he knew that look. Spencer wanted to help. He was up to mischief, and if anyone could make her laugh, it would be Doughnut.
“Who is it?” Spencer asked, taking a look over Louis’s shoulder. “Oh, she’s cute!”
Hank was close behind and was obviously not in on the plan. He gave Spencer a serious warning look, shaking his hand across his neck to cut it out.
“Oh, hi, Hank!” Emerald sounded cheerier, spotting them behind Louis’s head.
Hank waved. “Hey, Green. Louis was catching us up. You need us, we will be there.”
Her face softened. “I don’t doubt it.”
Carrying on, Spencer over exaggerated his expression. “Oh. She’s the sister. Off limits. Got it.” He put two thumbs up.
Snorting, Louis pushed his friend’s face. “Go away!”
Emerald laughed, and that sound was music to his ears. He hadn’t heard her laugh in so long.
Go, Spencer!
“And who is that?” she asked.
She already knew since she watched their games and Louis talked about him, she was just asking for an official introduction.
“That is Spencer.”
“Oh.” That got them another soft laugh.
“Oh?” Spencer asked, feigning anger. “What does ‘oh’ mean?”
Turning to his friends, Louis said, “Give me a minute to talk to her, then I will pass you the phone. You made her laugh, and we all need that.” Spencer and Hank nodded in relief, happy to help. Then he focused back on Emerald. “That good with you?”
There was now a twinkle in her eye. “I would love to talk to Hank; I haven’t spoken to him in ages.” At the mention of his name, Hank grinned. “And do I get to talk to Doughnut, too? He seems like fun.”
Spencer sputtered, “You told her my name was Doughnut? Why?”
“Because it is,” Louis responded dryly, trying to keep from laughing at Spencer’s excellent and convincing offended expression.
It was his nickname for his love of the sweet treat. He had been known to hide them, sometimes in his kit bag, so even on days they were not allowed, he would still sneak one in.
There was that laugh again on the other side of the phone. It lightened Louis’s heart to hear it, knowing she wasn’t completely lost.
That they could bring her back to her old self. It would take time, but together they would find her again.
Spencer crossed his arms. “Fine, you go talk to her, but we will wait right here to make her laugh.” He even pointed at the floor.
“Sounds good.” With a smile on his face, and one on Emerald’s, he stepped into the corridor.
Straight away, the smile disappeared. She sighed. “You talked to Vince?”
“Yes. He filled me in. I am sorry it was such a high price to pay.”
That got him a shrug. “It was expected, and I am free. I am finally free. I want to celebrate.”
“Day out?” Louis asked, knowing exactly what would cheer her up.
Something they hadn’t done in a long time. It was time to get the off-roading cars out and go for a drive.
Giving a single nod, she confirmed, “Day out. If that is okay?”
She sounded so timid and defeated after being unable to be herself for a long time. He could help change that.
“Of course. I am on it,” he assured her.
If that was what she needed, that was exactly what they would do.
Louis was the planner, and his job was to organise the route. Emerald was the one that knew what she was doing, so she supplied the kit and gadgets they needed. Vince was in charge of maintenance since he was the mechanic. They made a great team.
Suddenly, an idea popped in his head. Even though they had done this for years, none of them had taken a passenger. Except for Banjo, Emerald’s dog, but no human passengers.
However, Rosie was now at the front of his mind. If she wanted to go. And if she did? It was a great excuse for Louis to spend more time with her, and she could get to know him better. If she accepted, that was.
Not like a date, though. Right?
Maybe.
“Oh, and is it okay to ask a plus one?”