“What the fuck are you thinking, Jake? I thought I made this clear to you. She's no good for you. She's more of a burden than anything, you know that. How could you even think that marrying her is a good idea?”
“I love her,” I say through clenched teeth. This is not the time for this.
“Love isn't going to keep you in the NHL if you have her tagging along, dragging you down
, Jake.”
“She's right here! Stop talking like Emily isn't standing here. We love one another and no one is going to stand in our way. Don't you dare talk about her like that again or you'll never see nor hear from Drake and me again. I didn't call you here to get bitched out because you don't like my decisions. My father just died and I would like for someone to deal with the preparations so I don't have to say that I buried not one, but both of my parents.”
With that, I take Emily's hand and usher her inside. Her hand is trembling in mine. I'm so furious! What makes him think that he can say that in front of Emily? As if she wasn't even standing there. I shake my head and Emily's hand leaves mine as she hurries upstairs. The screen door slams behind me as Uncle Roy reenters the house.
“What's wrong with Emily?” Drake asks nervously.
I send a quick glare to Uncle Roy who returns it with an I-told-you-so look.
“Nothing, Drake. She'll be right down. I'm just going to go check on her.”
Taking two steps at a time, I rush upstairs. Emily's lying in my bed, snuggled under the covers, facing the wall.
“Sweetness,” I begin calmly and sweetly. She chokes on a sob and shakes her head.
“I'm sorry,” she whispers.
“For what?” I cuddle up behind her.
“For being upset.” She rolls around to face me. “I shouldn't be upset, but how can I not be? He thinks I'm a burden. A burden, Jake!”
“I know, Sweetness, but he's so far off the mark.”
“He's your family. How could you not listen to him?”
“Because he's wrong,” I whisper right into her ear as she buries her face in my neck.
“Did you really bury your mother?”
“Yeah. Dad was too upset so I handled what arrangements I could.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Don't be. It's over now. Are you okay?”
“I reckon,” she sighs.
“C'mon. Let's go downstairs before Drake starts to worry.”
Emily hugs me tightly before letting me go.
27
Emily
Roy says the minimum amount to Jake and nothing at all to me. Other than that the days pass as normal. Today, we are laying Jake's father to rest. I'm in a simple, knee length black dress, sitting in Jake's living room, waiting. He's upstairs with Drake, getting ready.
Footsteps sound on the stairs. I stand and turn to look. I've never seen my boys so sad. Jake gives me a small smile as I head towards them. Jake wanted to drive himself, so we gather inside my car since it's easier to get in and out. He drives us to the cemetery across town where the service will be held.
“Can we see Mom first?” Drake asks from behind me.
“Sure thing,” Jake replies, his voice strained. I take the hand he has resting on his knee over to my thigh as I hold it. Based on what Jake has told me, Drake hasn't asked to go by her grave and rarely speaks of her. My heart aches for the sadness that is consuming the atmosphere of the car.