Emerson's Fury : L.B. Pavlov (16 page)

I looked up at Cross, and he was staring at me in a way that I could never describe. His fierce blue eyes looked at me as if I was the only person in the world. I gazed back at him and smiled, and he pulled me close. “You are my fearless warrior,” he whispered in my ear.

When the night came to an end, I was absolutely exhausted. I didn’t want it to end, but I could barely stand in my heels anymore, and I was struggling to keep my eyes open. C. J. had invited Cross and John to stay the night at his house so that they wouldn’t have to drive all the way home after the dance. We were all going to have brunch in the morning as well, so it would make things much easier if they didn’t have to drive back and forth.

When he walked me to the door, I wrapped my arms around him. “Thank you for the best night of my life,” I said honestly.

“Every night with you is the best night of my life,” he said, capturing me with his gaze.

“I love you.”

“I love you to the moon and back,” he said as he kissed me gently on the lips and turned to shut my door behind him.

I couldn’t believe that prom was over, and it was graduation day. The days had blended into one another. I wanted time to stand still, and it seemed to be moving faster than ever. Mila and Paisley came over to get ready for graduation.
We were savoring our time together as well, and we always loved getting ready at one house.

Cross and I had been texting all morning and couldn’t wait to celebrate our graduations together that night. I was trying to take in every minute because each moment seemed monumental. I was graduating from high school. Leaving a school that was such a big part of my life. Leaving my teachers, coaches, and friends. As I sat in the auditorium, I looked around me at kids that I had known since kindergarten. I felt a lump grow in my throat. I was ready for the next chapter of my life but sad to close the book on this one. I thought about Cross. He would be the toughest person for me to say good-bye to. But we would see each other often. I searched the auditorium for my mother, and our eyes met. Her beautiful brown eyes were glossy with emotion, and for the first time I completely understood why she had based a lot of her choices in her life on my father. This was what happened when you were truly in love. A part of me wanted to change all the plans that I had made for most of my life because I wanted to be with Cross. Suddenly, going to the Olympics someday was not the only thing on my mind. I laughed to myself because I had badgered my poor mother for years about why she would give it all up, and now I could finally understand it. I was truly in love, and I finally understood why my parents always put one another first. There was nothing that I wouldn’t do for Cross. As I sat back in my chair, watching students walk across the stage one by one, I realized that if he asked me to give it all up and come with him to school, I would do it. I knew that he never would, but I surprised myself with the revelation of what I was willing to do for him.

As I crossed the stage, I heard my parents, Indy, Bella, Finn, Paisley, Mila, C. J., Uncle Carlos, and Auntie Jen cheer and howl. I looked back at my parents and smiled. I loved my family so much, and I appreciated how much they always supported me. When they finally announced our graduating class, we all screamed and cheered. I took pictures with friends, and we gathered out in the courtyard and hugged good-bye before heading toward our cars. My mom had dinner ready at home, and Cross and his grandparents would be over as soon as his ceremony was over. My brothers made me laugh all the way home in the car, reminding me of all the funny times we had while I was in high school.

When we got home, I helped my mom get things finished up in the kitchen. I heard the doorbell ring, and I ran to the door. That night we were just having Cross and his grandparents over because at brunch the next day my entire family was celebrating my graduation at my grandfather’s country club. But that night
was a night that I would celebrate with just Cross. When I opened the door, his grandmother was beaming at me and holding flowers and a pie. She was such a kind and sweet lady, and she congratulated me as she hugged me. Cross had her eyes, and I knew that he got his kindness from her as well. His grandfather gave me a giant hug, and Cross definitely got his huge heart from his grandfather. When I looked up, those magnificent eyes held me hostage once again. Cross grasped my hand and said, “Congratulations, beautiful.”

“Congratulations,” I repeated, gazing longer than usual, not wanting the moment to end.

He pulled me to the side and took a little box out of his pocket. “This is just a little something that I got you.”

“I thought we said no gifts,” I said adamantly.

“I just saw this and wanted to get it for you,” he said, stroking my cheek gently with his tender fingers.

I opened the box, and it was a dainty and beautiful silver charm. It looked like it had a design on it, but I immediately recognized both of our first initials melded together. It was an “E” and a “C” intertwined. I gasped at how beautiful it was. “It’s amazing,” I said, staring at the design.

“Turn it over,” he said sweetly.

On the back was an inscription that read, “I love you to the moon and back.”

“Oh my gosh, Cross. I love it. Did you design this?” I asked.

“I did. I drew the letters the way that I wanted them. I liked that no one would know what they said except for us. And then I got one for each of us, so we would always have it with us,” he said as he gently traced my bottom lip with his index finger.

I was melting in response to his touch. “You have a necklace too?” I asked.

He laughed. “No,” and he lifted his sleeve to show me where he had had the design of our initials tattooed on his arm.

I felt myself begin to swoon. This was by far the most romantic thing anyone had ever done. He grabbed me and chuckled a little. “You OK?” he said as he pushed the hair back from my face and fanned me a little.

“I love it,” I said, and I stood up and hugged him tightly. He helped me put the charm on my necklace with my cross, and I looked at it in the mirror. “It’s so beautiful. I love that you designed this for us,” I told him, gazing in the mirror at my gorgeous piece of art that hung around my neck. “And I love that only we know what it says. Now I have two pieces of you with me all the time,” I said proudly.

“I’m so glad you like it,” he said, and he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my neck gently as I stared at the necklace and at my incredible boyfriend.

“Are you serious?” Finn shrieked as he walked into the entryway. “Can you two please show some restraint? You’ve got all sorts of elderly people in the next room!”

Cross and I laughed, and Cross pulled Finn in for a big bear hug. We all walked into the dining room and took our seats. Dinner was very special. We all shared what we were thankful for, and both my parents and Cross’s grandparents said how proud they were of both of us. We were just clearing the table when the doorbell rang.

“Are the girls coming over?” my mom inquired.

“No, not tonight. I’m going to see them tomorrow,” I said. I couldn’t take my eyes off of Cross that night. We kept locking eyes with one another, and I had a hard time not jumping into his lap right there in front of everyone.

I heard my dad at the door. “Hi, Neil. Is everything OK?”

Neil was the security guy stationed at our house in the evenings and such a nice man. “Um, this woman says she’s Cross’s mother, and she’d like to come in,” I heard him say.

I didn’t know why, but I felt my heart drop down to my feet. I had a bad feeling instantly. Cross and I jumped up at the same time, and he looked at me.

“I don’t know why she’s here,” he said in alarm. He looked to his grandparents and asked, “Did you tell her that we were coming here?”

“Well, I told her we were coming for dinner,” his grandmother said, concern evident in her voice, “but I didn’t tell her where they lived. Why on earth would she have come here?”

“I told you not to tell her anything that has to do with Cross,” his grandfather said sharply.

“It’s OK, Grandfather. I will take care of this,” Cross said, and I could hear the trepidation in is voice.

I heard my father invite her into the house, and Cross rushed into the entryway.

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

c h a p t e r    t h i r t e e n

Why in the hell would my mother be coming to the Hollingsworths’ home? I hadn’t seen her in several weeks. The pit in my stomach told me that it was not good.

“What are you doing here?” I asked coldly.

“Well, I came to see my baby on his big day!” she said raucously, obviously intoxicated or high on something. Her eyes were wild with anticipation, and I felt the hair on my arms stand up, knowing something was about to go down.

“Mom, let me walk you outside. I don’t want to do this here,” I said, trying to guide her out the door.

“Don’t you try to brush me under the rug, Cross. Are you ashamed of me?” she screeched.

I could see all of the Hollingsworths looking horrified by her presence and the way she spoke to me.

“Shari, please. Don’t do this to him,” my grandfather snapped at her.

“Oh, of course, Dad. Always defending your precious Cross,” she said coldly, and the hatred in her eyes spoke volumes.

“I just wanted to meet the lovely Emerson’s family,” she said, sarcasm and venom dripping from her voice.

“I would like you to leave,” Emerson said, stepping in front of my mom. She
was
a fearless warrior, because even I was intimidated by my mother’s anger right then.

“Oh, Emerson, let me meet your parents first,” she said, turning to face Daniel and Charlotte.

They both stared, unsure of what to do. This was definitely an awkward situation for everyone. Even Finn was uncomfortable and quiet.

“I want you to leave,” Emerson loudly declared, and she turned to Neil, giving him a look.

I tried to grab my mother’s arm, and she swung around at me. “I just found out that you accepted a scholarship to Notre Dame, Cross. You didn’t feel the need to explain this to me? We had an agreement. And you broke it because you’re listening to this little bitch!” she shouted so forcefully that spit left her mouth as she spewed her words in a fury.

“How dare you say that in this house,” Daniel said angrily. He stepped in front of her and said, “Neil, take her out. Indy, call the police now.”

“Oh, you’re gonna get rid of me too, huh?” she sneered sardonically. “Charlotte, look at me. Look at my eyes. Tell me if I look familiar to you. We looked into each other’s eyes many years ago. I know you remember. Look in my eyes!” she demanded as Neil and I tried to get her under control. I had no idea what she was talking about. She sounded absolutely crazy, and I was mortified by her behavior. My grandfather tried to help, and I told Finn to get him out of the way. I was worried he would get hurt in the scuffle.

Suddenly, it was as if everything stopped at once. Charlotte was staring at Mom and frozen as if something had paralyzed her. Daniel felt it and so did Indy. They rushed over to her and tried to shake her out of it.

“Oh my God. Daniel. No. Daniel. Oh my God,” Charlotte wailed, and she started to sob.

It was my turn to be frozen. I didn’t know what to do. I had stopped wrestling with my mom. She was looking at Charlotte with a satisfied smile on her face. Neil stopped too, waiting to see what Daniel wanted him to do.

“Oh yes. It’s all coming back to you now, right? That dark day in the courtroom. You remember now, don’t you?” my mother gloated as she continued to bait Charlotte, evil laughter following her words. She looked like the devil to me, the way she was relishing the destruction she was causing.

“Charlotte. What is it? What’s wrong?” Daniel asked, trying to hold her up as her legs gave out, and she fell like a limp noodle to the ground.

“Mom! What’s happening?” Emerson wailed.

Charlotte looked white as a ghost. She had tears streaming down her face, and she was staring icily at my mother, but no words were coming out.

“Charlotte. What’s going on? Talk to me, baby,” Daniel pleaded, attempting to pull her to her feet. She couldn’t stand on her own. Daniel and Indy were both trying to assist her to stand, and Finn joined in as well.

“Daniel. It’s her,” Charlotte finally croaked, and she began to sob once again. She was trying to get the words past her grief and fear. “She’s the pregnant girl from the courthouse. She’s Blane DiAmico’s girlfriend. She was pregnant with a child, right before I got pregnant with Emerson. Do you know what that means?” she blurted out.

“What? No. No. She can’t be,” Daniel said.

“What’s going on?” Emerson demanded, grasping her mother’s hand.

“Oh, yes I can be. And just guess who I was pregnant with!” my mother shouted triumphantly, anger seeping from every part of her body. I stepped away, trying to figure out what was going on.

I looked at Emerson and tears were streaming down her face. Her eyes found mine, and they were lost and scared. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what to do. I started to walk toward her, and Daniel stepped in front of me.

“Is Blane DiAmico your father?” he demanded roughly.

“I don’t know who that is. My father is dead,” I said, looking to my mother and then over to my grandparents, who looked utterly distraught.

“His dad is Blane DiAmico! And you’re the reason why he didn’t grow up with a father!” my mother shouted.

I felt my head start to spin. I was trying to process what she was saying. I looked up at Daniel. “I don’t know who that is,” I said plaintively, desperate for him to believe me.

“Were you in on this? Did you set my daughter up? Was this all a plan that you worked out with him?” Daniel roared. I had never seen him act that way.

Charlotte grabbed Daniel’s arm, commanding, “Stop it, Daniel. He didn’t know.”

“They planned this, Charlotte!” he raged.

“I don’t understand. What’s happening?” Emerson bawled, and then she raced to my side.

“Emerson, step away from him. Cross, you and your family need to leave this house right now. You are never welcome back here again,” he said. His protective shell was up, and he was ready for battle.