William Jarvis - Sky Valley 03 - Mayhem at the Mansion (5 page)

"Wow." Emmy exclaimed as she saw the flowers. They were beautiful. She loved roses a lot and whoever sent these probably knew that.

But wait…who would actually be sending her all those flowers?

“Anja, who sent all these?” Emmy asked as she took a bouquet of yellow roses and smelled them.

“That’s the thing.” Anja smiled. “No one knows, Miss Emmy. Isn’t that fun?” She grinned. “You have a secret admirer! Or wait…maybe Mister Daniel sent those. I mean, during all those times that I met him, I noticed how great of a guy he is and you know…maybe he’s trying to win you back.”

“Oh no, I don’t think so.” Emmy said. “I mean, I don’t think he has feelings except hatred for me right now. And…I don’t know…I—“

“Wait,” Anja said. “What if…what if it’s that guy who invited you to the party? You told me he’s going to be here today, right? Maybe, he wanted to surprise you!”

“Whoa…well…that could happen but…”

“Oh my god!” Anja said. “Now I’m excited! By the looks of it, he seems to be a grand guy…I’m still betting for Mister Daniel for you though but maybe this guy’s okay, too…”

“Anja, it’s not like that.”

“Says who?”

They both laughed then the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get that.” Emmy told Anja.

Anja smiled. “Alright,” she said. “I’ll just be doing the laundry. Call me if anything.”

“Thanks.” Emmy said then headed towards the door. She opened it and saw that Frank was outside, holding a bouquet of Freesias. Emmy didn’t like Freesias a lot because for her, they were dull flowers. She wondered why on earth he has some in his hands.

“Frank!” She greeted and gave him a peck on the cheek. “You’re early!” She said.

“These are for you.” He said as he handed her the bouquet of Freesias.

“Thanks…” Emmy said. “But Freesias? I mean…the roses I can understand but these—“

“Roses?”

“Yes,” Emmy said as she led him in and showed him the bouquets of roses in the living room. “I love roses and I’m glad you got me these…I mean, I’m not really sure if you’re the one who got me these but—“

“Oh, yes.” Frank said. “Those roses.” He went on, “Of course. All the roses for the most beautiful rose in the world.” He looked her in the eyes.

She felt herself blushing.

“And yeah, the Freesias,” he went on, “I just figured they’re beautiful, too. Sure, they’re unconventional but you can’t say that they’re totally bad. And, you know, sometimes, you need the unconventional stuff to make things all the more beautiful.”

Despite that, she found herself smiling. “Thanks, Frank.” She said. “So…are we ready to bake?”

“Yes, ma’am!” He said, in a pretend Southern boy accent which made Emmy laugh.

Just as they were about to make their way to the kitchen, someone rang the doorbell.

“Expecting anyone?” Frank asked Emmy.

“Not that I know of.” Emmy said. “Don’t worry. It’s probably just one of those neighbors. I’ll get it. Just go to the kitchen, it’s just at the back of that arch over there—“ She pointed to the Grecian Arch that separated the living room from the kitchen. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

“Alright, Madame…” He said then made his way to the kitchen.

Emmy then walked towards the door and opened it to see who rang the doorbell. She was then surprised to see Daniel standing outside the door, his hands in his pockets. If they were still together, Emmy probably would have hugged him right at that moment. She thought that he looked absolutely great with his tanned skin and hair that now went past his neck. Maybe, she just missed him too much, she thought.

But before she could do anything out of the ordinary, she reminded herself that Frank was waiting for her in the kitchen and that she no longer had any business with Daniel. It wasn’t Daniel who sent her those roses, anyway.

Sure, he knew that she loved roses so much but she could not see the point of him sending her anything. It’s just too impossible, in her opinion. They’re no longer that couple and she could not let all these unresolved feelings ruin her chances of starting over again. Sure, Daniel was there for him in the past but right now, it’s Frank who she’s got—and she has to focus on that.

“Daniel.” She greeted. “What a surprise…what are you doing here?”

“Did you get what I sent?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Dan.”

He took a deep breath and saw the roses in the living room. He then looked at Emmy once more. “I heard about what happened last night.”

“Wow, I can’t believe news flew out that fast.” Emmy said sarcastically.

Daniel took a deep breath once more. “Emmy,” he said. “I just want you to know that whatever happens…I’m here, okay? You can still count on me. We’re still friends.”

“That’s a really nice thing to say, Dan, but…I really don’t think it’s right for us to be around each other right now.”

“And why not?” He said. “Because you broke up with me?”

“You let me break up with you.”

“Wow, so now it’s my fault?”

“All I’m saying is that we’re clearly not strong enough to stay together.”

“Maybe that’s what you think.” He said. “I don’t blame you, though. Things have been terribly hard and crazy the past couple of months, anyway. But I won’t deny that I got hurt when you broke up with me and felt like I was the cause of all of these.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Maybe not in that way but come on, Em. That’s exactly what you were trying to imply.”

She took a deep breath. “I don’t even know why we’re still talking about this.”

“Maybe because we really haven’t talked about it before.”

“There’s nothing to talk about anymore, Dan. We’re over. That’s all we’ll ever be.” She said. “And…and someone’s waiting for me inside. Someone who’s willing to make my life rosy again.”

“What?” Dan looked confused. “Wait a second, Em—“

“I’m sorry.” Emmy cut him off. “I’ll just see you around.”

She closed the door and turned her back on him but her heart was screaming for her to look back. She didn’t.

CHAPTER
10
DANGEROUS CAKES

Emmy felt like her hands were shaking as she went inside the kitchen where a couple of ingredients were already laid out on the table. There was coconut milk, orange juice, orange zest, mango cubes, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, buttermilk, coconut, butter, salt, flour, ginger, eggs, and baking soda. Frank was even wearing an apron, ready for action.

“I hope you don’t mind that I rummaged through your fridge and looked for stuff that we could use.” He said. “I mean, I thought you’d still be long outside—“

“It’s okay.” She said. “And I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—“

“No, you don’t have to be sorry. It seemed like you and him had a lot of catching up to do…”

She took a deep breath, took an apron and wore it. She then pitched herself a glass of water, drank, and spoke. “I told you,” she said, “it’s complicated between me and Dan.”

“As far as I’m concerned, he seems to still be into you. I can’t blame him. I mean, come on, look at you.”

She laughed. “It’s not like that.”

“Messy break-up?”

She sighed. She really did not want to talk about Daniel right now but she knew that sooner or later, they had to talk about him and she had to come to terms with her past. “You could say that.” She finally answered. “He just came by to say that he heard about what happened last night. I mean, with Grace and all that—“

“Maybe he’s just concerned. You were friends, after all. I mean, weren’t you also together back in high school?”

She furrowed her brows, confused. “I don’t remember telling you about that.”

“I’m sorry.” He said. “Someone else must have told me. I mean, news travels fast in this town, you know.”

She bit her lip, unsure if she would believe him, but she decided that it would be stupid to make a big deal out of this. “Oh, okay.” She said. “So…what have we got out here…”

“Unlikely combination, eh?” He quipped as she went through each of the ingredients. “What do you think can we make with that?”

She was quiet for a little while then she took some of the orange zest in her hands and smiled at him. “I think we can make a spicy tropical inspired cupcake with these.” She said. “Make those cupcakes.” She grinned.

He grinned back. “Spicy cupcakes? Won’t those be weird?”

“Oh no, they’re great.” She said. “Dangerously great.”

“I like the sound of that.” He said and she laughed.

She started mixing all of the ingredients in a bowl, starting from the flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, salt, and cloves. She stirred them altogether until the mixture was no longer clumpy then asked Frank to cream the butter.

“Is this alright?” He asked.

“Just mix it up a bit.” She instructed.

“You know,” he said, “I feel like you’re this kitchen goddess and I’m just…well, I don’t know what to call myself.”

She laughed. “My mom was the kitchen goddess. She’s really great. Sometimes, when I cook or bake, I just miss her all the more. But you know,” she added the eggs and sugar to the butter mixture, “these past couple of months, I realized that maybe, it’s also a good thing that she’s no longer here. At least, she’s in peace now. She does not deserve this kind of life at all, you know.”

“It’s tough not having your mother around.” He said. “I lost mine at an early age, too. But lucky for me, I have this mother figure who took me like her own child and I’m telling you, Em, I’ll do anything for her.”

“Wow.” Emmy exclaimed. “So…who is she? Where is she?”

“Oh, don’t worry.” He said. “You’ll meet her soon.” He smiled.

Emmy thought that there was something weird about the way he smiled but she just could not put her feelings into words. She just chose to ignore whatever it is that she has been feeling—for now.

“Em…” He said. “You know, there’s another reason why I’m here right now.”

Emmy was confused. “What is it?” She asked.

“Well…I know it may be too early for this but I don’t believe that you should postpone things, especially if you know that they’re right.” He told her. “I believe that once you see the spark, you have to recognize it and work on it.”

“What are you saying?” She asked.

“I’m saying that…right now, I’m here to ask you out on a date. A proper date. Not in this house or in my house and without any of us having to cook or work for anything.”

She laughed.

“I’m serious!” He smiled. “I know we don’t know each other too much yet. We met just a couple of days ago. But I know that whatever it is that we have right now, even if it’s not something big yet, it can revolve to something better. So, Emmy Byrne, may I ask you out on a date?”

Emmy found herself smiling. “I’d love to.” She answered. “I’d really love to.”

Just then, Emmy heard Troy walking past the kitchen. “Sorry for eavesdropping,” he laughed. “I saw the bouquet of roses outside and thought that Dan sent them and I was going to ask you about it, Em, but…wow, seems like you got a date tomorrow, darling.”

“Hello, sir.” Frank said, went up to Troy, and held out his hand for a handshake. “It’s so nice to finally see you! Oh and yes. I’m here to ask your daughter out on a date, if that’s okay with you.”

Troy laughed. “If it’s okay with her then there’s no problem with me.” He said. “Just don’t break her heart, okay? And take care of her.”

“Dad, it’s just a date.” Emmy said and smiled.

“I know, I know,” Troy said. “But it’s been a tough couple of months. You really can’t expect me to not be scared at all.”

“Don’t worry, Mister Byrne,” Frank said. “You can trust me.”

CHAPTER
11
A DATE

“Why don’t you tell me what you know, Ruby?” Emmy asked Ruby as they were both among hazy clouds; clouds that were as hazy as Emmy’s mind.

Ruby laughed. There was something sad about the way she laughed. “Honey, I can’t. I’m not the one who’s alive right now. I’m not the one who’s still on earth. But here’s what I know…You’re not very safe, Em. Even if you think you are, you’re not. And it’s not because of who you think are your friends. I don’t think I’m making sense.”

“Ruby, tell me who’s behind this.”

“I’d tell you but then he’d have to kill you.”

“What? Ruby—“

“Em, are you okay?” Troy asked Emmy who came back to her senses. She just came downstairs after dressing up in an off-shoulder black mid-length dress and her favorite Christian Loubotin shoes.

“Dad.” She said. “Right, uhm, I’m okay.”

“You look great.” He said. “Frank’s lucky to be dating you.”

She laughed lightly even though she was sweating a bit. She just wanted Frank to arrive so they could go on their date and she could forget about having those Ruby dreams again.

She felt like Ruby was trying to tell her something but she had no idea what she was trying to say. Each and every day, she just gets all the more confused and there’s also the fact that she has no idea whether she has to believe her dreams or not. They’re only dreams, after all, and it would be stupid to follow through with them but somehow, she felt like those dreams were her only hope.