William Jarvis - Sky Valley 03 - Mayhem at the Mansion (6 page)

“Emmy, are you really okay?” Troy asked again. “You look pale. Did something happen? Did he cancel on you? Because if he did, I would—“

“Dad, it’s not Frank, okay? I’m fine. I’m just…I guess I haven’t been sleeping well recently.”

Troy took a deep breath. “I understand.” He said. “You know, if you want to rest I can tell Frank to just come back soon.”

“That won’t be fair to him.” She smiled lightly. “I’ll be okay.”

Just then the doorbell rang. “I guess that’s him.” Emmy said. “I’ll be going now, dad. Don’t worry too much about me. I’ll be okay.”

“If you say so.”

***

Frank meant it when he said that it would be a real date. They went to La Donna, this really exquisite Italian restaurant just a couple of blocks away from Frank’s house and Emmy thought that it was a really beautiful place. There were Grape Vines wrapped around the arcs, fruit-bearing trees outside the restaurant, and photos of some of Italy’s best destinations on the walls. The food was superb, too. They had Cheese Bruschetta, Gnocchi di Ricotta, Frutti de Mare, and Pizza Siciliana. Emmy actually felt like she was in Italy, which is one of her favorite places on earth.

They also had a good conversation over one of the best wines that Emmy has tried for her whole life. However, she felt like Frank still was not telling her a lot, especially when it came to his foster mother or whoever it was that he now considers his mother. She also could not tell him a lot about her past relationship with Daniel, and about every single thing that happened in Sky Valley since she came back because she did not want to ruin the night. But at the back of her mind, she felt like the night was not as perfect as how Frank intended it to be, and it wasn’t just because of her.

One time in the evening, someone called Frank on the phone and he was pretty much upset about it. He told whoever it was to “just let it go” and that “he knows what he’s doing” and when Emmy asked him about it, all he said was that Emmy has nothing to do with it and that everything’s alright but somehow, Emmy felt like a lot of things were wrong.

Did she like Frank? Of course, she did. He was charming, and great, and he reminded her that she could still reach for her dreams. He reminded her of Paris and of some of the best times in her life. But she didn’t really know if it was enough.

He brought her home that night and kissed her goodnight. He said he’d see her again tomorrow and that she should make a list of things that they should buy because they are going grocery shopping then they would go to his house and hang out for a bit. She thanked him for the nice experience and watched him drive his car away.

It was a windy evening; she felt a bit chilly, but instead of going inside the house right away, she chose to stay outside and feel the wind blowing her hair, making her feel colder inside.

She fished out her phone from her purse. She hesitated about doing what she was about to do for a bit but decided to go forth with it. Maybe it was the wine, or maybe it’s just how things have been recently but she did the unthinkable: she dialed Daniel’s number. After three rings, he picked up.

“Em?” He asked. “What’s going on?” It was already forty-five minutes past midnight. Of course, he’d wonder why she was calling.

“Dan,” she said, feeling the tears about to rush out from her eyes. Her voice was shaking but she decided to speak before he could even say anything else. “Please don’t say anything just…just listen to me. I know I’m not supposed to call you. I know that I asked for this and that I deserve every inch of your madness or whatever it is that you feel about me right now. I don’t even know why I’m calling you but I guess, I just…I just want you to know that…that I’m not exactly happy right now. I went on a date with Frank and…and it seemed perfect but…but you know things never really are perfect. I don’t know what I’m looking for, Dan. I don’t know what I wanted. But I guess…I guess I’m still looking for the kind of love that we had. I’m still looking for those conversations. I’m still looking for you.

Every single day, it just gets worse. I know I broke up with you. I’m not asking you to take me back and all that…I just…I just want you to hear what I have to say because no one else would listen.

And I’m tired. I’m just tired, Dan. I’m sorry. I miss you.”

“Emmy,”

Emmy shook her head and shut down her phone. She did not want to hear what he was about to say. She felt broken and confused—and all her thoughts scared her even more.

CHAPTER
12
BE CAREFUL

Emmy found herself walking in a garden full of Red Roses. She felt like she was Alice and that she was finally in her wonderland. There were a couple of butterflies in front of her, as if asking her to follow them.

So she did.

She walked through an almost endless path of spirals. She didn’t know where she was going or where she was headed to. All she knew was that she had to follow the butterflies.

Then, the butterflies stopped and vanished and she felt so dizzy that she fell on the floor where there were thousands of red roses—thorny red roses—waiting for her. She stepped on them carefully but no matter how careful she was, the roses still pricked her and made her bleed.

“Stop!” She called out. She didn’t know if anyone was listening but she wanted to ask for help. “Stop, please!”

Suddenly, someone helped her stand up. There were two of them, actually: Annabeth and Ruby. They looked exactly like they did when they were alive except for the fact that they were now wearing tattered white dresses and that their eyes looked dead—like there were no emotions inside of them; like they never lived in this earth.

“Annabeth? Ruby?” Emmy said.

“You haven’t changed.” Annabeth said. “You’re still not careful about the people you trust!”

“I warned you.” Ruby told Emmy, her eyes making Emmy scared. They were cold and lifeless—just like Ruby was. “I warned you, Emmy. You keep talking to people you should not be talking to and where does that lead you? Sooner or later, you’ll end up like us!”

“Maybe even worse than us!” Annabeth added. “I did not deserve this, you know? And Ruby does not deserve to die, too! It was her choice though—“

“I didn’t really have a choice—“

“Why, Ruby?” Emmy asked.

“Don’t be such an idiot.” Annabeth said. Even in the other life, she was still a bitch. “You know, Emmy. At the back of your mind, you know.”

“But I don’t!” Emmy felt so helpless; trapped and helpless.

“Of course you do.” Ruby said. “You’re just blinded right now. You’re letting your thoughts control you. You’re much smarter than that. You have to be careful, Emmy, or else a lot of people would get hurt. You have to be careful if you want to save yourself and the people that you love. You have to listen to us or else our deaths would be in vain.”

“But I’m so confused!” Emmy said. “I don’t know what to do anymore. You have to help me!”

“Sorry, honey, the dead can’t really help the living.” Annabeth said. “Now go back where you belong. You have a puzzle to answer.” She pushed Emmy and she felt herself spiraling. She felt so dizzy, she had no idea where she was going. She tried to scream but no sound came out.

And then she woke up. Once again, she woke up in a pool of sweat with a huge feeling of dread. What did that dream mean? What were Ruby and Annabeth trying to say?

Who can she trust? Who should she be careful with?

She took a deep breath. She did not know. She really did not know.

CHAPTER 13
GROCERY SHOPPING

“So,” Frank said as they pushed their carts around the grocery, “we need more cartons of milk, a couple of eggs, apples, mangoes, blueberries, strawberries, some spices, zucchini, cauliflower, flour, baking soda and—“

“And some more butter and cream.” Emmy said. Their carts were almost full of a lot of fruits, vegetables, and other baking ingredients already. Emmy didn’t really know what Frank had in mind. Maybe, another party was coming up and if there was, Emmy wanted Frank to know that she won’t be cooking anymore—not after what happened at the party.

“Frank, I hope you don’t mind me asking,” Emmy said, “but…what are all these ingredients for? I mean, are you having another party or something? Uhm, well, I just want to say that I don’t think I should be cooking—“

He laughed. “Relax.” He said. “I’m not having any parties right at the moment.”

Just then, Mara and some of her friends passed by, giving Emmy dagger looks. Emmy took a deep breath then turned her attention back to Frank. “See? I guess that’s a sign.”

He smiled. “I know it’s been tough but you got to hang on.” He said. “And, I’m not going to ask you to cook for a party but I’m going to ask you to put up your online business again. I’m going to ask you to do that because I don’t want you to say goodbye to your passion just like that. And if you’re scared, don’t worry because I’ll be around to help you out.” He held one of her hands. “I promise, okay?”

She took a deep breath. “Frank—“

“Hey, Mara!” Frank called out. “Wait!”

“What?” Mara said, holding a brand new knife that she was about to buy.

“If I help Emmy out with her online business, would you try the cupcakes?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Oh come on,” Frank said. “I saw how you ate those macarons that she made. Just pretend I made them, okay? And like I said, I’ll be with her. If she does anything crazy, I’d be there to stop it.”

Mara rolled her eyes. “Fine,” she said. “But only because of you, okay? And I need a special dedication.”

He laughed. “Anything you want, madame.”

“Okay. Let me know when the business will be open again!”

“We will!” Frank said and they watched Mara walk away with her friends. “See?” he said. “That wasn’t too bad.”

Emmy took a deep breath. “I don’t know about that.”

“Come on,” Frank said. “That’s Mara right there. Can’t you see that as a big thing?”

“I know, but—“

“I’ll be with you, okay? I’ll be around.”

Emmy took a deep breath then nodded her head. “Okay.” She said. “I really don’t know why you’re trying to help me but…thanks, Frank.”

“Anytime, love. Anytime.” He said. “Now, let’s get going and take a rest at my house. Grocery shopping can be deadly.”

They both laughed.

CHAPTER 14
THE STALKER

Frank asked Emmy to stay in the kitchen first as he’d just be getting something upstairs. They also decided that they’d make Frank’s kitchen as a headquarters of Emmy’s online business for the moment so Emmy won’t feel too scared and she’d feel like it’s the start of a new era.

Emmy drank some water and walked around the kitchen for a bit when she found what seemed like an opened letter sitting on the table. She knew that it wasn’t right for her to touch or read it because it wasn’t hers but she also could not deny that her curiosity was now getting the best of her.

She looked around to see if Frank was already coming back and when she realized that the coast was still clear, she took the letter from the table and read.

I don’t even know what you’re trying to do, Frank, or if you’re actually doing this because you want to prove a point. Well, let me tell you now: there are no points that need to be proven. I miss you and you should come home soon.

Serena

“Serena?” Emmy repeated. “Who is Serena?”

“So…you’ve met Serena.” Frank said.

Emmy dropped the letter on the floor and felt like she was a person who was caught stealing. “Frank!” She said. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry.”

“Curiosity kills the cat, as they say.” He said.

“I’m sorry.”

He shook his head. “It’s okay.” He said. “I’m the one who should be sorry.”

“What do you mean?”

“Serena…well, she’s not a very safe person to be around with. I guess that’s the exact reason why I didn’t tell you about her before. I guess, I just wanted to forget that she actually exists, that she’s alive because you know…she kind of ruins everyone’s lives and I don’t want you to deal with that.”

“She…ruins everyone’s lives?”

“She’s a stalker. She’s been stalking me ever since I was in Paris. I tried to be friends with her but she doesn’t get it. She thinks she’s close to me and that she’s my wife! It’s insane, actually.” He explained. “Come with me upstairs, I’ll show you something.”

Frank led Emmy to his room, opened one of his many drawers, and took out a black box. He opened the box and Emmy saw a couple of letters inside.

“Those are all from Serena.” He said. “She’s been writing me since the days when I was still in college, saying how much she loved me, and that she’s envisioning days of us having kids…She even said that her mother would treat me like her own child, too. It’s scary but I tried to make amends, be friends with her and see where it goes. I mean, if she would understand that I only want to be friends and that’s that, but somehow, it drove things worse. She never stops writing!”

“That’s awful.” She said. “Why don’t you tell the police?”

He shrugged. “What good would that be?” He said. “Besides…I also feel for her, you know? I mean, everyone already sees her as the bad guy and I don’t want her to feel hurt even more. She’s fine, actually. She’s a smart woman. She’s just…confused and she lets her heart control her too much.”