Torn By Two- Book One

Something Wicked This Way Comes- Chapter Eighteen

Remembering him comes in flashbacks and echoes,

Tell myself it's time now, got to let go.

But moving on from him is impossible,

When I still see it all in my head.

Burning red,

Loving him was red.

TAYLOR SWIFT - RED

Chapter Eighteen- One Year Later

"Cheers to you, big sis,"

They clinked glasses,and Emma smiled over at her sister Ella, as they lounged on their deck chairs by the pool.

Emma sipped on her champagne, staring out over the Olympic sized swimming pool and out to Atlantic Ocean. She watched the waves lapping onto the white shore, as she relaxed. Summer days were even more precious to her now that she was enrolled in a teaching course at Columbia University and was on vacation.

Her first summer in The Deans holiday home in the Hamptons was shaping up to be magnificent, and she was loving every minute she was lucky enough to spend here, especially with her sister Ella along for the weekend.

"We'll have to leave shortly, Lydia wants to get a head start on your dress," Ella's voice was soft, calm and ready to drift away. She was almost asleep.

Emma smiled as she too, closed her eyes and savoured the warmth of the sun on her red bikini clad body.

Her relationship with Ella had come leaps and bounds immediately after Emma had introduced Bennett to her parents. They were all crazy for him, and his charms worked wonders, even on them.

Today was a beautiful day to look for wedding dresses.

Her thumb caressed the back of her simple Tiffany and Co engagement ring. Bennett had chosen it for her, after she told him she was after nothing flashy or showy, just simple perfection. He had done well, for she fell in love with the Princess cut diamond banded ring as soon as Bennett had opened the box when he had proposed to her last month.

It had been a complete surprise. Emma had come back to their apartment, having just finished up her shift at Rock's Deli, and had found Bennett in the study, with suitcases packed and ready to go. She was not expecting a trip away, as Bennett and his father had been in the midst of securing a block of apartments in San Francisco that they wanted to renovate and sell off individually immediately. But there he had stood, dressed ever so casually in long denim shorts and a black t-shirt, with their passports in his hand.

Florence, Italy had been wonderful. Bennett had taken her to the little cottage that had been the inspiration to the painting on his wall, and it had been just as lovely as he had told her. It was there, as they sat outside the cottage amidst the green grass, birds and trees and had their seafood dinner, that Bennett had gotten down on one knee and proposed marriage to Emma. It had been unexpected, but welcome. For Emma had said yes without so much of a second thought. It had been the best week, the best few months, the best time in a long time...

"Emma, come on! We'll be late," Ella snapped, startling Emma out of her flashback. Having been lost in thought, she had not heard her sister or even seen her towering over her.

Emma looked up. Ella was standing over her, hands on her hips, and one foot tapping agitatedly. She had to smile at the sight of her. Her black with white polka dot bikini was just one size too small, and her now cropped blonde hair was messed up from all the lounging around she had been doing all day.

"Yes ma'am." Emma joked, as she slowly peeled herself off the deckchair and stretched out like a fat, lazy cat. "I was enjoying that,"

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