William Jarvis - Sky Valley 03 - Mayhem at the Mansion (8 page)

She took her phone out of her purse. Her hands were shaking and she didn’t know if she could actually speak but she wanted to talk to Frank right away.

“Em?” Frank spoke as he picked up the phone.

Emmy couldn’t speak for a couple of seconds. She felt cold. She was shaking.

“Emmy? What’s going on?”

“Frank,” she finally said, “did you…were you really the one who sent me those roses?”

“Roses?” Frank said. “You mean, those bouquets of roses? Yeah, I mean, I told you that already. Why?”

Emmy was crying now. She didn’t know if she should believe Frank or not. “Daniel came by and said that…that you were lying and that he sent the flowers. I just…I just don’t know what to think anymore.” She was crying now and she felt betrayed by all her emotions.

“Emmy, listen.” Frank said, his voice domineering. “I would never lie to you like that. Maybe, he really just can’t get over you but I don’t know…maybe, you have to stay away from him. He’s not someone you want to be associated with right now. I know he’s been in your life forever but sometimes, you’ve got to let go of those people. I’m here now. You don’t have to worry.”

Emmy didn’t know what to think.

Could it be true? Can she no longer trust Daniel? Is he the enemy?

The thought scared her too much, she didn’t know what to say.

CHAPTER
17
THIS WAS IN THE PIE

The following morning, Emmy woke up early to prepare for baking at Frank’s house. She opened the door when the doorbell rang and saw Frank outside, one of his eyes bruised.

“Oh my god!” She said, “What happened?! Who did that to you?”

“Oh this?” Frank said, recognizing the bruise on his left eye. “Don’t worry about it. I’m fine.”

“Wait…” Emmy said, fearing what she feared the most. “Did Daniel do that?”

“I said, don’t worry about it, Em. I’m fine.” He smiled. “Anyway, I’ve already sent Mara her orders, then we can go to Miss Johnson’s house next, and then to Erin and Andrew’s place. Then, we have orders for carrot cakes, your famous zucchini cupcakes, and some spiced cupcakes. I told them it was the best.”

She laughed nervously. Things seemed too good to be true but then there was that bruise on Frank’s eye and the conversation with Daniel yesterday. She felt like she didn’t know Daniel anymore. “I’m so sorry, Frank.” Emmy said.

“You have nothing to be sorry about, come on.” He said. “Your business is now doing well, you’re on track again, everything’s going great. Oh, and actually…there’s a party going on at the house on Saturday. I know you’re going to say no, but please, it’s the only thing I want from you.” He smiled. “Please? I mean, no one’s going to fear you now. That’s why I also wanted you to start your business again, you know. I wanted you to realize that you still got this and that you can do this.”

She took a deep breath. “I don’t know, Frank—“

“Please?”

“Who’s the party for?”

“Oh just an old friend,” He said. “I want you to make lots of cupcakes, don’t even worry about gluten.” He smiled. “Please?”

She took another deep breath. How can she say no to Frank? “Okay.” She said.

“That’s great!” He hugged her. “I can’t wait!”

“Hey, Mister!” Mara said as she walked up the stairs to Emmy’s house where Emmy and Frank were talking. “I think your girl is up to something again. I found this in my pie!” She said, taking out a sharp kitchen knife out of the box of apple pie that she was holding.

“Oh my god.” Emmy said, her heart throbbing fast. “No, no—“

“You clearly haven’t changed your ways!”

“Excuse me,” Frank said, “but I did that.” There was something dark and sinister about the way he said those words.

They both looked at him, dumbfounded.

“I mean, I didn’t do it on purpose, of course, but I’m afraid I should be guilty.”

“What do you mean?” Mara said. “Are you planning to kill me?”

“Of course not.” He said. “I’m just saying that I was so excited for Emmy and I was in charge of the packaging and apparently, I placed that inside the box after I cut some of the pieces of pie. It’s my bad, don’t take it against her.”

“I can’t believe this.” Mara said.

“I’m really sorry.” Frank said. “Now, let me have that,” she took the knife from Mara’s hand and forget this ever happened, okay? I’m having a party on Saturday, by the way. See you there?”

Mara rolled her eyes. “Fine.” She said then walked away.

“Whew,” Frank said as Mara went back inside her house. “That was weird. To be honest,” he told Emmy, “So, uhm, let’s go?”

Emmy can only nod her head. She didn’t know what else to say.

CHAPTER 18
ALLERGIES

It was another swinging party at Frank’s residence. It was definitely swinging because the theme was 1920’s jazz era. Women were in their flapper dresses, and men were wearing the best tuxes. Emmy still could not believe that she was baking desserts for this party.

It’s easier this time, though. She now felt so at home at Frank’s house that she went there early so she could finish baking early, too. By now, she’s also in a silver flapper dress, her hair in curls, and she was wearing her silver pumps. She felt like an artist.

The past couple of days have been hazy. She didn’t know what to believe in anymore. But right now, all she wanted was to have a piece of cake—or many pieces of cake. She looked out the dining hall and saw people enjoying the spiced cupcakes, as well as the strawberry and chocolate covered macarons that she made. It made her smile.

Days ago, her chances of recovering from the strains of the past almost came to a holt when Mara found a knife on her box of pie, which was apparently left there on accident by Frank. Frank also had a black-eye, presumably caused by Daniel, but Emmy was too afraid to confront Daniel or to dig further for the truth. Daniel was right with that, she thought.

“Hey cupcake,” Frank said as he twirled Emmy around. She thought that he looked dashing in his black tux with a red rose tucked in one of the pockets.

“Hey,” she grinned. “You look great!”

“You look divine.” He smiled. “And look,” he said, pertaining to the people in the dining hall. “They all love your pastries!”

She smiled. “Thank you,” she told him. “I really don’t know how I’ll be able to repay you for everything.”

He laughed. “I told you not to worry about that.” He said and took her hand. “Come on.” He then led her to the dining hall where the party was in full swing. Some people were dancing to the beats of Charleston music, while others were having a good time drinking wine and eating pastries. And there, in the middle of it all, was a woman with her hair in curls, wearing a shimmering gold number, walking towards Frank and Emmy. She was holding a glass of wine in one hand and a cupcake in the other.

She threw some wine at Emmy’s dress which left Emmy in shock and the partygoers wondering what’s going on. The woman then spoke. “How dare you make all these cupcakes when I have gluten allergies?”

CHAPTER 19
SHE’S MY DAUGHTER

Emmy was taken aback. Who was this woman and what was she talking about? “Excuse me?” Emmy said. “I didn’t know I was supposed to cook cupcakes that are free of gluten. I mean, Frank—“

“Aw, Em, I’m pretty sure I told you about that.” Frank said.

“What?!” Emmy said. Now, she’s more and more confused and she can feel her heart racing by the second. “I’m pretty sure you told me that I shouldn’t worry about gluten allergies—“

“Really?” The woman said sarcastically. “You know what? I’m sure Frank won’t do that. He won’t want this party to be messed up because it’s meant for me.”

“He didn’t tell me that.” Emmy said, her voice meek. What was going on?

“Em, it’s in the invitation.” He said.

“What?”

He then took an invitation from one of the tables around and gave it to Emmy.

It’s time to welcome Serena back!

It’s going to be the party of the season. Come in your flapper dresses and tuxes.

It’s an absolutely Gluten-free evening!

RSVP to this number

“Oh my god.” Emmy said. She couldn’t believe this was happening. It just couldn’t be true. She felt like she was in a bad dream and she wants to wake up but now, she couldn’t. “Frank,” she said, tears about to stream out of her eyes, “Frank, you didn’t tell me about this.”

“Em, your invitation probably must’ve been left at home or maybe it’s in your purse. I gave you one. You couldn’t get in here without one. Or wait, did you use the back door?”

“Frank, you know I always use the back door whenever I have to cook here.”

“I never gave you the permission to do so. And you know that I didn’t ask you to bake for this party.”

“That’s lie.” She said. “I don’t know what hit you on the head, Frank, but you’ve got to stop right now because this is creeping me out. You asked me to be here. Remember? When Mara found that knife in her pie.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Mara said. “I think you’re being delusional again.”

Emmy felt her head spinning. What was going on and why is it happening? She looked at the invitation again. “Serena.” She said, reading the name on the invitation. “Serena.” She then looked at the woman. She thought she was beautiful and gorgeous but she was very sassy. Wasn’t Serena the woman whom Frank said was his stalker?

“You’re Serena?” She said.

“I am.”

“But Frank said that you’re his stalker!”

“I never said such a thing.” Frank said. “Emmy, I think you need to drink your medicine or something. Serena’s my wife.”

“What?”

“Didn’t you hear what he just said?” Serena asked Emmy. “Frank’s my husband, I’m his wife, I haven’t been around for so long because I’m busy with our businesses in Paris and I was still trying to make our kids realize that life’s better here but wow, now I’m back and you’re trying to sabotage things for me? Just who do you think you are, dear woman?”

Emmy was shaken up. She felt like she just wanted the earth to swallow her up right then and there. The past couple of days have been good, sure, but right now, it’s like her worst fears have come to life again and they’re even crazier this time. It’s like Frank lied to her all along.

Maybe, he was the one whom Ruby and Annabeth were talking about in her dreams. Maybe, he’s the one she has to be careful with—the one she should fear.

How could she have been so naïve, so trusting? Why didn’t she just believe in Daniel? Why does she always make the wrong choices? Emmy certainly felt like an idiot at that point. She just wanted to leave.

“I’m sorry.” She said, the pain evident in her voice. She then ran away to the back porch, crying like she hasn’t cried before. She got her purse from the kitchen before doing so. She didn’t even care who saw or heard her. She took her phone out and called Daniel.

“Em.” He said. He sounded like he did not want to speak to her.

“Dan,” She said. “Dan, I’m so sorry.” She was crying. “I’m sorry…I…You’re right.” She said. “You’re right about everything. I’m sorry.”

“Where are you? Are you at Frank’s house? I’m going there now.”

“Dan—“ But before she could say anything else, Serena appeared and took her phone from her.

“Calling your knight in shining armor, huh?” Serena said. “I thought that role belonged to Frank now.” She mocked. “Oh, wait, of course it doesn’t. I’m his wife. I’ll always be. And that sucks for you.”

“I don’t know why this even happened or what his purpose was,” Emmy said, “but I’m really sorry. I…I didn’t know it would come to this. Please just…Just stop.” She pleaded. She felt like a child being bullied but she didn’t care anymore. She just wanted to get out of there.

“But I won’t. You see how easy it is for you to fall for someone you don’t know, Emmy? You see how many lives you would have ruined if you went on with this?”

“I’ll leave Frank alone. This is the last you’ll see of me.”

“That’s too easy to say.” Serena laughed. “I’m pretty sure you won’t be able to do that. You’re weak and selfish. You think you got the world in your hands? You think you’d get your second chance? Nu-uh, young lady.”She said.

“I don’t even know what I did to you! I don’t know you. I don’t know Frank either.”

Serena laughed again. She seemed cruel and unjust, Emmy thought. She felt more and more crippled by what was happening.

“Emilia Byrne, we meet again.” As if things couldn’t get any worse, Officer Lena McMahon, the Police Officer who was in charge of Ruby and Annabeth’s cases was there. What was she doing there? Was she there just because of those cupcakes?

“Oh god, I don’t even know what you’re doing her, Officer McMahon. This is none of your business.”

“Don’t talk to her like that.” Serena said.

“But she keeps popping up on the worst situations!” Emmy said, irritated. She just couldn’t deal with Lena McMahon right now. She turned to Lena again. “Why would you even care about this?”

“Oh, I have a lot to care for, Emmy.” She said. “I do have a lot of reason to be here.”

“Why?”

“Emmy,” Lena McMahon said, “Serena’s my daughter.”