Exception (46 page)

With her body back in the upright position, Emily’s eyes landed on the blond man standing next to them. In all his five feet and seven inches, Chuck wasn’t the tallest man—in fact, some would even consider him short—but, standing next to his wife’s five feet, he looked like a giant. The hazel eyes that looked at Emily held that kindness and love that were just so Chuck.

“Hey kid,” he greeted, extending a hand to his sister in law.

With a broad smile Emily took his hand and held it in both of hers. The respect and consideration Chuck always demonstrated was one of her favorite things about him. “Hey big brother, how are you?”

“Will you two cut the chitchat?” Charlie interrupted. “My feet are swollen like balloons and I need to pee, so let’s go home.”

Chuck closed his eyes and let out an exasperated breath, making Emily nearly burst at the seams with her laughter. She watched the couple’s teasing argument about what a good idea adult diapers were, which resulted in her sister punching her small fist on her husband’s shoulder, making the three of them laugh. As much as she loved to be with her substitute parents and her friends, there wasn’t anyone she enjoyed being with more than her sister and her husband.
With perhaps one exception
, she thought.

“So, where is he?”

Charlie’s voice broke through Emily’s reverie. Turning her attention back to her sister, Emily noticed that the tiny woman had the excited look in her eye she reserved for vacation plans and fudge brownies.

“Where’s who?” Emily asked, eyeing her sister suspiciously.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Emmy.” The words were followed by a long sigh. “Taylor, of course. Who else would I be asking for? Santa?”

“Since it’s Thanksgiving you could be asking for pilgrims or turkey, how would I know?”

The glare that followed was also well known to Emily. It was the I’m-getting-pissed-so-stop-with-the-bullshit-and-start-talking-before-I-tell-you-where-to-go look. With giggles and a kiss, Emily folded her sister in her arms. “I missed that look, sissy, and Tay is in New York, where he works and lives . . . ”

“That’s disappointing. I’m dying to meet the famous Taylor.”

“Charlotte, don’t start,” Emily and Chuck said in unison.

She looked at both of them with an annoyed huff, opening her mouth for one of her comebacks that was silenced by her sister’s voice.

“You’ll meet him tomorrow at the Webbers’. In fact, you’ll meet all three Carters, since they decided to avoid holiday traveling and stay in the States. Mamma Jo invited them all to join us, since she’s so in love with Tay and all. She’s been in the kitchen since yesterday. And Charlie, don’t fuss and ruin it by making him uncomfortable.”

Emily guided them to the parking lot where her Prius was parked. As they walked, Charlotte and her husband exchanged glances that silently reinforced the leave-it-alone warning he gave her during their plane ride. Chuck knew the need his wife had to ensure her sister was safe and well looked after, but he also understood Emily’s desire not to be pushed or pressured.

The ride to the apartment was short and chatty as the sisters filled each other in on their most recent news, which, to Emily’s hysterical delight, included the very real possibility of the young couple moving to NYC. The ride up the four flights of stairs leading to Emily’s apartment, however, was long, and filled with complaints about how Charlotte’s swollen feet and bulging belly made climbing stairs incredibly uncomfortable. As if to prove a point, it took her nearly ten minutes to reach the final landing. Winded and in a sour mood, she nearly demanded that they leave the apartment as few times as possible, unless Chuck was willing to carry her up those infernal steps.

After a long trip to the restroom, and an even longer foot rub delivered by her husband, Charlotte went to the guest bedroom to unpack.

She knew that Taylor had been staying with her sister on the weekends for the past few months, but still, seeing the closet lined with clothes, a blue toothbrush in the cup on top of the sink and the wide variety of male things around the apartment, gave the information new perspective.

Ever since she’d first heard of Taylor, Charlie noticed the change in her sister. After everything that had happened, and all the ways in which Emily had been broken, she finally seemed like her old self again. After years and years, she was laughing and making silly jokes, singing and dancing, the way she used to before her mother and Kevin took that away. Dark memories filled with sorrow took over Charlotte as she remembered that dreadful night when she’d used all her strength to carry her beloved sister from that hard floor to the bathroom. With tears in her eyes, she remembered placing a lifeless Emily in the warm water of the tub, and calling her name countless times without ever receiving an answer. At that moment she knew that, even though she still had a pulse, a part of her sister had died.

Her mind drifted back to a few months after the attack, when the zombie version of her sister vowed to never let anyone close enough to the point where they could hurt her again. Charlie also remembered the sadness and heartbreak she felt, knowing that Emily deserved better. But, despite wanting to encourage her to feel differently, she felt helpless, knowing her sister had suffered what seemed like an irreparable amount of trauma in her life. After all, one person can only break so many times.

It took a long time, but Charlotte had finally come to terms with the fact that her sister would never be the same. But looking around the apartment, and seeing bits and pieces of the man who had finally performed the miracle she’d never been able to achieve, tugged at her heartstrings and brought tears of joy and gratitude to her hormonal and overemotional eyes. This only increased her anxiousness to meet Taylor and see for herself if he really deserved the space he’d earned.

When Taylor parked his car at the Webbers’ curb he was one hour late and fuming at his brawling siblings, who’d woken him early in the morning with yet another idiotic and immature banter. That annoyance only added to his anxiety over meeting Charlotte and his uncontrollable desire to profess his love for Emily. The combination had left him like a time bomb, ready to explode.

The three siblings exited the car and made their way up the pathway leading to the white two-story colonial house. With a deep, steadying breath Taylor knocked twice on the red door, his heart pounding nervously in his chest.

Noticing her brother’s tension, Penelope linked her arm through his and nudged his shoulder with her head. “I’m nervous too. I know you said he’s cool, but he’s still my professor.” She gave him an apologetic smile and winked, before continuing in a whispered tone. “And don’t worry, Gabe and I agreed to be on our best behavior.”

Excited voices sounded from the other side of the door when Taylor smiled and winked lovingly at his sister. In the next second the door opened revealing Emily first, who was smiling and laughing, and then two women in aprons, peeking behind her back like mischievous children. The scene was quite funny, and even a little ridiculous.

“Hey,” Emily greeted them with a smile, opening the door wider so they could enter.

The three Carters entered the large yellow- and white-striped foyer, thankful for the warmth that contrasted the dreadful cold outside.

From the moment she’d opened the door, Taylor’s eyes never left Emily. Dressed in a short, long-sleeved light gray sweater dress, dark stockings and black pumps with her black hair falling in soft waves down her shoulders and back, she looked like a dream, and Taylor was once more taken by surprise at how it seemed that, every time he saw her, she was more beautiful than the time before.

In her cheerful and guarded way, Emily greeted the three of them with wide smiles. She noted with joy that Gabriel offered her a fist bump as a greeting instead of leaning in for a hug. She had no doubt that Taylor had given his brother specific instructions before they got there, for which she was thankful for. Penelope gave her the quick sideways hug she’d been doing for some time and, while it still sent a chill down her spine, it was becoming more and more bearable.

When the time came to greet Taylor, Emily could almost feel her sister’s eyes burning a hole in her back as they wrapped each other in a tight and lengthy embrace. When Taylor delivered a kiss to the top of her head, Emily imagined Charlie’s eyes popping out of her head, like a cartoon character. The mental picture made her want to laugh.

“Guys, this is my sister, Charlotte, and my momma, Johanna,” Emily said, moving out of Taylor’s arms and to his side. “Ladies, this is Gabriel and Penelope. Charlie, this is Taylor.” Her lips turned into a knowing grin that mirrored her sister’s.

The two women greeted their guests warmly, wishing them a happy Thanksgiving and instructing them to make themselves comfortable. That was the first time Taylor really removed his eyes from his best friend to properly look at the other two ladies. He greeted Johanna with the easy familiarity they shared after months of friendship, before turning to Charlotte, who was watching him like a hawk. He couldn’t help but smile at the pregnant, miniature version of his best friend. Despite being several inches shorter, she had the same small frame, raven hair, big blue eyes and warm smile.

With his coat removed, Taylor hugged both women and delivered a beautiful bouquet of flowers to their hostess, thanking her for having him and his family over. Johanna melted like butter at the gesture.

Knowing the house like the back of his hand, Taylor led his siblings to the cozy family room, where he greeted Simon and finally met Chuck.

Emily’s lips curved into an impossible smile as she stood just inside the kitchen and watched the two families getting along and bonding over the football game. She was looking at Penelope squirm uncomfortably in her seat next to Simon when Charlotte’s low shouting voice sounded in her ears. “Holy Jeezis, sissy. You never told me he was that fine.”

Emily turned to look at her wide-eyed sister. “Not you too,” she begged in hushed tones.

“Emmy dear, all your sister is saying is that he is a fine young man, and how lucky you are to have him in your life. She was impressed that he even brought me flowers, right Charlotte?” Johanna asked in that conciliatory tone mothers’ use, giving the elder of the two a meaningful look.

Charlotte rolled her eyes. “If the translation of what you just said is anything in the lines of he’s
fine
and that you’re lucky to have that
fine
face and what I bet are some
fiiiiine
abs in your life, you’re absolutely right, Mamma.” Johanna shook her head in amusement, as they two girls giggled.

Once they were back to their dinner preparations, Emily’s voice filled the room once more. “He does have some killer abs,” she teased her sister, bringing about another round of girlish laughs.

Charlotte was lighting the candles in the dining room when Simon and Chuck entered, followed by the three Carters. The room was instantly filled with conversation and laughter. As she took her place at the table, her eyes followed the oldest of the three siblings as he made his way to the kitchen to help her sister bring out some heavy dishes to the table.

The comfortable, happy vibe that emanated from Emily as she and her best friend talked and laughed in hushed voices filled her heart with joy. She knew that, for the past several months, her sister had been happy and seemingly carefree. She also knew that Taylor was the one to thank for such change, but even her wildest dreams hadn’t been crazy enough to conjure the scene that Charlotte’s eyes were about to witness.