A Summer of Discovery

Chapter Eight

I woke up at eleven a.m. The house was a buzz of activity. Pops knocked the door.

"You decent" He shouted.

"Yes" I replied half asleep.

"Emery it's a good thing this is an afternoon wedding"

He was dressed up in a grey suit, a pink shirt and a rose in his button hole. His light hair was combed back neatly in a side parting. "Pops you look so handsome" I said looking him up and down.

"You my June bug look like crap. What the hell happened?" He said gesturing to the dark circles under my eyes and my green complexion obvious even through my tanned skin.

"Thanks" I said slowly sitting up and swinging my legs over the bed.

"Sam got me terribly drunk" I said running my hands over my face.

"What a good man. I knew he would make his move" Pops said with a look of glee.

"What?" I asked stunned.

"Sam he made his move right" He smiled, his hand gesturing a thumbs up.

"What are you talking about" I said obviously slightly agitated.

"Don't pretend you don't know that boy isn't in love with you" Pops said leaning against my wardrobe and giving his suit a dust down.

"Oh my god" I said my head in my hands "And people wonder why I never come home"

"Now Emery that's no way to talk, listen I like him he's a good guy" Pop said crossing the room to stand in front of me.

"Well I don't" I said standing up wobbling side to side. Pops held my shoulders still.

"I don't see any other fella in the line-up" He said looking down at my small frame with a look of disappointment at my current state.

"That's because there isn't one" I responded back

Lilly popped her head around the door, I could see her before Pops could.

"Then consider Sam" Pops begged me.

Her forehead creased up as she listened to the subject.

"I will never consider Sam. Pops I'm with someone else" I said as his hands let go of my shoulders. He grabbed the silk handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his brow. "You just said you were single"

"No I said I wasn't with a man" I said adamantly as my hazel eyes focused on his.

"I don't know what silliness you're playing at Emery but knock it off and get downstairs and dressed, this is Jane's day not yours. I'm leaving now so I don't see the bride before the wedding. Please just get yourself cleaned up"

I saluted just to piss him off and he waltzed off. I sat back down on the bed with a thump.

Lilly came through and sat beside me, she already had on the hideous pink rah rah dress.

"Well you look like crap" She said smiling.

"So do you as it goes" I replied looking down at her pink ruffles.

"Ha-ha" She sung sarcastically.

"So you just came out to your dad huh" she said with a wink.

"I guess I did" I replied looking at her briefly before turning away.

"You never did that for me" ... "She must be special" she mused.

I gathered my towel and my toiletry bag as she sat there watching me. "I never did that for you?" I repeated "you never gave me the chance. I would have done anything for you" I stated.