Forgetting Prince Charming.

CHAPTER 8

Juliet was all the city could talk about. Gina was just as bad. All she had wanted to discuss was the new competition. Emma tried relentlessly to change the conversation. Gina agreed only by Friday. By then, Emma had to endure her alias being mentioned at work, the gas station, the grocery store, and her old family home. She was ready to pull her hair out. The competition hadn't even begun and already Emma was tired of it.

Joey and Linda had told their listeners after her interview that come Saturday, the real game would begin. Emma knew very little about what was in store for her. All she knew was to show up at the station and be prepared to meet people. The thought made Emma want to gag.

"What's got into you?" Lucy asked. They were supposed to be having lunch and catching up. Emma hadn't been very good company. Her concentration was sparse.

Emma shrugged and turned her head to look back at Lucy. Her best friend sat in front of her looking uncomfortable in the small garden chair sculptured from wire. It wasn't hot out but far warmer than it had been for weeks. Looking at Lucy, you'd think they were in summer.

"I should ask you that," Emma said, pointing at Lucy as she fanned her round face with her napkin.

Lucy glared. "I can't help it. This baby makes me feel like I'm wrapped in fur in a heat wave."

Emma laughed. "It can't be that bad."

Lucy's glare intensified. Her left hand touched her protruding belly protectively while the right continued its fanning. "Speak to me when you've got a baby inside of you." She squirmed in her seat. "My back aches."

Emma's eyes softened. "You're almost there. One more trimester."

That got Lucy smiling. "I can't wait."

"Have you and Greg decided on a name yet?"

Lucy shook her head. "We've got our choices but we're hoping when we see her it'll just click." Emma nodded. Her mother believed the same. "Hey, that was sneaky." Emma looked at her oddly. "We were talking about you. Don't change the topic."

Emma blushed. "Come on," she whined.

Lucy dropped her napkin and shook her index finger. "Uh uh, come out with it. I know something is bothering you. You've barely looked at me and you aren't eating your fajita."

Emma rolled her eyes. Lucy was too observant. "It's nothing serious."

Lucy's face dropped suddenly. She leaned as far over the table as she could get. Emma watched as a strand of her thick blond hair fell out her bun and tickled her eyelash. "The last time you were like this I found out Eamon had started dating Larissa."

Emma gulped. She didn't want to remember that time. She'd been a mess. "It's not like that."

Lucy's fingers tickled Emma's. Emma looked back at her, into her soft blue eyes. Lucy wasn't just her best friend; she was a better sister than Larissa. Emma could never keep secrets from her. "You know this new Juliet they been talking about?" Emma didn't need to clarify. Lucy was Joey's biggest fan. Lucy nodded. "Well, I'm Juliet."

Lucy shrieked. Emma should have anticipated it. Maybe then she wouldn't have startled so much that she'd knock the table. Her wine glass tipped over and the deep red liquid seeped through the white tablecloth in seconds. It puddled so quickly; Emma didn't have time to notice it trickle over the table onto her lap.

They say not to wear white after Labor Day. She should have listened.

Emma jumped up as soon as the cold liquid hit her thighs. She pushed away from the table and stared, open mouthed at the mess. Lucy finally stopped her shrieking and gaped at the table. Waiters rushed to clean their area and Emma moved to give them space. One of the waiters, a young high school kid, reached forward with a cloth. He stretched to dry her off himself and Emma jumped instantly. "No, it's alright. I got it, thanks." He blushed deep and scurried away.