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Chapter Forty-Two
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2024-10-29 19:42:56“It’s almost time to leave.” Laney was as excited as she was nervous about the upcoming night. She was seated on Brandon’s lap and counting down the next twenty minutes as they were all in lockdown until eleven-thirty. They had all danced, eaten some of the snacks that were set out, and planned once again what they were going to do afterward. She knew what Austin had agreed to was total bullshit, but she had promised to keep his surprise for Emery just that…a surprise.
“You look tired.” Austin brushed back a curl that had fallen over Emery’s shoulder and brought her closer to him so she could rest her head on his shoulder.
“Nah, I’m pretty good.” Emery was tired of being so active right now, but not tired as in she wanted to go to sleep. She wanted to enjoy this night until there was no more to enjoy.
“Good, we still have a long night ahead of us.” Austin kept her close and swayed wit
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“Um…well, I made us a reservation, but if you don’t want to we can go back to Brandon’s party.” He hoped that she wouldn’t say yes to the latter of proposals.Emery thought about her choices. This was a beautiful house and she could only imagine what it looked like on the inside. It was such a thoughtful and carefully thought-out plan, how could she say no? It wasn’t like she had to do anything tonight, but nothing was out of the possibility.“I think we should stay.” Emery saw Austin let out a breath of relief. He nodded his head okay, then got out to come around and help her out of the truck. They walked hand in hand to the front door.The chime of the door opening welcomed them as they stepped foot into the massive house. There was a white-haired, older lady seated at the desk as they went in. She looked up at them and smiled warmly at both of them.“Austin and Emery, correct?”
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“You look comfy now.” Austin pulled her closer since it seemed she was shying away from him. He loved how she looked in his clothes, even if they were ten times too big. “Emery.” She looked over at him. “Nothing has to happen tonight. I just thought we’d like some alone time without being in one of our parents’ houses.”“I know.” Emery’s voice sounded like a squeaky mouse. She moved even closer and began to kiss his neck. She heard him groan and leaned his head back further back on the sofa. His hands were pulling at her shirt and she placed hers on top of his to stop him from progressing any further. Austin opened his eyes and looked at her with confusion. Emery stood up and pulled his T-shirt off to expose the top of the black-laced nightie that Laney had bought for her. She saw him swallow the thick lump in his throat as his eyes lingered on her breasts that were barely covered and then up to meet h
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Emery lay there with Austin collapsed on top of her. She was still riding high on the thrill and feeling of what just occurred between them. Emery never thought in her life she would ever find anyone to bring her this much happiness and pleasure at one time. A tear trickled out of the corner of her eye and she tried to wipe it away before Austin noticed. As if he were on high alert, his eyes automatically met hers with a questioning look of concern.“What’s wrong?” Austin rolled off to the side. Maybe he’d placed too much weight on her after he collapsed from their intense moment or it could be that she was regretting what had happened between them. “Emery.” He wiped another single tear from her eye. “You have to tell me why you’re crying.”She was probably the only basket case who had ever cried after having sex with Austin Murray. Most girls would probably be up and ready to go for round two or three, but not Emer
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Emery stretched out her arms and legs as she woke up. Austin was still beside her asleep, looking like a small child with a simple smile on his face. She tried to ease her way out from his arms but was pulled back tightly against him once again.“It’s not time to get up yet.” Austin was exhausted from the night and didn’t want this time with Emery to end. He snuggled in closer to her and kept his arms tight around her waist.The clock above the TV showed the time was nine-thirty. Emery had seen in the welcome note that check-out was at noon. That only left her and Austin two and half more hours of it just being them together all alone.“We have to get up. I need a shower and I think you need something to eat.” Emery heard his stomach grumble again.Austin peeked his eyes open and saw the sunlight streaming in through the window, the clock reading half past the nine o’clock hour, and Emery watching him as he tried
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“I hope you two had a nice stay.” The elderly caretaker of the bed and breakfast was seeing Austin and Emery out. She patted Emery on the shoulder. “Maybe I’ll have the pleasure of seeing you both again.”Emery smiled nicely at the grandmotherly type lady who was walking with them to Austin’s truck. “I would love that. You have a beautiful home and garden.”“Oh, thank you, dear. It was a pleasure to have the both of you.” The caretaker watched as the young man helped the dainty girl into the truck. He kissed her before he closed the door and said a final thank you to her as he walked past. It may have been many years ago that she had that type of love, but even in her old age she could appreciate and relate to the love that those two showed for each other.Austin and Emery drove back into town. He was taking his time as neither one was in any hurry to get back into their everyday normal routine of thing
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“So, what are you and Laney doing this afternoon?” Austin was driving Emery back home with Brandon and Laney following behind. The girls had made plans to spend the afternoon together, so he and Brandon were going to the batting cages until dinner time.“Nothing much. Just girl stuff…you know, talking and that stuff.” Emery wasn’t going to come right out and say that Laney wanted to know about their time together on Saturday night.Austin nodded. “Laney wants to know if I got lucky, doesn’t she?” He knew how Laney was. It wasn’t like she would go around and tell everyone, but she liked to know just to ease her own curious mind.“Nope.” Emery threw him a curve in her answer. She watched as Austin’s self-assured expression fell thinking he didn’t know what Laney wanted. “She wants to know if I got lucky.” Emery stuck her tongue out at Austin when he rolled his
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The next few weeks flew by and before Emery and Austin knew it winter break was almost on top of them. Austin was walking down to the office to pick up an attendance sheet for the substitute teacher in his class when he saw Emery talking to the guidance counselor. He stalled for time and waited until he saw her coming out before he got what he needed.“Hey, what are you doing here?” He caught up to her before she had a chance to walk back up the stairs.“Austin.” Emery hadn’t seen him since earlier this morning and he was always a welcomed sight during the day. She gave him a big kiss and hug, then intertwined her arm with his. “I had a meeting with the guidance counselor.” She held up the packet that he’d given her.“What’s that for?” Austin walked with Emery up to the second floor and down the hallwaytoward her class.“These are the new classes that I signed up for.” She
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School started back with a spark of life as seniors were now on a countdown to graduation. They had spring break coming up at the beginning of April, prom in the middle of May, tons of tests and finals in between, and then graduation the first week of June. No one questioned the relationship between Austin and Emery anymore. The rest of the student body saw them as just another couple, but Emery saw the sneers from other girls when Austin would get over affectionate in the hall. There hadn’t been any more issues arising with or from Apryl. She was around but tended to stay clear of the happy couple. Last Emery had heard, Apryl was dating some guy from another school…guess she had already used up her quota at their school and had to move on.Two weeks into the new semester, Austin was walking down the hallway toward his science class. Laney ran up to him from behind and pulled him by his arm so he’d stop. “You…have …to…leave.&rdquo
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It’s been almost one year since Emery found out cancer returned and claimed her life. We had to move back closer to home to where her doctors practice so that she could complete her chemo and radiation treatments again. It was so hard to watch her go through that, knowing how much pain she was in and how much I wish I could’ve taken it all away, but I couldn’t. There was nothing I could’ve done to help her except hold and love her as much as I could. She kept fighting and trying to stay strong, but it seemed the disease took her from me no matter how hard we both fought it. We did get to see another snowfall together. As she watched from our bedroom window, I made a snowman for us like the ones we used to make together. I had a feeling that would be the last time we would both be present for the yearly tradition of building the snowman. Too many memories would tear me apart with that scenario to continue
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“Austin,” Emery yelled once more at her boyfriend, who was always taking forever to get ready. “I have a long drive and you, dear, have to be at work in thirty minutes.” After graduation from nursing, they both passed the mandated state board exam to get their nursing license and landed jobs at a children’s hospital near Lake Erie.“I’m coming.” Austin bounded down the steps of their townhouse and kissed Emery when he reached the bottom. He grew to love her more and more with each passing day and couldn’t wait until the next year when she said they could finally become legally wed. “So,” he wrapped her in a tight hug, “you’ll be careful driving to your doctor’s appointment and promise to tell me everything as soon as you get back, right?”Emery kissed him once more before stepping out of his embrace. “I will, sir.” She saluted him.“I just want to know eve
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Emery didn’t know what to say. They’d talked about this a few times before, but as of lately it hadn’t been mentioned at all. She’d told him last year that she would never get married to leave her husband all alone if cancer ever came back and overtook her. But now that she felt better than ever, she was having a change of mind. “I don’t know what to say.” After a minute delay of him asking and still being on one knee, Emery finally gave him an answer.“I’d like for you to say yes, but that decision isn’t up to me.” Austin stood upright and kept the ring in his hand.“I thought we had talked about this before. You know my reason why. It’s not that I don’t love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you, but I can’t promise you forever.” Emery knew she was only supposed to cry at a time like this out of happiness, and she was happy, but also so confused and upset.
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Emery heard the lock on the door being undone. She quickly covered her and Austin up even more with the additional blanket at the bottom of the bed. A girl stumbled in and relocked the door. She looked as though she’d had a few too many of whatever alcoholic drinks she’d been drinking. With her blonde curls bouncing along, she tried to quietly stumble to her bed. She glanced over at Emery’s side of the room and her eyes went wide when she saw eyes looking back at her.“Hey, sorry if I woke you. I’m Kristy” Emery’s roommate turned on her own lamp. She pointed and squealed when she noticed Austin beside Emery. “You already brought one back. I’m glad to see we’re alike in that way. I was so afraid that I was going to get stuck with some roommate who didn’t like to party and all they ever did was study and be like the biggest nerd on campus.” Kristy’s mouth kept running more than Emery wanted to hear at
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“Do you have everything?” Emery’s mom was helping her carry down some of the stuff that she needed to take to the dormitory. The past three weeks since graduation had passed in a blur. Mrs. Warden was trying hard to control her emotions, but this was the first time her daughter would be away from home for a prolonged time.Emery looked around her room and the suitcases she’d packed. “Yep, I think so.” The main things she would need in her dorm room were already there. The bed, dresser, and desk had all been provided. She just had to bring her own things to put on or in them. Emery noted that her mom had tears in her eyes and was trying hard not to cry. “I’ll miss you too.” She pulled her mom into a hug as they both wept about her leaving.“I guess we better get going.” Mrs. Warden finally let go of Emery after they had their big cry fest. Both their eyes, nose, and cheeks were now red. She grabbed a tiss
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Two days later Austin found out he’d passed his history course with almost a B. He contributed that success to all of Emery’s help with studying. He took her out to dinner for a celebration and also learned that she’d gotten her letter of acceptance into Case Western. Their plans were moving right along and each was excited to get started on the next part of their life and relationship.“Guess this is it.” Austin stood with Emery in their caps and gowns in the designated part of the stadium. It was graduation night and it was going to be a long process with over nine hundred kids in their class. His last name was in the middle and hers was at the end of the alphabet so they had a good while to wait. “Are you happy that you decided to wait this all out?”Emery nodded yes. She was going to just get her diploma in December, but once she and Austin got serious she went ahead with the normal graduation. “Just ner
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“I can’t believe we graduate next week.” Emery tossed her backpack on the floor and sat down in the chair next to Austin.The library was buzzing with seniors as they all tried to get in some last-minute studying before the last exams the next day. Prom had been the week before and the excitement from that had finally dwindled down. Austin had been nominated Prom King and Apryl had been elected as his Queen. Of course, they had to do their couple’s dance together, but Austin made it comical as he held her at a twelve-inch distance away from him at all times. When the song had finally ended he dropped her like a hot potato and went back to Emery’s side.The couple along with Laney and Brandon went to an after-prom party together, but neither couple stayed out until the wee hours. They’d broken the news to their two friends about leaving in June. They seemed genuinely upset, but then announced they were also going to coll
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“Do we really have to go back?” Emery knew she sounded whiny, but they were almost back home and she really didn’t want to go back to their normal life and routine.Austin laughed and pulled her closer to his side. “We have to now, but just think we can leave all of this in another two and half months.” He had to start football camp at Case Western at the end of June. Although it was a long shot, he hoped Emery would be accepted and be ready to go by then.“That’s if I get into school and if my parents don’t throw too much of a fit knowing I’ll be that far away.” She laid her head on Austin’s shoulder and continued to watch the towns fly by.“School isn’t going to be the issue, telling our parents what we’ve decided to do is the problem.” He knew both his mom and dad would probably be disappointed in what he’d chosen, but it was time for Austin to ta
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The bed squeaked as they both collapsed onto it. Austin regained his breath, then rolled off of Emery’s back. She was flattened out, with her arms spread wide and her face buried into the mattress. “Are you okay?” He hoped he hadn’t hurt her. How would he explain that to her parents?Emery gathered enough strength to roll herself over. Austin was laying there in all his naked wonderment, looking at her as if he was sorry for what had happened. “That was awesome.” She slowly crawled up and lay down beside him. Austin pulled the blanket that had fallen to the floor over the both of them. He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her as close as he could.“I love you.” Austin kissed the girl who had stolen his heart on the cheek. She made him feel things that no one else had ever done before. Emery had become his life and he couldn’t imagine a day going by that she wasn’t part of it.Instead of repeating the s
