Lessons in Love (18 page)

After Steven and Veronica had gone to bed, Emily sat at the kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee, lost in thought. She’d been expecting a phone call from Nicholas, so when the phone rang she wasn’t surprised. ‘Hello,’ she said.

‘Emily. I’m glad you’re home. I know this is short notice, but I’d like to pop around to your place, if possible.’

‘That would be a good idea,’ she agreed. ‘We still have a lot to discuss.’

‘Yes, we do. And not all of it good, I’m afraid.’

‘Oh?’ Her heart leapt into her throat at the sound of his tone, and he chuckled in reassurance.

‘Not that bad. I’ll see you at nine, if that’s OK?’

‘Nine’s fine,’ she agreed. They certainly did have a lot to talk about, and where they’d start she had no idea.

Nicholas’s car pulled up into the driveway just before nine o’clock and Emily braced herself, plastering a smile on her face as she got up to answer the door.

‘You look beautiful, Emily,’ Nicholas complimented her, smiling down on her from his position outside the door. ‘Here.’ He pulled a bunch of flowers out from behind his back. ‘These are for you. They’re my way of saying…heck, I don’t know…sorry, maybe?’

‘Come in Nicholas.’ She stood back and allowed him entrance to the house. ‘Thank you for the flowers, they’re beautiful. But you have nothing to say sorry for. From now on, I think we should clear the slate, leave the past behind us and work on the future. What do you say?’ she asked hopefully. He smiled warmly in response.

‘That would be an excellent idea! Now, where can I put these flowers?’

‘I’ll find a vase. Please, sit down. Can I get you something to drink?’

‘A coffee would be great.’ Emily placed the flowers in a vase on the table, and made some coffee. She’d already had two cups since coming home, and knew she’d have a hard time getting to sleep tonight.

They sat in uncomfortable silence for a moment before Nicholas spoke.

‘Obviously, as far as university’s concerned there can be no change in our relationship. If I had my way, I’d marry you this instant, but that would make things very hard for you academically. So we’re going to have to wait until July.’ He looked at her sombrely.

‘And?’ Emily asked, fully anticipating the bad news he had to tell her.

‘And that’s it.’

‘Oh!’ Emily smiled in relief. ‘That’s all.’

‘Well, not quite. You also have to meet my parents.’

‘Oh.’ Emily’s heart sank as she pictured the inevitable confrontation. How would his parents, undoubtedly educated, respectable, upper class citizens take their son marrying someone like Emily?

‘Come now, it’s not that bad,’ he said, smiling gently at her. ‘You’ll like them, and I know that they’ll love you.’ Emily wasn’t so sure. What if they thought she’d become pregnant just so she could snare a man like Nicholas? After all, she wasn’t well off and she had a brother and sister to support as well as herself. She’d have to be an idiot not to have considered what a difference marrying Nicholas would make to their lives.

‘The very good news is that the real estate agent called today and said the current owners of the house are moving out this week. I’d love for you, Steven and Veronica to move in with me immediately, but under the circumstances I don’t think that would be a good idea. At least I’ll be able to get the place set up though, so when we are married you’ll be able to move straight in, and everything will be just as you like it.’

‘That sounds lovely,’ she said inadequately.

‘Have you told Steven and Veronica about us yet?’ She nodded. ‘How did they take it?’

‘About as well as could be expected.’ She smiled ruefully at him, and he reached across the table and took her hand.

‘They’ll come around. You’ll see. It’ll just be a bit of an adjustment for them.’

‘For all of us,’ she agreed.

‘That reminds me, I’ve arranged an appointment for you to see Dr Richmond. He’s very hard to get into, so I had to wrangle things a bit. How’s Monday lunchtime sound?’ He knew that she stopped work before lunch on a Monday before going to uni, but it irked her that he had everything so well organised. Surely she could have made her own arrangements to see a doctor? But she didn’t want to start an argument now, especially when things were going so smoothly between them.

‘No problem. I just hope you’ll understand if I’m late to class because of it,’ she joked, reminding him of their first encounter. He laughed softly.

‘It seems hard to believe that it was just a couple of months ago, doesn’t it? How much things have changed.’

‘Yes, they certainly have. There’s one other thing we haven’t discussed, and that’s what I’m to do about my work and study when we’re married. Obviously with a baby my time will be limited, but I don’t want to be a financial burden to you.’ Nicholas laughed out loud.

‘A financial burden? That’s nonsense, Emily! You’d never be a burden on me. Of course you’ll have to give up work when the baby’s born. And we’ll organise a nanny to care for the child while you attend class. You’re only going part time, so things will work out well.’ Emily gave a half-hearted smile in response. Of course, Nicholas was being logical, but she prided herself on her independence and relying on someone else was going to come hard. Under the circumstances it would be foolish for her to even consider staying on at work, but it was a part of her life which would not be all that easy to give up.

‘I have to confess, I don’t know much about organising weddings,’ Nicholas said. Emily raised a sardonic eyebrow.

‘And you think I do?’ Then she laughed. ‘OK, maybe more than you. I helped Sonya a lot with hers. She’ll know all the ins and outs of everything. But…’ She paused a moment, gathering her thoughts. ‘What sort of wedding to you expect us to have?’ Up until the word had been mentioned, she’d imagined a registry office setting. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to make a big fuss. She had few relatives to invite, and only a few close friends.

Nicholas frowned at her worried expression and shrugged. ‘A regular sort of wedding? Don’t all women dream of a white wedding in church, surrounded by friends and family?’

‘I guess. I hadn’t really thought about it.’

‘If you want something smaller…’

‘Something cosy and intimate would be nice,’ she agreed. ‘And I’m not sure how I feel about a church wedding, or about wearing white.’ She felt herself flush. Nicholas laughed.

‘I don’t think anyone really minds nowadays, Emily.’

‘Yes, but I suppose I was a little traditional in my upbringing. I think I’d feel hypocritical standing before a priest in church while several months pregnant.’

‘We’ll think of a happy alternative then. You may not believe this, Emily, but I want your wedding day to be special for you. I really do.’ Why? She thought sadly. Because that was the best she’d get from their marriage? Nicholas stood.

‘It’s time I was leaving,’ he said walking over and giving her a swift kiss on the cheek. ‘I’ll be in touch.’ Emily watched sadly as Nicholas walked away from her, wondering where the passion she’d once seen in him had gone. Just short weeks ago he’d been unable to keep his hands off her, and now he left her with a peck on the cheek. If only she could see the fervour of his desire for her ignited once again!

Nicholas invited Emily, Veronica and Steven to his new house on the weekend so he could get their opinions on interior decorating. He was planning on outfitting the house entirely with brand new furniture. His apartment in Melbourne had been ultra-modern and now he was after something different, and wanted his future wife and future brother- and sister-in-law to be comfortable with the home he was making for them.

Veronica and Steven were gradually coming around to the idea of her marrying Nicholas. Once they’d seen the house, they were more than happy to be leaving their old home, and Nicholas treated them fairly and honestly, so they harboured no resentment against him.

The master bedroom almost blew Emily away. It was at least twice the size of her current bedroom, had a huge
en suite
bathroom with a two person spa bath, and a double sized shower with two shower heads. The thought of sharing it with Nicholas sent shivers down her spine, and she thought regretfully of the times they’d spent making love. Regretfully, she mused, because the last time, before the problems with Mark’s business had come to the fore, and before she’d ever realised she was pregnant, had been such a long time ago. Since then, Nicholas had remained the perfect gentleman. He was considerate, caring, warm and friendly…but that was all. Gone was the passion he’d once displayed towards her, and that hurt most of all. She still shivered in his presence, still felt the warmth of her desire for him invade her senses whenever he was around. But as far as he was concerned…there was nothing. Perhaps after their wedding things would change. But then again…She forced her mind from the depressing thoughts, determined to keep on an even keel emotionally. Nicholas was doing more for her than many other men would have done, and she had to remember that and be grateful for it.

Hmph! Grateful? In the twenty-first century? How pathetic was she? She felt somehow like a dog being thrown table scraps, its tongue hanging out and tail wagging madly. For an instant a small smile passed over her lips, but it was a smile tinged with sorrow and regret.

Emily shook her head, getting the uncharitable thought out of her head. Nicholas was just doing what he believed to be right, and she really couldn’t fault him for that. But she’d never be his little doormat. Never. Even if he made millions while she struggled through university, one day she’d prove herself to be his equal.

An interior designer had been hired to help assist in their choices, and she turned up shortly with swatches of fabric, and thousands of pictures of decorating ideas. Emily couldn’t help but think of the cost involved, but Nicholas didn’t even seem to notice.

‘What do you think of that lounge suite, Emily?’ he asked, and she gaped, seeing the five figure sum required for its purchase.

‘It’s…well…’

‘You don’t like it?’

‘It’s beautiful. But the price!’ she exclaimed. Nicholas laughed.

‘Don’t worry about the price. I want this place to be perfect for you, Emily. Perfect.’ His tone was so warm, and so sincere that Emily almost melted.

‘Then, yes. It’s lovely. But is it comfortable?’ she asked the designer, all practicality. There was no point in spending such an exorbitant sum on furniture that was barely useable.

‘I can assure you it’s a dream. As comfortable as anything you’ve ever been on, and perhaps even more so. If you’d like to try it for yourself, you can always pop into the showroom.’

‘I’ll take your word for it.’ The rest of the day passed quickly and enjoyably, and by the end of it everyone was satisfied. Even Steven and Veronica were getting new bedroom furniture, to replace the old and rather ordinary furniture they currently put up with.

But it saddened Emily to think that so few of the relics of her past would be coming to their new home with them, and back in her old house that evening, she looked over everything nostalgically. Her mother had never been well off, especially after her father had left, and the furniture was worn and shabby. But the memories contained within it were what saddened Emily the most. She could still see her mother doing embroidery in her easy chair, chatting happily to Emily and her other two while she worked. But her mother had been dead for six years now, and what was more important than old furniture was the legacy she’d left in their hearts, and that would never be forgotten.

Before leaving the old house, she’d organise for the Salvation Army to pick most of it up. It wasn’t worth much, but she was sure there were needy families who’d appreciate it.

She had suggested putting the house up for sale, but Nicholas had sensibly vetoed the idea, telling her what an ideal investment property it was.

It would be sad to know that someone else was occupying the home she had lived in all her life, but somehow comforting to think that it would remain in the family.

It took just two weeks for the new furniture to arrive, and to celebrate the completion of their home, Nicholas had invited his parents down.

The day that Emily had been dreading finally arrived. She left Steven and Veronica in Evelyn’s capable hands and drove to Nicholas’s house almost in a state of panic. She’d left with plenty of time to spare, praying that at the very least she’d arrive first. For the occasion, she’d bought a new dress despite Nicholas’s protests that it was unnecessary. He’d assured her that his parents would love her if she wore a hessian sack, but she was certain that would not be the case.

The dress, she’d reflected ruefully, was a size bigger than she normally wore, and seemed a little tight around the tummy, even though she wasn’t far advanced in her pregnancy at all. She suspected that she’d been eating a little too much out of nerves and was actually putting on weight, something which had never happened to her before.

When she arrived at Nicholas’s house she was a nervous wreck, only partially reassured by the fact that his parents weren’t there yet.

‘You look gorgeous,’ he said, and she smiled gratefully at him, hoping futilely that he’d do more than just admire her from afar. But it wasn’t to be. ‘Sit down, I’ll get you a drink.’