23. Emma

The air is crisp as I approach the Veterinary Hospital that Chasity owns. My heart pounds in my chest, anxiety and determination warring within me. I know this won"t be an easy conversation, but it"s one I need to have. The bell above the entrance chimes as I step inside, the familiar scent of antiseptic and animal fur filling the air.

Chasity is behind the reception desk, her expression cold as she glances up and meets my gaze. "What are you doing here?" she snaps.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Chasity, can we talk? Please, just give me a few minutes."

"The audacity. I have nothing to say to you. Leave."

I expected this resistance, so I reach into my bag and pull out a letter. "I understand that you might not want to talk right now. That"s okay. But please, read this. It"s important."

"I don"t want anything from you. Just leave."

Respecting her wishes, I place the letter on the counter and turn to leave. As the door closes behind me, I hope she"ll take the time to read my words and consider what I have to say.

Next on my list is the restaurant.

The comforting aroma of food welcomes me as I step inside. My dad is in the kitchen, focused on preparing dishes for the lunch rush.

"Dad, can we talk?" I ask tentatively.

"Emma, of course. What"s on your mind?"

Uncle Hal steps up and takes over the dishes my dad is working on. We move to a quieter corner of the kitchen, and I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "Dad, I need to talk about the past, about everything. I"ve spent a long time being angry with you, hating you even."

"Emma, I ..."

"No, let me finish," I interrupt. "I thought that if you loved me, if I were enough, then you would have quit drinking for me. I thought if I was enough then you'd have been able to stay sober long enough for Christmas, or hockey games, or whatever. I thought your alcoholism was my fault. I blamed myself for not being able to fix things, for not being enough to make you stop drinking."

"Sweetie, I"m so sorry. Those were my problems to bear, not yours. You were just a kid. It was never your fault. Alcoholism is an addiction. I believed I had a predisposition to alcoholism, inherited from my dad and his dad. I thought there wasn't another life for me until I realized that was a self-limiting belief that was keeping me stuck. I love you, I've always loved you. I tried so hard, so many times to get sober for you, so I could be there for you but it was a never ending cycle of self-sabotage. I'm so sorry that I ever made you feel like you weren't enough, because that's anything but the truth. You are enough. You're my whole world."

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of my confession lifting. "I know that now, Dad. It took me a long time to understand. I carried that guilt and anger for years. But I need you to know that I forgive you. I understand that you were battling your own demons, and I want to move past the hurt."

"I can"t tell you how much that means to me. I"ve been carrying the guilt for a long time too. I wish I could change the past, but all I can do is be better now."

I nod, a sense of catharsis washing over me. "Tell me about getting sober, about the restaurant. How did it all happen?"

Dad takes a deep breath, his eyes reflecting the journey he"s been on. "I hit rock bottom. I was in a drunk driving incident that could have cost me my life. Hal and Susie sat me down, had a long talk with me. They helped me see that I needed to get help. That"s when I found cooking. It became a way for me to channel my energy and passion. And then, Drake became a silent partner in the restaurant. He believed in me and in what we could build together."

"I"m glad you found something that brought you joy and purpose. But wait, Drake is a partner in the restaurant?"

"Hal and I bought him the rest of the way out when we could, but he did get us started."

"I had no idea."

"No one did. He gave me a chance when no one else would. He"s been a blessing, and I can"t thank him enough for the support he"s given me and this restaurant."

We sit there, sharing stories and finding common ground. The weight of the past feels lighter, and the bonds of family grow stronger with each passing moment. As we finish our conversation, we exchange hugs, a silent agreement to move forward with forgiveness and understanding.

Leaving the restaurant, I feel a sense of closure and a renewed connection with my dad.

I make my way to the rink, eager to visit Drake.

I can't wait to tell him about the big steps I've taken today.

***

Lost in my thoughts, I almost don"t notice the woman standing near the entrance. She"s stunning, with a baby bump that speaks of new life. As I walk past, she hesitates before gathering the courage to approach me.

"Excuse me, are you Emma Matthews?"

I stop, turning to face her. "Yes, I am. Can I help you with something?"

She smiles nervously. "Oh wow, it"s really you. I"ve followed your skating career for years. It"s such an honor to meet you, Emma."

I offer a polite smile, a bit taken aback by the unexpected encounter. "Thank you. I appreciate that. I"m just heading into the rink to see someone, so if you"ll excuse me ..."

She reaches out, gently touching my arm. "Wait, please. I need to talk to you."

I furrow my brows, curious and a bit wary. "Talk to me about what?"

She takes a deep breath, tears shimmering in her eyes. "My name is Sarah. I"ve been engaged to Drake for the last two years."

My heart skips a beat, a mix of shock and confusion settling within me. "Engaged? Drake never mentioned—"

"He probably didn"t," she interrupts. "When I found out I was pregnant, everything changed. He dumped me. He chose you over us. I"ve been holding on, hoping he"d come back to me, but seeing you here now ... I can"t keep pretending that he"ll choose me. Please, for the sake of our child, walk away from him. Let him be a father to our baby."

I"m floored, the ground shifting beneath me. My mind races, trying to process the revelation. Anger and hurt surge within me, and I pull my arm away gently.

"I ... I had no idea. I"m sorry, but this is between you and Drake. I can"t make decisions for him or your relationship."

She pleads with tearful eyes. "Please, Emma. If you care about him at all, just let him go. Let him be with his child and me. It"s the right thing to do."

I"m torn, conflicted by the unexpected bombshell. "I can't … I can't do this."

I move away from her quickly and go directly into the rink.

This is just another ploy of Loughlin's, right?

I would know if Drake has been cheating on me, right?

I am not that clueless, am I?

Entering the familiar space, I spot Drake in the distance, talking to a dark-haired woman. The unease tightens in my chest as I approach, overhearing snippets of their conversation. The woman is absolutely breathtaking and put together.

"I have everything we need," she flirts in a thick Northern accent.

There's more than one?

What did I get myself into?

My steps falter, and a wave of hurt crashes over me. I can"t believe I didn"t see it, didn"t realize that Drake was entangled in such a complex situation.

Drake looks up as I enter, his expression shifting from surprise to concern. "Emma, hey. What"s wrong?"

I take a deep breath, struggling to find my voice. "Who is she?"

"My investigator friend I told you about. This is Gabby, Gabby my fiancée Emma."

"Emma Matthews," she gushes as she extends a perfectly manicured hand. "I've heard so much about you."

"Gabby got us all the proof we need. I'm taking it to the league first, if they don't do something with it I'll take it the police."

"You said your friend was a former Marine."

"Did my twenty and recently retired," she offers.

"Drake, who is Sarah?"

"Sarah?" he asks as he cocks an eyebrow at me. "I don't …oh, I went on a few dates with a woman named Sarah. I met her at a hockey thing. Why?"

"She stopped me outside. She told me she was your fiancée and that you dumped her when you learned she was pregnant."

"What?" he asks with a nervous chuckle.

"She's pregnant with your child and …" I sob.

Tears stream down my face. Gabby flits an uncomfortable glance at Drake before she gestures toward the outside. Drake takes a step toward me.

"She is not pregnant with my child. It's not possible. We never slept together."

"She says she's your fiancée and …"

"Emma, I'm not sure what's happening right now but I assure you that she isn't and never was my fiancée. We went to dinner twice. We never slept together."

"I can't do this!"

I race out of the rink. Gabby is outside talking to Sarah but I don't stop. I sprint to my apartment and lock myself inside.

How did everything go from so good to so bad in a matter of minutes?