Page 32 of Throw Away the Key
Emma smiled. The last time he had gotten up on stage, he was attempting to win Zora's heart. Zora stood off to the side. As store owner, she always liked to be at a vantage point where she could see if anybody had needs that she could assist with.
Her hands were clasped in front of her as she watched her man, his eyes never leaving hers, as he spoke about love and recognizing it for the first time.
Emma drew her attention away for a moment to ring up a customer purchase and when she turned back, Reid pulled a box from his pocket, promising the rest of his life to the woman that he loved, if only she would have him. Zora's jaw dropped, her hands flying to her mouth. As he kneeled, gesturing for her to come forward, Zora's teary eyes darted to Emma and to Granny before returning to Reid, her glowing face full of love and joy. Emma felt her heart ready to burst, she was so happy.
“I wonder if Granny knew?” Emma whispered to herself. She knew that they were serious. Obviously, they just moved in together. But, he hadn't made any mention to her that he was going to propose.He probably assumed I wouldn't be able to keep a secret. Z’s taught him well.The two of them fit together so well, Emma chided herself for not seeing this coming.
Zora stepped closer, standing just before the stage as she watched Reid set down the microphone and open the box, a ring sparkling within. Zora’s arms wrapped around herself as Reid said words that only the two of them could hear, her body shaking as she laughed and cried. Emma held her breath as she and everyone in the crowd watched in anticipation.
The moment that Zora's head nodded and Reid stepped down from the stage, Emma whooped and cheered. “That's my girl!! Go best friend, that's my best friend!” She yelled as she threw her arms in the air and shimmied with glee. Everyone in the crowd gushed and clapped, many stepping closer to the couple to get eyes on the new hardware on Zora’s left hand.
Emma turned to look at Granny who patted the corners of her eyes with a napkin.
She's probably thinking that she's much closer to getting her grandbabies now. I moved out at the perfect time.Emmasighed contentedly as her eyes traveled to Sadie, who looked panicked. She looked up and saw Emma looking at her.
Emma’s heart stopped. “Are you okay?” She mouthed.
Sadie lips turned slightly and she nodded as she rose to her feet. She whispered something to Granny Marion whose face turned from happy tears to strickened. Sadie kissed Granny's cheek and headed towards the counter where Emma stood. “Hey, I'm so sorry, but I have to leave.”
“Are you sure? Is everything okay?” Emma pressed, her brows furrowed with concern.
“Yeah, I just… I can't be here right now,” Sadie averted her eyes and glanced toward the door.
“Uh, okay,” Emma said slowly, her heart thumping with nervousness.What is happening?“Wanna talk later?”
“Yeah, sure. I'll call you,” Sadie offered as she made a beeline for the door without looking back. No congratulatory words for Zora and Reid. No explanation.
Emma watched her leave, her heart dropping with every step.We can’t deal with this right now.She took a few deep breaths and shook her hands before turning to and making a beeline for Zora and Reid, who were surrounded by patrons. Granny held Zora’s hand, but she tracked Emma’s movements with worry and questions etched into her face.
Emma shook her head, indicating that she was fine, pushing down her emotions, wanting to focus on the fact that Zora now had a whole fiancé. As she reached her best friend and her fiancé, she put on her brightest smile and threw her arms around the two of them. “Y’all know we have to go somewhere to toast to your engagement, right?”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“?Wait, she just left?” Zora stepped away from all of the excitement when she saw Granny pulling Emma away to console her in Zora’s office. “What's going on?”
“I don't know. One minute, Reid was proposing to you and everybody was excited, and I looked over and Granny was so happy– all of us were just cheering. And then I looked at Sadie and there was something in her face, it was like her whole vibe changed immediately.”She’s spooked. Maybe for good this time.
“She did say bye to me,” Granny cut in. “She apologized and said she had to leave.”
“Yeah, she said the same to me, but no reason for why things were so abrupt,” Emma realized she was wringing her hands and clasped them behind her back.
“Maybe she got an emergency text message from a tenant or something… Maybe, it's something completely unrelated to what was happening here,” Zora said hopefully.
Emma tried to smile, but she wasn’t feeling it. “Or maybe it was directly related to what was happening here.”
Reid strolled over, pride apparent in his face as he joined his bride-to-be.
Emma walked from behind the desk to give him another hug. “Congratulations again, bruh, that was so beautiful.”
“Yeah, man, I wanted to tell you–I just wasn't sure that you would be able to keep it to yourself,” Reid squeezed Emma before standing behind Zora, kissing the crown of her head.
“Who was it that told you that I can't hold water? I keep secrets all the time.” Zora and Granny looked at each other and looked away, Zora staring at the ceiling as Granny peered over her shoulder, plucking at imaginary lint. “I can keep a secret,” Emma emphasized, even as the different secrets she blurted out came to mind–like that time she lost Zora’s favorite sweater. “Don't play me like that… maybe I could keep a secret.”
Zora snorted. “That’s astrongmaybe, sis.” Granny bit back a laugh.
“So what’s going on? Didn't you come here with someone?” Reid wrapped an arm around Zora’s waist, and she leaned into his body, her hand caressing his.
“Yeah, she cut out after you… after Zora said yes.”Was it because she said yes? Is she a commitment-phobe?
