Emma stood at the window of her new room, staring out into the gloomy, overcast afternoon.
The clouds looked heavy, as though they were on the verge of bursting into rain, but still, they held back. Her mind was consumed with the incident that had shattered her life. Jake's betrayal.
It wasn't something she could stop thinking about and she wasn't sure she would ever stop thinking about it or even forget about it.
Though they say 'time heals all things,' Emma wasn't sure she would ever heal from this no matter how long it would take seeing as each breath she took was a reminder of the pain in her heart, and each tick of the clock a mockery of the life she'd once had.
The thoughts in her head were interrupted by the knock on the door.
"Ma'am, lunch is ready," came the soft voice of the housemaid, waiting for Emma's acknowledgment.
"Okay. I'll be down in a few minutes," Emma called back, her voice steady but distant.
She stood for a moment longer, as though gathering the strength to leave the comfort of her solitude, even though she was still getting used to the room.
The rhythmic ticking of the clock echoed in the room, its steady cadence a stark contrast to the chaos swirling in her heart. The aroma of fresh bacon and eggs drifted up from the kitchen, tempting her taste buds, but food was the last thing on her mind.
Slowly, she made her way downstairs, her steps deliberately measured, each one feeling like a small victory. By the time she reached the dining table, the meal had already been laid out.
An inviting spread of perfectly crisp bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, and buttered toast. It was the kind of meal she used to enjoy, but now, all she could do was stare at it, the fork dangling uselessly from her fingers. Her appetite had been stolen by the weight of her pain.
She picked at the bacon absentmindedly, her fork making small patterns on the plate. The food blurred in front of her, becoming just another element in the background of her overwhelming sorrow.
Although she was hungry and wanted to eat, and to nourish her body, her heart felt too heavy, and her soul too tired. She couldn't bring herself to eat.
Alex who had been about to call out to her stood there, watching her. All forty years of his life, he had never loved a woman and even though he didn't exactly know how it felt to be heartbroken by someone you loved, seeing Emma, he could tell the pain wasn't something bearable.
He didn't know her and barely knew her, but he definitely didn't like this side of her either. It was too heart wrenching watching her in pain.
Clearing his throat, he decided to call her and show her what he wanted to hoping it would at least take her mind off those thoughts for a short while.
"Hey, babe!" Alex's voice broke through the quiet tension in the room. He plastered a smile on his face, not wanting to show the worry in his eyes but the forced enthusiasm in his tone was quite readable.
"Babe?" Emma asked when she looked at him and he shrugged.
"I got something for you. I know, calling you 'babe' sounds a bit odd right now, but I'm trying to get used to the idea of being married to you," he explained and Emma swallowed as she turned her eyes away from him.
Emma's chest tightened, a knot of anxiety forming in her stomach. "What do you mean by you got something for me?" she asked cautiously, her brow furrowing in confusion.
He had surprised her by calling her babe and she wasn't sure she was in the mood for another surprise.
"Come with me," Alex said, extended his hand. "I'd rather show you than tell you."
Reluctantly, she placed her fork down and followed him through the house, her mind racing with what he could possibly have planned.
They entered the living room, and Emma's eyes widened as they landed on a large clothing rack filled with a stunning array of dresses.
The vibrant colors and various styles filled the room with life, in stark contrast to her own inner turmoil. It looked like something straight out of a fashion show. Something she couldn't afford.
"What... what's all this for?" Emma asked, her voice tinged with shock. "What's going on?"
Alex chuckled softly and shrugged. "I know you're exhausted, and we have to go to the registry soon. I figured you wouldn't have the time or energy to go shopping and you have no clothes, so I took care of it. I had these delivered so you can pick something to wear. I didn't know your size, so I just got different ones. Try them on and keep whatever fits," he said and Emma looked at him, not sure what to say or how to feel.
Emma was overwhelmed, her emotions a tangled mess of gratitude, confusion, and an unshakable sadness that still clung to her.
"This is… I don't know what to say," she finally said, swallowing past the lump that had lodged in her throat, and blinking away the sudden tears that threatened to fall.
"You don't have to say anything," Alex said looking into her eyes.
"Thank you," she said, her voice barely audible.
"You don't have to thank me, Emma," Alex said gently. "Just try on the dresses and pick what you like."