Page 101 of The Image of You

A memory of the day I gave it to her flashed through my mind. “Yes.”

“It was in her things from the hospital. She put it on—Sarah hated it, but Alex refused to take it off her ankle. She said it belonged there. She didn’t know how, but it did. I brought it up, hoping to stir something in her head.”

“It didn’t, obviously.”

“I think it did. She became upset and agitated. She got a terrible headache, and Sarah was furious with me. She pulled me out of the room and told me if I tried to talk about you again, she wouldn’t let me see her anymore.”

My heart sped up. Somewhere, lost inside Ally’s head, there had to be memories of me. Of us.

She and Alan exchanged another glance, and Emma’s eyes filled with tears. She excused herself, and I looked at Alan. “Is there something I should know?”

He shifted in his seat. “The accident…Emma was pregnant when it happened, Adam. She lost the baby because of it.”

“I’m so sorry.”

He swallowed before he spoke. “We’d been trying for a while, and she finally got pregnant—we found out just before the trip. But…” His voice trailed off, and he had to clear his throat before continuing. “She’s been struggling ever since. Only our families know. But it affected her deeply, and she hasn’t been herself. She didn’t consciously give up on Alex, but she’s been coping with her own issues.”

“Ally doesn’t know?”

He shook his head. “Emma didn’t want to burden her, with everything else she was struggling with.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” I murmured. “You must have been devastated. Is she going to be all right?”

“I’ll make sure of it.”

We shared a look, one that we understood—the knowledge of how much we loved the women in our life.

Emma slipped back into the room, and without a thought, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her. I knew she and Ally had drifted apart a little—life did that to even the closest of friends at times—but I also knew how much Ally loved her. She would want to comfort her friend. I offered the only thing I could.

“I don’t blame you in any of this, Emma. The fault is mine. Please know that.”

“Looking back, I know I should have pushed more.”

I huffed a deep sigh. “Looking back, I should have done so many things differently. I shouldn’t have gone on assignment, and I should never have left again until I found her. Let’s not do the whole blame thing and just figure this out, okay?” I asked.

She smiled at me, her eyes damp. “Okay.”

I sat down, tapping out an uneven rhythm on the arm of my chair. I drew in a deep breath and asked the question that was burning in my brain. “How did Bradley Bennett get involved in all this?”

“Alex could remember him. In her mind, they were dating. He was in Calgary all the time, visiting her. I assume he managed to convince her they were more than they actually ever were.” Emma shook her head. “He’s been in love with her from the start. Alex never saw it.”

“Hardly news.” I ran my finger over my chin. “So, when he saw his chance to get her back, he moved in, I’m guessing.”

Emma and Alan nodded.

“I imagine,” I mused, “between them all, they filled her head with lies and stories and made her think she and Bradley were deeply involved. And knowing Ally’s need to make people happy, she went with it, thinking she must have been in love with him. She’s never been able to stand up to them.” I barked out a laugh. “Once she was married to him, they had her. She’s so easily manipulated by them.”

“I think Bradley is safe for her. He’s been there this whole time, and he’s something solid she can hold on to. She’s so lost, she needs that. But I don’t think she’s in love with him.”

“You didn’t question their engagement?”

“I asked her if this was what she wanted and she said yes, but she had to think about it before she answered me. Given our limited contact these days, I had to take her at her word. I didn’t want to drive her further away or confuse her even more.”

I thought about what Ally had said to me one time, about if she was married and gone, she would no longer be their responsibility. “This worked out so well for them, didn’t it? They marry her off to the man they chose, he gets the girl he wants, and fuck the rest of the world. Fuck the man who would give up his life for her,” I snarled. “They don’t give a shit if she’s happy, as long as they get what they want.” I stood. “Well, they aren’t going to get it. Neither them nor that bastard.”

I paced the room, trying to figure out my next move. “Is she happy, Emma?”

“I don’t know if she knows what she is, Adam. She’s been told she’s happy.” She sighed and gave me a small smile. “But she doesn’t glow the way she did when she was with you. She seems confused most of the time. It’s almost as if, like you say, she is just doing this because she feels she has no choice.” She closed her eyes for a moment, a sad expression on her face. “She’s also trying to come to terms with Elena’s death. It hit her hard all over again.”