A Rocky Path Read Online Free PDF Page B

her. What was she, sixteen years old? She didn’t care if
she was acting like a teenager. It felt good and this was the first
time she had felt anything like this for a long time. She intended
to enjoy it, even if it came to nothing. She decided that living
for the moment was the way to go.
     
     

Chapter Six
     
    The next day, Emily and Rebecca were very
busy. One of Rebecca’s novels was ready to send to the publisher,
so Emily typed the letter to go with it and got it ready to be
mailed, making sure to add insurance. It was like shipping a
precious commodity. Books were like that.
    “Now we’ll have a party,” Rebecca said.
    “A party? Do you always have a party when
your novels are ready for publishing?”
    Rebecca grinned. “Yep! As long as I’ve been
writing books, I still get nervous about them. I like to celebrate
when one is finished.”
    “So, who do you invite to these parties?”
    “I usually choose about 100 people from Port
Crest. I try to get a very diverse group each time. Now, we’re
going to have a lot of work to do to prepare for this party. After
I make the guest list, you’ll have to get invitations. And you’ll
have to help Sarah and me plan the menu. It will only be finger
food and drinks. We will pretty much open up the entire first floor
so there will be plenty of room for everyone.
    “Drinks? I thought…..” she stopped, not
knowing whether or not Sam would want Rebecca to know he had told
her about Jamie’s drinking problem.
    “What, that we wouldn’t have alcohol because
of Jamie? We usually don’t. But this is the one occasion that we
do. Jamie is ok for just the parties. But we do keep an eye on him
just in case. I would hate to be the cause of him slipping.”
    The rest of the day was spent in preparation
for the party, which would be held in two weeks. By the time they
were done, Emily was exhausted. Sally was tired from all the meal
planning and arguing about what they were going to have.
    Rebecca looked at Sally and Emily and said,
“You know what? We are all tired and I know that no one feels like
cooking. And none of us really feels like sitting around a table
and making conversation. Let’s order pizza and eat it in the
theater room while we are watching a movie. What do you think?”
    Emily and Sarah readily agreed, so Rebecca
went to find the guys and tell them.
    That night they just hung out, ate pizza and
watched a movie. Then everyone agreed that it was time to go to
bed. Emily went upstairs and waited until everyone was settled in
their rooms. Then she tiptoed back down the stairs. She heard the
clock strike 11:00 as she went out the door. She was afraid that
Patrick would have gone already.
    She traveled her usual path and was surprised
and delighted to find him sitting there on the rocks. She sat down
beside him.
    “Hey, I was afraid I had missed you tonight,”
she said.
    “I was just getting ready to leave. I
wondered where you might be, but I figured you had more of a life
than just coming down here to talk to me.”
    “We ordered pizza and then watched a movie.
It was fun, really, but I was a little restless.”
    “Well, I’m glad you were able to make
it.”
    Emily smiled at him. “Guess what? We are
going to have a party celebrating Rebecca’s new novel. She just
finished it and I sent it off to the publisher.”
    “That sounds like fun. When are you having
it?”
    “In two weeks. It’s going to be a big fancy
thing. I’ve never been to a party like that. I was sort of hoping
you would come with me since I don’t have a date for it.”
    He hesitated. “Emily, I’m not much of a
people person. I don’t really like crowds. I told you, I’m a
loner.”
    “I’m not crazy about crowds either, but I
would really like for you to come. It would be more fun with you
there. I won’t know all those other people except for the people
who live here. Please?”
    “I’m sorry, Emily. I really can’t. You can
tell me all about it when it’s over.