“What are you doing here?”
“I came to apologize.” Emily nodded.
“For what? For acting like a crazy bitch and accusing my husband of rape?” Kate said, shaking her head in disgust.
“Yes. For everything.” Emily nodded. “Can I please just come in? I know you probably hate me right now and I know I don’t deserve a second chance. But, please can we just talk?”
Kate stepped back, clearing the way for Emily to enter. Emily stepped inside as Kate closed the front door behind her. Kate spun around, walking into the living room as Emily followed .
“Greg should be home any second. Could you keep the accusations to a minimum?” Kate asked as she sat down on the white sectional. Emily lowered herself down into the recliner beside the sectional as she stared down at her trembling hands in her lap.
“I really am sorry,” Emily said, almost whispering. “The police are convinced Hank’s responsible.”
“And what do you think?” Kate asked as she hugged a throw pillow to her chest, resting it on top of her large baby bump.
“I think I made a complete ass of myself and jumped to conclusions. I shouldn’t have ever said what I said. I was just so angry. I know I can’t take back the things I said or the things I’ve done, but please just try to understand.”
“Try to understand what exactly? You came into my house and accused Greg.”
“But just imagine how you’d feel, Kate. Imagine the feelings that would be bubbling up inside of you if you lost Eli. You would do anything you could to find out what happened to him. Even if that meant losing your best friend, you’d do whatever it took to find out who hurt him.”
“But I would never accuse you, Emily. That’s the difference. You didn’t even care about what Greg had to say. You were so convinced that he was guilty. You were so convinced that he did something to Blair.”
“I know, and I can’t say anything else other than I’m sorry. Just—” Emily sighed as she stood up. “Ever since Blair disappeared, I’ve been losing myself. I’ve been driving myself crazy and questioning everything I thought I knew. I didn’t even know Blair, Kate, and that’s the worst part. I thought I knew her; I thought I knew my own damn daughter. But then came all the lies and all the secrets, and I was drowning; I’m still drowning. It’s like I can’t get my head above water and I’m just grabbing for anything that will stick, clawing for anything that will help me find the truth,” Emily cried as she stared down at Kate in front of her.
“I just expected a little more trust,” Kate said as she stood up and inched toward Emily. “We’ve been good friends for a while, and I just never would have said the things you said. After all we’ve been through and after all the help we’ve given you with your addiction, it killed me inside. I’ve always been there for you when everyone else walked. I was there when you had no one else. You have no idea how bad the words you said hurt me,” Kate said as her lips trembled, her eyes swelling with tears.
“I’m so sorry. For everything.” Emily nodded as she stepped toward Kate. “I just have no one else, and I’m so sorry that I pushed you away. I’m so sorry for the things I said. I can’t do this alone.”
“You don’t have to,” Kate said as she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Emily. Emily buried her face into Kate’s shoulder as she squeezed her arms around her, holding her as the tears rained down her face.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how horrible I felt after leaving here that night,” Emily cried.
“Good, I hope you felt like shit.” Kate smirked through her tears as Emily laughed.
“What is she doing here?” a deep voice rang out. Kate and Emily released one another and turned to see Greg standing in the doorway, his hand tugging at the tie dangling from his neck.
“She came to apologize,” Kate said, narrowing her eyes on him.
“That’s the ’be nice’ look, isn’t it?” Greg nodded.
“Greg, I really am sorry. I shouldn’t have ever accused you of anything,” Emily begged as Greg made his way across the living room.
“I heard about Hank. A couple guys in the office were talking about it. They think it’s him?” Greg asked as he plopped down on the couch, kicking his black loafers off. Greg lifted his legs into the air, resting his ankles on the edge of the coffee table in front of him.
“They think he’s involved. I guess he was intimate with Blair.” Emily nodded.
“God, what a sicko,” Kate groaned as she sat down beside Greg as he draped his arm around her.
“I just don’t know why Zoey would lie. Blair wouldn’t lie about being assaulted.”
“There were a lot of people there that night, Emily. I mean, me and Kate were both there. She knows I was a good boy; I was by her side all night.” Greg smirked.
“Was she there with anybody?” Emily asked as she sat down into the recliner.
“God, it was so long ago,” Kate said, shaking her head.
“No, she was.” Greg nodded. “She was with this guy. She
