Forever, Plus One. Sophie Love

jumped up off Emily’s lap. “When does the Memorial Day Parade start?”

      Emily checked the time. “Not long now. Once Daddy’s back from the store we can all go together.”

      Chantelle clapped her hands. She loved a parade, and anything where she got to spend time with her friends.

      Emily, too, was excited. Not just because she loved the memorial parade, but because Amy was in Sunset Harbor at the moment visiting her new boyfriend, Harry, the younger brother of Daniel’s friend George. So far, Amy had kept him completely to herself. Emily was growing increasingly curious about meeting him. In fact, she’d only seen him once, before Amy had revealed they were dating, and just fleetingly. She couldn’t even remember what he looked like, other than boyish. Amy was clearly in the beginning throes of lust because she’d been keeping her relationship very private, just as she had done with Fraser. Amy had a habit of not wanting any external sources to influence her relationship decisions. It had taken ages for Emily to get Amy to relent to introducing Harry, reminding Amy that she hadn’t let her vet Fraser and that had ended disastrously. Amy had finally agreed that the parade was a suitable place for them to have an actual conversation, and now the time had finally arrived for Emily to meet the man who had managed to change Amy’s mind about her little old town so thoroughly. She couldn’t wait!

      Maybe Harry was Amy’s The One?

* * *

      As expected, the town was packed with all the locals and many tourists out in force to show their respect to the troops of yore. In fact, Emily was certain she’d never seen Sunset Harbor this busy. It felt as if the place had changed quite a bit in the time she’d lived here. It wasn’t as sleepy anymore.

      “Is it me, or are there more people here than usual?” Daniel asked her, as they strolled along together hand in hand.

      “I was just thinking the same thing,” Emily said, looking about her to see if she could spot Amy and Harry anywhere in the crowd.

      Just then, they saw Karen from the convenience store up ahead. They walked toward her and she turned as they drew up to her side. She hugged them all, thrilled to see them as always.

      “It’s so busy, isn’t it?” she exclaimed, echoing their sentiments.

      “More so than usual,” Emily agreed.

      “It’s because of Roman Westbrook,” Karen said, and she pointed to the other side of the road where the famous singer was waiting to watch the parade. Her eyes sparkled with excitement at the presence of the pop star on their humble streets.

      Roman was standing with an entourage, something that he hadn’t needed before. Emily realized that someone must have blabbed to the papers about him moving here, and she couldn’t help but feel disappointed to know that word had gotten to the press so quickly. He’d been trying to keep his move here a secret to keep his privacy for as long as possible.

      Emily, Chantelle, and Daniel all waved at him warmly when he looked over and saw them. Karen’s eyes widened.

      “You’re friends?” she asked.

      Emily nodded. “Even famous people chat with their neighbors, you know.” Then she added, “I do hope these people aren’t just here to catch a glimpse of Roman. It feels a bit… I don’t know… disrespectful… to come to a memorial parade just to catch a glimpse of your favorite singer.”

      “It’s nothing to do with Roman,” Cynthia said, turning around from where she stood in front of them. Somehow, despite her neon orange hair, Emily had failed to notice her standing there with her son, Jeremy.

      “What’s it to do with then?” Emily asked.

      “The inn!” Cynthia exclaimed. “Obviously.”

      Emily shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

      But Cynthia was hearing none of it. “Believe me. After Colin Magnus wrote his article on the inn people have been buzzing about it on all the travel forums. Someone suggested Memorial weekend was a good time to visit because the parade is always so amazing. And, ba-da-boom, this is what you get.”

      Emily frowned, still unsure that the increase in patrons could be because of her humble inn. It was true that she’d had more bookings thanks to Colin’s article. Coupled with Bryony, the marketer extraordinaire, perhaps it was conceivable that her inn could make this kind of impact on the town.

      Emily let the news sink in and found herself grinning. She was shocked that her little inn could be helping to put Sunset Harbor on the map, but it was a good feeling. She felt proud of her achievements.

      Just then, Emily noticed a familiar face in the crowd. It was Amy, looking suave in a casual black ensemble. She was holding hands with the boyishly good-looking Harry. From a distance they looked like a bit of an odd pair. Amy looked like she’d been lifted straight off the pages of Vogue magazine, whereas Harry was dressed more modestly. But he had a film star look about him and Emily could imagine the two of them looking very handsome together in formal attire. Emily was in no doubt that Amy would manage to change his whole sense of fashion within a matter of weeks.

      “It’s them,” she said to Daniel, tugging on his sleeve with excitement.

      She felt her stomach flip with anticipation. She wasn’t entirely sure why but something felt different this time; the ease with which Amy stood beside him, the display of affection from their simple handholding which was something Amy usually resisted. There was a happiness exuding from Amy that Emily had not noticed ever before. Her excitement at getting to know Harry grew even more.

      Just then, Chantelle noticed who Emily had pointed out.

      “Amy!” she cried.

      Ever since the bachelorette party, Chantelle had decided she liked Amy, and had gotten over their initial rocky introduction when she’d thought Amy and Jayne were New York snobs.

      As Chantelle careened toward Amy, Amy turned and bent down just in time to catch Chantelle in her arms. Looking a little surprised, she straightened up and twirled the little girl in a circle, somehow managing to keep her balance in her chic black heels.

      Daniel and Emily wended their way through the crowds as Amy popped Chantelle back down on her feet. They stopped beside her and Amy became instantly red.

      Emily hugged her friend tightly. Then, as she released her from the embrace, she caught her eye and wiggled her eyebrows.

      Amy’s blush deepened. “Em, Daniel, this is Harry. Harry, my best friend Emily and her husband, Daniel.”

      Daniel shook Harry’s hand. “We’ve met before,” he explained. “I’m an old friend of George’s.”

      “Of course!” Harry said, his eyes widening with surprise. “But it was a long time ago now.”

      Daniel nodded. “I spent some years in Tennessee.”

      Chantelle looked up at Harry and beamed then. “That’s where I get my accent from,” she said.

      Harry smiled at her, seemingly taken by her spirit. Emily noticed his fingers re-entwining with Amy’s. She felt a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

      Behind them, the flag parade streamed past. Then the thirty-strong marching band started, blaring out “Hail to the Spirit of Liberty” in trumpets, French horns, and woodwinds. The crowd surged toward the road to get a better look.

      “Do you come to the parade often?” Emily asked Harry as people filtered past her. She was eager to know more about him.

      “Of course, every year,” Harry explained. “We come from military ancestry. Both on our mom’s side and on our dad’s side. So it means a lot to both George and I.”

      Emily wanted to speak to him further but the band was fast approaching and the noise was too great. She fell silent and watched them, thinking, as she was here to do, of all the fallen men and women.

      At last the band passed, but the noise didn’t lessen because hot on their heels came the antique fire truck procession, their bells clanging. It was a long stream of them, not just fire trucks but