Free Vindicated by Keary Taylor

she said.   “Well, I guess I’ll let her sleep them.   We all know she doesn’t get enough of that.”
    “I’m up,” I called in a throaty still-asleep voice.
    The door opened and in came a yoga-clad Emily.   I suddenly felt bad for missing so many of her classes lately.
    “So,” she said as she planted herself in my bed.   “How did the trip go?”
    “Alex showed my mom his wings,” I said as I rubbed my palm against one of my eyes.
    “You did what ?” she called toward the door.
    “I showed her my wings,” he said as mundanely as if he were repeating something about the weather.
    “I heard that the first time,” she said as she rolled her eyes.   “And why was that a good idea?”
    “Let’s just say not all of the trip went so well,” I said as I rolled onto my side, propping myself up on an elbow.
    “I’m sorry, babe,” Emily said with a small sideways smile.   “Was everything else okay though?”
    “Uh, sure,” I lied, thinking of the council member who was following me, of the fight that broke out at the engagement party.  
    “Well,” Emily drew out the word, her face forming one of her brilliant smiles.   “Today was my first day at the University.”
    “Oh yeah!   How’d it go?”
    “It was so amazing!   I actually felt legit, and I’m getting paid some real money!   And I’m finally done at that crappy coffee shop.”
    “That’s great,” I beamed at her.   But I saw the way her smile didn’t quite meet her eyes, saw the bags under them.   Cormack leaving was harder on her than she was letting on.
    “Then I’m actually going back down to the homeless shelter in a few hours,” she said, her face falling just slightly.   “I’m volunteering at a few different places.   Gotta’ tip the scales back in my favor.”
    I wasn’t sure what to say as the conversation turned to Emily’s judgment.   I put a hand on her knee, giving it a small squeeze.   “You’re a good person, Emily.”
    “Who’s done a very bad thing in her past,” she said quietly as her eyes fell to the comforter under us.
    “You can do it,” I encouraged.
    She suddenly flashed me another smile, unfolding her legs as she got up.   “Well, if you’re really awake you should get out here and see what Alex is working on.”
    Furrowing my brow, I climbed out of the bed and walked out the door and into the kitchen.
    Alex had two cakes before him, one three-tiered and square shaped, the other six-tiered and rounded.   He was kneading a big white ball of what I assumed was fondant icing.   The round cake was already flawlessly covered.
    “So which one do you like?” Alex asked as he started rolling out the icing.
    “Uh,” I struggled.   “You’re making full-on preliminary cakes?”
    “Well,” he said as he started covering the square one.   “To be honest, I’ve never made a wedding cake before.   I wanted to make sure I could do it.”
    “You had doubts?” Emily said as she rolled her eyes.
    “Hey,” he defended as he glanced up at her.   “I’m not perfect at everything.”
    “Yeah, right,” Emily and I both said at the same time.   Everyone erupted into laughter.
    “So, have you picked your colors yet?” Emily asked as she turned her eyes on me.
    “Yeah, I need to know how to proceed after you pick one of the cakes,” Alex piped in as he put the finishing touches on the fondant.
    “And we need to get dresses figured out,” Emily said.
    “Geeze, I’ve only been home a few hours,” I said in mock defense.
    “And your wedding is in only eighteen days,” Emily said seriously as she raised her eyebrows at me.
    “Whoa, you’re right,” I breathed as it all hit me.   “What do you think Alex?   Colors?”
    “Sorry,” he said as he chuckled.   “This one is totally up to you.   I’m a guy, remember?”
    I chuckled and rolled my eyes at him.   “Fine, I’ll look through some of Amber’s bridal magazines and see what I like.”
    “Then we can go