Page 62 of Since the Day We Wished

Memories of Kate flooded his mind, as they often did. He missed her terribly, and the pain of her loss never seemed to fade. Luke had never been particularly religious, but after her diagnosis he found himself searching for answers in prayer. Yet, every time he tried, he felt as if his prayers weren’t heard. But after Kate’s passing, he stopped praying altogether. He asked himself why bad things happened to good people. It was a question that plagued him constantly.

And now, Luke found himself in another difficult situation with his son. He knew that the conversation with Jeremiah would make or break the future of their mending relationship and his happiness with Emma. Kate always had a way with Jeremiah that he realized he didn’t possess, and he couldn’t blame anyone but himself for that.

But as he lay in bed, the weight of the situation felt heavier than ever. So, with a deep breath, he closed his eyes and tried once again, whispering a prayer to God.

“Please help me with my son.”

It was a simple plea, but he hoped that somehow, someway, things would work out for the best.

Chapter 29

Emma

Emma’s eyelids drooped as she stood up from her desk and walked through the classroom, monitoring her students’ progress on the practice test she had assigned. After last night’s exhilarating celebration of her birthday with Luke, she had barely slept. She returned to her desk and took a sip of her coffee.

“Okay, everyone, pencils down and bring your tests to the front. I’ll get them back to you tomorrow. Have a great rest of your day!” she called out.

The students, Jeremiah included, gathered up their belongings and turned in their practice tests on the way out of the classroom. Although after school study sessions were not mandatory, she had hinted to anyone who showed up would receive extra credit in class. She didn’t realize how popular the sessions would become; she only had eight students today, but last week she’d had double that number.

Emma gathered her belongings and switched off the lights as the classroom emptied. As she walked down the hallway, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She smiled as she checked Luke’s message, asking about her day. She quickly responded, inviting him over to her place that evening. He replied within seconds, promising to stop by.

She beamed with excitement, envisioning the two of them walking on the beach and dining on her deck with the ocean in view.

However, the stack of papers in her arms and her phone went flying as she collided with someone turning the corner. She looked up and saw Jeremiah.

“I’m so sorry! I should’ve looked where I was going.”

“No, my bad. Let me help you with these,” Jeremiah offered, bending down to pick up the scattered papers and her phone.

Not wanting him to see Luke’s name flash across her phone screen, she quickly stepped over the papers and reached down for the phone. But he beat her to it.

“Here ya go,” Jeremiah remarked as he handed back a stack of papers and her phone. “That’s a nice bracelet by the way.”

Emma looked down, realizing the bracelet Luke had given her was in full view after she had pushed up her sleeves.

“Thank you,” she said, taking the papers and moving them over her wrist to hide the bracelet.

“You know, I’ve never had a teacher who made math so easy to understand. It’s always been a problem for me in school, and this year I feel like I might actually do well in this class.”

Emma’s smile radiated warmth, touched by his unexpected compliment. “It’s all you, Jeremiah. The work you’ve been putting in this semester is really making a difference. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re making an A in class by the time the holidays roll around.”

“Thanks. Well, I’d better get going...don’t want to be late for my shift at the rescue.” Jeremiah’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled back.

“I’ll pass by the rescue on the way home. Do you need a ride?”

“No thanks, I got my bike. See ya.” Jeremiah turned and walked over to the front entrance as Emma went to the side door and out to the parking lot.

Dumping all of her papers and bag in the back seat, she got in her car and started it up as Jeremiah was pulling his bike from the rack. She watched as he got on and pedaled away toward town.

Jeremiah had come a long way since he first started at Hadley Cove High. In the first couple of weeks, Emma remembered him sitting in the back of the classroom, quiet and withdrawn from the rest of the students. He rarely spoke unless Emma called on him and forced him to solve a problem she’d written on the board.

But now he was like a different person. He would pal around with Charlotte and Tate most of the time, being polite and engaged in class. She’d even heard the other teachers talking about the transformation he was making in their classes.

Emma thought it was time to tell Jeremiah about her relationship with Luke. He was in a better place now, and she believed he would handle the news with greater maturity. She planned to discuss it with Luke later when he came over.

In the meantime, Emma took off her bracelet and looked at it once last time before putting it in her purse. She didn’t want to risk Jeremiah finding out it was from Luke before they told him, or anyone else, for that matter. It was best to keep it a secret for the time being. She’d had a hard enough time explaining where the flowers had come from.

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