Page 22 of Since the Day We Wished

The door upstairs slammed with a force that seemed to echo throughout the house, shaking the windowpanes.Time to go.Emma looked at Riley, who had trotted back in after finishing his treats, and sat next to her. He seemed as unsettled as she felt, as if sensing that the moment for a graceful exit had arrived.

Luke reappeared, his face taut but controlled. “I’m sorry you had to hear that.”

“Oh, it’s alright,” Emma said. “I was just leaving anyway...I have to get home.”

“I’ll walk you out.” Luke followed her outside and over to her car, where he opened the passenger door. Emma guided Riley inside, then turned toward Luke.

“He didn’t mean it, you know. He’s still hurting from losing his mom.”

Luke shifted his gaze to the ground. "I wish I could believe that as easily as you do."

“I work as a substitute teacher at the high school. I’ve seen kids his age throw tantrums and say all sorts of things they don’t mean because they don’t know how to manage their emotions.”

Letting out a heavy sigh, Luke ran his fingers through his hair. “I'm struggling, Emma. I've tried every expert tip I could find, read books, consulted therapists. I still go to therapy, but Jeremiah refuses to join me. We moved here thinking it would be a new beginning. Now I'm wondering if it was just a huge mistake...” His eyes drifted to some distant point, as if grappling with the weight of his choices. “Sorry if that was too much.”

“It’s not too much, Luke. And don’t be so hard on yourself.” Emma reached over, placing her hand on his arm. “I think the best thing you can do right now is to be patient and understanding with him. He’ll come around on his own time.”

“I hope so. It’s nice to hear there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”

“There usually is.” Emma said, opening the driver-side door. “Thanks again for looking out for my sweet boy. I’ll see you around.”

“Anytime. See you later.”

Emma climbed into her car and pulled away from the home she once knew so well. Watching him in the rearview mirror as he sauntered back inside, she felt a mixture of sadness and relief. Although she missed that house, she found comfort in knowing someone like Luke had moved into it—someone she believed would take good care of it. Afterall, he had cared for Riley when he didn’t have to.

As she drove through the winding roads that led her back to her own life, her thoughts were a swirl of past and future, of what-ifs and maybes. I wonder if I’ll ever see him again.

The thought stirred a sense of guilt within her, although Chad was the one who had betrayed their vows. She reassured herself that it was perfectly acceptable to entertain such musings now that she was divorced. And so, with a tender smile, she dismissed it as nothing more than a gentle crush.

When she pulled into her driveway, she sighed deeply, as if releasing the accumulated tension of the day. She shifted the car into park and looked back at her beloved companion, their eyes meeting in a moment of silent understanding. “Riley, you gave your momma a big scare. I’m never letting you out of my sight again.” He tilted his head, as if contemplating her words, then let out a bark.

“Okay boy, we can go inside.”

Chapter 10

Luke

As Emma's car disappeared around the bend, Luke walked back inside of a house that seemed to hold its breath, mirroring the tension that hung in the air.

Things are worse than I thought.

For the rest of the day, while Luke unpacked several untouched boxes, Jeremiah stayed put in his room. Even as he emerged briefly for bathroom breaks, the distance between father and son felt as if it had stretched longer and longer with no end in sight. Later that evening, Luke put a tray of food outside Jeremiah’s door, a silent offering to a son who had become a stranger. As he stood there hesitating, his hand hovered over the doorknob. He felt the weight of words left unsaid, of apologies and conversations that happened years too late.

With a heavy heart, he retreated to his room. Before collapsing onto bed, he reached over to his nightstand and grabbed his battered copy ofMeditationsby Marcus Aurelius. The words usually grounded him, but tonight they swam hazily before his eyes. Despite his fight against sleep's pull, his consciousness waned like a fading star, and he drifted off to sleep with the book still lying on his chest.

The following day, Luke woke up early to prepare breakfast, hoping that the aroma of freshly cooked pancakes would entice his son to come downstairs. To his delight, it worked, but only long enough for Jeremiah to fix himself a plate, pour a cup of juice, and walk back toward his room. Regardless, Luke thought it was progress as he trailed behind him out of the kitchen.

“Hey, I’m going to get a haircut. Want to tag along?”

Jeremiah shook his head. “No. I don’t need a haircut.”

“Well, do you want anything while I’m out? I can swing by the market. Or the diner?”

Jeremiah ignored him and continued up the stairs without looking back.

“Okay then. Text me if you need anything.”

Luke looked toward the staircase, only hearing the latch of the door click shut. Letting out a deep sigh, his mind filled with thoughts of what could go wrong before he came back home. He finished his coffee in one desperate gulp, hoping the caffeine would calm his frayed nerves, but the knot in his stomach remained.

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