Page 33 of Since the Day We Wished

After dropping her grandfather off, Emma headed home. As she opened the front door, Riley eagerly greeted her with enthusiastic jumps and slobbers. Letting out a yawn, she realized an afternoon nap was exactly what she needed. After taking Riley out for a quick bathroom break, she returned inside and promptly dozed off on the couch.

A few hours later, Emma had woken up and tidied up the house before making dinner. She pulled out a bag of frozen vegetables and tofu to stir-fry. When she had thrown everything into the wok, her phone started buzzing. She rushed to grab it from the counter, noticing that it was a text from an unknown number. Anticipation bubbled up inside her as she opened and read the message.

Luke:Hey, it’s Luke. I hope it’s alright if I text you.

The grin on Emma’s face spread from ear to ear.

Emma:Of course, it’s alright. But how’d you get my number? And why didn’t you ask for it earlier? : )

Luke:I got it from Ada, who insisted I reach out to you, even though I told her I just saw you this afternoon. And I didn’t ask for it today because I didn’t want to seem too forward.

As they texted back and forth, Emma tapped away at her phone, her hands almost blurring in speed. Her eyes kept flicking to the stir-fry bubbling on the stove, but she paid no mind as she scorched the tofu. Meanwhile a fire lit in her chest, her heart beating wildly as she waited for each response from Luke, every syllable consuming her thoughts more than the food itself.

Emma sat down at the table and salvaged the food she hadn’t burned, experiencing a little thrill every time her phone buzzed with a notification.

Emma:It’s not too forward. Text me anytime. : )

Luke:Okay, I will.

As they texted back and forth, Emma sank back into the chair with a contented sigh, savoring the last bites of her dinner in a blissful silence. She found herself wandering down a mental path leading to Luke, his presence in her mind as comforting as his actual one. She imagined what it would be like to be with him, captivated by his trustworthy aura and the way he held her so perfectly in his arms, even if it had only been to keep her from falling on her face.

Admitting to herself that she had a bit of a crush on Luke, Emma realized that discovering what this meant would be best taken one day at a time, just as the most beautiful of sunrises couldn’t be rushed. For now, she would live in the moment, relishing each flutter of her heart, and let destiny chart its course.

Chapter 14

Luke

The evening air was alive with the soft chirping of crickets, a tranquil chorus that eased Luke’s restless mind. Glancing at his phone, he realized he had texted Emma impulsively, like a lovesick teenager. Although he had used his nosy neighbor as an excuse to initiate a conversation with her, the truth was that he wanted to talk to her.

Luke entered the kitchen and surveyed the aftermath of their dinner.How could two people create such a mess?To his surprise, Jeremiah had actually sat down at the table with him and eaten his meal, though in complete silence. The clink of forks against plates and the faint sound of chewing filled the air. As soon as dinner was over, Jeremiah retreated to his room and closed the door, leaving Luke to clean up the mess alone.

After wiping down the counters and rinsing the dishes, Luke moved to the living room and turned on the TV. He flipped through the channels until he found a baseball game he was somewhat interested in watching. During the commercials, he pulled out his phone and reviewed the messages exchanged between him and Emma. The blue light from his phone illuminated his face as he scrolled through their conversation, tracing over each word with intent focus.

Luke found it impossible to ignore the magnetic pull toward Emma. To Luke, she was like the sunrise, full of radiant beauty, warm kindness, and a wit that could dance upon the day.Yet the echoes of a divorce that still haunted her days and filled her eyes with guarded caution was a wound not yet healed. He understood, for he too was nursing his own heartache. In his world, the specter of Kate still lurked, a memory that was as painful as it was precious. Two years had drifted by, but his heart was yet to catch up with the passage of time. Was he ready to step into the future while still entrenched in the past? He wasn’t certain.

As Luke reflected more on his emotions toward Emma, he convinced himself it was his body’s response to being around a beautiful woman after so long. He didn’t want to risk losing their friendship by acting on his attraction. They were friends, and the last thing he wanted to do was lead her on. Given what he had heard about her ex-husband, he knew she had endured enough heartbreak for one lifetime.

Luke switched off the TV and rose from the couch, making his way around the house to turn off the lights and secure the doors for the night. Climbing up the stairs toward his bedroom, he paused briefly outside Jeremiah’s room and smiled. More than anything, he wanted to be a strong, stable presence for his son and knew it would be best to avoid any potential romantic feelings for Emma.

***

A few days later, Luke and Jeremiah entered the principal’s office at Hadley Cove High School. The walls were lined with bookshelves made of rich mahogany, and a large oak desk dominated the center of the room. The principal sat behind the desk, framed by a large window overlooking the courtyard. After Jeremiah’s transcripts arrived from his previous school in Chicago, Principal Kennedy requested a meeting with the father-son duo to discuss Jeremiah’s academic standing and plans for the upcoming fall semester. Despite the impressive surroundings, Luke had a sense of dread at the thought of Jeremiah’s potential misbehavior. He hoped his son would finally show some cooperation, as another expulsion was not an option.

Principal Kennedy cleared his throat and spoke. “Let’s get straight to the point, Jeremiah,” he said in a stern voice. “Your grades from last year are concerning, and I have reservations about admitting you as a senior. We take academics very seriously here.”

Jeremiah looked down at the ground, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. Luke leaned forward in his seat and addressed Principal Kennedy. “If I may, sir, Jeremiah was an honor roll student all throughout middle school and his freshman year,” he explained. “The reason his grades suffered afterward was because of the death of my wife, his mother, after a battle with cancer.”

“I see,” the principal said. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”

Luke nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Kennedy. It hasn’t been easy. Jeremiah and his mother were very close. But this year, I’ve reduced my work hours and plan to be more involved in Jeremiah’s education.”

Jeremiah glanced at his father before looking back down at the floor.

“Looks like we might need to take some time with this,” Principal Kennedy said, shuffling through Jeremiah’s transcripts in search of his previous good grades.

As Principal Kennedy was browsing through Jeremiah’s transcripts, the intercom on his phone buzzed urgently. He pressed the blinking button. “Yes?”

“Sir, the staff supervisor of the history club is here. He has some forms for you to fill out to participate in the National History Bee this year.”

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