Page 32 of Since the Day We Wished

“Ugh!” Charlotte bellowed, almost running into Emma.

Emma reached out and grabbed her arm. “Hey, are you okay? What’s going on?”

Charlotte groaned. “Oh, nothing. And everything. Why do guys have to be so frustrating sometimes? Or all the time?”

“You’re going to have to give me a little more to go off of than that,” Emma told her.

“He told me that I look prettier when I smile, but I’m not his type because I’m way ‘too bossy’ for him,” Charlotte said, holding up air quotes. “Jeremiah’s mad because I had to babysit him today when we had to walk the dogs. He couldn’t even put on their leash harnesses without my help.”

Emma observed Charlotte’s uncharacteristic irritation and anger. She had never seen her so affected by anyone before, except when she argued with her mother, which was always infused with humor. She almost wanted to laugh but knew it wouldn’t help the situation.

At that moment, Jeremiah came walking out of the rescue and toward the car, looking over at Charlotte out of the corner of his eye. She spotted him and folded her arms, lifting her gaze up to the sky and doing everything she could to ignore him. Emma cracked a smile, which she hid under her hand.

After Jeremiah got in the passenger side, Luke pulled out of the parking lot, waving goodbye to Emma and she waved back.

Charlotte grabbed her hand and forced it down. “Don’t wave at him. He doesn’t deserve it.”

Emma turned back to the sulking teenage girl in front of her. “Who? Luke?”

She shook her head. “Not Luke. It’s the son who has some major issues. I think he might need to go back to preschool and learn the basics on being polite.”

Emma wanted to tell Charlotte to give him a break but decided against it. She was already mad enough, and she didn’t want to make it worse.

“Well, here’s my best girls.” Liam walked up to them and put a hand on each of their shoulders. “Don’t worry about that boy, sweetheart.”

Charlotte sighed. “I’ve got to go back inside.”

Liam and Emma watched as Charlotte hurried back through the main doors.

“Well, shall we go and get some ice cream?” Liam asked.

“Oh...” Emma put a hand on her full stomach. “Can I take a raincheck on that ice cream?”

Liam smiled. “Of course. It’s about time for my afternoon nap anyway.”

“Let’s head back to your house then.”

A few minutes later, Emma pulled onto the road and started off in the direction of Liam’s house.

“Hey Grandpa, how was Jeremiah today?”

Liam turned to her. “He was fine. Quiet, that one. Although he did say something to Charlotte that got under her skin.”

“His mother, Luke’s wife, passed away two years ago,” Emma told him. “And since then, he’s been having trouble expressing his emotions and anyone else he comes into contact with, but more so his father. You saw the interaction between them. They don’t talk.”

Liam nodded. “He’s hurting, that’s all. He’s in the anger stage of grief, most likely. He’ll come around. Jeremiah’s a bright boy. I just wish he didn’t upset poor Charlotte.”

Emma chuckled. “Poor Charlotte indeed.”

“So, why do you care so much about Luke and his son?” Liam teased. “Are you trying to tell me something?”

“Grandpa, come on.”

“Where did you two run off to? Don’t think I didn’t notice.”

Emma blushed and looked out her window. “We just took a walk. It was nothing.”

Liam grinned. “Okay, Em. If you say so.”

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