Page 112 of Engulfing Emma

“We visit the States quite often,” he says. “I have business in New York. We’ll be sure to schedule some of those trips around Greta’s school schedule so she can come along.”

“That would be wonderful,” I say. “Evelyn would love to see Greta again.” I study the girl who is not even a year older than Evelyn. “I can’t believe she’s thirteen. When the lady at Stefan’s told us about her, I pictured a little girl.”

“Why do you think Stefan was sent to America?” Bill says. “His parents didn’t approve of his relationship with my wife. When Pia got pregnant, they denounced their grandchild and sent him away.”

I shake my head. “So they’re as bad as Stefan? I suppose we shouldn’t even try to contact them.”

“It would be a waste of your time,” he says. “We’ve tried to get them to have a relationship with Greta, but they’ll have nothing to do with her.”

I look at the girls. They are getting on like long-lost friends. “I can’t believe it. I’m not sure what I expected when we came here, but it wasn’t this.”

Brett takes my hand under the table. “Looks like the old lady was right.”

I narrow my eyes at him.

He squeezes. “Looks like your dad was, too.”

Chapter Thirty-one

Brett

Evie gazes out the small window when we take off, and Emma doesn’t seem nervous to be on the plane.

This week has been empowering for her. After Evie told off her father and bonded with her half-sister, Emma seemed to become stronger.

We even ended up at the top of Zugspitze. Emma said if Evelyn could do what she did, surely she could get over her own fears.

I’ve since wondered if that applies toallareas of her life. Because even though she’s clearly changed, I’m not sure she’s changed her stance when it comes to me. Although we had a few close encounters, Emma never let herself come into my bed the entire time we were in Germany.

When we’re up in the air, Evie finally turns away from the window. She leans forward so she can see both of us. “I want to tell you how much I appreciate what you did for me this week. You guys are the best. I mean that. This has been the most awesome week of my life.” She looks at her phone, where her background picture is a photo of her and Greta. “I don’t know any other mom who would have done what you did or any other man who would have gone along with it.” She takes Emma’s hand. “You deserve to be happy. You two belong together. Everyone can see that. Grandma, Brett, even Greta said something. When are you going to realize it was no mistake meeting him? I’m stuck with a crappy biological father, but I got a sister out of it. You grew up without a father, but in some strange way, maybe that’s why you ended up meeting Brett. You know, what goes around comes around.”

I laugh. “I think you mean to say, ‘everything happens for a reason’.”

“Yeah, whatevs.” She puts her earbuds in. “I’m going to listen to music now.”

“You’ve got one heck of a kid,” I say to Emma.

I flip through the pictures of Leo on my phone.

“You really miss him,” Emma says.

“Like you wouldn’t believe.”

“Actually, I would.” She glances at Evie. “She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

I put down my phone. “In case you haven’t figured it out by now,she’sthe reason, Emma.”

“What?”

“Your whole life you’ve been looking for a reason for what happened to your dad. The answer has been right in front of you. You said you became promiscuous because you were looking for acceptance from men. You said you never would have gotten pregnant if your dad had been around.”

“I didn’t say that, my therapist did.”

“That doesn’t make it any less true. Think about it, Emma. The paths our lives take sometimes lead us down roads we don’t expect. I never expected to get divorced and hate my ex-wife. Would I change anything? No, because I have Leo, and he’s the best thing about my life. I’m not saying losing your dad was a good thing, but just look at what came of it.”

She nods over and over as tears well up in her eyes.

“Brett, uh … I’m not sure how to say this …”

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