Page 98 of You Found Me
“I never told him I was pregnant—”
“But you said—”
“Let me get this out. Please,” she begs.
“Fine.”
“When we met up, for what turned out to be the last time, I’d planned to tell him I was pregnant. But before I got the chance, Rick told me he was going back to Nancy. They’d been separated for a good chunk of time before we ever started dating, which is why it hurt so much. He wished me the best in life before walking out of the restaurant we were in. A few days later, I was at lunch with my parents when a wave of morning sickness hit me and of course my mother correctly guessed the reason for my aversion to her usual order of garlic butter chicken pasta.
“The thing about my parents is that they were very old fashioned. The fact that I was pregnant out of wedlock was already bad enough in their eyes, but to then find out that the father wouldn’t be in the picture at all, was the cherry on top. Instead of being honest, I lied and said he didn’t want you. To which they assumed I meant he wanted me to get rid of you and then suddenly they weren’t so upset. That’s what I mean when I say he doesn’t know you exist. I’m so terribly sorry. But you have Andrew.Heis your dad. Not Rick.”
All these years, she’s lied about something so major and important in my life. All because she was upset that he chose to go back to his ex. I have no doubt that she and my dad would have ended up together no matter what, but maybe if she had told Rick about me, I’d have someone else in my corner. When she got over the hurt she could’ve told me.
She should’ve told me.
“I can’t believe you. Does Dad know?”
She opens her mouth, but I throw a hand up, silencing her. “What am I saying? Of course he doesn’t know. There’s no way he’d have been saying the things he’s said if he knew the truth. That you’ve lied to him for the last twenty-five years. He’s going to be crushed. So good luck with that. I won’t be staying aroundto see his face crumble once you tell him. Happy Thanksgiving, Mother.”
***
Spencer
Everyone in the diner has been watching the tense talk between Emmaline and Susannah.
Which is why I run outside when I see Emmy storm off as her mom calls out, “Don’t run off. Let’s talk about this some more.”
I stop long enough to reassure her, “I’ve got her, Susannah.”
“I royally screwed up, blue eyes. She’s not going to want to talk to me for a bit. Just please make sure she’s okay.”
“I will.”
And with that, I get in my truck, pulling out quickly, finding her further along the road than I thought she’d be. All I can think isdamn . . . she walks really fast for someone so short.Normally, I’d say that out loud to her, but I know it’s not the right time.
“Shortstack,” I call out, rolling the window down, “let me take you home. I know this town isn’t riddled with crime, but half the streetlights are out. I don’t want you to end up getting hit by a car.”
She gets in without a word. For the entire ride back to our apartment building, she’s scarily silent. When we get out, she grabs her bag from the back seat and walks away. All without speaking. I’m not sure what was said, but it obviously isn’t good. I’ll give her time and space to process whatever happened. I know that’s her way of dealing, she doesn’t need me hovering.
I fully expected her to already be inside of her apartment, so imagine my surprise when she’s standing outside of my apartment. It takes everything I have not to react to the simple act of her standing outside ofmyfront door. I let her in and watch as she goes straight towards my room and into thebathroom. I don’t hear the door lock, but I do hear the shower turn on.
Deciding to let her be, I unpack my bag, grab the dirty clothes from it and from my hamper, along with her clothes, then start a load of laundry. Since I’m in the kitchen already, I clean the few dishes I left in the sink. Normally that’s not something I do but yesterday was hectic at work and by the time I got home to finish packing and eat, it was time to grab her and head to Willow Beach.
By the time I’m done with the dishes, I realize the shower is still running.
I knock and when I don’t hear anything, I go in to find her on the shower floor, curled in on herself. Without bothering to take off my clothes, I step in and turn the water off, then pull her onto my lap.
“Emmy. Buttercup, Talk to me. What can I do to help?”
A sob, from deep within, wracks her body. “She lied. All these years, she lied. She said he didn’t want us, but shenevertold him she was pregnant. All because she was hurt that he broke it off to go back to his ex-wife. Most of my life I’ve felt like no one’s first choice, she knows that. And she couldn’t even tell me one of the biggest choices in our life was made for us.”
“I’m so sorry, Emmaline. Let’s get out of the shower and into the bed where it’s warm.”
She nods, slowly standing up. After getting her a towel and a shirt to throw on, she melts into the bed, closing her eyes. I grab the blanket from the end of my bed and cover her as she shakes.
“I need to shower really fast before I join you, okay? I’ll be right back.”
I take what’s probably the fastest shower of my life then lay in bed next to her. I thought she was already asleep, but as soon as she feels me get settled, she rolls into my side. Kissing the top of her head, I whisper goodnight and let her know I’m here for her no matter what.
