Page 95 of The One I Want
“Because it’s not nice.”
“That’s right, Miss Mags, it’s not nice. But as long as I’m around, I’m never going to lie to you. And I’m never going to make you feel like your feelings don’t matter. My mom did that to me, and I remember how bad it made me feel.”
“Your mom made you feel bad?” Hank asks.
“Yup. She didn’t leave like your mom did. But I remember she always made me feel like I was wrong if I was upset about something. Or made me feel bad if I was happy. Feelings are important. Sometimes we need to be angry or sad or mad.”
“Or sad mad.”
I nod and boop Magnolia’s nose. “Or sad mad. But there’s a way that we can let all of those bad feelings out so new, happy feelings have room in our bodies.”
Emerson gives me a questioning look. “There is?”
“Yup,” I say, picking Magnolia up off my lap and signaling for everyone to stand. “We just yell it out. You can just scream. Or maybe get something off your chest you’ve been holding in. Anything you want. I guarantee when we’re done, everyone will feel a million times lighter, just in time for what looks like an epic vanilla cake.”
The three of them look at each other, clearly not knowing if I’m serious or not.
So I start it.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”
Now they’re looking at me like I’m certifiable.
“What did you have to get off your chest?” Emerson asks.
“Remember that day at the hotel before Christmas?” I ask, and she nods. “Let’s just say I’ve been holding that in since then.”
This makes Emerson smile. I watch her as she takes the biggest breath I’ve ever seen. And then, she just let’s go.
“Why didn’t you call? I will never forgive you for that!”
“Good,” I say. I look over to Hank. “You want to go?”
He nods. “Why didn’t you say goodbye? Ahhhhhh!!!!!”
We all look to Magnolia, who is in the process of climbing on to one of the patio tables. “I didn’t like the dolls you got me for Christmas! I never play with them!”
Emerson and I each hold in chuckles.
“Very good, guys,” I say. “Now, how about all together, we just let out one big one. Get all the big feelings out.
The three of them nod.
“One…two…three…”
We yell so loud my smartwatch goes off for being in a loud environment. When we finally stop to catch our breath, all of us at the same time realize we aren’t alone.
“What’s going on?” Wes says. “Is this a good ol’ fashioned yell-it-out?”
Magnolia’s eyes nearly bug out of her head. “You yell it out?”
“I do,” he says, kissing me on the cheek. “A very smart woman had me do it once. I felt a lot better after.”
“Kids, want to do one more with Dad?”
They all start cheering, leaving Wes literally no choice.
“Why are we yelling?” he whispers to me.
