Page 47 of Emma
“She’s holding up, but yes. She’s also overthinking everything.” Vanessa knew what her wife was doing. She was assuming that no meeting date meant that no meeting wouldeverhappen. “I keep catching her staring into space as though she’s having conversations with herself about it all in her head.”
“She always does that when she’s trying to figure things out,” Lauren said knowingly. “But I guess it’s to be expected if the headteacher has pulled her into the office.”
“She’s trying to be strong, but I can see how much it’s weighing on her. Especially now that the initial shock of finding out about Freya has been replaced with all this not knowing.”
“She called me the morning after she found out about the possibility of a meeting. She said she’s scared of doing more harm than good. She’s worried she’s going to make Freya’s life more complicated.”
Vanessa closed her eyes and shook her head lightly. “I can’t bear all of this. She doesn’t deserve to feel that way. It’s breaking her heart, and she’s convinced that one wrong word will ruin her chances of being in Freya’s life at all.”
“She’s not wrong to be cautious,” Lauren said. “But I also thinkFreyadeserves the chance to decide what Emma means to her. It shouldn’t just be up to everyone else, regardless of rules and social workers, and whatever red tape she’s going to be fighting her way through.”
Oh, Vanessa agreed. Wholeheartedly. But she also knew it wasn’t that simple. Rules, social workers, and red tape were there for a reason. “She knows she’s not alone in any of this. So long as she remembers that, then things will be okay. No matter the outcome.”
“Hey, Mum?”
“Yes?”
“Do you think we’ll ever just have one normal year that doesn’t feel like a constant rollercoaster?”
Vanessa wished she had the answer to that. “I really hope so, sweetheart. I don’t know how much energy any of us has left. The last couple of years have been tough on all of us.”
“They have, but on you more so.”
Vanessa sipped her tea and forced the tension from her shoulders. “I’m alive and I’m healthy. That’s all I care about right now when it comes to me.” Vanessa cleared her throat. “Have you spoken to Rob yet?”
“I… No.” Lauren sighed. “Daisy being at nursery full-time has really helped me to sort out a routine and things. If Rob has to continue travelling for work, then I guess it’ll be okay. I have more time to focus on other things when Daisy is out for the day, and I don’t feel so stressed at work anymore.”
Vanessa didn’t particularly like that Lauren was sweeping this all under the carpet, but she knew what was best for her, and Vanessa could only support any decision she made. “If things are feeling better for you at home, then okay.”
A loud knock at the front door had Vanessa frowning as she sat upright. She glanced at the clock, surprised anyone would be calling by. Unless Emma had lost her key…again. “Can you hang on a moment? Someone is at the door.”
“Oh, yeah. Of course.”
Vanessa placed her tea down and crossed the room. When she opened the door, a woman—early forties, maybe—was standing on the step. Her gaze was so sharp that Vanessa straightened immediately. She wore a long black coat, her hands clutched tightly around the strap of a shoulder bag. “Can I help you?”
The woman looked over Vanessa’s shoulder, scanning the hallway as if she half expected to see someone else. “I’m Carmen. Freya’s current…caregiver.”
Vanessa’s stomach lurched. “O-oh.”
“I need to speak with Emma. It’s important.”
Vanessa stepped out of the door slightly, closing it behind her just enough to assert herself without seeming aggressive. “Emma’s not home yet. She’s still at work.”
Carmen exhaled a deep breath, as though the answer had just inconvenienced her entire evening. “Right. Well, this can’t wait. She’s been seeing Freya. Speaking to her. I didn’t know. Ishouldhave known.”
Vanessa sighed. This really wasn’t her conversation to have. “She’s her teacher. She didn’t know either. Not until recently.”
“That’s not the point.” Carmen’s voice rose. “We’re the ones raising her. Protecting her. And now we have this sudden shift, this teacher with a history and a blood tie turning everything upside down.”
“Emma hasn’t doneanythingto disrupt Freya’s life. Actually, she’s been doing everything she cannotto.”
“Then why am I only hearing about this now?” Carmen stepped closer. “Why did no one informmethat the sister we never knew existed is in daily contact with her?”
God, the way Carmen said that made it feel as though they were being accused of deceit. It absolutely wasn’t like that at all. “I think you have this all wrong,” Vanessa replied, tryingveryhard to keep her voice even. “None of us were told anything about Freya. But since Emma found out, she’s done everything right. She’s waited for guidance. She’s avoided being alone with her outside of lessons. She’s…been doing her job and nothing more.”
Vanessa noted how Carmen faltered slightly, as though the reminder of their biological bond carried more weight than she wanted it to. Still, Carmen straightened again, her arms now folded across her chest. “Then I want to speak to her,” Carmen repeated. “Face to face. I want to understand whoexactlyis trying to worm their way into Freya’s life.”
Vanessa’s jaw tightened at that. How dare this woman come here and assume she knew Emma or anything about their life together? “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t accuse my wife of such things. She’snotworming her wayanywhere. She’s grieving a family she never had, and she’s trying to be careful. She’s also trying to make sense of something life-changing. Freya’s not just a student anymore. She’s hersister.” Vanessa looked down at the phone still in her hand. She’d forgotten all about Lauren. But at least by having her on the line, she had backup if it came down to who said what during this unplanned meeting. “She’s been made aware of a meeting. She’s waiting for that to be set up. In the meantime, she’s terrified of doing the wrong thing.”
