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A few days later, Emma was in her bedroom, packing a few knickknacks and books into a box, when she felt a heavy wave of sadness come over her. She ran her fingers along the smooth glass of the snow globe that Chad had bought her on their second date and plopped down on the bed.
Lisa entered the room with an empty box in her hands, her footsteps echoing softly against the floor. Upon catching sight of Emma’s expression, she set the box down with a dull thud and walked over to the bed before taking a seat beside her. “How are you holding up?” she asked in a gentle tone.
Emma let out a weary sigh, her shoulders slumping. “Oh, I think I’m okay. It’s just the packing. I’m feeling a bit...I don’t know. This is all just a lot.”
Lisa tilted her head, assessing her friend’s worn spirit. “Well, how about a break?” she suggested. “I could make us tea.”
Emma’s eyes drifted downward, contemplating Lisa’s proposal. “Sure,” she murmured, her voice almost too quiet to hear.
“Or maybe we’ll go out and do something,” Lisa continued, sensing Emma’s hesitation. “We could get all dressed up and grab some drinks.”
A hint of interest flickered in Emma’s eyes as she paused, almost tasting the long-overdue strawberry margarita. “It’s tempting...” she trailed off, biting her lip. “But not tonight. I don’t want to leave knowing I don’t have much time left here.”
“Well then, how about a movie night? We can watch something funny and dumb. I can run down to the market and grab some ice cream—the good, chocolaty kind with the peanut butter chips that you like. How does that sound?”
Emma looked up at Lisa. “I guess. I’m not hungry though.”
“You might be in a little while,” Lisa said, grinning impishly. “For starters, let’s go downstairs and pick out a movie to watch. We can finish packing tomorrow.” She extended a hand to Emma, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Come on, let’s go get our Netflix on!”
Before Emma could get up, all seventy pounds of Riley bounded onto the bed, sending tremors through the mattress. He scrambled onto her lap, his tongue lolling out of his mouth as he whined for attention. It’s as if he had forgotten he was no longer the little golden retriever pup she adopted five years ago. Emma couldn’t help but chuckle at his antics. “Riley, be careful, boy. You’re squishing me,” she admonished.
“Ah, canine therapy,” Lisa commented. “Works every time.”
Emma reached down to scratch Riley’s belly, feeling the soft fur beneath her fingers. She couldn’t imagine life without him. The judge had been right to give her custody. Chad had never been a fan of animals and had scolded her when she picked him up from the rescue and brought him home. But since Riley kept her occupied and out of his business, he tolerated him being around.
The divorce proceedings had brought to light the signs that were there all along, but were difficult for her to see. Deep down, she had known their marriage was crumbling. She tried to hold on, to believe that things would get better, but they never did. Chad, the man she had once fallen in love with, had changed over time, and the reality of it all was too painful to bear.
Lisa leaned back on her elbows, looking around at the boxes on the ground that still needed to be filled. “So have you thought about what you’re gonna do?”
Emma moved up to Riley’s ears, scratching behind them, and looked up at the wall. There was a painting of the ocean that had been hanging up there by the side of her bed for as long as she could remember. She barely ever noticed it anymore. “I think I’m gonna look for a place closer to the water. A small cottage for me and Riley. We don’t need a big place... just something cozy and quiet.”
Lisa sat up and smiled. “That sounds lovely. Have you started looking yet?”
“No, not really. I guess I should start. It’s just a lot to think about right now.”
Without hesitation, Lisa reached out and took Emma’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Don’t let this stress you out. I’ll text a few of my realtor friends to see if they have any listings near the water. I’m sure we can find you a place in no time.”
Emma’s eyes welled up with tears of gratitude as her voice began to quiver. “Thanks for everything. I mean it. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Lisa leaned in, giving Emma a quick hug. “That’s what friends are for. Now let’s go and pick out that movie.”
Emma nodded, feeling grateful for Lisa’s support. As she followed her friend out of the room, she couldn’t help but let her thoughts drift to her plan to find a beachside cottage. The idea filled her with a sense of hope and excitement, a glimmer of happiness amidst the chaos of her divorce. She pictured herself walking along the shore, the salty breeze in her hair, and felt a small smile tug at the corners of her mouth.
Descending the stairs, she felt a sense of determination settle over her. This was her chance to start anew. With each step, she felt a growing sense of peace and possibility. It’s going to be good, she told herself, her heart swelling with anticipation. She was ready to forge a brighter future and leave behind the life she thought she’d always have.
Chapter 2
Luke
“Mr. White is on the line for you.” Luke’s secretary stood in the doorway of his office.
He sighed, looking up from the email he was reading. “Right. Thanks, Jeannie, I’ll take the call.” Luke stood up straight, sensing that the conversation wouldn’t be good news.
Jeannie hurried back to her desk to put the call through, and Luke answered the phone. “Hello Mr. White. I’m sorry I missed your calls earlier...I’ve been in and out of meetings all morning. What can I do for you?”
On the other end, Mr. White cleared his throat. “Ah, Mr. Grayson. Yes, I need to talk with you about your son, Jeremiah. This morning he got into another fight with a male student, resulting in him being sent to the school nurse with a bloody nose.”
