AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Uh, hi Paul. I changed my mind about the coffee thing. Are you free this afternoon?” Emma asked.
“My shift is actually ending in fifteen minutes, so I could meet you—”
“Great,” Emma said flatly. “I’ll meet you at Phil’s in fifteen.”
Emma stood up from the table and hung up the phone. It was just coffee, she reminded herself. Paul was going to be the one talking. She only had to show up.
Seventeen minutes later, Emma opened the door to Phil’s Diner and spotted Paul sitting in a back booth. After waving at Phil in the kitchen, she walked over to Paul and sat down across from him.
“What can I get you, darlin’?” The waitress came over with her pen and pad ready.
“Just coffee,” Emma said. “I won’t be eating.”
“Same for me,” Paul told the waitress, smiling up at her.
“Easy enough. I’ll be right back with your coffees.”
Emma leaned back in the booth and looked over at Paul. “So, you wanted to talk?”
Paul nodded, letting out a deep breath. “I wanted to explain myself to you, Emma. I don’t expect you to forgive me or anything like that. I need you to hear what I have to say.”
The tension was broken when the waitress brought over their coffees. Emma looked down at it and took a sip. It was hot, and she burned her tongue, but she didn’t care. All she could think about was that scared little girl, who saw her father passed out on the floor surrounded by a bunch of beer bottles. But she also knew what heartache could do to a person. What she couldn’t understand then, she could try to understand now.
Paul’s voice cracked and his eyes became glossy. “After your momma died, I lost it. You were probably too young to remember, but I went on a week-long bender. I missed her so much, and I used alcohol to numb the pain of losing her. I didn’t realize how much it affected you. You needed a parent, and I wasn’t there for you. I can’t ever take that back, but I can try to do everything in my power to make it right now.”
A tear ran down Emma’s cheek as she looked up at her father. She could feel some of the anger melting away. Her heart told her it was time to let the past go. If Paul wanted to reconcile with her, she would let him. But she would keep her guard up to make sure she didn’t get hurt again.
Emma could feel the sincerity in his tone as he continued. “I’ve been sober for two years straight now, Emma. I got my old job back, and I got an apartment in town. I’m putting my life back together, and I know what you must think of me, but I just want to say I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the life you had to live because of my mistakes.”
Reaching across the table, she grabbed Paul’s hand. “I’m not saying I forgive you, but I guess I’m willing to be open to getting to know you again, a little at first. It’s going to take some time for us to build anything back up.”
Emma felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Pulling it out, she looked down and gasped. It was a message from Chad.
Emma, I messed up royally. I made a mistake with Ashley, and I’m so, so sorry for what I put you through. I’ll do anything I can to get you back, Em. Please don’t give up on us.
“Emma, is everything okay?” Paul asked.
Emma looked up from her phone, putting face it down on the table. “Uh, no actually. It’s my ex, Chad. My ex-husband, that is. We’ve been divorced for almost a year now because he left me for another woman.”
“I’m sorry to hear, but it sounds like it was for the best,” Paul said.
Emma nodded in agreeance, slightly dazed by the text. “Yeah, he’s no good. I mean, we had some good years, I think, but he turned out to be a creep in the end. Actually, now that I think about it, I don’t think we had any good years. He was a terrible husband, always gaslighting me and making me feel like I was worthless. He’s manipulative and mean, and I’m going to tell him right now to leave me alone.”
She picked up her phone and sent Chad a hastily written text.
Chad, I am not interested in getting back together with you. Do not contact me ever again.
Closing her phone, she dropped it in her purse and let out a long, satisfying exhale.
“Emma, this might be something you don’t want to share with me, but has Chad ever threatened you before, or hurt you?” Paul asked hesitantly.
Emma stirred her coffee. “Not exactly. He’s never laid a hand on me, but he slammed his fist through the wall after an argument once. I made him to sleep on the sofa that night.”
Paul frowned and reached out to take Emma’s hand. “Do you have a security system installed in your house? I’ve seen situations like this before, and they haven’t played out well.”
“I got one of those doorbell video cameras, if that’s what you mean. There’s one for the front door, but nothing for the back. I got them after Riley, my dog, got out. But it hasn’t worked in weeks and I’ve been meaning to get it looked at, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
“I could come and check it out for you, if that would help,” Paul offered.
