AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Emma: Good morning. I’m sorry I fell asleep so early last night. I’ll call you on my break. I love you.
My heart nearly skips a beat I’m so happy. I can’t wait to surprise her later. I don’t respond because that would ruin my surprise. Instead, I get up to brew a pot of coffee and make some breakfast, pancakes and bacon. After I eat, I take my second cup of coffee into the living room. I give Levi a call and fill him in on everything that happened yesterday, including my plan to take Emma away. He promises to keep an eye on my mom for me which makes me feel a hell of a lot better. I asked how everything went with Rain and he assured me she had a good time. I just laugh because he obviously doesn’t want to give me too much. I understand though, he’s not sure where it’s going to go and I respect that. After we hang up, I sneak into my room to grab some clean clothes. When I do, my mom is sitting up in bed. She looks over at me, but I don’t say anything yet. “Cooper, thank you for letting me stay last night. I’ll be going home in a little bit though.” She starts to get out of bed and I’m torn between being pissed and confused. This is completely out of character for the way she normally behaves after an episode.
“Mom, why don’t you come eat some breakfast? I made pancakes and bacon, your favorite.” She spins around angrily to look at me.
“Did you make them for me or for Emma?” I bite my tongue taking a deep breath.
“Are you hungry, Mom?” She pushes her way past me heading for the kitchen. What the fuck? I follow behind her still trying to keep control of my temper. She opens the oven, pulling the plate I made her out of it, and throwing it onto the floor. She grabs the coffee pot next, smashing it to the ground, causing not only glass but coffee to spray all over the kitchen. When she goes to open my cabinet, I wrap my arms around her lifting her up and carrying her to the living room. I not so gently toss her onto the couch.
“Mom, what the fuck are you doing? Why are you breaking my shit?” I’m in her face yelling. Since I’ve been taking care of her, I’ve never even raised my voice, never mind yelled. But I’m furious at this point. She starts crying and I don’t even feel bad. I’m starting to think that this whole episode has nothing to do with my dad and everything to do with me being with Emma. She’s not her usual sad self, she’s pissed.
I still have my face close to hers, so she finally looks at me. “You have become one disrespectful, ungrateful son, you know that. I’ve done nothing but help you since you lost your father and now you have the nerve to get loud with me. Clearly, Emma is a bad influence here. She’s turned my sweet boy into an asshole.” It’s like a punch to my gut, knocking the wind out of me. She can’t be fucking serious. I’ve been the one taking care of her all these years and this is the thanks I get.
“Mom, you know I love you, but I’m starting to think you’ve been taking advantage of me. Do you really miss dad or do you just want someone to take care of you, because the way you are acting right now tells me you are the selfish one. Emma is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love her, I’m going to be with her, and more than likely, Mom, I’m going to marry her. If I were you, I’d get used to the idea of Emma being around permanently.” She is actually breathing heavily with anger at this point. I sit on the coffee table in front of her, hoping to try to defuse the situation. I put my hand on hers and smile. “Emma really likes you, Mom, give her a chance.” She rips her hand out from under mine.
“Make your choice, Cooper, me or that whore.” I stand up so quickly I knock over my coffee table.
“Get. The. Fuck. Out,” I growl. She looks at me but doesn’t make a move off the couch. She actually has a small smirk on her face, infuriating me further. “GET OUT NOW!” I boom out and she finally gets up and makes her way to the door. She opens it but makes sure she leaves with the last word.
“You made your bed. Now lie in it.” She slams the door hard as hell. I pace the living room. I’m so fucking confused. She is never angry, never gets over an episode this quickly. Could it be possible that she’s been doing this on purpose? I sit down on the couch grabbing the back of my neck. No fucking way, she’s a sick woman. This is just a new way of her expressing her grief. She feels like she’s losing me now too. As pissed off as I am, I’ll make sure she is good before I leave for the weekend. I’ll bring her dinner tonight after I surprise Emma. I will need an apology though, she needs to know that.
I spend the next hour cleaning the mess she made in the kitchen. There was glass, food, and coffee everywhere. I jump in the shower to try and rinse off the shit morning I had. I let the hot water pound on me, and the longer I stand here the more relaxed I get. I think more about my weekend with Emma and that turns my mood around. We are going to have three days of just us. No responsibilities, no interruptions, no worries. And if all goes as planned, no clothes.
I pull up to Emma’s work right on time. She should be calling me any minute on her break. I turn off my truck and drum my fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of the song I’m working on for Emma. I wish I’d have more time to get it done before our trip, but with everything I need to take care of at the bar, I won’t have time. It’s alright, I’ll surprise her with it another time. Like clockwork, my phone rings. “Hello?”
“Hey, how are you?” I quietly open the door and jump out.
“Good. How are you?” I know she’s out behind the back of the building because that’s where she sits and talks on her break.
“Alright. It’s been slow today, so it’s dragging. How’s your mom?” I want to tell her everything, but I’m sure as hell not going to. I want them to get along, telling her would only upset her further.
“She’s better. So, are you sitting outside?” She giggles and it warms my heart.
“Yes. Why?” I turn the corner and she nearly drops her phone. I smile at her still walking toward her.
“I have something I want to tell you.” She puts the phone down, so I hang up, putting mine in my pocket. She stands up looking a bit nervous. I reach her and gently kiss her lips. “You look beautiful.” She blushes shaking her head.
“Cooper, I’m in my work clothes.” I wink at her looking her body up and down.
“Mmm … yes, I see that.” I need to focus back on the task at hand. I sit down with her on my lap. “Emma, I brought you a card.” She raises her eyebrows when I give it to her. “Open it, doll.” She opens it and looks at the picture of a cabin on the front. She looks at me again and I nod for her to open it. She does and starts reading.
“Oh my God, Cooper!” She throws her arms around my neck and I can’t help but chuckle at her excitement.
“Does this mean you want to go?” In the card I simply wrote, ‘This weekend it’s just you, me, the woods, and music.’ She looks up at me with that brilliant smile.
“Yes, I want to go. I just need to talk to Terry and … ” I put my finger over her lips cutting her off.
“All taken care of. It’s only a two-hour ride, so we will leave early Friday and come home Sunday night.” She smiles under my finger.
“Perfect.” The back door of the salon opens and Terry sticks her head out.
“Hi, Cooper. Emma, I’m sorry to interrupt, but your appointment is here.” She
gives me her pouty lip and I suck it into my mouth before we share a kiss. Damn, I get just the slightest taste of her and I want to take her home with me now to taste more. Someone clears their throat, so we break apart. “Sorry lovebirds.” I hug Emma close to me and whisper in her ear.
“We have the whole weekend, doll. Just us.” With that she is off to work and I am off to check on my mom.
I knock on the door and walk in. “Mom?” She comes walking out of the kitchen with a huge smile on her face.
