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The phone rang for so long that I was sure it would go to voice mail, but finally, Emmeline answered.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Em,” I said. “Um, how are you?”
“I’m okay,” she answered.
I looked at Cindy and she nodded. An eternity passed before Emmeline spoke again. And, when she did, I never would have guessed what she said.
“I’m getting married, Luke,” she announced.
“What?”
“Yeah, um, it’s kind of sudden, I know. But I’ve been seeing this guy, Brayden, for a while now and he proposed a few weeks ago.”
“Congratulations,” I told her. And, to my surprise, I meant it.
“Thanks. We want to start trying for a family as soon as possible. I’m tired of waiting, you know?”
“Yeah.”
I did know. I knew that feeling all too well.
“I’m happy for you,” I said. “This wasn’t the call I was expecting from you.”
“I know. I’ll always wonder about him.”
Him. The son we never met.
“But I think it’s time we left the past where it belongs, don’t you?” she asked. “That’s not to diminish his memory, but…”
“I understand.”
We fell to silence again, but this time, it was a more comfortable quiet.
“Who’s there with you?” Emmeline asked.
“Huh?”
I locked eyes with Cindy and her eyebrows shot up, confused. How did she know I wasn’t alone?
“You’ve got someone there with you, don’t you? I think I can hear them breathing.”
“Um, I’m actually here with Cindy,” I admitted. “Cindy Lawless. Remember? From high school?”
I braced myself for how Emmeline might react. But instead of dredging up old rivalries, she just chuckled softly.
“Are you two finally dating?” she asked.
I looked at Cindy and she shrugged. It gave me hope.
“I… I don’t… um… maybe…”
“Luke, I didn’t want to see it when we were younger, but I see it now. Plain as day. You two belong together,” Emmeline said, ending my awkward stammering. “You loved her in a way you never loved me. And she loved you something fierce. Take your shot while you have it. You have a second chance. You probably won’t get a third.”
With that said, Emmeline and I said our goodbyes and hung up the phone.
I knew, deep down, that was the last call I was going to get from her.
