Page 55 of Decoding Emma

Until my cell rang.

I answered, using handsfree.“Hello?”

“Asher, finally.”My mother’s voice was loud and clear.Her emphasis on ‘finally’ grabbed my attention.

“Mom, is something wrong?”

“Oh, no, dear.Everything is fine.You never called me back.”

The relief was immediate.But messages?“You left me a message?”I hadn’t seen any calls, voicemails or texts on my cell.Had there been any, I would’ve responded right away or as soon as convenient.

“At work.”

“Mom, how many times have I told you to call my cell or text me.”I couldn’t help the flash of frustration in my tone.

“I know, but I forgot.I wanted to remind you that your dad’s sixtieth birthday is coming up.”

“That’s not until fall.”

“True, but I wanted you to put in vacation now.I know you; you’ll forget or swear that company you work for can’t afford to let you leave for a week.”

She wasn’t wrong.“I’ve already scheduled the time off.”Taking vacation time was almost unheard of for me – even in the face of the company’s work-life philosophy.My work is my life.

“Oh, good.Will you be bringing a friend or maybe someone special?”

I shook my head and chuckled.She always asked me if there was someone special in my life.I was tempted to talk to her about Emma.“Maybe.”

“Tell me about her.It is a her?”

I laughed.“Yes, Mom, she’s a her.Her name is Emma, and we’re working together.”

“Another person in tech.Well, at least you can talk about whatever it is you do.”

It still amazed me that Mom has never understood about my career.Even so, she’s supported me doing what made me happy.“Yes.It’s a pretty new situation.”

“Don’t let that ex get into your head.She was never right for you.”I could picture hermother knows bestexpression.I’d seen it often enough as a kid.

I rolled my eyes, but I wasn’t surprised at her advice.Mom never liked Tiffany.I always thought it was funny how she had a sixth sense about things like this.“I know, Mom.Emma is the total opposite.”

“Tell me how she’s different.”

I paused.How was Emma different?“She doesn’t chatter at me all the time, doesn’t demand that I take her out, or spend money like I’m a bank or a mint.She doesn’t get upset if I have to work late now and again.”Although I hadn’t worked late as often since Emma arrived, and honestly, if we had to stay late, we never went over an hour or two every week.

“A woman who can take care of herself.”I could tell by her tone she was analyzing every word I said.

“Yes.She’s beautiful, Mom.Intelligent eyes, curvy figure, doesn’t feel the need to be in the latest fashions, and smells like honeysuckle.”

Mom’s laughter filled my vehicle.“I’ve never heard you wax so poetically about a woman.”

“Like I told you, Mom, Emma’s different.”As I was telling Mom about her, I was beginning to realize how unique Emma really is.“I’m taking her to some event her parents want her to be at tomorrow.”

“Who are her parents?”

“Roger and Victoria Palmer.The family owns a big tech company in California.”

“And she working with you in Washington?Why?”

After everything Emma’d told me about her family, I had no problem answering that question.“Probably because she wanted to make it on her own.”