Page 88 of Family Bonds- Emma & Warren

Once she swallowed, she said, “I talked to his mother yesterday. We met on a video call.”

“That’s nice,” her mother said.

“Warren talks about her as if she walks on water. I was terrified Casey might not like me.”

“You’re a very likable person,” her mother said.

“I am,” she agreed. “But I haven’t worried about if someone liked me since elementary school.”

By the time middle school rolled around, she had more of the fuck you mentality on what people thought of her.

At least she gave off that vibe.

It was better than worrying what their reasons were for wanting to get close to her.

“I’m going to ask you again,” her mother said. “Do you love Warren?”

“I think I might,” she said. “But he hasn’t said anything. I don’t want to be the only one to feel this way.”

Her mother rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe how clueless you are half the time.”

“I know, right?! I’ve never felt like this and I can’t figure out exactly what it is.”

“Tell me how you feel,” her mother said.

“I’m bothered when I know something is wrong with him,” she said.

“Can you tell me what or is it private?”

That’s what she loved about her mother.

If she told her that it was private and she didn’t want to share, her mother wouldn’t push her.

“It’s his relationship with his father. I heard him talking to his mother. I’d gone to another room to write some after dinner.”

“I thought you weren’t going to write while you were there,” Melissa said.

“I didn’t on Sunday. But Monday after we returned from the stadium, he had to go back for a few hours and I was alone, so I did. Then at dinner on Tuesday, he gave me such a good idea.”

“And you didn’t want to lose it,” her mother said.

“Right,” she said. “It was only two hours. I finished and heard him talking. I knew it was his mother. I only heard one side of it, but it was personal.”

“You shouldn’t have been eavesdropping,” her mother chastised.

“I didn’t mean to,” she said. Her mother lifted an eyebrow. “Okay, I kind of did, but then felt bad after. It was his mother telling him to open up with me about his father.”

“Did he?” her mother asked.

She shoved another whole cookie in her mouth and chewed. “Yes,” she said around a mouthful.

“You do have horrible eating habits.”

Emma walked over to get a bottle of water. “I know. I’m hungry. I can’t help it. But I was good the past few days with Warren. It’s just the two of us anyway.”

“And you don’t do this in front of other people. Most times. I know,” her mother said.

“That’s right,” she said. “Warren told me some more about his father.” She shared it knowing her mother wouldn’t say a word. “I can’t imagine feeling as if my parent hated me and then to have him come back and kiss up.”