Page 48 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

Unfortunately for him, I fell asleep not long after I devoured the burger.

I made sure to thank him profusely for thinking to grab me dinner since I only had a protein bar before my shift ended.

I was jolted awake about two and a half hours later from him putting the truck in park.

I looked over at him with what I’m sure were wild, confused eyes.

“Well hello, sleepy head. Looks like you’ve got a little drool right there.” He pointed to the side of my face.

I scrambled to flip his mirror down and noticed my right cheek was red and imprinted with lines from the sleeve of the sweatshirt, which also happened to be a little wet.

He was right. I was drooling. Since I knew he wasn’t saying it to be mean, but to joke around, I joked back.

“Don’t make me go in there and tell your mama that her son is being rude to his girlfriend. ”

Instead of answering, he laughed. To which I responded by playfully shoving him.

“I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I’m a terrible road trip partner.”

“You’ve been working so much and so hard lately. I expected you would fall asleep.” He patted me on the leg. “Are you ready to go in and deal with the crazy that is Holiday June Hale?”

“Absolutely. I want to see how long it’ll take for her to embarrass you.” My face split into a grin.

***

Thanksgiving with his family was just as interesting as the weekend of his dad’s birthday, minus the tropical storm.

His childhood home was just as full with people milling about, only this time it was all family. I met some family members that made June seem completely chill.

Spencer apologized over and over after one of the younger cousins on his dad’s side found out I was a nurse during lunch and dropped his pants once everything was over to show me a spot at the top of his butt crack.

After I told him that since I’m not a doctor I couldn’t diagnose what the spot was and told him to call his doctor on Monday, he immediately turned around to ask if besides the spot, did I like what I saw.

The giggle that came out surprised even me, causing me to slap my hand over my mouth.

Spencer chose that moment to make his way back over to me .

“Derek, what the hell are you doing, dude? Pull your pants up and stop showing your lily-white ass to my girlfriend.”

We stayed for a while after the majority of his family left to help clean up.

After singing June and Bill’s praises for an incredible meal, we made our exit and are now almost back to Meadow Springs.

“When we get into town, if you don’t need to go back to your apartment for anything, we should just head to meet my parents. ”

“Meet them? Are we not going to their house?”

I smile at his confused look. “Nope. We’re going to Edie’s Eats.”

“Why?”

“A little back story, Edie bought the diner from someone else when my mom was in college. She ended up getting a job as a waitress and worked as much as possible during her breaks from school so she could avoid spending time at home with her parents. Edie became like a second mother to her. When she moved back to town after finding out she was pregnant with me, Edie let Mom stay with her so she didn’t have to move back in with her parents.

“After my grandparents died, Edie started opening up the diner at dinner time on Thanksgiving and Christmas for anyone who didn’t have family or for those that couldn’t travel. Mom always said she knew Edie set it up that way so she wouldn’t feel like it was a pity thing.”

“Edie’s special. I’m glad that she was there for your mom and you. Do you not go to your other grandparents for either holiday?” Spencer asks me.

“She is. But no, Dad said they always went on a beach vacation in Florida for Thanksgiving growing up, which is something they continue to do. And as for Christmas, they tend to go to a Caribbean island or to Mexico for the week.”

We pull into the parking lot of Edie’s Eats shortly after. Once inside, I see my parents at our usual table in the back but before we head over to them. I pull Spencer towards Colette, Piper, and their parents, Patrick and Annie .

“Emmaline, it’s so good to see you back here this year,” Mr. Holt says, not knowing the guilt I feel for missing the last couple of years because of Chance.

“It’s good to see you both too. Mr. and Mrs. Holt, this is my boyfriend, Spencer Hale. He’s Theo’s best friend and colleague. Spence, this is Colette and Cori’s dad, Patrick, and Piper’s mom, Annie.”

He reaches out shaking their hands. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

I look at the people at their table and realize someone is missing. “Where’s Cori?”

Colette sighs. “She couldn’t make it today. She’s stuck in the city because of some case her firm is working on. And unlike the other people who took the day off, Cori couldn’t be bothered to do the same.”

“Lettie, you know she’s got a lot going on right now with the change in the firm’s ownership. She’s trying to prove to them that she’s a valuable asset,” Piper tells her.

“I know, I know. I miss her, that’s all.”

“My mom said she RSVP’d to her annual cookie decorating night. So at least there’s that,” I say, trying to give Colette something to look forward to. “We better go sit down, that way Edie will let the dinner begin.”

Once we sit down, my parents and Spencer exchange hellos while Edie and her longtime cook, Ralph, set out trays of food along the counter. “Alright folks, come fix a plate,” she says and everyone gets up, forming a line.

“How are things going for you at work, Emmaline?” Edie asks after we’re seated.

“They’re good. I’ve been trying to pick up more shifts to make sure all of my expenses are covered for grad school.”

“I’m proud of you,” she tells me, and I can see pride shining in her eyes.

Before dessert, we’re all chatting when my dad asks if I looked up Richard.

“I did. I noticed I have his hair, and I don’t know how to feel about having any similarities with him, but whatever. I thought a lot about it and part of me wants to reach out to him or meet him. What do you think, Mom?”

“That might not be a good idea. I mean, we don’t want to hurt your dad’s feelings.”

“I’m completely okay with this, Susie,” he quickly tells her before looking over to me. “I understand why you want to do this, and you have my support. As long as you know it won’t change our relationship. You’re always going to be my daughter. I say go for it.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Suddenly, Mom jumps out of her seat and heads outside.

“What’s her deal with this?” I ask aloud. “She’s the one who told me when I was younger that if I ever wanted to, I could reach out to him.”

“Emmaline,” Edie says with a quiet voice. “You should give your mom a bit of grace over this topic.”

I don’t respond, and instead, back out of my seat to run after her—only to find her crying outside by the bench.

“Mom, I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was a big deal.

When I found out about not being Dad’s biological kid, you told me I could ask anytime about him.

I’ve had a lot going on in my life lately and it’s become something that I want to know.

I figured after telling you I was going to look him up that you knew this would happen. You know how I can be.”

“You’re right, I do know how you can be. But I’d hoped you’d let it go.”

“Well, I didn’t. If you’re upset because of how things ended with you two, I get that.

But I need you to tell me so that I can suck it up and force myself to move on.

I guess I thought from our conversations before that you were over it .

. . I mean you have Dad. You’ve been with him pretty much my whole life. ”

She starts crying harder. “It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

It feels like ages pass before she finally answers and when she does, it’s so low that I miss it altogether and ask her to repeat herself.

She clears her throat before saying it again, “He doesn’t know you exist, Emmaline. ”

“What do you mean?”

“I never told him I was pregnant—”

“But you said—”

“Let me get this out. Please,” she begs.

“Fine.”

“When we met up, for what turned out to be the last time, I’d planned to tell him I was pregnant.

But before I got the chance, Rick told me he was going back to Nancy.

They’d been separated for a good chunk of time before we ever started dating, which is why it hurt so much.

He wished me the best in life before walking out of the restaurant we were in.

A few days later, I was at lunch with my parents when a wave of morning sickness hit me and of course my mother correctly guessed the reason for my aversion to her usual order of garlic butter chicken pasta.

“The thing about my parents is that they were very old fashioned. The fact that I was pregnant out of wedlock was already bad enough in their eyes, but to then find out that the father wouldn’t be in the picture at all, was the cherry on top.

Instead of being honest, I lied and said he didn’t want you.

To which they assumed I meant he wanted me to get rid of you and then suddenly they weren’t so upset.

That’s what I mean when I say he doesn’t know you exist. I’m so terribly sorry.

But you have Andrew. He is your dad. Not Rick. ”

All these years, she’s lied about something so major and important in my life.

All because she was upset that he chose to go back to his ex.

I have no doubt that she and my dad would have ended up together no matter what, but maybe if she had told Rick about me, I’d have someone else in my corner.

When she got over the hurt she could’ve told me.

She should’ve told me.

“I can’t believe you. Does Dad know?”

She opens her mouth, but I throw a hand up, silencing her.

“What am I saying? Of course he doesn’t know.

There’s no way he’d have been saying the things he’s said if he knew the truth.

That you’ve lied to him for the last twenty-five years.

He’s going to be crushed. So good luck with that.

I won’t be staying around to see his face crumble once you tell him. Happy Thanksgiving, Mother.”

***

Spencer

Everyone in the diner has been watching the tense talk between Emmaline and Susannah.

Which is why I run outside when I see Emmy storm off as her mom calls out, “Don’t run off. Let’s talk about this some more.”

I stop long enough to reassure her, “I’ve got her, Susannah.”

“I royally screwed up, blue eyes. She’s not going to want to talk to me for a bit. Just please make sure she’s okay.”

“I will.”

And with that, I get in my truck, pulling out quickly, finding her further along the road than I thought she’d be. All I can think is damn . . . she walks really fast for someone so short. Normally, I’d say that out loud to her, but I know it’s not the right time.

“Shortstack,” I call out, rolling the window down, “let me take you home. I know this town isn’t riddled with crime, but half the streetlights are out. I don’t want you to end up getting hit by a car.”

She gets in without a word. For the entire ride back to our apartment building, she’s scarily silent.

When we get out, she grabs her bag from the back seat and walks away.

All without speaking. I’m not sure what was said, but it obviously isn’t good.

I’ll give her time and space to process whatever happened.

I know that’s her way of dealing, she doesn’t need me hovering.

I fully expected her to already be inside of her apartment, so imagine my surprise when she’s standing outside of my apartment.

It takes everything I have not to react to the simple act of her standing outside of my front door.

I let her in and watch as she goes straight towards my room and into the bathroom.

I don’t hear the door lock, but I do hear the shower turn on.

Deciding to let her be, I unpack my bag, grab the dirty clothes from it and from my hamper, along with her clothes, then start a load of laundry.

Since I’m in the kitchen already, I clean the few dishes I left in the sink.

Normally that’s not something I do but yesterday was hectic at work and by the time I got home to finish packing and eat, it was time to grab her and head to Willow Beach.

By the time I’m done with the dishes, I realize the shower is still running.

I knock and when I don’t hear anything, I go in to find her on the shower floor, curled in on herself. Without bothering to take off my clothes, I step in and turn the water off, then pull her onto my lap.

“Emmy. Buttercup, Talk to me. What can I do to help?”

A sob, from deep within, wracks her body.

“She lied. All these years, she lied. She said he didn’t want us, but she never told him she was pregnant.

All because she was hurt that he broke it off to go back to his ex-wife.

Most of my life I’ve felt like no one’s first choice, she knows that.

And she couldn’t even tell me one of the biggest choices in our life was made for us. ”

“I’m so sorry, Emmaline. Let’s get out of the shower and into the bed where it’s warm.”

She nods, slowly standing up. After getting her a towel and a shirt to throw on, she melts into the bed, closing her eyes. I grab the blanket from the end of my bed and cover her as she shakes.

“I need to shower really fast before I join you, okay? I’ll be right back.”

I take what’s probably the fastest shower of my life then lay in bed next to her. I thought she was already asleep, but as soon as she feels me get settled, she rolls into my side. Kissing the top of her head, I whisper goodnight and let her know I’m here for her no matter what.