“Yeah, her and mom both.” I smiled at him.
“Go talk to your mom. She misses you.” He rubbed my hand.
“I really don't want to right now. I just can't.”
“I’m going to be okay, sweet girl.” He pulled me in and kissed my forehead. “Now, go. I'll see you in a little while.” Standing, I left the room and went back to the small waiting room. I walked over to my mother and gave her a hug. I wanted everything to be what it had been before my dad left. I wanted us to have the relationship we once had, but somehow, Mom was different.
“Hey, Mom.” I said into her shoulder.
“Baby.” She squeezed me tight. We had lost our way when my father left. It had been hard on both of us. I hadn't talked to him much since, but it didn't change the fact that he was still my father. My mother had tried her best to not get upset with me for staying in touch with him, but we had words more than once over my father. It had taken a long time for her to understand that what he had done, he hadn't done to me directly, and I wasn’t going to feel the same way about him she did.
“I miss you,” she said, placing her hands over my cheeks.
“I miss you too, Mom.” We would have a long road ahead of us if we kept things like they were, but it wasn't what either of us wanted. Granddad was right; we did need to talk more.
I spent the rest of the day talking to Mom and Mimi and visiting more with Granddad when he was awake. Shortly before visiting hours were over, Mom insisted I stay with Mimi for the night. So, I made arrangements to meet her at the house. I grabbed my purse and started for the lobby, thinking about everything that had happened over the last couple months. My mind drifted to Luke. It wasn’t the first time today. Every time I had a break in thought, it always came back to him. Luke is exactly what I was thinking about as I coasted down the hall toward the elevator. I went to reach into my bag to find my keys as I walked, and I ran into someone as I rounded a corner. I started to fall back, but a hand reached out and grabbed me.
“Shit.” I heard, and then I was pulled up and into someone’s chest.
“I'm sorry,” I said and looked up into a pair of very intense eyes.
“Emerson?” he said.
When my mind caught up with what was happening, I noticed that it was Chris, someone who worked at my grandfather’s company.
“Hey.” I smiled softly. “Sorry I tried to run you over.”
“I’m not.” He gave me a crooked smile.
My face fell a little but then a smile spread across my lips.
“I really am sorry. What are you doing here?” I questioned as I pushed away and found my footing again.
“I just came by to see the bossman. He scared us this morning.”
“He scared everyone, but he seems to be good. He is hopeful he will be back in the next two weeks or so.”
“That's good.” He nodded. “It's just really bad timing. I’m leaving tonight to head out and won't be back in the office until Monday.”
I wanted to ask what was so important that he couldn't put it off, but realized that it wasn’t any of my business.
“I’m heading there tomorrow to check on a few things for Granddad,” I stated.
“That's great. I know you can handle it. When are you going to come and actually work full time?” he asked.
“I hadn't really thought about it. I have to finish my grant first, and then we’ll see. Meantime, I need food and a good night’s sleep,” I said as I moved to the side so he could pass. “It was good to see you, though,” I added.
“You too,” he said and took a few steps. He stopped and turned looking back at me.
“It'll be good to work with you, Emmy. I always did enjoy having you around.” He winked and then walked away.
Chris had been in my life for as long as I could remember. I think a few pictures of us together in preschool were even floating around somewhere. I had always considered him a friend, but when I went away to college, we lost touch. He had flirted with me all through high school, but I was always the girl that had my eyes on the sky and never looked toward anything that might change my goals. I remember he had tried several times to hold my hand and had even tried kissed me once. It wasn’t until my grandfather hired Chris that I saw him again. We had interned together the summer of my junior year in college. Since then, I’ve seen Chris on occasion when I’ve visited Granddad at the office during my trips home, but we still never kept in touch. In recent years, though, Granddad has talked about how good Chris has been for business. Something I supposed I’d need to know if Granddad expected me to take over sooner than I had anticipated, but that was something I would concern myself with later. Right now, I needed food.
I pulled out my keys, climbed into the truck, then checked my phone. A few missed calls and several texts from Rachel. It was late on the East Coast, so I shot her a quick text to let her know Granddad was alright and I’d call her tomorrow with details. Then I cranked the truck. Part of me wanted to text Luke just to see how the competition went, but part of me didn't. He didn't know what was going on, and I didn't want to tell him at this point. So, I shoved the phone back into my purse and headed for Mimi’s house.
***
“Good Morning, Emerson.” Samantha said as I walked into the office on Friday morning.