Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Aware that this meeting could go one of two ways, Emma steeled herself for the potential rejection she had a feeling was coming.
Her chest tightened with the fear that Lauren might slam the door shut before they even got a chance to speak.
God, she hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
They’d been best friends for years—practically inseparable at one time—but Lauren’s ability to cling to a grudge was quickly becoming infamous.
Emma had never understood where she got it from.
Vanessa was warm and forgiving, which was the complete opposite.
But Richard...well, he was stubborn as stone.
Maybe that’s where it came from. Maybe it went hand in hand with the attitude.
Emma exhaled slowly and walked up the garden path as her nerves threatened to get the better of her. It wasn’t normal to be worried about seeing her best friend, she knew that, but Emma was forever trying to keep the peace, knowing her best friend’s mother was also her wife.
If her timing was right, Daisy would be at nursery, and they’d have space to talk.
Meaning no distractions and no excuses. Just them.
Just honesty. She pressed the doorbell, her foot tapping anxiously against the concrete step.
She could hear the faint sound of music coming from inside… a sign Lauren was home.
Her palms started to sweat as the seconds dragged on. She was about to knock again when the front door opened, and Lauren stood there, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. There was a hint of surprise in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by annoyance. “Hey.”
“What’s up?”
Yep. The latter. Lauren was irritated by Emma’s arrival. Emma had known it, but she hoped she’d got it wrong. All she could manage was a weak smile. “I…thought I’d call in and see you since I don’t have an afternoon lesson today.”
“Oh, well, I was a bit busy.” Lauren didn’t move. She didn’t open the door wider. She just stood there like some kind of barrier. “You should have called before you came over. It would have saved you a trip.”
Emma’s heart sank. So this was how it was going to be. “You’re still sulking? Seriously?”
Lauren held up a hand and backed away. “I don’t know why you’re here. You’re busy, aren’t you? Walking or whatever…”
Emma couldn’t help the laugh that burst from her. Lauren could be immature when she wanted to be, which was surprising given the fact she had a small child of her own now. “You need to let that go. You’re being ridiculous.”
The door started to swing shut, but Emma wedged her foot in the gap. Pain throbbed up her ankle, but she didn’t move. Lauren looked down, unimpressed, then looked up at her again. “Is that necessary?”
“When you’re being a miserable arse, yeah, it is.” Emma jerked her chin towards the hallway, both saddened and angered that Lauren could behave this way. “Stop being stubborn and put the kettle on.”
Lauren muttered something under her breath and turned, disappearing down the hallway without another word.
Emma followed, the tension in the air heightening with each step she took.
She wished Vanessa were here too—it was always easier to talk stuff through when she was around—but that would only complicate things.
Lauren usually said what was truly on her mind when Vanessa wasn’t sitting next to Emma.
“Couldn’t you have just called me instead?” Lauren asked from the kitchen.
“Nope.” Emma shoved her hands into her jacket pockets, leaning against the doorframe. She scanned Lauren’s oversized hoodie and joggers and raised a brow. “Are you even dressed?”
“It’s called loungewear.”
Emma forced back a smirk. God, she hoped Lauren was lounging. It would be nice to see her take a moment to breathe. “In that case, you get back to lounging, and I’ll make the coffee.”
Lauren didn’t protest; she just turned and drifted into the living room as though Emma wasn’t in the house.
Emma watched her go before turning to the cupboards and grabbing two mugs.
She didn’t bother with the fancy coffee machine.
Instant would have to do. What was the point of putting effort into coffee when Lauren couldn’t be bothered to look her in the eye?
She carried the mugs into the living room, hoping for a hint of conversation from her best friend.
Even a mere glance would do. Just…anything, but Lauren’s eyes stayed fixed on the television, her fingers absentmindedly twisting a strand of hair.
Emma swallowed down her disappointment and sat on the opposite couch, careful not to let the silence settle too much between them.
“What’s going on with you?” Emma asked, setting the mugs down on the coffee table. “You can’t honestly be pissed off with me or your mum because we dared to want a day to ourselves…”
Lauren glanced in Emma’s direction, but it was the coldest look Lauren had ever given her. As though they barely knew one another. “She only turned down looking after Daisy because you wanted to go out for the day. We both know it. No point denying it.”
Emma stared. “Did she tell you that? Did those words actually come from her mouth?”
“They didn’t need to. You say jump, and she asks how high.”
Lauren may as well have punched her in the face as she said that.
Of all the things she expected from her best friend, that hadn’t been it.
But…that was how Lauren saw her? Some manipulative force in Vanessa’s life?
After everything they’d been through together? “I’m sorry you feel that way about me.”
“You may think you have the perfect life together, but you don’t. None of us are perfect.”
Emma’s jaw tensed. “We’ve never claimed to be perfect.”
“Maybe not, but it’s how you present yourself whenever she’s in the same room as you. As though you’re the only one who can have it all. As though you’re untouched by life, and you don’t give a shit about anyone around you.”
Emma’s breath caught. Untouched by life? Her hand clenched into a fist, her nails digging into her palm. Was Lauren serious? “You do remember what happened last year, right? You remember that we were all wondering if Vanessa would even still be here today?”
“But she is here. She’s fine. She’s good.”
“Yeah, she is. And thank God for that.” Emma’s voice rose with each word, her calm composure betraying her.
She slammed her cup down, the sound echoing around Lauren’s usually cosy living room.
“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but don’t dare tell me that I parade around as though I’m untouched by life.
I could have lost my wife last year—your mother—so don’t fucking dare, Lauren.
” Her voice broke as she ran a trembling hand through her hair, trying to steady herself.
Emma couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“We drop everything to take care of Daisy. We plan our entire week around her. I’m really fucking sorry that I wanted one day, just one, to take Vanessa out and do something nice for ourselves. But don’t worry—it won’t happen again.”
“That’s right. Turn me into the bad guy.”
“I couldn’t care less what you think I’m doing.” Emma’s voice may have calmed a little, but she was no less furious. “If you want your mum to exist just to work and babysit, then good for you.”
Her phone vibrated in her pocket, the familiar buzz pulling her out of the headspace she was in. She took it out, her heart racing at the sight of Vanessa’s name. No matter what, Emma wasn’t dragging her wife into this. No way.
She answered, trying to keep her voice steady. Soon, she was really going to blow. “Hi, babe. You okay?”
“Of course. I’m sitting in traffic, and I wondered if we needed anything picking up on the way home.”
Emma exhaled, stepping away and pressing her forehead against the cool glass of the patio doors. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Are you okay? You sound a little bit down.”
“Yeah, fine. I called in to see Lauren, but well…I don’t know why I bothered. I’ll meet you at home, okay?”
There was a pause, then Vanessa’s sigh filtered down the line. “No. Stay there. I’m coming over.”
Emma lowered her voice as she said, “I wouldn’t if I were you. She’s in a foul mood.”
“Tough. I’ll be there in ten minutes. I love you.”
The call disconnected, leaving Emma alone with Lauren again.
She didn’t know what to say. She was still too stunned by Lauren’s opinion of her to figure it out, so she returned to her seat and waited quietly for Vanessa to arrive.
She didn’t know what was coming, but the feeling low in her belly said Emma should brace herself for more of what had just happened.
“Your mum is on her way over.”
Lauren simply shrugged. “Whatever.”
Calmly exiting her car, Vanessa paused at the kerb, her eyes fixed on the familiar front of Lauren’s house.
The crisp autumnal air was fresh against her face, but it did nothing to shock the tension out of her body.
She inhaled deeply, as though she was preparing for a battle she’d fought a thousand times before.
Whatever this was, it would pass. It always did.
Lauren would eventually simmer down, apologise, and they’d pick up the pieces like they had so many times before.
She slid her phone into the side of her handbag as she adjusted the strap on her shoulder and made her way up the garden path.
As she fished for her spare key in the inside pocket and turned it in the lock, the quiet immediately unnerved her.
While she was thankful there was no shouting, it was the kind of silence that Vanessa hated.
Heavy and uncertain. As though something huge was about to blow up.
“Hello?”
“In the living room, babe.” Emma’s voice floated down the hallway. “Though it feels more like a morgue at the minute.”