Chapter 10
10
T he following evening, Emily’s living room was filled with laughter and the clinking of Monopoly pieces. She leaned back on the couch, eyeing the board with exaggerated suspicion as Noah calmly stacked hotels on Boardwalk.
“You’re ruthless,” Emily said, handing him a stack of colorful bills. “I’ve never been swindled out of Boardwalk so quickly.”
Noah smirked, lining up the little red hotels with precision. “You’re just a terrible negotiator.”
Emily rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the laugh bubbling out. For the first time in what felt like days, the tension in her chest had eased .
Her phone buzzed against the table, and her smile faded as she glanced at the screen. The name on the display sent a jolt through her chest.
Sarah.
Her hand trembled slightly as she picked up the phone, the warmth of the room suddenly feeling too much.
“Everything okay?” Noah asked, his tone quiet and concerned.
Emily hesitated. “It’s my mother.”
Before Noah could respond, her phone lit up with a text:
Emily, darling, I’m outside. It looks like you have company. Is it alright if I come in?
Emily froze, her stomach twisting into knots. She stared at the message as if it might disappear if she didn’t move, but the soft knock on the door shattered that hope.
Noah watched her carefully as she stood, her expression a mix of nerves and dread. “You want me to stay?”
Emily nodded, then shook her head. “I don’t know. Just… give me a second.”
She opened the door to find Sarah standing there, her blonde hair streaked with silver and her smile tentative, as if unsure of her welcome .
“Emily,” Sarah said softly, stepping forward like she was expecting a warm embrace.
Emily stood rooted to the spot, gripping the edge of the door. “Sarah, err Mom, it’s been… What are you doing here?”
“It’s been too long,” Sarah continued, her voice tinged with something that might have been regret.
“That’s one way to put it,” Emily replied, keeping her tone flat.
Sarah’s smile faltered, but she pressed on. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just… I wanted to see you.”
Emily hesitated, then glanced back toward Noah, who was already standing and reaching for his coat.
“I should probably get going,” he said, his expression unreadable.
“You don’t have to—” Emily began, but Noah gave her a small smile.
“It’s fine. Call me if you need anything, okay?”
Emily nodded, watching him leave before turning back to Sarah. She stepped aside to let her in, the weight of a thousand unsaid words settling over the room.
“You’ve made a nice life for yourself here,” Sarah said, looking around the small but cozy living room. “I always knew you would.”
Emily folded her arms, leaning against the doorframe. “Why are you here, Mom?”
Sarah’s smile tightened. “Can’t a mother visit her daughter?”
“After ten years of silence? A little notice would’ve been nice,” Emily said, unable to keep the edge out of her voice.
Sarah sighed, her polished veneer slipping slightly. “I know I’ve made mistakes, Emily. I’m not here to make excuses. I just… I miss you.”
Emily stared at her, the anger and hurt she thought she’d buried rising to the surface. Before she could respond, Sarah added, “I heard about the community garden project. It sounds wonderful. Maybe I could help?”
Emily blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. “Why would you want to?”
“Because I want to be part of your life again,” Sarah said, her tone almost pleading. “I know I haven’t been the mother you deserved. I want to make that up to you, and if this is where you’re investing your time, then I want to support you.”
Emily didn’t trust herself to answer, her mother had come in and out of her life many times with empty promises and dreams that never were more than words. However, that little girl inside of her that desperately wanted her mother to see her—to stay for once. She couldn’t just send her away. So, Emily she simply nodded. “I’ll let you know if we need anything.”
The next morning, Emily found herself standing in the community center, staring at the growing list of tasks for the garden cleanup project. Organizing it had seemed like a great idea at first, but as the number of volunteers—and their opinions—grew, so did the complexity.
“Morning, boss,” Doug said, walking in with a box of trowels and gloves. “I’ve got the supplies you asked for.”
Emily smiled, grateful for his steady presence. “You’re a lifesaver. I’m starting to think herding cats might’ve been easier than organizing this thing.”
Doug chuckled, setting the box on the table. “ You’ve got it under control. The town’s lucky to have you heading this up.”
Before Emily could respond, Evie arrived with a tray of pastries from the café. She lit up when Will walked in a moment later, his laptop tucked under his arm.
“I brought reinforcements,” Evie said brightly, glancing shyly at Will.
Will gave a small nod, setting up at the far end of the table. “Let’s figure out where these fruit trees are going,” he said, opening his laptop.
Emily smiled to herself, noting the way Evie hovered just close enough to Will to seem casual, but not too close to draw attention. The winter clean up for their garden project might’ve been chaotic, but at least it was good for some things.
The calm didn’t last long.
The door swung open, and Sarah walked in, her entrance as graceful as it was disruptive.
“Am I late?” she asked, her smile bright as she scanned the room.
Emily stiffened, her pen hovering over the list in her hand. “Mom. What are you doing here?”
“I thought I’d help,” Sarah said, her tone light. “I know I’ve missed a lot, but I’d love to be part of this.”
Emily exchanged a glance with Doug, who raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
After a tense pause, Emily nodded. “We could always use more hands.”
Sarah’s presence threw off the rhythm of the meeting. Her questions about funding and budget allocations felt pointed, almost probing, and Emily’s unease grew with every passing minute.
By the time the meeting ended, Emily’s patience was hanging by a thread.
Later that evening, Emily sat on the steps outside the community center, the crisp autumn air a welcome relief. She stared up at the sky, the stars blurred by the weight of her thoughts.
“You okay?”
She turned to see Noah standing beside her, holding out a steaming cup of cocoa.
“Thanks,” Emily said, taking the cup. The warmth spread through her hands, but it did little to ease the knot in her chest .
Noah sat beside her, his expression calm and steady. “Want to talk about it?”
Emily sighed. “Sarah’s trying to get involved in the garden project. Which is great. Except it’s not. She’s asking all these questions, and I can’t tell if she’s genuinely interested or if she’s looking for something.”
Noah nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “What do you think she’s looking for?”
“I don’t know,” Emily admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But it doesn’t feel right.”
Noah was quiet for a moment before saying, “You’re allowed to set boundaries, Emily. Even with family. Especially with family.”
Emily stared into her cup, his words settling over her. “That’s easier said than done.”
“I know,” Noah said softly. “But you don’t have to figure it out alone.”
Emily looked up at him, her chest tightening in a way that was equal parts vulnerability and comfort. For the first time in days, she felt like she wasn’t completely adrift.