Chapter 23
Emma
Emma’s stomach let out a loud growl as the final bell of the day rang, and the students leapt from their seats like a herd of gazelles. The classroom buzzed with the sound of chatter as they packed up their books and slung backpacks over their shoulders.
“Don’t forget to write down the homework assignment!”
Emma called out, raising her voice over the noise. “I’ll see y’all on Monday.”
She watched her students heading toward the door, the sound of their footsteps echoed through the emptying classroom. The once vibrant room was now eerily quiet, except for the occasional rustling of paper or the creak of a chair. Emma fell back in her seat letting out a deep breath, the exhaustion of the day washing over her.
Today was Emma’s birthday, but she had deliberately kept it a secret, even from Luke. She didn’t want to make a fuss, and she certainly didn’t want her students to be distracted by it. Instead, she had thrown herself into her work, trying not to think of past birthdays.
With her ex-husband Chad, birthdays were always a letdown, a reminder of how unimportant she was in the relationship. Every year, she had hoped he would surprise her with something special, but each time she was left disappointed. Instead of celebrating her special day, he would make her feel guilty for wanting any kind of attention. Until the divorce, Emma hadn’t realized how much he had neglected her.
It was a stark contrast to the joy she experienced now with Luke, who made her feel cherished every day. The mere thought of him made Emma smile from ear to ear. She felt lucky to have someone to have someone so wonderful in her life.
After she packed her bag, she locked the classroom door behind her and rushed down the hall to the teacher’s lounge. Emma’s hunger pangs were intense as she eagerly anticipated the delicious flavors of the hummus veggie wrap that awaited her in the fridge. Nearly there, it dawned on her she had never replied to the sweet message Luke had sent her last night. Today had been too hectic to do so, but now that she had a moment to herself, she would make sure to respond.
As Emma stepped into the teacher’s lounge, she noticed a commotion at a nearby table. Several teachers were huddled around something, their whispers growing louder as she approached.
Emma leaned forward and tilted her head, a look of curiosity clear on her face. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, Emma, you sly thing! You didn’t tell us you had a secret admirer,”
one teacher said, playfully nudging her.
Emma’s cheeks flushed with confusion. She had no idea what they were talking about. As she approached the table, she saw a stunning bouquet of Gerbera daisies arranged in a vase, with a small white envelope with her name on it nestled amongst the blooms.
“Who’s it from, Emma?”
one of them asked.
“My husband never buys me flowers,”
another teacher complained, her tone slightly resentful.
Her heart racing, Emma picked up the envelope, the weight of it heavy in her hands. As she tore open the envelope and pulled out the card, she read the words written inside with a mix of shock and delight.
Emma,
Nothing would make me happier than to celebrate you on your special day.
Happy Birthday!
I’ll see you tonight.
-Luke
Emma held the card to her chest, feeling a rush of emotions. She couldn’t believe that Luke had sent her flowers on her birthday. But how did he know? Her heart fluttered with excitement, and a smile spread across her face. She leaned in toward the bouquet and breathed in the sweet fragrance of the Gerbera daisies, closing her eyes, and relishing the moment.
The other teachers looked at her expectantly. “So, who are they from?”
one of them pressed.
Emma quickly thought of a harmless lie, hoping to avoid any further questions. “Oh, they’re from my grandpa.”
The teachers looked disappointed, but Emma didn’t care. She was too happy to care what they thought. She turned back to the flowers and inhaled their sweet scent, grateful for the thoughtful gesture.
As she reached for her wrap from the fridge, Mr. Simmons, the physics teacher, spoke up. “You’re just eating lunch now? It’s the end of the day.”
“I know, but I didn’t have time earlier. I held an impromptu prep session in my classroom during lunch.”
Emma’s colleague sneered before turning away from her. She knew some of the other teachers resented her for being an overachiever, but Emma found immense satisfaction in her job. It was more than a means of earning a living; it was an avenue to help others reach their full potential.
As Emma enjoyed her wrap, she sat down at a table adorned with the stunning vase filled with daisies, which had added a touch of radiance to the otherwise mundane space. The other teachers had already departed from the lounge, leaving Emma to bask in the serene atmosphere. After a few moments of solitude, she pulled out her phone and dialed Luke’s number to express her gratitude for the flowers he had sent her.
Luke’s voice filled Emma’s ear as soon as he picked up the phone. “Hey Emma, how are you? How was school today? Is everything alright?”
Emma chuckled softly as she listened to Luke’s rapid-fire questions. “I’m good, thanks for asking. School was crazy busy, but I survived. And yes, everything’s alright. I wanted to call and thank you for the daisies you sent. They’re beautiful. No one’s ever sent me flowers for my birthday before.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed them,”
Luke said, a tinge of relief in his voice. “I was starting to worry they might have gone to the wrong school or something.”
Emma laughed, imagining a bunch of daisies sitting unclaimed in a hallway somewhere. “No, they definitely made it to the right person. And sorry about that, it’s been one of those days. I haven’t even had a chance to eat until now.”
“The flowers are only the beginning,”
Luke teased. “You deserve so much more, Emma. That’s why I’m taking you out tonight.”
As Emma contemplated Luke’s kind gesture, the familiar nagging voice of Chad echoed in her head. For years, he had drilled into her the idea that celebrating one’s own birthday was a self-indulgent act, and Emma had taken those words to heart. Despite her friends’ many attempts to convince her otherwise, she had steadfastly declined any birthday celebrations, not wanting to upset Chad. It had been ages since she last marked the occasion.
Emma hesitated for a moment before voicing her concern. “That sounds really nice, Luke, but I’m not sure if I can do anything tonight. Riley gets anxious whenever I leave him alone at night.”
“Well, I’ve got that covered. Lisa will be over at your house at six to stay with him for the evening.”
A surge of warmth rose in Emma’s chest hearing those words. She couldn’t help but compare Luke’s thoughtfulness with Chad’s carelessness, who never bothered to think ahead like Luke had.
Emma tried to come up with another excuse to avoid going out, but she realized she couldn’t find one. “Okay, Luke. If Riley is taken care of, then I guess there’s no reason for me to say no. Of course, I’ll go out with you tonight.”
“Awesome! I think you’re going to like it.”
“Can you give me a hint? I just want to be prepared,”
Emma asked with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.
“Nope. It’s going to be a surprise. Don’t worry. It’ll be worth it.”
Emma took a deep breath and decided to trust him. “What time would you like me to be ready?”
“Six-thirty. I’m going to have a driver pick you up at your house,”
Luke said, making her raise her eyebrows in surprise.
“A driver? Well, I’d better go and gather my things so I can leave,”
Emma replied, a bit overwhelmed by the grandeur of it all.
“Okay Emma. I’ll see you tonight.”
As soon as Emma ended the call, a wave of excitement washed over her. A driver was going to pick her up? Where was Luke taking her? And more importantly, what was she going to wear? Her mind raced with possibilities.
Quickly finishing her wrap, Emma gathered her things and stood up from the table. Glancing at her phone, she realized it was already 4:00. If she didn’t hurry, she wouldn’t have much time to get ready before the driver arrived.
After Emma walked out to the parking lot and over to her car, she got in and drove over to the rescue. Kara had texted her yesterday letting her know they were out of Barking Orders treats, so she decided to make a quick stop to drop off a box. As soon as she arrived, Emma parked her car, opened the trunk, and grabbed the box.
Upon entering the main door, Emma was greeted by Charlotte, who was busy checking off tasks on her to-do list. When Charlotte noticed Emma, she immediately brightened up.
“Emma! I didn’t know you were stopping by.”
Emma walked over and placed the box on the table. “Didn’t your mom tell you I was dropping off some treats?”
“She didn’t, but it’s still great to see you.”
Charlotte opened the box, taking out a few bags. “I’m glad you brought these. We’ve had two people asking for them since I started my shift twenty minutes ago.”
Emma grinned. “I’m so happy they’re popular here. I’ll have to bring more soon, I think.”
While Emma and Charlotte were stocking the shelf, the door suddenly opened, and Jeremiah walked in. Emma turned to see him looking at Charlotte before he headed to the back without uttering a word.
“I should probably head out,”
Emma said, handing the remaining bags to Charlotte. “Please say hey to your mama for me!”
As Emma made her way to the door, she noticed Jeremiah emerging from the back and walking toward Charlotte. She closed the door behind her and headed to her car.
Emma’s heart sank as she thought about Jeremiah. She felt a knot forming in her stomach as guilt crept up on her for keeping him in the dark about her relationship with Luke. As much as she wanted to tell Jeremiah, it wasn’t her place to do so. Luke would have to be the one to tell him when the time was right, but that time was not now.
But Emma pushed those thoughts aside, determined not to let them ruin her birthday celebration. Tonight was going to be a night to remember, she thought, feeling a spark of excitement. Nothing, not even the guilt or Chad’s hurtful words, was going to spoil it for her. This night was about her and the man she was falling for, and she was going to enjoy every moment of it.