Chapter 23 #3
She finally wriggles her way out of Theo’s strong arms, sticking her tongue out at him as she paces towards me. My nerves are kicking in again, and I don’t know what to do with my hands, so I plant them flat on the sides of my legs.
She stands in front of me, staring into my eyes. At first, I wondered if we were having a staring contest, so I continued our stare-off, never blinking.
After a minute of silence, hearing nothing but my heart beating, she finally opens her mouth to speak. “Hi, I’m Emma. You are really pretty, “ she chirps.
I can’t hide the ear-to-ear smile her comment gives me. “Well, hi, Emma. My name is Olive, and you’re really pretty, too.” Her eyes sparkle with joy.
She lunges forward, grabbing me in a hug, with my arms still pinned on either side of me.
“Do you want to see my drawings?” she exclaims excitedly.
I look at Theo, who is wearing a smug look. I can tell this moment means the most to him. It makes me want to run over to him and give him the deepest, most passionate kiss. That will have to wait until later, though.
I look back, down at little Emma. “I would love to see your drawings!”
Spending time with Emma gives me hope for her future.
Theo and his parents rescued her early on from a life filled with trauma and heartbreak.
I know that one day if she hasn’t already, she will have questions about her biological parents.
No matter how well the Rivers treat her, it’s human nature to want to know.
She will probably wonder why they didn’t love her enough to get better.
Those same thoughts echo in my mind. Even at nineteen, I still don’t have answers regarding my own, and I doubt I ever will.
I believe the Rivers will provide her with the answers she needs and deserves.
They will be there to comfort her whenever she needs it and will also give her the space to process her feelings.
Most importantly, she will be in the place that has been her home for as long as she can remember. For that, I am truly thankful.
After our late dinner, Ruby and Lucas walked with us to Theo’s car; the evening, to my surprise, went very well.
Ruby had prepared the most delicious chicken and dumplings.
I felt embarrassed asking for seconds, but thankfully, I wasn’t the only one who did.
Theo mentioned that chicken and dumplings were his mom’s specialty and that she wanted to make them for me to hopefully “seal the deal,” which made me laugh.
Sitting at their dining room table was a real eye-opener.
It was so normal for them to share a thoughtful meal together.
You could tell it was something they had done as a family for many years.
What felt traditional to them seemed out of place for me, but they made me feel welcome.
It was as if I had known them for years, and I felt like a part of the family for the first time in a long while.
Ruby showed a lot of interest in getting to know Nora; she even begged me to bring her over for dinner soon so that she could meet her.
I let her know I would talk to her about it.
But I left out the part where I hadn’t told Nora about Theo yet.
I swear I’ll have the conversation with her soon.
I know Nora would adore Emma just as I do now.
We all exchange hugs and say our goodbyes. Ruby squeezes me extra tight while reminding me I can come over and visit anytime I want. I appreciate her. She has a beautiful soul, and she and Lucas have raised two good humans. And I can see why Theo is such a gentleman.
As my hand reaches for the car door, I hear Emma yelling my name. She runs out of the garage with something in her hand. “Here, I made this for you!” she strains out from running so fast. She hands me a piece of paper.
I flip it over to find what looks like a picture of me and Theo holding hands, with a big heart over our heads.
I feel a slight ache in my throat and maybe even tears building behind my corneas. I don’t know what emotion is taking over me right now, but I think it’s a mixture of the wholesome his family has made me feel and how Emma has shown that maybe I’m not so bad of a person after all.
Emma gestures for me to lean down. She puts her hands around her mouth, blocking so no one can see. “I can tell Theodore really likes you,” she whispers.
I purse my lips, fighting the urge to smile, knowing this moment is too precious. With a burst of warmth in my chest, I pull her in for a brief, tight hug, whispering my gratitude for the sweet picture she made me. It’s a small gesture, but it means so much.
As we make our way out of their driveway, I take a moment to glance back. The three of them stand there, waving their goodbyes with bright smiles. It’s a heartwarming scene that makes me feel surprisingly light.
In that fleeting moment, a wave of emotion washes over me.
For the first time, I sense that life is gently returning the kindness I’ve longed for after enduring so much pain and hardship.
It’s a refreshing feeling as if the universe finally acknowledges my struggles and offers me a glimmer of hope.
I needed Theo and his family in my life.