TIFFIN 2

27

As we all made our way to Brendan's van, I received a text from Emma:

I thought I'd check up on my daughter. How are you doing with all this?

I took a deep breath before I responded. 

Tawnee hasn't texted me at all. So good. Sort of.

After a moment, I had another message come through.

What do you mean sort of? Want to meet up? We'll talk about it?

I took a minute to process this. Part of me wanted to ignore her wishes and tell her I didn't have time, but I couldn't do this with her.

I had a habit of pushing others away. She'd done everything she could to keep me safe. 

Was pushing her away all the thanks she was supposed to get for all she'd done? 

No. 

Yeah. I'm at the Club Congo. I need you right now.

Before we could all pile into the van, I tugged on the back of Brendan's jacket. 

He looked at me, confused.

"Yes?"

"Can we wait a minute?" I begged. "My mother texted me. I need her to accompany me to that house. I can't do it without her."

I expected him to huff in exasperation, but he simply nodded. 

"Yeah, of course. I'll just read my issue for the month. Suzette De'claire is the next runner-up on Food Wars."

I smiled as I leaned against the side of the passenger door. 

After fifteen minutes, Emma had arrived in a vehicle, looking just as well-kempt as she had when we met at the motel. She rushed towards me, making sure I wasn't broken or harmed. 

"Oh, honey, are you okay? You worried me with your text."

I immediately latched my arms around her, ignoring Brendan and Jo looking at us. 

"I'm not okay. Hero and I just had a fight over someone close to him and I have to talk to her. She's the reason we're in this mess. I can't do it alone."

"Of course," Emma replied, running a hand over my hair soothingly, "He will get over it. I know he will. Now, who is this person close to him? What did she do?"

I closed my eyes, trying to think of all the necessary points. 

"His grandmother," I choked out, "She's been trying to sabotage our relationship from day one. A little bit before we reunited, she paid someone to burn me and-"

I didn't get to finish. The expression on Emma's face turned cold. She grasped me tightly. 

"This woman burned you?" She said through clenched teeth. "Please tell me you're joking?"

I wiped at a few stray tears. "No- she said-"

Emma shook me gingerly. "Frankly, I don't give a flying damn what that woman told you. She harmed my little girl. You may have never seen me before now and I may be getting old, but her ass is getting kicked."

Emma instantly grabbed onto Brendan for dear life. 

"Is there room in this van for one more?"

He nodded, though he looked worried. "Sure thing."

When we finally started down the road and made it to the familiar mansion, I tried to not focus on my goal. It was stressing me out. If I kept thinking about it I was going to faint.