Moments that define us

Chapter Thirteen

Emily

When I made it home that night, I sat down and watched a movie with momma. We shared popcorn. We laughed along with the movie. It felt so good to sit with her. It had been a while. Growing up she was one of my best friends. Of course she was stern with me when needed, but she was always easy to talk to. I didn't ever want to lose that, but felt as though we had drifted some since I had came home from college.

When the movie went off, I went to the kitchen to wash the popcorn bowl. As I was drying it, she walked into the kitchen and set at the table. I glanced over at her, and she wore a weary expression. I knew I had rarely talked to her about Jameson. Her and daddy had only talked to him a few times. I knew daddy thought he wasn't good enough for me, but he liked him well enough. Momma never said too much about him, but I had a feelin' that was about to change.

She cleared her throat before she spoke. "Emmalynn, honey. Why don't you come sit so we can have some girl talk?"

I raised my eyebrow at her. The only girl talk we had ever really had was about church, getting our nails, or hair done, or my school. Though I could feel it in my gut that this girl talk would be about a certain gray eyed, dark brown haired man.

I went to sit by momma. My hands were shaking slightly. Truthfully I was a nervous wreck. I loved my parents dearly, and I didn't want them to disapprove of Jameson. I just didn't know how to get them to see him the way I do.

I looked up at momma. Her green eyes were shining with so many emotions. I was scared I was gonna drown in her intense stare. "What do you wanna talk about momma?" My voice shook slightly. My nerves were racing across my body, like an electric charge. If she noticed though, she didn't say.

"You and Jameson have been spending a lot of time together. What are his intentions with my daughter? Is he serious about you? Is he lookin' for marriage? Cause honey I know you are." She reached out and grabbed my hand, while I took in the loaded questions.

Honestly how do you answer something like that? I wasn't sure. So I gave her my truth. "I love him momma." I whispered, and a lone tear raced down my cheek. I went to wipe it away. "I think he's serious. Momma sometimes he looks at me like I hung the stars in his sky." My smile was watery. I was trying to reign in my emotions, to finish answering her. "You're right. I am lookin' for marriage. But it's only been a month."

She studied me for a moment. A long moment. I felt the weight of my answer weighing me down, and I sat holding my breath for her answer. She patted my hand lightly, before smiling her warm smile at me. "Why don't you invite him over Sunday after church for lunch. Your daddy and me can get to know him better." She paused for a moment. "I've seen the way he looks at you when he drops you off at night or when you walk in the room when he picks you up. If he isn't serious about you, I would be surprised. But honey, if I'm being honest, he also looks like he's fightin' a battle in his mind every time he looks at you as well. I want only the best for you sugar."

A few more silent tears fell. I was so tired of crying all the time. But her words held so much truth to them. He looked so perplexed sometimes when he looked at me, and had this faraway look in his eyes. I trusted Jameson with all my heart, but I was scared in the end I would be broken and he would be okay to just walk away.

I told momma I would invite him over, and that he agreed to go to church with me on Sunday mornin'. She smiled at that, and told me that was a great start.

That night I called Jameson and told him about Sunday lunch. He said he was lookin' forward to some home cookin' and couldn't wait. We also made plans to ride horses around the farm afterwards.

I went to bed that night with a smile on my face. I was so in love with this broken man who deserved all the happiness. I was also lookin' forward to spending all day Sunday with him.