Midnight Summer

Sixteen

Kristin, Liam's mom settles down last scrutinizing the whole table. I am a mess of nerves the entire time. Her eyes a pale green in contrast to Liam's find mine. They are not hard but neither inviting and that is not helping. "I flew here as fast as I could when I read about what happened." she starts.

"Only I didn't realise that you disappeared with someone." Kristin pins me with her gaze.
"She is my girlfriend mom." Liam cuts in.
"You would be surprised what the media have to say about that." Kristin grunts.
"Miss Clarke..."

"Kristin." she interrupts curtly.
"Call me Kristin please. My husband and I are divorced." she adds politely.
"I am sorry about all that is happening but Liam is not to blame for anything." I mutter.

"Is that true son?" she turns his gaze to Liam.
"We love each other mom. I don't care what the media says. No one is to blame here." Liam replies.

"What brings you here mom?" Liam narrows his eyes.
"I missed you. I tried reaching your phone these past weeks but I couldn't get a hold of you. I was worried and you didn't even to think to send me a message to tell me you were fine." she voices softly.

A pang of guilt settles in my heart. Liam's face softens reaching for her mom's hand.
"I am sorry mom. I couldn't tell you because I knew you would want more details." he murmurs.

"Well, it also breaks my heart when I find about your life in the news." she scoffs.
"I am sorry mom, please." Liam pleads.
"Okay."
I would kill for a sandwich right now, anyone else?" Kristin smiles.

"That sounds great." Liam answers. Kristin quickly gets up from her seat to the kitchen. I sigh hard.
"Babe." Liam calls for my attention.
"I know. It is just everything makes me anxious. I think your mom thinks I am a devil's spawn." I huff.

"Now don't be getting words from my mouth I haven't said darling." Kristin emanates from the door staring at both of us. An awkward blush makes way to my cheeks. Uh-uh.
"The sandwich will be ready in fifteen." She disappears from the door.

"I am sorry." I mutter quickly.
"Hey," Liam touches my arm.
"She likes you." he coaxes.
"I know it. She does. Don't get too hard on yourself."

Twenty minutes later, Kristin serves sandwiches as promised. While Liam makes small talk with her, I remain silent my attention on the piece of art that is the sandwich. How could I forget her mom was a chef and a well known one mustn't I forget.

"What do you think about the sandwich?" Liam turns to me. It is now I realise I haven't touched the thing. Liam sends me a wary look.
"Tell her I don't poison young beautiful girls for pleasure, will you honey?" Kristin vouches. Oops!

"No...it is just.."

"It is overwhelming. This world is a cruel place sweetheart." Kristin murmurs sweetly.
"When I was your age, I was pregnant with Liam. I was married to my then husband. We were young and so in love and we had a baby coming soon. One could only hope everyone would be happy for us but no."

"There were tabloids with my face claiming how the baby wasn't his and I was a slut for leaving his best friend for him." Kristin sips her juice.
"That is not what I wanted to say anyway. I know what you are going through and what you think. I am not the enemy here though."

"I am sorry Kristin." I apologize. Since Kristin arrived, I have been skeptical about her intentions. People like her never associated with people like me. They never allowed their families too. Hearing her speak those words makes me guilty. She is nothing but a sweet soul.

"It is fine Emma. What will make me happy though is if you eat the sandwich." she smiles. Liam smiles too. I am left with no choice but eat the sandwich and how it tastes great.

              ♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡

"What!"

Liam exclaims loudly as soon as Carl ends his address.
"That is the only thing we can do to stop the rumors." Carl argues.
"It is not going to happen. She can't do it Carl." Liam utters.
"My hands are tied Liam. I can barely keep off the paparazzi from breaking inside the house. We need to do this. She needs to do this." Carl gazes at me.

"I will do it."

I announce confidently. "No, you won't." Liam retorts immediately.
"Yes, I will. If it is the only thing that can help, I will do it." I declare.
"Cassidy will drink you for breakfast, eat you for lunch and fry you for dinner. I can't let that happen on my watch." Liam reprimands.

"I am doing it.."

"Emma." Liam cuts me off angrily.

"Son, let her be. If she wants to do it, then she has thought this through." Kristin coaxes.
"You don't understand how cunning that woman can be. She is going to turn everything against her and all Emma will do is look stupid." Liam quips.

"It doesn't matter now Liam. The more time we waste, the worse it becomes. I want to do this. Let me." I plead zeroing my soft gaze to his hard one.

He sighs after minutes. "On one condition though. I attend with her." Liam demands.
"Consider it done." Carl mutters immediately. I sigh. Liam sends me a sad expression.

I wish he knows this isn't his fault. It isn't his mess to clean. It is the dirty laundry I hid from him that is causing all this trouble and the only person who can make it right is me.

I don't know who Debbie Casidy is, not that I want to know but apparently Carl thinks me going on her show will stop the rumors going around. Everyone might think they are rumors but there is always a truth to every rumor.

However this is ruining Liam's picture and future. I need to do anything to clear it up even if it means meeting with the freaking president. I will do it just for him.

"You can back out now. No one is forcing you love. I don't care about what the rumors say, I don't want to see her humiliate you." Liam coaxes.
"Have some little faith in me Liam. I am a strong woman who has survived a lot, more than what the media says. I will face whoever this Cassidy is. Trust me on this." I decree.

"Baby." Liam pulls me into a hug.

"I am going to be fine." I murmur.

I don't know who I am trying to convince between Liam and I. I can't let him see how nervous as I am or how I am seconds away from freaking out. Knowing he is by my side is the only reason keeping me sane right now and I hope we walk through the fire unscathed.