The Family We Choose

Chapter 13

May was the one thing keeping Emelia from fully opening up to her mom again. The one small thing that kept them at a distance and true to her words, Shannon didn't make a move to push. But after their movie night last week with Buck, she finally felt like she was ready to let her in.

Emelia was able to trust Buck with Shannon; a part of her life that she kept so close to her heart was now allowed in her mother's hands. It was entrusted to her and Shannon managed to keep it safe.

It was a big step, a step she was also willing to take with May.

Sure they never actually went out and met each other but the facetime calls were more than enough for her.

Everything finally felt right and after really listening to Hen's advice she figured her shit out.

She had a full blown crush on this girl. Like writing your last name together in a journal crush and planning cute dates in your head crush. And she loved it. She's never felt more like herself than when she was with her.

Which led her to this dinner. Sitting at the table and eating food like a regular family, the world unknown to their trauma.

"So what's the ground breaking news?" She teased and her parents smiled. Eddie gently kicked the bottom of her shoe under the table.

"Can't we just have a nice dinner?" Shannon asked, raising a friendly eyebrow in response.

Emelia looked around the table and listened to what her gut was telling her. She felt safe, these people loved her and she knew that if she told them that nothing would change.

She had to believe it.

With one finally deep breath she dropped her fork onto the side of her plate and grabbed their attention.

"Maybe I have some groundbreaking news."

"Okay?" Eddie questioned and followed suit with Shannon in dropping his utensil to give Emelia their sole focus.

She froze, suddenly terrified of how they would react to her life, boys and girls. It was a lot for her two Texas raised parents to consume and it was different from what they were used to. Sure they wouldn't hate her for it but then again what if they did.

"Take your time sweetie." Shannon noticed her discomfort and reached across the table to grab her hand. "We love you, no matter what."

Those were just the words she needed to open up again.

"I like girls." she blurted out and almost groaned at herself, looking up only to gauge her reaction. "And boys."

"Oh thank god." Eddie said, his body relaxing instantly as he let a smile set on his lips. "I thought you were going to say you failed one of your classes again."

Shannon squeezed her hand. Tucking that little bit of information into her pack pocket for later and instead focused on her.

"So that night, when you couldn't stop smiling and all those late night facetime calls. It was because of a girl?"

Emelia nodded her head in response.

"Who is it?" She beamed and Eddie leaned on his elbows, fully invested in learning who this mystery girl was.

"It doesn't matter, she probably doesn't feel the same way." She bowed her head and busied herself with her pasta.

"Oh honey, no girl facetimes with someone until 2 in the morning if they don't like you." Shannon tried to reassure her but there was still a part of her that thought otherwise. She didn't even know if she likes girls.