On a mild summer evening, Alex, a solitary surfer and company director, visits Nicolas, her partner and best friend. On his doorstep, she runs into Emma, his younger sister, whom she hasn't seen in years. Although the young woman has changed a lot...
Alex was on the phone when Emma came home from work. Emma had spent four months caring for Alex. Together, they overcame the trauma. Emma quit her old job, and they moved in together permanently. Nicolas, with Alex's consent, offered his sister a position at their company to help with the day-to-day running of the business. Emma accepted immediately, excited about the opportunity to stay with her brother.
Alex worked very hard on her rehabilitation. She was now walking without assistance. She still had some discomfort and not much stamina, but her efforts were paying off and she relentlessly continued her physical therapy.
Emma kissed her on the forehead just before she hung up.
"We're invited to dinner tonight at Hélène and Sylvie's.
"Ah, good. Hélène is your childhood friend?"
"Yes, and Sylvie is her partner. Um, then I'd like to introduce you to someone."
"Really? Who?"
"You'll see, it's a surprise."
"All right. What time are we expected?"
"Around seven, not later, and we've got a thirty-minute drive."
"OK. I'll run off to the shower."
"Hold on a second, will you?" Alex asked, and caught her before she turned around. "Come here."
"We'll be late!"
"Not at all, I'll just be a minute," said Alex, who eagerly took Emma's lips. "I've been waiting for it my whole afternoon," she murmured against her lips. "Hi... I missed you."
Emma smiled and slowly opened her eyes again.
"Hi... Show me again how you missed me, I didn't quite understand."
"We're running out of time, honey."
"We've got one more second... Right?"
***
Hélène and Sylvie greeted them warmly. Alex hadn't met them in a while. Despite frequent phone calls from Hélène to check on her, Alex refused to allow them to visit her at the hospital.
"It's so good to see you up and about. Are you feeling much better?"
"Yes, I do feel better. Emma took good care of me."
Hélène walked over to Emma and hugged her.
"I'm so pleased to finally meet you. Thank you for taking care of her."
"It's nice to meet you, too." Emma said, hugging back.
Alex walked over to Sylvie who was cradling a little girl against her. She gave the young woman a kiss and held out her arms.
"Wow, you're all grown up, now! Come give Auntie Alex a cuddle!"
Alex hugged her tightly and kissed her face and neck as the little girl laughed out loudly.
Emma didn't miss a moment of this touching scene and smiled broadly when Alex turned to her.
"Emma, this is Lola, my goddaughter."
Emma leaned over and gave the child a kiss.
"She's so sweet," she said, in a voice full of emotion.
The couple invited them to make themselves comfortable and offered them a drink. After a while, when most of the discussion and attention was focused on the little girl, Hélène turned to Alex.
"It's time to put her to bed. Do you want to do it?"
"Yes, I'd love to. I'll do it now."
"Do you want me to carry her?"
"No, thank you, I'll manage."
As soon as she left the lounge, Hélène turned to Emma.
"She seems to be in much better spirits."
"Yes, she's had a hard time, but her efforts are paying off and soon it will be a thing of the past."
"I'm so happy to see her like this. Let me tell you, I was really scared. You did a great job."
"I didn't do anything special. I was just there with her to support her and love her like she deserved."
"Do you want kids, Emma?"
Stunned, Emma turned to Sylvie and looked at her for a moment, not knowing how to answer such a direct question.
"Sorry, did I embarrass you?"
"No... No, no need to apologize. No harm done. You surprised me, that's all. The answer is yes... Yes, I'd like to be able to enjoy such happiness one day."
Sylvie turned to her wife, a slight smile on her lips.
"You should go and join her." Hélène said. "Bedtime is Alex's favorite time. I'm sure she'd love to have you there. It's the second door on the right in the hallway."
Emma looked at each of them in turn, not sure she'd fully understood the subliminal message hidden beneath their smiles and knowing looks. She stood up.
"All right. I'll go."
"We'll wait for you."
Emma entered the room, which was lit by a nightlight. Alex was leaning over a white wooden bed. She held one of her goddaughter's small hands and stroked it tenderly with her thumb.
Emma settled herself behind Alex's back and wrapped her arms around her.
"She has grown so much already, it's amazing."
They watched the little girl sleep for a while without saying a word, sharing this out-of-time moment. Emma tightened her grip. Alex put her hand on hers, pressing down on it, and broke the silence.
"I'd like to have a child someday, to see them laugh and cry, to teach them to surf without them disappearing after the session. I'd like to be there for them every moment of their life..."
"Would you want to carry them?"
"To be perfectly honest, I don't intend to. No."
A silence greeted this revelation. Emma leaned a little bit more against Alex.
"Nothing in the world would make me happier than to carry our child, sweetheart," she whispered in her ear.
Alex slowly turned around. With tears in their eyes, they hugged and smiled at each other.
THE END
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Facebook et Instagram : profile « Ada Karlyne Auteure »
My web site : www.adakarlyne.fr
You enjoyed "Emma"? Tell me in a private message! Or post a comment with stars!
A comment posted on a retail site is comforting and will prompt others to read the novel.
Self-publishing is a complex and difficult undertaking. Help me to promote this story.
