𝙻𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚒𝚜𝚢 : ᴘᴀɪɢᴇ ʙᴜᴇᴄᴋᴇʀꜱ

24- An Unexpected Visit part 2

Paige sat in the living room, the soft glow of the fireplace casting a warm light over the room as she absently scrolled through her phone. She glanced over at Emma, who was sitting beside her, her foot tucked beneath her as she read a book. Paige could sense the tension in Emma's posture—the way her fingers gripped the edge of the book a little too tightly, the subtle rise and fall of her chest as she took shallow breaths.

Emma had been on edge ever since she'd gotten the call that her mom, Mrs. Duchand, was coming to visit. It was an unexpected visit—Mrs. Duchand had heard from Emma about her time in Minnesota and had decided, somewhat last-minute, that she wanted to see for herself the life her daughter was building. Though Emma and her mom had been working on their relationship since Emma had come out to her, there was still a lingering tension between them, a cautious distance that neither seemed fully capable of bridging yet.

Paige had been supportive, reassuring Emma that everything would be fine, but she couldn't deny the nerves fluttering in her own stomach. Meeting Mrs. Duchand felt like a big step—a test of sorts. Paige knew how much Emma cared about her mom's approval, and she wanted to do everything she could to make sure this visit went smoothly.

The sound of a car pulling up in the driveway broke the silence, and Paige felt Emma tense beside her. She looked over at her girlfriend, offering a small, reassuring smile. "She's here," Paige said softly.

Emma nodded, her eyes wide with a mixture of anxiety and determination. "Yeah," she whispered, closing her book and setting it aside. "I guess I should go say hi."

Paige stood up with her, gently placing a hand on Emma's back. "We'll do this together," she said. "You don't have to face it alone."

Emma smiled at that, her expression softening. "Thank you," she murmured, leaning in to give Paige a quick, but tender kiss.

They made their way to the front door just as Monica stepped out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "Is that your mom?" Monica asked, her voice gentle and understanding.

"Yeah," Emma said, her voice tight with nerves.

Monica gave her a warm smile. "It'll be fine, sweetie," she said reassuringly. "We'll all do our best to make her feel welcome."

Paige was grateful for Monica's calm and steady presence. If anyone could help diffuse the tension, it was her stepmom. Monica had a way of making everyone feel at ease, and Paige hoped that her warmth would help Mrs. Duchand relax.

They opened the door just as Mrs. Duchand was stepping out of her car. She was a tall, elegant woman with a composed air about her—her dark hair pulled back into a neat bun, her coat buttoned perfectly against the winter chill. As she approached the house, she gave a small, tentative smile, though Paige could see the apprehension in her eyes.

"Mom," Emma said, her voice a bit shaky as she stepped forward to greet her mother.

Mrs. Duchand's smile widened slightly as she reached out to hug Emma. "Hello, darling," she said softly, holding Emma close for a moment before pulling back. "It's so good to see you."

"It's good to see you too," Emma replied, though Paige could still hear the nerves in her voice.

Mrs. Duchand turned her attention to Paige, her gaze assessing but not unfriendly. "You must be Paige," she said, extending her hand.

"Yes, ma'am," Paige said, shaking her hand politely. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Duchand."

Mrs. Duchand smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I've heard a lot about you," she said. "Emma speaks very highly of you."