ER [wlw]

Chapter 31

The drive to Buffalo is longer than I remember, the roads stretching on and on as the scenery changes from city streets to open highways. Bellamy and Will are in the back, talking and laughing, and I can't help but smile at the sound of their voices. Ramona's beside me, quiet but content, her hand resting on my knee as I drive us Auntie Pam's.

She drove half way there, then we traded. It's a six hour trip after all.

The memories flood back as we approach the city. Auntie Pam's house was always the place where I felt loved, the first place honestly. The place where everything seemed right, even when everything else in my life was falling apart. She's my rock.

Auntie Pam's house looks exactly the same as I remember—brick facade, white shutters, and the tiny porch she always swore she'd expand but never did. The colorful leaves on the lawn are raked into neat piles.

I park at the curb, killing the engine as I glance in the rearview mirror. Bellamy and Will are already scrambling to unbuckle their seatbelts, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Please don't run." I warn them.

"Ok." They say together and get out.

I smile at Ramona beside me as we unbuckle ourselves. "She's gonna love you just so you know."

She grins. "Yeah, I'm pretty great."

I hum. "I have to agree." I lean over and peck he lips before we get out of the car.

Before we can even reach the porch, the front door swings open, and Auntie Pam steps out, her hands on her hips and a wide smile on her face.

"Emma!" She calls out, her voice warm and familiar.

"Hey, Auntie." I say, stepping into her hug. Her arms wrap around me tightly, grounding me like they always do.

She pulls back, her sharp eyes scanning me. "You look good, baby. And this must be Ramona."

"This is her." I say, stepping aside. "My girlfriend."

Auntie Pam's smile widens as she pulls Rani into a hug before she can even react. "Well, aren't you a pretty thing." She says. "Welcome to the family, sweetheart."

Ramona laughs softly, hugging her back. "Thank you. It's really nice to meet you."

Will and Bellamy shuffle forward next, and Auntie Pam crouches down to their level.

"Bellamy." She says, cupping her face. "Look at you, baby girl. You've grown so much."

Bellamy nods. "Yeah, I think I-I'm gonna be t-tall like my m-mamá."

"I have no doubt." Auntie Pam says, kissing her forehead before turning to Will. "And you must be Will. Emma's told me all about you."

Will stands a little straighter, puffing out his chest. "She has?"

"She has." Auntie Pam says with a nod. "Now, get in here, both of you. I made cookies and I'll be starting dinner soon."

The kids don't need to be told twice. They dart past her into the house.

Ramona and I step inside, the warmth of the house wrapping around us. It smells like cinnamon and sugar.

"Make yourselves at home." Auntie Pam says, closing the door behind us. "Emma, you know where the coffee is. And don't let those kids get into too much trouble."

"Yes, ma'am." I reply, happy to be back here.

The kids are already halfway through their cookies when Ramona and I settle on the couch. Auntie Pam, with a proud smile, hands us each a plate. The cookies are warm, gooey, and smell like cinnamon and sugar—just like I remember.

"Go ahead, try one." Auntie Pam says, settling beside us. "They're fresh out of the oven."

I bite into mine, the sweetness instantly comforting. Ramona takes a bite too, and I watch her face light up.

"These are amazing." She says, smiling at Auntie Pam.

"Well, I've had years of practice." Auntie Pam replies with a wink. "Now, tell me more about you two. How did you meet?"

I glance at Ramona, giving her a chance to answer.

"Well," Ramona starts after a deep breath, "we kinda knew each other from back in highschool, Ari is my best friend. But me and Emma really met at my gym. When I got to know her, I knew she was someone I wanted to spend more time with." She looks at me with a half smile.

Auntie Pam nods, clearly intrigued. "I can see why. She's a keeper."

I blush. "Auntie..."

She laughs, reaching over to squeeze my hand. "Don't act like you don't know it."

I glance at Ramona, who's smiling softly, and feel my heart skip a beat.

I notice Will and Bellamy, distracted by the cookies, their voices blending into the background as Bellamy tells him how it was here when she was younger.

"Okay, okay," Auntie Pam says, leaning back. "I'll stop embarrassing you for now. But I'm glad you two are happy."

The evening winds down, and Auntie Pam insists on making sure everyone's settled in before she calls it a night. The kids are practically bouncing off the walls, still hyped up from the cookies and their impromptu games, but eventually, they follow my instructions to get ready for bed.

Ramona and I make our way to the guest room, the one I used to sleep in when I was younger. The door creaks as we enter, and I feel a rush of nostalgia. The walls are painted a soft lavender, and there's an old wooden dresser by the window. The bed is covered in a quilt Auntie Pam made years ago, a patchwork of pastel colors that always made the room feel cozy and safe.

"Wow." Ramona says, taking in the room with a soft smile. "This is really cute."

I nod, running my fingers along the edge of the quilt. "Yeah, this was my room."

Ramona moves to the bed, sitting down and patting the space next to her. "Well, I'm glad I tagged along. This place really meant a lot to you, didn't it?" She asks, her voice soft.

I nod, staring up at the ceiling. "It was the first place where I felt loved. Auntie Pam... she gave me that when I didn't have it anywhere else."

Ramona reaches over, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. "You deserve that. You deserve to feel loved every single day."

Her words settle in my chest, warm and heavy. I turn to face her, my heart pounding. "I do... with you." I say quietly.

Ramona's expression softens, her eyes shining with something I can't quite name. She leans closer, her hand cupping my cheek. "I love you, hermosa." She says, her voice steady and sure.

"I love you too, you mean so much to me." I whisper. Never more serious in my life..

Her lips meet mine, soft and deliberate, and the kiss feels like a promise. A reminder that we've both chosen this, despite everything.

When we pull back, I rest my head against her chest, listening to the steady rhythm of her heartbeat, the sound eventually lulling me to sleep with a smile.