Magnolia

t h i r t e e n

Luke

The drive home from the funeral was quiet, just the sound of the engine rumbling beneath us. Emma and I rode in the front seat, alone, because my mother had left early due to the rain. That, and imagined she was anxious to get to the wake and have it finished. 

From the passenger seat, I turned to look at Emma, her eyes focused on the road, hair dripping from the rain. Droplets clung to her long lashes, running down the bridge of her nose. She was the only girl I knew that would stand in the pouring rain, just to be with me. I loved her for it. 

I reached out, taking her hand in mine. She jumped a little before her eyes found my hand over hers, a smile pulling across her face. My stomach churned, guilt bubbling in my stomach. I had been a complete ass for the last week and a half, basically since I found out my dad had died. I haven't talked to her much about how I was feeling, or about anything for that matter. I haven't thanked her for everything she is doing for me and my family.

"I'm sorry" I breathed, turning away to watch the town streak by outside the window.  "I'm sorry I haven't been talking to you, letting you know what's going on. I-I feel like shit for pushing you away. You deserve so much better." I said, my voice cracking as tears began to well up in my eyes again.  

She squeezed my hand tight, offering me a warm smile. "It's not your fault," she said, "Luke, you lost your father. I know how hard that is and it takes a long time to get back to normal. There's no apology needed. I love you, for better or for worse. That's what this is all about, isn't it?" she asked, warmth glimmering in her irises. 

"Emma," I chuckled as I shook my head, wondering how I had gotten so lucky. "I'm going to try harder to be the guy you deserve" I promised, glancing over as I heard a laugh.  

Shaking her head, Emma grinned. "You always have been and will always be the guy for me" she assured, winking. 

I lifted her hand, pressing my lips against it as my eyes fluttered shut. "God, I love you so much," I said as the car finally pulled into my driveway. As soon as the car was parked, I flung open the door, jogging to the other side of the car.

Opening her door, I took her hand, helping her out of the car. "See? Better already" I grinned, earning a laugh for my attempted act of chivalry. "C'mon," I said, taking her hand in mine as we walked towards the house. 

The air was cool inside, a shiver running across my skin. "Mom?" I called out, my voice echoing off the empty walls. I glanced over at Emma who stood by the island, holding a yellow post-it note in her hand. "What's that?" 

"She left a note. She said she will be a little later. She's stopping by the store for groceries after the wake" Emma explained, shrugging as she stuck it against the counter once again. 

"Huh that's out of character" I muttered, walking next to Emma where I read the note for myself.

Emma placed her hand on my back, offering a smile. "Maybe like you, she's trying to do better," Emma offered, her sense of optimism never failing to amaze me. I just nodded, deciding that for once, I would choose to believe the good. 

"Well I'm going to go take a hot shower," Emma said after a few moments, walking towards the staircase. I nodded, eyes lingering on the note. Emma paused at the bottom of the stairs, leaning against the banister. She raised her eyebrows, eyes meeting mine. "Well, aren't you coming?" 

A laugh fought its way out, a smile breaking across my gloomy face. "I wouldn't miss it for anything" I grinned, jogging to her before chasing her up the stairs.

+

I laid on the bed, Emma snuggled against my chest. The clock on my bedside table read ten o'clock, exhaustion weighing heavily on us. I was familiar with this pattern. When we were tired but neither of us wanted to sleep because one of us wanted to say or ask something, we'd just lay there, together, waiting. Sometimes it was filled with me laying on Emma's lap as she read me something from a book she was engrossed in or us showing each other stupid things from the internet before bursting out into laughter. 

But tonight, after laying in silence for a bit, Emma sighed and then pulled the covers over her as she snuggled into the pillow. "Goodnight," she said, her voice muffled by the pillow.

"Wait," I caved, watching as she turned back to me, propping herself up on one elbow. "I've been meaning to ask...is there any news on the suspects?" I wondered, knowing that with everything that happened with my dad, it had completely slipped my mind. 

Based on the worry lines on Emma's face and exhausted expression, I assumed that she hadn't forgotten. She sighed, letting her head fall into the pillow, staring up at me with tired eyes. 

Emma always says to find the good in the bad. In my dad's death, it brought Emma and me closer and took our minds off the killers for a short time. Well, as I was now figuring out, it had taken my mind off of it. It seemed that it had never left Emma, not for a second. 

Emma stared hard at me through the dark, studying my face. Eventually, she shook her head. "No. Nothing yet" she breathed before rolling over and nuzzling her face back into the pillow. "I love you," she mumbled, already close to sleep.

I scooted next to her, pulling her in close against my chest. I kissed her cheek, nuzzling into her hair. "I love you too." And with that, we both drifted into a peaceful sleep. The first one in a long, long time. 

+

I jumped, startled as a loud sound beeped in the room. I looked around the room, shaken by the loud sound. Emma and I sat up, disoriented. I rubbed my eyes to make my vision clearer, blinking furiously to try and get my bearings. "Was that your phone?" I asked, my voice gravelly from sleep. 

"Yeah sorry. Guess I forgot to turn off the volume" Emma muttered, leaning over me before grabbing her phone from where it laid on the bedside table. Emma's hair had become a frizzy mess from all the tossing and turning she was notorious for. 

I smiled to myself at how cute she was, taking a mental picture in my head, hoping things would always be this good. "Shit" I heard her mumble as she rubbed her eyes, forehead creasing. 

"What is it?" I asked, leaning over her shoulder to read it. She immediately put her phone face down on the bed, shaking her head. 

"Nothing" she whispered, sighing heavily. "Be right back. I have to use the bathroom" she rushed, grabbing her phone before hopping over me and off of the bed. I watched her shadow slip through the door, leaving me alone. 

I laid back down, my mind racing. I thought about who the text might be from, guessing, my thoughts running a thousand miles an hour. I knew it probably wasn't a big deal but once I am curious about something I need to get an answer. 

It felt like twenty minutes had passed when I felt Emma's weight climb onto the bed again. She laid down next to me and snuggled into my chest. I didn't feel like asking questions because the sleep was setting in and making my mind all fuzzing and Emma's steady breathing calmed me down. I'd ask tomorrow.