This Much Is True (the sequel to The Senator's Son)

Chapter 10

Emma

After a long morning of Monday classes I was happy to have the afternoon off. I went home and took the opportunity to work on my history paper in silence. I set up at our dining room table, flipping open Zach's MacBook and getting to work. I farted around on social media first. My Facebook account had a whole thirty-two friends, mostly people I'd met in the last year. My Twitter account was more the same, but I used that mainly to see what was going on in the world. Other than that, I had nothing else. No Instagram, no Snapchat, nothing.

Next I checked my email. Nothing of interest except an email from Dad that he forwarded to me.

To: Paul Andrews

From: Meredith Irvine

Date: October 20th, 2015

Hi Paul,

I wanted to send you a short note thanking you for trying to reach out to Emma for me. I haven't heard from her so I can only assume she doesn't want to speak to me, and I don't blame her a bit. I do hope that you can forward this email on to her to let her know that I think about her all the time, I miss having her in my life, I regret everything that's happened in the past and that if she can ever find it in her heart to call, or even send a short email or text, I would be over the moon!

Emma, sweetie, I know you probably hate me and I know I've squandered so many years, but I'm a firm believer that it's never too late to connect. Even if it's only once, I want to know that you're healthy and happy. I know your dad's done an amazing job raising you into the beautiful girl you've become.

And even if you don't want to reach out, that's okay. If any time in the future you want to call or write, I'm always there for you. I love you.

Mom

Mom? She had the audacity to sign it Mom? Meredith had never been a mother to me. Sure, she sent the odd birthday and Christmas cards, but that didn't qualify her to be a mother, at least not to me. My finger hovered over the delete button, but I stopped myself. Maybe I would reply, but it wasn't anything Meredith wanted to hear. And Dad? How could he send this to me? Why was he on her side? I was still stewing when Zach got home. I showed him the email.

He opened his mouth to say something then stopped. A dull groan marinated in his throat. "Em, I have a feeling that you don't want to hear my opinion, so I think I'll keep quiet."

I clenched my jaw. "Really? You're on Team Meredith too?"

He sighed. "No, I'm always on your team, but as an outsider looking in, she seems sincere. You don't have to contact her, but you shouldn't be pissed about it either. Aren't you a little curious?"

"No. And I find her timing suspect. I haven't heard from her in years and all of a sudden I'm dating Zach Walker, and Mom comes around. She wants something."

"I guess you won't know unless you contact her."

I narrowed my eyes. "You did not just try to manipulate and outsmart me, did you?"

"Kind of?" A smile crept up on his lips and I couldn't help but smile back.

"You're a shit."

"A shit who loves you."

I put my arms around me. "Let's forget about her and my history paper. I want to spend the rest of the evening with my handsome boyfriend."

A mischievous grin spread across his face. "Now that's what I like to hear."

#

I had a few hours between classes every Thursday so I retreated to the small library in the St. John's building where I could have some study time. I'd found a little nook the previous year and enjoyed the peace and quiet of this less popular library. I was half an hour into my Civil War research paper when I heard a voice I knew all too well talking nearby. My first instinct was to cringe, then cower a bit, but slowly I lifted my gaze and there she was. Damn Bianca Smythe. She was with a guy and they spoke in low voices, unaware of me sitting ten feet behind them. I sank behind my book, making out the odd word here and there. They were study partners of some sort because he wasn't the type of guy Bianca would date. For starters, he was shorter than her, and while I thought he was cute enough, he wouldn't pass Bianca's high standards and his clothes were too nerdy for her tastes.