The Editor

7.Emma

I unlocked the door to the apartment and heard Harry in the kitchen. I smiled and walked in, his back was to me and I admired his lean frame and messy curls before he turned around.

“Guess what!” I said, rushing forward and wrapping my arms around him.

“Emma we both know I’m the funniest one in the room, you don’t need to tell me that.” He said his laughter rumbling through his body.

“Well yeah but something else! I-” My phone rang on the counter and Harry reached behind to grab it.

“Hello?” he said, answering it. He held it out to me after a moment. “It’s for you.” I frowned and took the phone.

“Hello?”

“Emma? Who was that man?”

“Mom?”

You can’t choose who you’re related to, but you can spend most of your life avoiding them. It worked well for my parents when I was child and it works pretty good for me now. Most parents want to be there for their children, I was lucky to see mine on my birthday. I guess you could say my sister raised me, and now we didn’t even speak to each other.

“Yes, who was that? Was that your husband?” Now of all times she decided to be nosey.

“That’s my…Harry.” I said awkwardly. Harry raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms over his chest. I turned so I wasn’t facing him.

“I see. How’s work going?”

“Fine. What do you want?” I said slowly.

“Well your father and I were wondering if you wanted to come and visit us this weekend.”

“In Vancouver?”

“Of course sweet pea!” Don’t call me that, I wanted to snap but I bit my tounge. I turned back to Harry he was looking at me a frown pulling at his mouth. My good mood evaporated.

“Uh…”

“Please come! It will be so good to catch up with you!” The mother I knew would care less if I came to visit her or not. Maybe she’s changed.

“Um…” Now or never, and if she did change I wanted to be the first to see it. “Okay.”

“Great! I already bought you a ticket and I sent you the directions in your e-mail.”

“How did you get my e-mail?” I asked.

“Can’t wait to see you!” she said, ignoring me and hanging up the phone. I hung up my phone and turned around to face Harry.

“Was that your mother?” he asked.

“Yeah, and it looks like we’re going to Canada this weekend.”