.
“Mom, what’s this really all about? I can’t remember the last time you dropped in on me to dig into my personal life.”
“That’s because your personal life has always been nicely predictable. And appropriate. As it should be.”
Predictable. Appropriate. Two of the very reasons I ran from Andrew’s house last night.
She searched for something to say.
“Emma.” She heard the clink as her mother set her glass on the table. “I don’t know what this disagreement you had with Andrew is about, but I’m sure it’s something that can be fixed. And then,” her voice brightened, “you can announce your engagement.”
Emma turned slowly, quaking inside. She was about to take another big leap in her life and she didn’t know which would be worse—saying the words or facing the wrath of her mother. She swallowed hard and wet her lips.
“I think this will probably come as a shock to you, but I’m not going to marry Andrew. Not this year. Not any year.” Courage, Emma . “If you want to know the truth, he bores me.”
If Angela’s jaw hadn’t been attached to her skull, Emma was sure it would have clunked on the table.
“Did I just hear you right? He bores you? Are you out of your mind?”
“No. As a matter of fact, I think I’ve probably just found it.” She shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans. Her heart was beating erratically with the knowledge she was taking another step off that unseen ledge, but she just couldn’t stop herself. The joy ride was just beginning but already she found it exhilarating. She wanted her mother to be happy for her but that may be a very long time coming. “As you were so kind to point out, I’m almost thirty and my life is predictable. Appropriate. I’ve never done one exciting thing in my life.”
Well, okay. One thing .
“Exciting?”
“Yes.” She wanted to wring her hands. “Can’t you try to understand?” she pleaded. “I want something more than I have right now. Is that so hard for you to comprehend? Look at me, Mom. Really look at me and listen.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Angela sounded truly bewildered. “What kind of exciting things do you want? You have a good job, a steady boyfriend. A settled life ahead of you. What is it you’re looking for?”
Emma could tell this whole conversation was pointless. There was no way she could explain what was happening with her when she was still coming to terms with it herself. She wanted empathy from her mother and instead she got platitudes. If she looked back over the years, she should have expected nothing else. Everything in Angela’s life had always been well-planned and well-ordered. It was her security. And she wanted the same thing for her daughter.
But that’s not me any more. How can I make her see that?
Emma let out a slow breath, clenching her fists in her pockets.
“Andrew is a very nice man, Mom, but he doesn’t, well, ring my chimes. And I really, really want to hear bells. Lots of them.”
“So let me get this straight.” Angela’s body was set in rigid lines, her eyes flashing disapproval. “You’re willing to throw away a good solid relationship at a time in your life when you should be married, for…for…what? Some unknown man?” She narrowed her eyes. “Or have you already met him? Is that what this is all about?”
Emma turned away again, afraid her expression might give something away and her mother would poke and prod until she got it out of her. That was a conversation she was hardly prepared for at the moment.
“Do you remember Jacie Caldwell? My college roommate?”
“Well, of course, darling. A really nice girl. But what does she have to do with this?”
“She’s Jacie Monroe now. Married, with a great husband that she obviously adores and a really cute kid. And a job she loves.”
Angela frowned. “That’s nice. But I still don’t understand. Wait. Did she call you? Say something to set you off on
“Mom, what’s this really all about? I can’t remember the last time you dropped in on me to dig into my personal life.”
“That’s because your personal life has always been nicely predictable. And appropriate. As it should be.”
Predictable. Appropriate. Two of the very reasons I ran from Andrew’s house last night.
She searched for something to say.
“Emma.” She heard the clink as her mother set her glass on the table. “I don’t know what this disagreement you had with Andrew is about, but I’m sure it’s something that can be fixed. And then,” her voice brightened, “you can announce your engagement.”
Emma turned slowly, quaking inside. She was about to take another big leap in her life and she didn’t know which would be worse—saying the words or facing the wrath of her mother. She swallowed hard and wet her lips.
“I think this will probably come as a shock to you, but I’m not going to marry Andrew. Not this year. Not any year.” Courage, Emma . “If you want to know the truth, he bores me.”
If Angela’s jaw hadn’t been attached to her skull, Emma was sure it would have clunked on the table.
“Did I just hear you right? He bores you? Are you out of your mind?”
“No. As a matter of fact, I think I’ve probably just found it.” She shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans. Her heart was beating erratically with the knowledge she was taking another step off that unseen ledge, but she just couldn’t stop herself. The joy ride was just beginning but already she found it exhilarating. She wanted her mother to be happy for her but that may be a very long time coming. “As you were so kind to point out, I’m almost thirty and my life is predictable. Appropriate. I’ve never done one exciting thing in my life.”
Well, okay. One thing .
“Exciting?”
“Yes.” She wanted to wring her hands. “Can’t you try to understand?” she pleaded. “I want something more than I have right now. Is that so hard for you to comprehend? Look at me, Mom. Really look at me and listen.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Angela sounded truly bewildered. “What kind of exciting things do you want? You have a good job, a steady boyfriend. A settled life ahead of you. What is it you’re looking for?”
Emma could tell this whole conversation was pointless. There was no way she could explain what was happening with her when she was still coming to terms with it herself. She wanted empathy from her mother and instead she got platitudes. If she looked back over the years, she should have expected nothing else. Everything in Angela’s life had always been well-planned and well-ordered. It was her security. And she wanted the same thing for her daughter.
But that’s not me any more. How can I make her see that?
Emma let out a slow breath, clenching her fists in her pockets.
“Andrew is a very nice man, Mom, but he doesn’t, well, ring my chimes. And I really, really want to hear bells. Lots of them.”
“So let me get this straight.” Angela’s body was set in rigid lines, her eyes flashing disapproval. “You’re willing to throw away a good solid relationship at a time in your life when you should be married, for…for…what? Some unknown man?” She narrowed her eyes. “Or have you already met him? Is that what this is all about?”
Emma turned away again, afraid her expression might give something away and her mother would poke and prod until she got it out of her. That was a conversation she was hardly prepared for at the moment.
“Do you remember Jacie Caldwell? My college roommate?”
“Well, of course, darling. A really nice girl. But what does she have to do with this?”
“She’s Jacie Monroe now. Married, with a great husband that she obviously adores and a really cute kid. And a job she loves.”
Angela frowned. “That’s nice. But I still don’t understand. Wait. Did she call you? Say something to set you off on
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