Chapter 2

Emerson.

After pulling away from the light they drove through around five more blocks until Em noticed her mom veering left and taking a road that drove into more of a rural area. The lake was still to their left and Emerson found herself wishing wherever the house was that they could see the mountains and the water from there. The moon now shining in the sky made a beautiful reflection in the water. They continued down the road which became winding and more secluded as the trees began to get thicker on each side of the road.

“Shit mom how much further?!” Sawyer was getting tired of riding in the car apparently.

“No cussing!” Her mom yelled back but Emerson felt the beginnings of a smile at her brothers funny language.

“And not far”

Five minutes later they turned left again. Emerson was sure they were just driving around the lake and wondered if they couldn’t have bipassed the town altogether and come in from the other way.

But then you wouldn’t have seen the boy. A voice said in her head. A beautiful sad boy. She wanted so much to reach out and take all his pain away. Remembering the look in his eye made Emerson feel sad but remembering how he looked made her feel another emotion all together. Feeling her face redden she tried to put that thought away for another time. Even though no one would know what she was thinking. Inside the car with her mom and little brother was not the time for sexual thoughts.

After a minute houses started coming into view. Nice big houses with Long driveways and pine trees sprinkling the yards with street lights going up and down driveways were on each side of the road. As much as she didn’t want it to, excitement bubbled in Emerson’s stomach. She had never moved before. She had grown up in her other house. And as much as she hated leaving it, all her friends, her dance and gymnastics, she knew they couldn’t have stayed there any longer. They went around a big curve and finally carol slowed down and turned on her blinker. To the left Em noticed…..She had a small string of hope that she might get to have a view of the lake and the mountains after all. Since that’s the side of the road the lake was on. A driveway came into view. It went up a small hill but she could barely see the house for all the trees. A big two story brick and brown wood house came into view then. The street lights she had seen before were up and down the drive and all around the house. There were bushes and smaller trees around the outside and a large garage attached with the doors drawn down. A small brick and wood porch led up to the front door which was glass and a light shining through it. She noticed other balconies and porches along the second floor.

Well color her impressed. She loved it. It was beautiful!

“Well. What do you guys think?” Her mom had turned off the car and was waiting expectantly.

Emerson turned and gave her mom an actual happy smile. The first one she had had in about six months since her dad died.

Sawyer was bouncing in the back seat dying to go in.

Emerson noticed her mom had tears in her eyes.

“It’s ok mom.” She said.

Carol let out a half laugh grabbing her hand.

“I just haven’t seen you smile in forever em”

That made Emerson feel horrible. She should be taking care of her mom. She may have lost her dad but carol lost her husband. She’s sad too. And now has to raise two kids on her own all while starting a new job in a new town. And she somehow found time and a way to buy them the perfect house.

“ I love you mom. We’re gonna be okay”

“Hell yeah we are!” Saw yelled again wanting to get loose from his seatbelt more than he wanted to eat cheeseburgers for breakfast.

“Sawyer! Language!” Carol said. Looking at Em with a smile.

Emerson let out a small laugh before saying

“Let’s do this shit!”

Then they all clamored out of the car to go see their new home.