She just kept looking down at the pavement. Feeling shame, guilt and a little bit of pity. Emma hadn't seen the inside of an arena since the fight with her father. The fight that left her feeling like she didn't know her own life anymore. The fight that changed her life and those around her.
"You know you won't get anywhere by just standing here." Came a voice from behind her. Emma had missed that voice. Rather the person to whom it belonged to.
"I know. How do I just go in there and act like nothing's changed. I'm not the same girl I was a year ago. Heck im not the same girl I was 4 months ago." Emma replied turning around and facing the man. She stared into those blue eyes that had always made her feel important.
"Well for starters you don't. You go in there and just be yourself. Show them that you're stronger than you were and you're not going to let him run your life anymore." John said as he was grabbing her duffle bag and the smaller bag beside it. "Emma you go in there and show them how much you've grown and how much you still love them."
"I would love for it to be that simple. John you know I can't look at him and not feel that pain in my chest. I lost so much because of him. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to forgive him." Emma said following the man into the building. She saw that nothing had really changed. People still running around like crazy. Things scattered everywhere as they prepared for the live broadcast that would happen soon. She felt strange not knowing many of the faces. After all being gone for a little over a year…a lot had changed. Not just the crew but talent and families as well.
"OH MY GODDDD!" Emma and John turned toward the direction of the primal screams coming from down the hallway. They had belonged to the one and only Natalie. The blonde woman rushed down toward the two but stopped short when she saw what Emma was holding so close.
"Is that what I think it is?" Nattie asked pointing toward the carrier. The carrier was occupied by Emma's 5 month old son…of which no one knew existed outside her very close circle. The only people in her life that knew were John, her friends Taylor and Chelsea along with friends Randy, Dwayne, Chris and a few more. Even her own family didn't know and that's the way she thought it should be. Until now. Now she was back and nervous about telling her family and friends. How mad would they be? Even the own father didn't know. How was she supposed to face all this, and face it all alone at that?
"Your parents never told" Nattie began to say when Emma had cut her off.
"Nattie no one knew. Not even my parents or grandparents. The only ones who knew were john and randy. Plus people that were persistent about finding me while I was away." They continued to talk as they walked toward the office of her parents. She didn't know if she was ready but she came all this way and wasn't going to turn around. Whether her parents liked it or not, whats done is done. Theres no turning back from this and Emma regrets nothing. Maybe with the exception of being heartbroken and feeling like her whole world was ripped from her in an instant. Yes that she could live without again.
Everyone stopped at the door. The moment had arrived. Emma stared at the door almost wishing she had been anywhere else. Does she knock? Does she just walk right in like she did in the past? These were all questions that she was asking herself all while making sure the baby was okay.
"I can stay if you want little darlin" John said as he set her bags down outside the door.
"No thanks though. I have to do this on my own. Plus I don't want you to endure any more wrath than you need to at this point." Emma replied as she waved John good bye.
Emma raised her hand and just when she was about the knock the door opened.