A/N: I just realized that it's been ages since I've even updated this story. I can't believe how long it's been but I'm working on my stories again and I should get to updating again with a little more regularity. I hope. My muse has finally decided to come for a visit so I'm hoping that she'll stay this time and let me finish more of these stories. They've been so much fun to write and I hope they've been fun to read. Thank you all for sticking with me. Or for finding me for the first time! I appreciate all the support I've gotten from people around here!
Hey, this is Sam. Leave a message and I'll get back to you.
She smiled when she heard Sam's voice. It made Emerson feel calm and centered and right now she needed that feeling. Even still she wasn't sure she even knew what to say. Like a little schoolgirl, she quickly hung up the phone only to redial. Emerson wanted to hear his voice again but mostly she needed a moment to prepare herself so she could actually leave Sam a message this time. This time she took a deep breath as the outgoing message on his voice mail played, trying to make sure that she felt steady enough to leave him a message. Emerson smiled as she heard that outgoing message again but this time she cleared her throat before the beep, preparing herself to say something.
"Hey, Sam. It's just me. I didn't want you to worry about me. I promised to call after all so this is me giving you a call," Emerson said with a soft laugh. Her voice was soft and sweet. As she spoke, she found herself imagining that Sam was there with her. Her eyes were closed and in her mind she softly touched his cheek, let her thumb brush across Sam's lips. It was a distracting image and she shook it off after a moment although she loved the image when it had come into her head.
"My mother and I are going to take care of this thing today. We're pretty sure we know what it is and how to take care of it so we're going to finish this," Emerson continued with a soft smile, slowly opening her eyes. Somehow in saying all this out loud, she felt a little more confident. "I'll call you when it's over. I want to see you again, Sam. When it's over, I definitely want to see you again." She knew she was rambling but she was starting to feel anxious and excited and she needed to tell Sam that she wanted to, needed to, see him again once this was all over.
She sighed softly and glanced down the street, seeing a car headed up the block. She was standing on the sidewalk in front of her house, waiting for her ride. Emerson knew that car pulling up was her mother coming to pick her up. She hiked the bag she had up on her shoulder before turning her attention back to the phone. Emerson had more to say before she hung up, before the message got too long and she got cut off so she was trying to get it all out before that happened. She wasn't sure she'd be able to call Sam back. She would probably just wind up hanging up before leaving a message if she tried calling again actually.
"So don't worry about me, okay? I'll be fine. I'll talk to you soon, Sam." Emerson waited a heartbeat, stopping herself from saying at least a few things that she really wanted to say right now. Things that were better left unsaid for the moment. They felt like things that would be better said face to face. "Take care and I'll see you soon. And I'll call. I promise, Sam."
Emerson hung up just as Grace pulled up, slipping her phone into her back pocket before her mother could see it and ask questions. She tossed her bag into the opened window once her mother had pulled over. It landed on the back seat but Emerson didn't saying a word. She flashed her mother a little smile as she opened the passenger side door, climbing in. She felt upbeat and ready to take this thing on. "Are you ready?" Emerson asked, looking at her mother out of the corner of her eye.
Grace nodded, looking straight ahead. There was a clear look of determination on her face right now, pure focus. "Yes, are you?"
Emerson sighed, the sound hidden by the sound of the car door closing. She wished she felt as confident as her mother. That seemed like one of so many things that she and her mother didn't have in common. Her mother had a strength and determination that she wished she had too. As 'ready' as she felt, it didn't mean that Emerson felt like they could really handle this, not just the two of them, but she was sure that this was it. This was going to be the 'final showdown' so to speak and she felt ready for that at least. Emerson felt as prepared as she'd probably ever be and mostly she just wanted to finish it. It felt like it was time that this got taken care of once and for all.
Emerson finally nodded, although there was a look of worry in her eyes for a moment. She didn't know why she felt worried but a part of her certainly felt it. It was like something was eating at her a bit, some bit of information that she hadn't figured in to all of this. It seemed important or at least it was enough to scare her a bit. Emerson chose to look straight ahead so her mother wouldn't see it though. She pushed all that back and squared her shoulders, straightening her back and putting on her 'brave face'. "Yeah. I'm ready."