CHAPTER 6
Emma was the first of the two to wake. It was early, barely light, but she couldn't stay in bed any longer. Moving carefully so as not to wake Jake, she tip-toed to the sink, washed her face and hands then went through her suitcase, looking for a clean shirt. She dressed silently and went downstairs, treading lightly as the house was still quiet, then unlocked the door and headed for the beach, whistling, but not entirely sure why. She wasn't feeling particularly cheerful; in fact she was still raging from the night before, but the crashing of the white water on the rocks below her somehow soothed her slightly and gave her a chance to reflect.
She was in a right mess now. Her outburst last night had made Melanie cry. Jake hated her and thought she hated him back. She didn't hate him, well, she didn't think she hated him. Maybe she was angry but given the circumstances surely she was allowed to be mad? And it wasn't just Jake she should be angry with. Melanie, her own Momma had betrayed her. Emma too had a lot to feel guilty about; her coldness towards her father over the past few years, what she had hollered at both her parents in a temper, slapping Jake - all the hatred that had built up inside her had erupted like a furious volcano last night and she'd hurt people. Like really hurt people.
"Emma? Is that you?" She turned round, blinking back tears, and looked up into the smiling face of Bobby Ray. She grinned and he sat beside her. "We heard you were back in town. Dammit girl, you've grown up fast. We've all missed you." Realising she had been crying, he put up a hand to her face and gently stroked her cheek. "What's happening kid?" he continued.
It was easier to come back to Bobby Ray than it was seeing Jake again. Bobby Ray and her had been close; he was like an uncle to her and she'd regretted leaving him behind when she'd gone to New York. He was a childhood friend of both her momma and her daddy; they went way back together and Bobby Ray had always been around with a smile when they'd needed him.
"I had a fight with Jake." Bobby Ray smiled. Of course she had- Jake was stubborn and hot headed and Emma had inherited his temper.
"He's your daddy girl. He loves you, he wants to protect you. What happened?"
Trying not to cry again, she told him. His face remained calm and friendly, and although the smile had faded a little, Emma knew he wasn't angry at her. They sat on the rocks, occasionally getting showered with salty spray, and talking for ages, until Emma realised that her folks would be awake and wondering where she was. She said goodbye to Bobby Ray and he hugged her as she got up to go. He was a good friend to have and she was lucky to have him; he would listen and he wouldn't judge her when she lost her temper. He didn't always take her side; this time he had taken Jake's; but still he would always listen to her story and stick around for her.
Quickly she ran along the beach and across the grass, hoping they had not missed her much and both had calmed down a bit. She took a deep breath before she went inside, resolving to keep her temper and sort out the mess she had made. It wouldn't be easy, but she had to do it.
Emma was the first of the two to wake. It was early, barely light, but she couldn't stay in bed any longer. Moving carefully so as not to wake Jake, she tip-toed to the sink, washed her face and hands then went through her suitcase, looking for a clean shirt. She dressed silently and went downstairs, treading lightly as the house was still quiet, then unlocked the door and headed for the beach, whistling, but not entirely sure why. She wasn't feeling particularly cheerful; in fact she was still raging from the night before, but the crashing of the white water on the rocks below her somehow soothed her slightly and gave her a chance to reflect.
She was in a right mess now. Her outburst last night had made Melanie cry. Jake hated her and thought she hated him back. She didn't hate him, well, she didn't think she hated him. Maybe she was angry but given the circumstances surely she was allowed to be mad? And it wasn't just Jake she should be angry with. Melanie, her own Momma had betrayed her. Emma too had a lot to feel guilty about; her coldness towards her father over the past few years, what she had hollered at both her parents in a temper, slapping Jake - all the hatred that had built up inside her had erupted like a furious volcano last night and she'd hurt people. Like really hurt people.
"Emma? Is that you?" She turned round, blinking back tears, and looked up into the smiling face of Bobby Ray. She grinned and he sat beside her. "We heard you were back in town. Dammit girl, you've grown up fast. We've all missed you." Realising she had been crying, he put up a hand to her face and gently stroked her cheek. "What's happening kid?" he continued.
It was easier to come back to Bobby Ray than it was seeing Jake again. Bobby Ray and her had been close; he was like an uncle to her and she'd regretted leaving him behind when she'd gone to New York. He was a childhood friend of both her momma and her daddy; they went way back together and Bobby Ray had always been around with a smile when they'd needed him.
"I had a fight with Jake." Bobby Ray smiled. Of course she had- Jake was stubborn and hot headed and Emma had inherited his temper.
"He's your daddy girl. He loves you, he wants to protect you. What happened?"
Trying not to cry again, she told him. His face remained calm and friendly, and although the smile had faded a little, Emma knew he wasn't angry at her. They sat on the rocks, occasionally getting showered with salty spray, and talking for ages, until Emma realised that her folks would be awake and wondering where she was. She said goodbye to Bobby Ray and he hugged her as she got up to go. He was a good friend to have and she was lucky to have him; he would listen and he wouldn't judge her when she lost her temper. He didn't always take her side; this time he had taken Jake's; but still he would always listen to her story and stick around for her.
Quickly she ran along the beach and across the grass, hoping they had not missed her much and both had calmed down a bit. She took a deep breath before she went inside, resolving to keep her temper and sort out the mess she had made. It wouldn't be easy, but she had to do it.