Embracing Emma (Companion to Brisé) (34 page)

“And you said your focus was same-sex couples. You know that can get tricky, it’s not cut and dry.”

“I’m well aware of that, Mr. Ludz. I understand everyone isn’t accepting of the lifestyle, but I want to show them it’s just love. There’s no right or wrong.”

“Tell me how you would broach this topic to a client or adoptive mother not on board with same-sex couples? Sell me.”

“Love is a square peg being forced into a round hole. It doesn’t fit because it’s not the same for each person. Some love is convenient, some is passionate. Some lasts, some fizzles. The meaning of love is universal, but what it means to you is unique. Who makes the rules? Who sets the parameters? Isn’t love supposed to bridge gaps, expand over years, and have no boundaries? Only you can decide what love means to you, what you’ll sacrifice for it, what rewards you’ll reap from it. But if you want your child taken care of, loved, guided . . . there isn’t another couple that knows adversity and how to overcome it better than same-sex couples.”

He sits back and stares at me. “That’s quite powerful. Your voice conveyed your message, you believe in it, and that’s what we need here.”

“Thank you, Mr. Ludz. I will work hard, and it will be my honor to help families unite.”

“Go to HR and get your paperwork. I’d like you to start next week if that works.”

“Perfectly.”

“I’d like you to talk to some other staff members, teach them what you just taught me.”

“Let me know.”

That’s the thing with love.

It’s not black and white.

It’s not one-way or the other.

It’s bendable, not moldable.

It’s forgiving and forgetting.

It’s yours and should be cherished.

I’ve heard many people say, ‘If my significant other cheated, I’d leave.’ That’s easier said than done because if you’re not in that situation you don’t
know
what you’d do. Trust may be broken, but love isn’t. You can’t turn it off. Trust is a part of love, but you can love without trust. Trust is earned, but love is just given.

Chapter Forty-Two

William

Months of academic and physical exercises come to a close. Today I graduate from the police academy. My work is far from over; next is field training. In the academy, our training is in a controlled environment. We haven’t had the opportunity to get firsthand experience. The in-the-moment decisions, ethical issues, real-life scenarios were all staged, so we all need to learn in direct situations.

I don’t know where I want to hang my hat, what specialty I want to pursue, or if I want to be a beat officer. These months in the field will decide for me. Being in a small town, we don’t have a lot of crime, but we are outsourced to other divisions, departments and districts; it’s all hands on deck when needed.

Blake is sitting with my family, Luke and Phoebe included. Since their return from visiting Emma, they’ve been scarce. I didn’t ask where she was, but James said she took a job out of state, and they wanted her home. I can’t blame them; I want her home, too. I want to show her how hard I’ve worked, what I’ve accomplished, how far I’ve come.

I did all of this for me, but also for her. I was the man she was supposed to spend her life with, and I wanted to give her everything I could. Make her proud. Make her smile. Make her mine. I didn’t have to lose her to realize what I had; I’ve known that since we were kids.

“Congrats, brother.” Blake hugs me. “Miss you.”

He graduated a few months ago, and he took a job in Athens. He is only an hour from here, but neither of us made the trip. He sensed I needed to settle, and I knew he’d be there when I was ready. “Missed you. It’s time to end my exile.”

“Hell yes.” He fist bumps the air and Elise giggles. I see his eyes scan her, and I punch him in the arm.

“No.” One word. Simple. To the point. He’d be smart to heed that warning, I carry a gun.

“Easy man.” He’s still studying her, and I don’t like it. I don’t care if he’s my friend and a good guy. She’s my sister, and I’m making up for lost time. I took her to Six Flags last month; she’d never been to an amusement park. For being an adult, she’s still rather childlike.

After lunch, I head to the pub with Blake to catch up. “Hate to bring up a sore subject, but what’s happening with the case?”

I halt with the beer halfway to my mouth. “Shit. It went to shit. Prosecutor said the only witnesses weren’t credible. James because he’s my parent, though he was the victim. Emma was out of state, and the expense of bringing her home wasn’t one the state was willing to pay for. He got off with a misdemeanor, time served.”

“That’s shitty. I can’t fucking believe it. You run into him?”

“Nah, last time I beat his ass he decided to keep a low profile. I don’t have that liberty anymore, but I’m hoping he’s moved.”

“Seth?”

“Not since the first court date. He’s off the grid.”

“Good. Not the outcome, but the fact they aren’t causing trouble.”

“It was hard to accept, but we worked through it as a family.”

“Emma?”

“No clue.”

“You don’t ask?”

“I can’t. Two years, man. Two years she’s stayed away. That speaks volumes to me.”

“Yet you haven’t moved on?”

“How do you move on from her? The girl you were destined for, the girl you gave everything to?”

“You don’t.”

“I don’t. But it’s harder and harder to hold on to a ghost.”

“One way or another it’ll work out. You’ll meet someone, or she’ll remove her head from her ass and come home.”

“Or I’ll stay miserable without her, and she’ll live her life with someone else.”

“I can’t see that, but I didn’t see y’all ending. I don’t know shit.”

“I’m a member of that club.”

“It sucks.”

I clink my beer with his. “It does my friend. It sure as hell does.”

Seeing the streets riddled with drugs, kids hooked on shit they didn’t understand until it was too late, families torn apart, houses looted, hookers looking for their next fix…it’s disgusting. It’s disheartening. The dealers revolting. The addiction confounding. My specialization area decided—narcotics.

In a town this small and surrounding areas there is a shocking the amount of meth being sold. It’s like a war-torn country in some neighborhoods. Fathers sucked into the short term high. Kids looking for an escape. Women needing a stress relief. It becomes stronger; they become weaker. A cycle that will never be broken unless it’s stopped at the source, and I intend to do just that.

Pinning my badge on my dress pants, holstering my weapon, grabbing my vest; I look in the mirror . . . one hundred percent proud of the man I am. It took a while, hurdles, obstacles, barricades; it was obtainable with hard work. I’d do the labor every day if my outcome was the man staring back at me. William Jacobs, son, brother, police officer in the division of narcotics.

William Jacobs who still loves Emma Nichols.

I just dropped Elise at the airport, and I’m late getting to the bullpen. She went home to visit her mom and make some decisions. I’d offer to sponsor her if she wanted to stay longer, become a citizen. As close as we’ve become, I understand this isn’t her home. Miles won’t break what we built, and I’m okay with whatever decision she makes.

“Jacobs,” my sergeant calls.

“Sir.” I’m waiting for my reprimand.

“Office. Need some intel.” I turn and follow him in the office. “What do you know about these suspects?”

I stare at the shots pinned to the wall. My past collides with my present. Threatens my future because I’m salivating for this case. I’m willing to give my left nut to take these smug bastards down. “Brian and Seth Gary.”

“I know their names. I need to know about them.”

“Smug. Unpredictable. Volatile. Not very smart. They are all about instant gratification. Haven’t seen or heard from them in a year or longer. Racial. Bigots. Always together. Where one is the other is close.”

“Anything else? Weapons of choice?”

“Their mouths and fists. Metal pipe. When I knew them they didn’t carry. They’re dangerous. Have nothing to lose. Lost it all a couple years ago.”

“You help with that?”

“I was part of it.” I meet his intense stare.

“Good. We need you. You’re not lead, but you’re in this with us.”

“Yes, sir.” I nod and walk to my desk, processing my feelings. I didn’t think they’d ever reach this low; they’ve sunk and there is no resurfacing this time. I’ll drown them. They thought they knew what it was like to lose everything; they knew nothing. They’d never had Emma Nichols. That was losing everything.

Chapter Forty-Three

Emma

Tossing the glasses down, I sigh. Three fucking years pass, and I’m summoned home. She sent me an itinerary of all my scheduled visits. Engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, wedding.

I dial. “Hols, what the fuck? I can’t do all these trips.”

She laughs. “You said you’d be on the first flight. Get packing.”

“I’m not made of money. Do you have any idea what this is going to cost? Can’t you pick two, and I’ll be there.”

“Nope. I talked to Daddy Warbucks before sending it to you. He assured me he’d cover your travel.”

“Of course he did,” I sigh.

“He offered to pay for the wedding if I could fit more dates in.” I don’t doubt it. A year of excuses, a year of stalling . . . it comes to an end in six weeks. Fuck. Me.

“Okay, Hols. I’ll be there.”

“You better.” I hang up and rub my tired eyes. My contacts irritate me, so I’ve switched back to glasses. I haven’t worn them since I was ten. He loved them. I thought he was going to flush my contacts down the toilet when I made the switch.

I should have asked her if there was a chance I would see him. Of course there is, it’s a small fucking town. One I used to love. The one I dread returning to.

I email Mr. Ludz with my requests for time off. I’ll make weekend trips so I can minimize the use of my vacation days. Pulling up flights, I use my dad’s credit card. Don’t offer if you aren’t going to follow through. Sad thing, he’d pay a million times more just for me to come home.