My notifications were more chaotic than usual and it took me a minute of blinking at the screen to figure out why everyone needed to talk to me right away.
“Fuck,” I groaned.
The elevator pic.
I wanted to punch myself in the face for throwing Emme to the internet wolves but it seemed I was alone with that sentiment. Jakobi was pleased with the response and Stella wastoo, though her team had worked through the night getting rid of the more unhinged comments. My family, of course, had the most unhinged comments.
Claudia had been the first in the family group chat, sharing a screenshot of my social post sometime around five this morning. For reasons I didn’t care to understand, they’d all been awake then and immediately chimed in with responses and hadn’t let up in the hours since.
Claudia: Explain yourself, brother.
Mom: Is that Emme Ahlborg??
Amber: Holy shit, it is Emme
Mom: I hope this is real!
Chloe: Well, I just screamed my husband awake
Mom: Did you make this up, Claudia? Is this AI?
Claudia: This is your son’s page, Mom. Go look for yourself.
Gramma CeCe: It’s about damn time!
Ruthie: Which event was this?
Mom: Please tell me this isn’t a joke!
Amber: I knew it!
Claudia: You must breathe, Mother. If you can’t handle that, you’ll never survive what I have for you next.
My youngest sister then postedtwenty-seven photosof me and Emme scrounged from the charity ball’s posts and the socials of anyone we took pics with. She grabbed the Boston newspaper’s photos with all the guys from the team too.
Chloe: Is it really happening? Is this it?
Gramma CeCe: It’s been 84 years…
Amber: omg lol
Claudia: The timing is impeccable as always, Gram
Mom: I’m just so happy
Mom: FINALLY!!
Gramma CeCe: It was only a matter of time
Ruthie: I have some questions
Claudia: DAMMIT RUTH. Can’t you let people be happy for a minute?
Ruthie: I can and choose not to
Mom: Put your questions away, Ruthie. This might be my only chance at grandchildren!
Chloe: You have 2 grandchildren. My kids. Remember them?
