Page 107 of The Emma Special

“Hey, your mom’s calling.” Katie stared at Emma’s phone on the end table.

“Okay, sorry. I’ll make this quick. You can go ahead and start the movie.”

“We’ll wait.” Summer settled the plate of cookies on her lap.

“Hey! Share those,” Allison said, leaning halfway from her recliner to snatch a cookie.

Don’t think about it, just answer. “Hi, Mom.”

“Glad you decided to answer. I never know when you’re going to ignore me or not. I just got in from the heat. Carl says he’s leaving.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Mom.”

“Don’t be. We both know you never cared for him.” Then she let out a string of expletives to describe what she thought of her current husband.

Emma stood to leave the room, knowing her mother would need the next two hours to fuss at Emma and make herself feel better. She turned the phone from her mouth and whispered to Katie. “I need to take this in the other room.”

“No, you don’t!” Allison stood up.

Emma stopped in the middle of the room, her friends gesturing for her to hang up, while her mom began griping into her ear. Emma mouthed an apology to the girls and took a step toward her bedroom.

“And if he had put forth one inch of effort!” Janey screamed. “It’s like I have to do everything myself around here. No one in my life is worth two cents!”

Emma’s shoulders sank. Her mom was hurting, but apparently misery loved company. She eased onto the edge of her bed as the shouting continued. She might as well settle in for the long haul.

Summer stomped into the room, grabbed the phone from Emma’s hand, and tossed it onto the bed.

“Hey. What⁠—”

“You don’t have to listen to that,” Summer said as she grabbed Emma’s hand and tugged her toward the door.

“She’s still on the phone.”

“Ask me how much I care. I’m not letting her be mean to you, and I’m saving you from a self-esteem crash. You can thank me later.”

Summer tugged her back into the living room where the girls waited in the same places she’d left them. Everyone sat in a tense silence.

“What’s going on?” Emma asked.

“We’re tired of the way Janey treats you,” Katie said. “You’re not disrespecting her if you set some boundaries and refuse to let her degrade you.”

“I… I know, but…”

“But what? We’re helping you stand up for yourself. This is what friends are for.” Summer reached out and took Emma’s hand in hers. “I love you, and I won’t sit by while she hurts you.”

Oh no. The waterworks were creeping up behind her eyes. “She’s not hurting me.”

“Yes, she is,” Katie countered. “Just because she never hit you doesn’t mean she hasn’t hurt you. We’ve watched you shrink under the weight of her words for so long, and it breaks my heart. You are an amazing person, but I feel like you don’t truly believe that because of all the lies she’s told you.”

Emma covered her mouth with her hand. She hated crying, but Katie was right. They were all right. Her mother’s words bruised her on the inside, and it was tough to show people the scars when they were invisible.

She lowered her hand and looked up at Summer who still held her other hand. “I don’t know what to do about her,” she whispered.

“Does James know about this?” Allison asked.

“No. I don’t want him to know anything about her if I can help it. His mom is so good, and I⁠—”

“You don’t think he would understand?” Summer asked. “Girl, he has to deal with those two brothers who could scare off a mask-wearing ax murderer. He would understand, and I guarantee he would have your back.”