Page 49 of The Emma Special

James pressed a button on the steering wheel to answer the call. “Hello.”

“Hey! Are you still at the office?” his mother asked.

“I’m not. Is everything okay?”

“Oh, of course, honey. I just know you need to stop spending so much time behind that desk. What are you doing?”

James glanced over at Emma. “I’m actually on my way to The Honky Fish with some friends.”

His mother gasped. “Friends! Do you mean Daniel, or are there other friends too?”

Great. His hands were slipping in sweat as he turned the wheel. “Um, Emma is coming.”

“Emma! That sweet girl from work? Oh, I just love her. She’s a doll.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Moore!”

His mother gasped. “Emma!” A pause and then his mother seemed to be speaking to someone else. Maybe his dad? “She’s in his car. Oh, how are you?”

“Any better and I’d be you,” Emma said. “What are you up to this evening?”

“I’m about to go meet the girls for Bunko. Do you play? Sometimes we need a sub, and you would love it.”

“I’ve never played, but I’ll try anything once.”

“Oh, good. I’m so happy James has a friend at work now. He needs a good woman in his life too, ya know.”

James’s grip tightened on the wheel. “Um, Mom, I need to go. Can I call you later?”

“Of course, honey. Have fun tonight. Remember who you are and whose you are.”

“I will. Love you.”

“Love you too. Bye, Emma!”

“Bye, Mrs. Moore.”

James pressed the button to end the call before his mom said anything else. He let out a quiet breath. “Sorry about that.”

“About what?”

“My mother. She’s very friendly.”

“She is, and that’s a good thing. I bet she doesn’t meet a stranger.”

“That she doesn’t. She still finds time to call me multiple times a week and remind me that I’m not getting any younger.”

“Hmm. My mom isn’t pushing me to get married, but she’s… pushing.”

A dozen questions flooded his brain all at once, but if she’d wanted to share more with him, she would have. “Maybe we should introduce our moms to each other. They might not meddle in our lives if they had other things to occupy them.”

Emma scoffed. “That sounds like a terrible idea. No offense, but my mom isn’t friendly like your mom.”

“It’s hard to imagine your parents aren’t as friendly as you are.”

She shrugged. “Must have gotten it from my dad.” Emma shifted in the passenger seat and winced, jerking slightly before freezing.

“Your leg is really hurt.”