Deleted Scene #2: Dinner with Emma

In the first draft of the demo I dove deeper into what occurred that day/night. All the little details that ended up leading MC to finding out about Jade and Chris. I think one of my favorite parts was introducing Em and her special relationship with MC.

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The next several hours are spent catching up on paperwork and then getting yourself ready to visit Aunt Emma.

You bid Chris and Jade goodbye, ensuring you pat $d_name on the head and provide ample ear scratches.

It takes all of thirty minutes to meet Aunt Emma, Em for short, at the restaurant. As soon as she lays her eyes on you she hugs you, so tightly you feel like your bones might just break if she doesn’t let up. You reminisce about the previous year’s dinner, ensuring that your aunt doesn’t accidentally get served fish again.

You speak about your parents and Jade, of Chris and your upcoming wedding, of the hope your well-deserved promotion is upcoming.  She gushes about your apartment, and how everything seems to be lining up in your life.

“It’s about time you outshined that bitch-"

"Emma! Jade is still your niece."

"Sweet, delicate, innocent sister you have.” Her voice mockingly sweet as she quirks a brow as you fight the sudden smile on your face. Jade is many things, but none of the words Em just used apply.

 "Is that better?" She asks, patting your hand lovingly as she swipes a breadstick off your plate.

"Much."

Whether you like to admit it or not, Emma had a point. You had always been outshined by Jade, it was just something that happened over time. Your parents doted on her constantly, and anything you did never seemed to measure up. Until now, when you're finally beginning to outshine her.

You have a gorgeous apartment, while Jade still lives with your parents. A well-paying job while Jade’s living is supplemented from her catch of the week. A fiancé who loves you dearly, while Jade hasn’t had a sustainable relationship in years. Not to mention $d_name who acts as if you hung the moon, and a best friend who has been your rock since you were a kid.

“We have that in common.” Em swats your hand away when you reach for another potato.

You wince at the sting, though in all honestly you were being dramatic, she barely touched you. Rubbing the back of your hand, you give her a questioning glance, “What?”

Emma smirks and if you had to be honest, it's the same as your mother's, though you don't dare tell her that. “We both have bitches for sisters.”

A laugh bursts from you abruptly as your aunt’s words catch you off guard. It fills the room, echoing with a mixture of amusement and surprise. The other patrons turn to stare at you, as Emma shushes you.

Leaning back in your chair you take her in, her eyes crinkled as small crowfeet lined her deep brown eyes. Laugh lines add a softness to her round face, her almond-shaped eyes like your mother’s, and her hair the color of your grandfather’s, a ruddy brown.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell her you said that,” you say, taking a breadstick and setting it on your aunt’s plate.

She scoffs, “No please do! Save me the trouble of doing it.”

Shaking your head at her, you pick up your phone noticing the time, 11:47 p.m. With a heavy sigh, you feel her gaze on you. “What?”

Emma grabs the breadstick and sticks it into her handbag.

 So, that's where Cam picked that habit up.

Emma clasped her hands together and leaned towards you. “Are you happy?”

Her question causes you to pause, why would she ask that?

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“No reason, I just want to make sure. I guess we should be headed home then before they usher us out.”

Looking around the restaurant, you see only a handful of patrons left. Many are already calling for their checks to be paid.

“I guess so. Want me to walk you to the L?” You knew your aunt hated taking the train this late at night, but it would be safer for her to take the train home than walking back.

Emma shakes her head, “No need, but you can pay for the meal. And walk me out.”

That was something you always enjoyed about your aunt. She didn’t care to say what she was thinking, even if it was as simple as saying she didn’t want to pay for dinner.

You hail the waiter, pay for your meal, get a doggy bag of leftovers to take home, and then walk arm-in-arm with your aunt outside. As you wait for the walk indicator to tell you that you can safely cross the road, she turns to you, grinning ear to ear. “You know, I slept with a Clarke once.”

Before you can stop yourself, because surely you shouldn’t be that curious about your aunt’s love life, you feel the words coming out of your mouth, “As in their first name was Clarke? Or do you mean to tell me you slept with one of my soon-to-be in-laws?”

She pulls you tighter to her side, “Ask me again when I’m drunk.”

"So, tomorrow?"

Em gasps, inching closer to pinch your cheeks. "Why do I keep you around, huh?"

"Because, you love me?"

"Damn right."