Emmy & Oliver - Robin Benway Page 0,100
he said, chucking my chin with his thumb. “No sad. Just happy.”
“Weren’t you telling me last week how important it is to acknowledge your emotions?” I teased him.
“Well, that’s for me.” He grinned, his smile warmer and wider than ever. “You’re different. Get your own therapist.”
He had been seeing someone three times a week, a man named Dr. Hilbert, who listened and seemed to say things that Oliver needed to hear. Oliver didn’t tell me very much about those sessions, but he didn’t have to. I knew they were working. He was happier, calmer, and his relationship with Maureen was a lot better. They even had a standing coffee date every week where they talked about Oliver and his time spent with his dad.
As for his dad, there wasn’t a trial. He pled guilty to all the charges and was sentenced to fifteen years in California state prison. Oliver hadn’t seen him yet, but they wrote letters back and forth. “It’s so weird,” Oliver had laughed one night as he was looking for a stamp. “All this technology and I have to use a pen and paper to talk to my dad.”
And now that things were better, it was my turn to go.
“I’ll Skype you tonight,” I told him. “After I get unpacked and everything.”
“Great,” he said. “The twins will probably want to say hi.”
“I miss them already.”
“Do you want to take them?” Oliver took a step back toward his house. “Because there’s probably room on the roof next to the surfboard if—”
“Stop!” I laughed. “No, the twins like you better now, anyway.” And it was true. They were crazy about their older brother. (I still hadn’t heard the Angelina Ballerina voice, though. Oliver absolutely refused to do it for me.)
“Yeah, they’re not so terrible,” he said. “Not if you bribe them.”
“I’m really going to miss you,” I said to him. “Who’s going to turn their light on and off?”
“I will,” he murmured, brushing my hair off my face. “You just won’t see it.”
“But what if—?” I started to say, but he leaned down and silenced me with a kiss.
“Emmy,” he whispered. “It’s your turn to leave and it’s my turn to stay. So leave already.”
“I love you,” I whispered. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.” He kissed me again, deeper and longer than the one before, and I didn’t care that my parents were probably watching in the rearview mirror. “And it’s just two hours away, like you keep saying.”
“We found each other once,” I said. “Shouldn’t be too hard to do again.”
He smiled against my mouth, then kissed me again. “Not goodbye. Just see you later.”
I nodded, trying not to cry. “Okay?” he said again.
“Okay,” I said, clearing my throat, then looking up at him. “See you later.”
We shared one last kiss before I climbed into the car. He stood at the end of our driveway and waved goodbye, and I waved back, trying not to cry.
“You okay?” my mom asked gently from the front seat.
“Yes,” I said, because I was. I was okay and so was Oliver. We were going to be fine.
I looked out the back window as we drove away. Oliver stood in the driveway, waving goodbye, and I waved back.
I watched as we drove farther away, as Oliver got smaller and smaller on the horizon.
I watched until he was gone.
THE WAVE
The first time Emmy and Oliver see each other is when they are one day old. People will tell you that babies cannot see very far at that age, maybe just a few inches in front of their faces, but no one ever tells the babies that. And in any case, no one ever told Emmy and Oliver.
Oliver is a whole pound heavier than Emmy, but she’s a few hours older, which makes them pretty much even. Emmy’s also bald and has to wear a little hat, the sort of hat that would look ridiculous on anyone more than two days old. She wonders if anyone else has to wear a hat in the hospital nursery, so she turns her head to the left just as Oliver turns his head to the right.
They look at each other for a minute. Their dads are standing in the window, taking pictures and wearing goofy smiles and congratulating each other. Oliver sort of waves his hand, and Emmy tries to wave back but she’s all swaddled up and can’t move, so she blinks instead. She notes that Oliver isn’t wearing a hat. How nice for him.
She really wants to wave, but before she can figure out how exactly to do that, a nurse comes over and starts to wheel Oliver’s bassinet away. Emmy’s seen a few other babies leave the hospital, so she understands what’s happening. It still makes her sad, though. She’ll miss her new friend.
But it’s time for Oliver to go home.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
All my love and thanks to my family, especially my mom and brother. They are some of the best people I know, and I consider it my good fortune to be related to them. Thanks for always saying nice things to me, especially when I’m on deadline.
I’ve been with my agent, Lisa Grubka, for over eight years now, and I can’t begin to describe how grateful I continue to be for her unwavering guidance and honesty throughout my career. Thank you for always having my back and reading my first drafts. Thanks also to the wonderful team at Fletcher & Co., including Sylvie Greenberg, Jennifer Herrera, Melissa Chinchillo, and Rachel Crawford; and to Stephen Moore at Paul Kohner.
Thank you to the amazing team at HarperTeen, including my editor, Kristen Pettit, who bought my very first book in 2007 and has continued to be a wonderful friend ever since then. I’m so grateful we got the band back together! Her assistant, Elizabeth Lynch, is not only excellent at her job, but also sends me funny emails and lets me talk to her about my favorite Taylor Swift songs. Thanks, Elizabeth!
My gratitude also to Jen Klonsky; Kathryn Silsand; David Klimowicz; Sarah Kaufman, Alison Klapthor, and Matthew Allen; Christina Colangelo, Elizabeth Ward, and Kara Brammer; Gina Rizzo; Susan Jeffers Casel; and Liz Byer. Thank you so much for all the hard work you’ve put into my book. It means the world to me.
To the wonderful community of YA authors, who are hilarious and giving and brilliant, I’m so grateful and proud to be one of you. Extra special thanks to Amy Spalding, Aaron Hartzler, Morgan Matson, Jordanna Fraiberg, and Stephanie Perkins, all of whom read Emmy & Oliver in its various drafts and offered up their support and critiques. Coffee’s on me next time, my friends.
Thank you, as always, to the librarians, teachers, parents, readers, and bloggers who have made my career such a joy. I would not have this job if it wasn’t for you, and I promise to try and continue to be the author that you deserve.
An extra special thank-you to Jenna Sabin and Meg Roh, both of whom took the time to talk with me about what it’s like to be a teenage girl who surfs. I hope Emmy makes you proud!
My dog, Hudson, continues to be an absolute delight, and has taught me the most important part of the writing process: treats.
At its heart, I wanted Emmy & Oliver to be about friendship, and I am full of gratitude toward my friends, all of whom make my life so fun and funny and wonderful, including Johanna Clark, Adriana Fusaro, and Maret Orliss. Thank you for all of your love, support, and generosity.
It takes a village to write a book. I am so grateful for mine.