Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 188

It seemed like even thinking the name “Cecilia” was tempting fate.

Emma had barely let the thought cross her mind when her phone lit up with a call from “Baby Cici.”

“Theo—”

Emma heard the sugary, drawn-out greeting before Theodore slipped on his headset to take the call.

“Hey, Cici.” Theodore had a gentle way of speaking when he was in a good mood—and with Cecilia, his voice was so soft it could melt butter.

Whatever Cecilia said on the other end, Theodore immediately replied, “Alright, I’ll come pick you up. Just wait there… Mm-hmm, okay… Do you want me to bring you a coffee? Sure thing.”

Emma knew what was coming next. As soon as he hung up, Theodore would turn to her and say: You’ll have to get a ride home yourself. Something’s come up.

So, saving everyone the trouble, Emma quietly opened the car door and stepped outside.

“Emma.” Theodore got out after her and hurried around the car, blocking her path.

Now what?

Emma looked at him with eyes full of weary resignation.

“Cici’s going to visit a retirement home—she bought a bunch of supplies, but she doesn’t have a car to carry everything. I’m just going to give her a lift and keep her company while she visits the folks there.”

Emma nodded. “That’s nice. Really.”

“You know, Cici used to volunteer at the hospital, helping elderly people who didn’t have anyone to look after them. She’s always been so kind.”

Emma resisted the urge to roll her eyes and nodded again, a little too enthusiastically. “Mm-hmm. Very nice.”

“Emma…” His expression was earnest. “Charity work is a good thing, you know. Cici has a big heart. It’s admirable.”

“I never said it wasn’t,” she replied with a smile. “Didn’t I just say it’s nice?”

He hesitated, searching her face. “You mean it? I thought you were being sarcastic.”

“Of course I mean it.” Her smile broadened. “Look at me—doesn’t this look like a sincere smile?”

Theodore watched her for a moment, then nodded, satisfied. “Let me drive you a little farther, and you can grab a cab from there.”

Emma glanced toward the office building, where her father and Jonathan were slouching their way outside, faces thunderous. She nodded. Anything to avoid listening to those two rant and rave.

Sure enough, the moment Emma got back in the car, her father started yelling.

Someone—she wasn’t sure who—must have taken a swing, because her dad let out a howl of pain.

“No need,” she said, shaking her head.

“You sure?” His tone was casual, like he was offering to spot someone a few bucks for lunch. “If you don’t, things might get ugly.”

“He’s an adult—has been for decades. He was like this twenty years ago and hasn’t changed since. He can deal with the consequences of his own choices.”

“Alright.”

“I’ll get out here. I’ll call a cab home—you can drop me off.”

“Or…” He hesitated. “Why don’t you come with Cici and me to the retirement home?”

Emma smiled and shook her head. “No, thanks. My foot’s acting up—I’d just slow down your charity work.”

As for Cecilia’s volunteer work, Emma thought, one day Theodore would find out the truth. She almost looked forward to seeing his reaction when he did.

But not today.

If he found out now and tried to stop her from leaving, that would be a problem.

She needed everything to stay predictable—for just three more days.