Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 59

Who could have guessed, all that preparation had been completely unnecessary…

She smiled faintly. “I went out of my way for you, you know. Tell me, am I doing a good job as Mrs. Whitman or not?”

“You” Theodore snatched up the box, tossed it forcefully into the trash, and snapped, “It’s pointless. I don’t need this kind of thing. Even if we had a child, I could provide for them just fine. Besides, I don’t have kids right now, do I?”

He slammed the suitcase shut, locked it, and carried it off himself.

Emma stood there for a moment, stunned. Then she shook her head, pushing every

trace of hurt and frustration from her mind. She had her own matters to take care of.

Yesterday’s Certificate of Eligibility application was still unfinished–she had a few more documents to prepare.

After breakfast, she headed out to the bank to get a proof of funds, then came straight back and holed up in her room, working through the paperwork. By the time afternoon rolled around,,she still wasn’t done, but she was out of time–she had to

get to the airport.

So she packed everything up, planning to finish the forms on the way.

When Fallon saw her rolling her suitcase through the foyer, she stared in surprise. No wonder–Emma, who usually avoided going out at all, was suddenly hauling her own luggage?

“I’m heading back to campus for the university’s anniversary celebration. I’ll be gone two days, that’s all. Please don’t mention it to Mr. Whitman–I don’t want him to worry,” Emma said quietly.

“Oh… sure,” Fallon agreed, still a little bewildered.

Emma headed downstairs, called a cab, and went straight to the airport.

She arrived in Capital City late that night. After sending Ms. Brown a quick message to say she’d arrived, she caught a taxi to her hotel.

There was no time to rest. As soon as she got to her room, she opened her laptop and kept working on the application forms, typing away until three in the morning. Only when she finally finished and emailed the documents back to the university did she allow herself to set an alarm and lie down for a few hours.

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Chapter 59

She barely slept, but surprisingly, she woke the next morning feeling refreshed, not

tired at all.

The northern weather was glorious–none of the endless spring rain she’d left behind

in the south.

As the car sped through the city, Emma gazed out at streets she hadn’t seen in five years. The familiar scenery struck her with a bittersweet wave of nostalgia and longing. Every flower, every shop sign, every overpass made her heart leap–This is it! Oh, it’s changed! Oh, but that part’s exactly the same!

This city wasn’t her hometown, but it had carried all her brightest youth and dreams.

She almost burst into tears as she stepped out of the car and headed to the visa

office.

Everyone was already waiting when she arrived. Ms. Brown spotted her first and waved her over.

Emma smiled and made her way across the lobby, though inside she was more

nervous than she let on.

There were familiar faces in the line for fingerprinting, and plenty she didn’t know–new students, all of them stars in the world of dance. Standing among them, Emma–her limp more pronounced than ever–felt painfully out of place.

“Emma!” a girl called out, her voice bright with recognition.

Emma looked up. She didn’t know the girl.

“Emma!” Several more students crowded around, beaming with excitement. “We studied your choreography in class! We can’t believe we’re meeting the real you!”

Surrounded by their cheerful faces, Emma’s tense heart finally began to relax.

And then her phone rang–breaking the moment.

“Sorry, let me check this,” she said, pulling out her phone.

Caller ID: Theodore.