The Reunion: Emma's Vacation (The Starting Over Series) by Angelina Rose Page A

because he was too busy with his new twenty-two year old girlfriend. And, she didn ’ t want to tell them that she was thinking of leaving the nursing field altogether.
     
    She imagined that they all had perfect marriages with perfect husbands and perfect kids. White picket fences danced in her head as she thought about what they probably had at this stage of life, and how she no longer had it.
     
    She didn ’ t want to think about how her ex-husband had a grandiose house and a perfectly tanned and toned girlfriend to share his bed with now. Here she was struggling to keep up with Samuel ’ s activities and her job. There was no time or inclination to date again.
     
    Facing her fears of looking like a fool, Emma kissed Samuel goodbye and headed downstairs. Her cab was waiting, and it was time to face the music.
     
     

Chapter 2
     
    The reunion was being held at a ritzy hotel in Atlanta; she had remained in Atlanta after college. The other women had remained for awhile too, but she had lost contact with them so she really didn ’ t know where they ended up.
     
    When Ashley made contact on Facebook a few months back, Emma was glad to hear from her. She kept her personal life at arm ’ s length and just played along like things were fine. Emma was busy as a neonatal nurse at the children ’ s hospital anyway, and she worked long hours. This allowed her to push people away from her because she was tired and overworked.
     
    As she walked into the hotel lobby, she started to recognize some faces. There was Abby Davenhoe, the prettiest girl in their class, with her thick, long blond hair and tiny little waist. She hadn ’ t changed at all, and Emma wondered if she had been having Botox or plastic surgery.
     
    Then there was Debra Oliver, a funny African American woman who was a lot older than they were when she started nursing school. She was standing in the middle of a group of her classmates, and they were cackling about one of her funny stories. Some things never changed.
     
    Emma made her way into the ballroom, which was dimly lit. She could see round tables everywhere with thick white tablecloths and beautiful flowers. Some of her professors were standing around talking, and she waved at a few of them.
     
    “ Emma! ” She heard a familiar voice. It was Claire. As she turned around, Claire hugged her tight.
     
    “ Hi, Claire. It is so nice to see you! ” Emma said with a smile. “ Are Ashley and Shelby here yet? ”
     
    “ I haven ’ t seen them yet, but I know they are coming. I ’ ve grabbed a table for us over here …” Claire said as she tugged on Emma ’ s arm and led her to the back corner of the room. “ I figured it would be quiet back here so we can all catch up, ” Claire said over the loud jazz music coming from the band.
     
    Catch up. Emma didn ’ t want to catch up. She almost considered running out of the reunion to avoid “ catching up ” . Why couldn ’ t they just talk about the present and what was happening now. Why did they have to dig through the ugliness of her recent past?
     
    “ So, where are you living now, Emma? ” Claire asked.
     
    “ Only about fifteen minutes from here. I work at the children ’ s hospital downtown. ”
     
    “ Wow, that ’ s great. I know that was always your big dream. Working as a neonatal nurse? ” she asked
     
    “ Yes. I ’ ve been doing that for about thirteen years now, ” Emma said. She was happy that Claire was only asking her surface questions so far. Maybe it would stay that way.
     
    “ Girls! ” Ashley ’ s voice boomed from behind. Emma knew she was no longer safe from questioning with Ashley there. She would dig her sordid past out like an experienced archaeologist.
     
    “ Hi, Ash! ” Claire said shooting up out of her chair and hugging her. Right behind Ashley was Shelby who had just arrived too.
     
    The women sat down at the table and looked at each other. For just a moment, it felt like each of them was