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

studying the other.
     
    “ Wow. I cannot believe the four of us are back together. Fifteen years later. Who would have thought? ” Shelby said with a laugh. Her girl-next-door good looks were still in tact.
     
    “ It is so nice to see all of you, ” Emma said raising her coffee cup as if she were toasting them. Seeing their faces, their smiles, she started to feel more at ease. After all, these were the same women she studied with, did rounds at the hospital with and confided in for four years.
     
    “ Well, let ’ s get to it already! ” Ashley said.
     
    “ Get to what? ” Emma asked taking a sip of her coffee.
     
    “ We each need to fill in the details of what has happened in the last fifteen years, ” Ashley said. As she looked around the table, she noticed that the other three women had a “ deer in the headlights ” look on their face. “ Do you guys want me to go first? ” she asked. They all nodded.
     
          Ashley leaned forward so that the other women could hear, and she began to unravel the last fifteen years of her life.
     
          "Okay, I will start then. After college, I got a job as a labor and delivery nurse in Houston, Texas. I met a man named Dave who was a corporate law attorney. He actually came into the hospital to visit his sister who had just had a baby. Anyway, Dave and I got married only six months after meeting. It was a nice life with lots of luxuries, but also lots of problems..."
     
          "What do you mean by problems?" Claire asked.
     
          "Well, after being married for eight years, I found out that Dave was living a double life. It was all over the news in Houston. He had a totally separate family that included a wife and three kids."
     
          "Oh, my God! I remember that story. Did you guys have any children?" Emma asked.
     
          "No. We had infertility issues, so thankfully I did not make any kids with him... I was kind of embarrassed to come here and face you guys. I mean, here I am at forty years old with no husband and no kids. I feel like I don't have a lot to show for our fifteen years apart..."
     
          "Oh, Ash, don't feel that way. I have a story of my own..." Claire said patting her hand.
     
          "Do tell..." Ashley said with a wicked grin.
     
          "Alright. Confession time around the table, I guess," Claire said with a laugh. Then her face went solemn as she began her own story. "After college, I got a job in North Carolina as a nurse in a pediatrician's office. You know how I have always loved working with kids," she said.
     
          "Yes, you always did love that," Emma said with a smile.
     
          "Well, I met a man named Cameron Callahan..."
     
          "The actor? You mean the one who has been in the media a lot in the last few years?" Shelby asked with her mouth dropping open. Cameron Callahan was famous... more like infamous... for his wild, alcohol-fueled lifestyle.
     
          "The very same one. We were married for eleven years..."
     
          "How did we not know that?" Emma asked looking around the table.
     
          "Because I kept it hidden as much as possible. I didn't want to be in that kind of spotlight, and I didn't want our daughter, Aven, to be in the spotlight either. I learned quickly that being famous was not what it's cracked up to be..."
     
          "So, where is Cameron now?" Emma asked.
     
          "We divorced last year. He wasn't just a party guy. He was an abusive alcoholic. He called me names and pushed me around a lot. I finally had enough, you know?" she said holding back tears.
     
          "Oh, Claire, I am so sorry to hear about the abuse. But, I am glad you got out of there," Ashley said touching her hand.
     
          "Okay, your turn, Shelby. Four women, two divorces so far. What's your story?" Claire asked wiping away a stray tear.
     
          "Well, I guess I will join the divorced ladies club," she said smiling half