Lavender felt like she hadn’t talked to WillWriteForTacos in ages. From the sporadic messages he sent, he was working every spare moment to finish his manuscript so they could finally meet in person.
Her computer chimed, and Lavender eagerly opened up the chat icon.
WillWriteForTacos: Guess what?
WordsinBloom: What?
WillWriteForTacos: It’s the best time of the year!
Lavender narrowed her eyes.
WordsinBloom: It’s not Christmas yet!
WillWriteForTacos: It might as well be. It’s August. School supplies are on sale!
WordsinBloom: Why do you love school supplies so much?
WillWriteForTacos: There is just something about new notebooks waiting to be filled with ideas. Pencils with a sharp point carry so much promise. They signify a school year full of potential. And don’t get me started on new pens that still have the little ball of wax on the end.
He was talking poetically about school supplies, and her heart did a funny dip.
WordsinBloom: Whoa. Pen snob! What an odd thing to get excited about!
She included a smiley face at the end, so he knew she was joking. WillWriteForTacos had never hidden his quirks from her, and she admired him all the more for it.
WillWriteForTacos: Probably. But growing up, I was the kid in the class who had to choose from the donated supplies. I never got the cool superhero themed folder or the mechanical pencils. I got plain colors and cheap #2 wooden pencils. Now that I’m an adult, it is…liberating to walk down the aisle and buy whatever I want.
WordsinBloom: That’s a great point. I never thought about that with the donated supplies. Why don’t people donate superhero folders?
WillWriteForTacos: I make a point to do that when my church has the school supply drive.
WordsinBloom: My church does that too! I’ll make sure I don’t skimp for the bargain supplies.
WillWriteForTacos: Folders were the big one. Always wanted the folders. My kids will have whichever ones they want.
Lavender remembered her own battles for name brand supplies and clothes. When your family has six kids, school supplies were a bulk purchase, and you didn’t get to be picky. And when you were the fifth of six girls? At least one sister had already worn everything in your closet.
WordsinBloom: So you want kids?
She knew this was broaching serious topics, but they’d done it before. Nothing seemed off limits, and it was easy to be honest when you couldn’t see their face, and you had plenty of time to craft your response.
WillWriteForTacos: I’ve tried to think about that a lot over the years. Will I be a terrible parent like my own were? Or could I give a kid a better life than I had? It probably depends on if I find the right person to spend the rest of my life with.
Lavender inhaled sharply when she read his words. Too many men her age weren’t looking for something serious.
WordsinBloom: Definitely a decision to make together. But it’s good to be somewhat on the same page.
WillWriteForTacos: Agreed. What about you? Kids?
WordsinBloom: Someday, I hope. With the right guy. ;)
* * *
Emmett stared at the words on the screen, hoping he wasn’t reading more into them than WordsinBloom intended. He wanted to be the guy. WordsinBloom was perfect for him. She loved Jesus and writing. She shared his love of books, they both especially loved the classics.
WillWriteForTacos: Do you even know what you do to me?
WordsinBloom: “Flirting is a woman’s trade, one must keep in practice.”
His smile broadened at her quote and he supplied the source. At least he was pretty sure he was correct. He preferred the less romantic classics.
WillWriteForTacos: Jane Eyre.
WillWriteForTacos: I’ve never been much good at flirting.
WordsinBloom: Oh, I don’t know. I bet you do better than you think. I certainly enjoy our chats.
WillWriteForTacos: Honestly, sometimes our conversations are the brightest spot in my entire day. I’m so grateful we “met” last year. And when I think about meeting you in person…
Emmett wiped his palms on his khaki shorts and finished typing.
WillWriteForTacos: It’s the most exciting (and terrifying) prospect.
WordsinBloom: Terrifying? The idea of meeting me is terrifying?
He laughed and explained.
WillWriteForTacos: A little. What if you take one look at me and run the other way?
WordsinBloom: What if you think my voice is annoying or my ears are too big?
WillWriteForTacos: Bloom, you could be Dumbo at this point and I wouldn’t care.
WordsinBloom: Well, that’s reassuring. Because here is a recent photo of me:
Emmett’s eyes widened in surprise, and he waited for the photo to load. When the image of Dumbo the Elephant finally appeared, he burst into laughter.
WillWriteForTacos: Stunning! Have you considered modeling?
WordsinBloom: Too many offers, I couldn’t decide. ;)
She was perfect. Emmett needed to forget about Lavender and focus on WordsinBloom. Whoever she was—whatever she looked like—WordsinBloom knew him better than perhaps anyone in the world, except maybe Josh. But Josh had worked for years to gain that trust. As much as Emmett kept pushing him away, Josh persisted. It had changed Emmett’s life, because Josh had led him to Christ.
Even though Emmett had let Josh in, he mostly kept to himself. It was easier not to get too attached. Even as an adult, Emmett couldn’t shake the feeling that he might have to leave suddenly. That Josh might kick him out. Josh would kill him if he knew, but Emmett kept a duffel bag packed, just in case. Too many placements ended with an unannounced visit from his caseworker and a five-minute window to grab his meager possessions before climbing in the back of the car again.
Would that feeling ever go away? Emmett prayed about it. He knew that wasn’t his life anymore. He could afford his own house, but for some reason the thought made him anxious. He’d been in Terre Haute for ten years now, but home wasn’t a word he’d ever been able to use.