Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 473

"That's fine. I want to go home."

Theodore nodded. "Okay. Home it is."

As they drew closer to the shore, their phones started picking up a signal. Theodore's began to ring.

"I need to take this," he said, stepping away. He answered quietly, "Hello, Anna?"

His voice was softer than the sea breeze, so faint it was almost lost in the wind.

"Something came up on my end. I'm at…"

He lowered his voice even more, and she couldn't make out the rest. Anna's voice, however, was loud, though Emma couldn't hear the full sentences. She caught an agitated string of "You can't… You can't…" repeated several times, a clear sign of her anger.

Theodore responded with a series of quiet, heartfelt "I'm sorrys." His tone was so deferential, it bordered on meek.

Was this also Theodore? A Theodore she didn't recognize.

*"Emma, you apologize to Cici!"*

*"I'm telling you, there's no way you're getting rid of Cici!"*

*"Emma, when did you become so bitter and cruel?"*

Wasn't *that* the real Theodore?

It wasn't that she wanted to compare, but the dead memories came flooding back like a relentless tide. She had never believed in judging a person by their intentions rather than their actions. You knew who someone was by what they did.

And everything he had done when they were together had been inhuman. Was she supposed to believe his inner thoughts were any different?

Her only consolation was that she had moved on, that she hadn't given up on herself in the five years since.

He finished his call and started tapping away at his phone. She turned her back to him, watching the harbor lights grow steadily closer.

Theodore blinked, then managed a slight laugh. "Have you forgotten? That fortune teller we went to said we were a match made in heaven."

"That person was obviously a fraud!" she scoffed. When they were getting married, they had gone to a fortune teller to have their compatibility read, and the woman had prattled on about what a perfect match they were. A perfect match? What a joke.

"Actually…"

"Don't talk! Just hearing your voice gives me a headache! You're bad luck!"

Theodore swallowed the rest of his words.

They fell into a mutual silence, waiting for the ship to finally dock.

Just before they reached the pier, Theodore's phone rang again. He was arranging something, telling someone to leave something for him in the terminal lobby.

A few minutes later, the ship was secured. The crew members helped them disembark, waving goodbye as they left. Emma waved back. Whatever had happened, they were innocent bystanders who had shared their food and liquor with her.