9. The weight of words

The year 2005 was moving on, and with it came the looming LSAT, just a few days away. James woke up early that Saturday, his mind buzzing with the usual routines. He went through his morning rituals, trying to calm his nerves.

Standing in front of the mirror as he got dressed, he noticed the changes in himself. He looked more mature now, no longer the teenager who had stepped onto campus just a few years ago. He'd kept himself in good shape, and it showed—his reflection was something he wasn't ashamed of. There was a newfound confidence in his stance. The years at Stanford had molded him into someone ready for what lay ahead.

He went downstairs to find Emily already dressed as if she were headed out. "Where are you going?" he asked.

She looked up, offering him a soft smile as she sipped her coffee. "I'm visiting an old friend of mine."

James raised an eyebrow. Emily might have appeared gentle and innocent at home, but James had seen the other side of her—he'd seen her in lawyer mode. She was a completely different person when she was in that zone, and that persona had stuck with him. Her friends weren't ordinary either. Most of them held high-ranking positions, many in the government, and James was no stranger to their influence.

"Which friend?" he asked, curious.

"Oh, you've met her," Emily said with a small smile, "Detective Rachel Myers."

James nodded, remembering the sharp-eyed woman who had once been a guest at their house. "How's she doing?" he asked, genuinely interested.

Emily sighed, her smile fading slightly. "Not great. Her husband's health is critical. I'm going to check in on her. It's cancer."

James frowned at the mention of cancer, a cold knot forming in his stomach. "I'll drop you there," he said.

Emily smiled softly. "That's sweet of you." She sipped her coffee again, lost in thought.

The drive was quick, and as they reached Detective Myers' house, Emily turned to James. "Would you mind coming inside for a bit? Sarah would be glad to see you."

James hesitated, his thoughts racing. "I think I'll pass for now. I'll wait in the car and catch up with her later. You go ahead."

Emily gave him a curious look, but nodded. "Okay, sweetie. I'll be back soon." She kissed him on the cheek before stepping out of the car and heading up to the door.

James leaned back, staring at the street as he listened to his favourite songs, but something gnawed at him, a sense of unease he couldn't shake. About an hour later, he saw Emily walking back toward the car. She was crossing the street, her eyes focused ahead, deep in thought. But then, in the blink of an eye, a van came speeding toward her, clearly out of control. The driver struggled to regain control, but the van was heading straight for Emily, and she hadn't noticed it.

"Emily, Emily!" James shouted, his voice rising in panic. He threw open the door and bolted toward her, his legs pumping with adrenaline as he ran toward the oncoming vehicle. In that split second, he saw everything slow down. He reached her just in time, diving at her and tackling her to the ground. The van screeched by them, so close that James could feel the rush of wind as it passed.

For a moment, everything went silent. Emily lay in his arms, her eyes wide with shock, slowly regaining her senses. James was breathing heavily, adrenaline still coursing through his veins as he looked down at her. "Mom, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Emily blinked, her mouth opening as if to speak, but no words came out. James's heart skipped a beat as he saw the confusion in her eyes. Panic surged through him as he feared the worst. "Mom?" he repeated, his voice shaky, "Please, answer me!"

Finally, Emily seemed to snap out of her daze, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "I'm fine, James," she reassured him. "Really, I'm fine."

James let out a shaky breath, his heart still racing. As he helped her to her feet, he glanced at the van that had veered off the road. It had finally come to a stop, crashed into a tree. People were gathered around the scene, and a man, likely the driver, was slumped over, unconscious.

James looked at the scene, thanking God for the seconds that had spared them. If he hadn't acted, if he hadn't dived at the right moment… He didn't even want to think about it.

The crowd began to disperse, and Emily's friend, Rachel, had come outside to see what the commotion was about. She rushed over, her face full of concern. "What happened? Is everything okay?"

James was still shaken, but Emily simply waved her off with a soft smile. "We're fine. Just a little scare, that's all."

As they got back in the car, Emily's smile never faltered, even though the adrenaline from the close call had left James visibly shaken. He could feel his frustration bubbling over.

"What were you thinking? You didn't even see that van coming! You could have been seriously hurt!" he said, his voice strained,

Emily looked at him, still smiling, and James couldn't understand it. He frustration surged through him in that moment and he almost shouted. "And why are you smiling? After what just happened?"

She turned to him, her eyes softening. A single tear slipped down her cheek as she gazed at him, her voice barely a whisper. "You called me 'mom' for the first time in 16 years, 6 months, and 3 days."

James froze, the realization hitting him like a bolt of lightning. The weight of her words settled in. He had never referred to her like that before, not consciously, and the acknowledgment of her role in his life suddenly felt more real than it ever had before. His chest tightened as he looked over at her, seeing the genuine emotion behind her smile.

James sat in silence for a few moments, the weight of his words still sinking in. "I...I'm sorry it took so long," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Emily's smile softened as she reached out and placed a hand on his arm. "You don't have to apologize," she said gently, her voice soothing. "I'm just glad you called me mom."

The car was quiet for a moment before they arrived back home. Thomas, who had been waiting in the living room, immediately noticed the difference in the atmosphere. His brows furrowed with concern. "What happened?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.

James opened his mouth to explain, but Emily quickly intervened, her tone light and reassuring. "James saved me from an accident," she said, giving him a warm glance. "A van almost hit me, but he was quick enough to tackle me out of the way. Everything's fine now."

Thomas's face immediately filled with worry. "You need to get checked out, Emily. We should go to the hospital, just to be sure."

Thomas's worry deepened. "That doesn't sound fine! You both need to go to the hospital for a check-up. Now."

Emily tried to protest, but Thomas wouldn't budge. "No arguments," he insisted, his eyes stern. "We're going."

James sighed, knowing there was no escaping his father's stubbornness. Emily, too, relented, and the three of them headed to the hospital.

The check-ups went smoothly, with no major injuries found. Relieved, they returned home. Thomas still looked worried, but as they settled in the living room, Emily suddenly said, her eyes glinting with emotion, "James called me 'mom' today."

Thomas blinked in surprise, his eyes lighting up. "He did?" he asked, his voice filled with excitement.

James felt a mix of emotions flood through him. Thomas, with his puppy-dog eyes, looked at him, as though silently pleading for those same words.

James could feel the weight of his unspoken request, but instead, he stood up.

"I'm going to my room," James said, walking away and leaving the room before they could say anything more.

Before he closed the door behind him, James called out, his voice clear, "Let's eat out today, Mom, Dad."

Thomas froze, his disappointed face lighting up with excitement. He practically jumped out of his seat, his heart swelling with joy, his eyes sparkling. Emily gently hugged him, her face full of love and amusement.

"Why are you crying, dear?" she teased him, feeling the warmth of the moment.

Thomas quickly wiped his eyes, his face flushing red. "Dammit, I'm not crying!" he shouted. "Two mosquitoes flew into my eyes at the same time!"

Emily laughed, her heart full of warmth. James, standing on the other side of his door, had tears in his own eyes, a quiet relief filling him. He had no idea that calling them those two words would make them so happy, but a part of him felt lighter, like a weight he hadn't even known he was carrying had been lifted.

The family had dinner out that night, the atmosphere full of laughter and warmth. As they returned home and went to bed, James lay in his room, the quiet stillness of the night bringing a sense of peace he hadn't felt in a long time. Tomorrow would come, but for tonight, everything felt right.

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