emmahirschâ:
â
Youâd think someone like Emma would understand the true value of family. In some way, she did. Her parents were still together and deeply in love, her sister was successful and kind, and her grandparents were still kicking and endlessly sweet. It makes you wonder where they might have all went wrong with Emma. Where did her bitterness stem from, why was she not more forgiving when it came to the Hirsch clan? They had welcomed her in with no hints of malice or regret. Yet, here she stood, uneasy within the presence of her once brother in law.Â
âYou guys still donât talk much, huh?â The brunette questions, genuinely curious. Adam, her 12 year old son, even joked about how strange the Hirsch family was about being open with one another. He likes to claim that theyâre all âemotionally constipatedâ. âReally? Shit, I hadnât realized itâs been that long. Maybe we can set something up for the two of them. Maybe we can, uh, take them to Scoops for some ice cream after school.â With subtle reluctance, Emma nods to a bench near the rose bushes, signaling for Aaron to sit with her. Once sheâs seated, she speaks again, âAdamâs pretty good. Failing math miserably, though. The usual. Howâs Elena?â
*
Emmaâs question was extremely valid, of course, considering the familyâs past history and so Aaron found he didnât particularly mind her asking. He doubted that his relationship with his siblings would ever reach a point where they were the best of friends, but at least it was beginning to improve... be it very slowly. âNot as much as we should, no,â came his response, though he pretty much shrugged off her question, not wanting to dwell on that too much. Talking about it never really helped.
When she cursed, he couldnât help but shake his head, another thing he was quite happy to shrug off. It wasnât a big problem or really a big issue, although Elena did like to see her cousin as much as she could â- because apparently at school wasnât enough. âIt happens. Time gets away from all of us I think.â When she gestured to the bench near by, he moved without question, taking a seat a couple of moments later. âSounds familiar,â he said with a light chuckle. âAlthough a lot of the time Iâm convinced that Elenaâs doing it on purpose.â It wouldnât be a surprise, not wanting to stand out in any way. âOther than that sheâs really good. Scaring me with how quickly sheâs growing up.â


















