Phantom Scars Read Online Free PDF Page B

sighed in relief. "You ready to go?" I asked.
    She nodded yes.
    "I have her sizes, Devin. You two can step outside," my momma said, and I turned and started quickly out of the store, but in my rush, I failed to notice a mannequin by the door and ended up knocking it over, landing on top of it.
    I heard gasping and laughing. One of the sales ladies came over and grabbed the mannequin, as Emma helped me up.
    "I'm so sorry," I said sincerely, hoping she knew I truly did not have a thing for lingerie-clad mannequins.
    She looked over at Emma and winked. "He's a cute one."
    Emma squeezed my hand a little tighter and smiled up at me, before she pulled me toward the door, giggling lightly.
    After my momma was done at that store, we went to her house. It still looked the same as it had when I was a little kid. There were still pictures all around the house of my dad with me and my mom, and more of my stepdad and us, smiling as he played with Clayton and me. My parents had married really young, and they were only eighteen when I was born.  My birth father had died still very young, killed by a drunk driver on the way home from work one night, when I was just a tiny baby. I had just turned two, when momma married my stepdad. About a year later, my brother was born. Since my stepdad was the only dad I ever remembered, I took his name to honor and thank him. Five years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer and had died shortly thereafter. I could tell my momma still missed him.
    My momma was a strong, beautiful woman of only forty-two, and people were naturally drawn to her. She was very successful with her restaurant, because she knew how to read people. Many of the townspeople came just for a chance to sit and talk with her. She was one of the most understanding, loving people I had ever known, and she was exactly what Emma needed to help her work through whatever had happened to her.
    "Devin, why don't you have a seat, and I'll pull out some clothes for her to change into." I nodded my head, and my momma handed Emma an armful of clothes. Emma's eyes filled with tears.
    "Are you alright, hon?" my momma asked her, and Emma nodded yes.
    "Thank you for everything," she said softly, and my momma hugged her tightly.
    "Go on now, sugar, go get dressed," she said, handing Emma one of the bags from the underclothes store.
    Emma came out wearing a nice blue shirt and a pair of jeans. I had to admit, it was obvious she was wearing a bra now, and she was a lot better endowed than I’d first thought.
    I hadn't realized I was staring, until my momma kicked me and said, "Her face is a little higher, sugar, I raised you better than that."
    Emma and I both blushed at that. My momma walked over, hugging her again. "See, you're beautiful, sweetheart. You got my boy all speechless," my momma giggled.
    She and Emma spent the next hour going through my momma's stuff. Why women needed so much, I would never know. Momma also went through her jewelry box, vanity and bathroom, loading Emma down with cosmetics, girl stuff and toiletries, for which I was grateful. My bathroom stuff consisted of a toothbrush and paste, a bar of soap, a bottle of shampoo, and an electric razor. Other than that, I had no idea what to buy for her, and Emma seemed way too shy to have me go with her to help buy that stuff.
    They came out chatting quietly, carrying a whole mess of bags. Emma was practically glowing from all the attention my momma was showering on her, and it looked beautiful on her.
    "How about we pack this stuff up in the car, and you can take it all home with you? Whatever doesn't fit you can donate. I haven't fit into these tiny clothes since before Devin was born," my momma said pinching my cheek, making me blush again. I gave my momma a hug.
    I didn't know what either of us would do without her.

Chapter 8 – Swans and Butterflies
     
    We all headed back to the restaurant, and I helped Emma carry her things up to our place. I realized once we got inside that I