342: Family Considerations

Bauer paused before answering Emma's question, aware that his decision to call might seem out of the blue. The sounds of rustling papers on the other end of the line reminded him of Emma's demanding schedule, adding another layer of complexity to his already fraught thoughts. "Yes, my relatives are visiting, but something came up that made me think, and I needed to talk to someone outside the family about it," Bauer began, choosing his words carefully. "It’s about Francis and his view on our family dynamics, especially about you." Emma's interest was piqued, and she set aside her work, giving Bauer her full attention. "Oh? What about Francis? Is everything okay with him?" Bauer sighed, running a hand through his hair. "He’s fine. It's more about how we—he and I—view our relationship with you. You know Francis really likes you, Emma. He sees you as a positive influence in our lives, and frankly, so do I. But today, I realized we’ve never really asked if you felt imposed upon by