Tag: Emma Sinclair

How Emma Met Nick

Welcome to The Nick Chronicles, a collection of memories from Emma’s relationship with Nick Bennett—one of the most important chapters of her life before the events of Unfinished Melody.

Some memories make us laugh. Some make us cringe. And some remind us how much a single person can shape our story.

Continue reading more about how Emma met Nick below.

May 1999

Today the professor assigned partners for our final play-writing project.

Apparently, the strongest scripts may be considered for a student production in the theater department next semester.

No pressure.

My partner is a guy named Nick.

Well, technically I’ve seen him around class before.

Hard not to, honestly.

He’s one of those people who somehow manages to look completely relaxed all the time. Meanwhile, I still double-check my syllabus every week because I’m convinced I’ve forgotten an assignment.

The professor assigned partners and suddenly there he was sitting across from me.

I expected awkward small talk.

Instead, we spent most of the class arguing about story ideas.

Politely.

Mostly.

He has opinions.

A lot of opinions.

The annoying thing is that some of them are actually good.

When I mentioned wanting to brainstorm before writing anything down, he didn’t roll his eyes or act like it was a waste of time.

He just said, “I respect that.”

Which immediately made me suspicious.

Nobody is that agreeable.

Not naturally.

There has to be a catch.

Still, the project went better than I expected.

He’s funny.

Confident.

Maybe a little too confident.

And I can’t quite decide whether that’s charming or concerning.

Probably concerning.

Definitely concerning.

At the very least, I think we’ll end up with a decent project.

The semester is almost over, and once it’s done, we’ll probably go our separate ways.

For now, I just need to survive the next few weeks working with him.

And maybe convince him that not every good idea involves making the audience cry.

—Emma

Listen to Emma & Nick’s Playlist here.

Meet Nick to find out more about his part in Unfinished Melody.

Read more about Emma & Nick here: Emma and Nick’s Reunion – 2008

Emma’s Diary: Some Songs Never Leave You

A quiet night in 1996.
A date that should have felt exciting.
And a song that brought old memories rushing back.

Dear Diary,

After work tonight, I went out on a date with a guy I met a couple of weeks ago.

He was nice enough.
He seemed to like me.
And I liked him.

I even agreed to another date.

But when the night ended, I realized I didn’t feel excited the way I thought I would.

Maybe that’s part of the problem.

Daniel has been gone for over a year now.
Adam for two.
And Josh…

Well… many years.

Sometimes love feels too good to be true.
And other times it feels like I’m just going through the motions, hoping eventually I’ll feel something more.

I don’t know.

Does true love just not exist for me?

Everyone I seem to love leaves.

Why can’t I hold on to anyone?

Why did tonight feel so ordinary when I wanted so badly for it not to?

After I got home, this song came on the radio while I was getting ready for bed.

“I Love You Always Forever” by Donna Lewis.

It’s still fairly new, but I know I’ve heard it at work once or twice before.

Tonight was different though.

The second it started playing, I stopped in my tracks.

I sat there staring at the floor while the song filled my bedroom, and somehow all I could see was Josh’s face.

Like no time had passed at all.

I know what you’re probably thinking.

Why does every song somehow lead me back to Josh?

Honestly… I wonder the same thing.

Maybe it’s because music was always such a huge part of our lives.

Molly was always involved in musicals.

Josh was — and still is — in a boyband.

And me?

I’ve always loved music too, even if I can’t sing very well.

I pay attention to lyrics more than anything else.

Music feels like poetry to me.

Beautiful poetry.

Maybe that’s why certain songs still feel like him.

Or maybe some people never completely leave your heart no matter how many years pass.

Read more of Emma’s Diary for a little more history of Emma’s life.

Learn more about Emma and Josh here: Meet the Characters

Meet Olivia: Emma’s Fiercely Loyal Cousin & Best Friend

Meet Olivia Hayes

Before every great heroine, there’s a fierce best friend who shows up with iced coffee, tough love, and unconditional support — and for Emma, that person is her cousin, Olivia.

Character Profile

Name: Olivia Hayes
Nickname: Oli (used by Emma and close family)
Relation to Emma: Cousin, best friend, emotional anchor
Age: Same as Emma
Personality: Intuitive, sarcastic, warm-hearted, loyal
Strengths: Reading people, grounding others, emotional intelligence
First Appearance: Early in Unfinished Melody (present throughout Emma’s life)
Notable Trait: The only person who knew Emma’s deepest secret long before the story unfolded

Spotlight: Who Olivia Is in Unfinished Melody

Olivia has a way of balancing sharp wit with deep empathy. She’s the first to crack a joke about fake mustaches or “emotional damage and wardrobe consulting,” but also the first to see past Emma’s defenses and ground her when everything feels overwhelming. With a spark in her eyes and sarcasm always at the ready, she’s both comic relief and emotional anchor.

What makes Olivia unforgettable is her intuition. She notices the quiet things — an untouched drink, a shift in Emma’s expression — and doesn’t let them slip by. She’s the kind of confidante who can call out the truth, then wrap you in a hug and remind you you’re not alone.

In Unfinished Melody, Olivia is Emma’s safe place, her fiercest cheerleader, and her mirror when she can’t see herself clearly. She’s the steady heartbeat in the chaos, proving that family isn’t just about blood — it’s about being there when it matters most.

Fun Facts About Olivia (Oli):

Emma is one of the only people who calls her Oli, and Olivia pretends she doesn’t like it even though she secretly does.
She’s the only one who can cheer Emma up with a single look.
She always knows when Emma is lying — even when Emma doesn’t.
She believes iced coffee can solve at least 40% of life’s problems.
She once told Emma, “I’ll knock sense into you if I have to,” and meant it lovingly.
She’s the keeper of Emma’s biggest secret.

There’s much more to Olivia than meets the eye — and she has plenty to say in the upcoming books.

Explore More Characters from Unfinished Melody: Meet the Characters

Emma’s Diary: November 7, 1985 — My First Kiss

Some moments stay with us forever. In this diary entry from November 7, 1985, ten-year-old Emma writes about the day everything changed—her first kiss, her first heartbreak, and the quiet beginning of a love that would shape her life.

~ ~ ~

November 7, 1985

Dear Diary,

Today was a strange day.

Josh came over and told me he’s joining a band. A real one. He said it like it was the best news in the world, and I could tell he was really excited. I was excited for him too, but my stomach felt funny at the same time. Like when you’re happy and sad all at once.

He said it’s a boyband and that someday they might go on tour. I don’t really know what touring means, but I know it means he won’t always be here.

That part made my chest hurt.

I didn’t mean to cry, but I did. The tears just came out before I could stop them. Josh held my hands and asked me what was wrong, and I tried to explain, but the words felt hard to say.

I told him I didn’t want him to go.

Then I told him something I’ve been thinking about for a while.

I told him I like him.

My face felt hot when I said it, and I couldn’t look at him. I thought maybe it would be awkward or he would laugh, but he didn’t. He just looked at me in this quiet way, like he was really listening.

Then he kissed me.

It was soft and gentle, and it only lasted a second, but my heart started beating really fast, like it was trying to run somewhere. Everything felt quiet, even though I could still hear the clock ticking in the kitchen.

I think that was my first kiss.

He told me I’ll always be his girl. He said he won’t forget me, even when he’s in the band and doing big things. He promised.

I don’t know what will happen next. I don’t know how long he’ll be here or how far away he’ll go someday. But I know that tonight, when I close my eyes, I’ll remember the way it felt.

And I think I’ll always remember it.

~ ~ ~

This diary entry follows [Emma’s basketball game diary from November 5, 1985] The Night Something Changed, where everything still felt simple. You can explore more of Emma’s early memories in the [Emma’s Diary collection] Emma’s Diary.