The Reunion (22 page)

"He was a little cutie."

"He was our age."

"I thought he was younger."

"Only compared to the guys."

"We determined that these two had sex with Mr. Clark and Tommy and I had sex with Julie, who was your first?"

"I know."  Toni raised her hand and laughed as Em glared at her.

"Me too."  Stacy received the glare also.

"Then we don’t have to say as the majority of us knows already."  Toni laughed.

"It was the idiot surfer that had the van huh?" Tommy guessed and Stacy started laughing.

"No."  Stacy decided to change directions completely.  "Em, when you were pregnant with Mike did you have to pee all the time?"

"I knew the location of every Ladies' room in South Texas."  Em admitted.

"Good, I thought it was me."  Stacy grabbed Tommy's shoulder to lever herself up a little.  "I'll be right back."

"Mom says she's having twins."

"WHAT?"  Tommy watched her disappear into the hotel.  "TWINS?"  He turned and looked at Toni. "Did she make that up?" 

"No, Kim and Carole said Bea told her it would be twins when we were hemming Em's dress yesterday morning."

"Private party or can anyone join?"  Brockton yawned.  He'd thrown on a pair of jeans but wasn't wearing a shirt or shoes.  Toni gave him an appraising look then looked at Em.

"Yummy."

"Shut up, you slut."  Em laughed then covered her mouth.  Toni was roaring though then Ryan and Tommy started laughing.

"Did I miss something?"  Brockton asked.

"No." Em squeaked.  He sat behind her and pulled up so that she was sitting between his legs, then wrapped his arms around her.  "We were discussing … discussing…"

"Peeing." Ryan laughed. "and twins."  Em nodded and Brockton leaned forward and looked at her face.

"Nah.  She's hiding something." She started shaking her head and he pulled her more tightly against him.

"When was the first time you had sex, handsome?"  Em's foot shot out and she kicked Toni's knee.  Toni just scooted back a little further and laughed.  Em had also felt Charles's arms tighten around her and his suppressed laugh.

"16.  My piano teacher."

"Now that's got to be an interesting story."  Tommy said to Ryan.  "We did the same neighbor girl, at different times of course, and they…  Toni and Stacy did Mr. Clark the guy they used to babysit for.  Em won't say." That had Brockton laughing outright.

"How 'bout those Mets?"

"Basketball season."

"Ah, yeah, Trailblazers, no Heat?"  His legs squeezed around Em slightly.  "Didn't it seem like football would go all the way into spring training this year."

"Good try."  Tommy laughed, "but the unknowns are now in the majority. Give it up."

"What?"

"SHIT.  You could have stayed in the bathroom another five minutes…"  Ryan held up his hand and helped Stacy down.  For someone who was only three months she was kind of big.

"How far along are you Em?"

"Two and a half…

"VEGAS!"  Tommy grabbed his chest and started choking and laughing.  "I owe you Ryan, you saved my life."

"What?"

"My hitting on you outside the ballroom…"  Tommy saw the look on Brockton's face.  "It was worse after Ty told me about the thong…"

"SHUT UP!"

"That's what was going on?"  Brockton leaned forward and looked at Em then at Ryan.

"Cab fare." Em wasn't smiling.

"Cab fare."  Ryan repeated.  Toni started laughing. 

"You're kidding me.  You hit on Em at the Reunion?  You perv!" Toni hit her brother.  "Thinking back I was all over Ty that night…"

"He had you upside down over his shoulder half the night…"  Ryan said.

"If I knew then what I know now…"  Toni sighed.

"Oh shut up you slut."  Stacy laughed.

"They've both called you slut should I believe that?"  Brockton smiled

"Nah, they're just jealous."  Toni laughed.

"It's a phrase not a statement."  Em appended.

"I stand corrected."  He smiled. "Or sit corrected."

"Notice how he just fits right in Ry?"  Tommy stretched back and started playing footsie with Em "First insinuated himself in and now it seems like he's been here all along."

"Thank you."  Brockton said.

"You're ok man."  Tommy's foot was batted by Em.  "Ry's probably still pissed but that's because Connor wanted Mike as his grandson."

"What?"  Em asked.

"Oh drop it.  He's just being an ASS!"  Toni said.

"Stace is taking care of things aren't ya sis?"  Ryan said.

"Twins?"  She rubbed her stomach "I hope not."

"No more bikini's for you babe.  We're too old to get it back."  Tommy teased.

"Toni's next."  Stacy joked.

"Don't even suggest…  Think…  Don't even go there."  Toni stammered.

"OH GOD!"  Em leaned forward.  "You aren't are you?"

"No comment."  Toni pouted.  Tommy and Ryan looked at her, Stacy fell over backwards laughing.

"I thought…" Stacy started.

"Shut up."

"What is it the water or something?"  Ryan started scooting backwards like he was afraid of catching something.  "Stay away from me!"

"It's not catchy you idiot and you're the wrong sex anyway."  Stacy hit him.

"Like you have to tell me that."  Ryan said.

"You aren't are you?"  Em asked.

"It makes a good story doesn't it?"  Toni teased.

"You're doing that to divert attention?"  Em looked at her for a second.  "You're not kidding."

"I'm not sure."  Toni said softly.

"OH YES YOU ARE!"  Stacy pointed at her then covered her mouth because she was too loud.

"Sure about what?"  Ty sat down behind Toni and pulled her into the same position as Brockton had Em.

"NOTHING."  Em, Stacy and Toni said together and laughed while Tommy shook his head and Ryan jumped to his feet.

"I'm out of here."  Em swung her leg out and caught Ryan behind the knee sending him back into the sand.

"She's quick." Brockton was surprised that she accomplished it without really changing position.

"You have no idea."  Tommy picked up the empty beer bottle.  "I'm going for beer."

"Sit down coward."  Stacy pulled him back to the sand.  Brockton started laughing and got an elbow in the stomach from Em.

"What?"  Brockton laughed.

"Toni?" Em asked.

"I was never as regular as you."  Toni hissed between her teeth in a whisper.

"He's going to faint." Ryan watched Ty get pale.  His whole body tightened around her.  "No, he isn't he's going to kill her."

"We're pregnant?"  Ty asked.

"Isn't that sweet, he said
we
…"  Stacy hit Tommy.

"Can it Tommy."  Stacy leaned forward and took Toni's hand.  "She doesn't know.  Let's find out."

"NO."  Toni snapped.

"No what?  Which no?"  Tommy asked.

"No you don't want to know or no you don't know."  Ryan clarified.

"Is that even English?"  Stacy asked.

"Toni?"  Em asked.

"Both."  Toni admitted.

"I like it better when there's not so much tension."  Brockton stood and pulled Em with him.  "I think we need to make a quick exit."  He stuck out his hand for Ryan and Tommy helped Stacy to her feet.  "We'll be right over there if you need us Toni."  Stacy said and Toni shook her head.

"Denial's good."  Ty whispered as he tried turning her around.  "Toni?"

"Not now Ty.  I don't …  Not now."

"Come here baby."  He pulled her to him and cradled her.  "We'll see, ok.  It's not rocket science or anything."  She burst into tears.  "Now that makes me worry."  He smiled and kissed her.  "Let's find out then we'll worry."  She nodded.

"AH, they're done now.  I'm tired.  I'm going back to bed.  g'Night."  Ryan headed back to his room and RW.  Tommy picked up Stacy and started carrying her back to her and Parker's rooms.

"You just sweep me off my feet."  Stacy laughed.

"This is why so many of you are the same ages isn't it?"  Brockton teased Em as they walked back.  "There's something in the water…"

"Don't joke."  Em was worried.  "Toni's scared, she's not settled with the idea of her and Ty.  She keeps expecting it to blow up."

"He seems ok with it."  He chucked her under the chin.  "You were pretty scared yourself."

"Yes I was."  She smiled. "He'll be fine.  She's not so sure.  She's seen too many breakups and has always avoided serious relationships because she thinks she can't have one."  She tilted her head to one side, "That's not exactly right it's more she's afraid to invest emotionally into a relationship.  She keeps things light and easy and figures she can always walk away."

"Ty knows her better than anyone."

"That's good and bad."  Em smiled though.

"Seriously mom."

"Seriously what?"  Mike still didn't have her attention completely until she looked at him and then she took his hand.  "What baby?"

"My father."  His eyes were pained.  "Do you
know
who he was?"

"Honey, don't listen to Uncle Tommy, he's being a jerk."  That didn't relieve him. "Yes I know.  It doesn't matter.  He won't be bothering us again."

"Again?" Tommy's attention was suddenly focused on her.

"Shut up." Ryan cut in and Em, Brockton, Mike and Tommy looked at him.

"You know?"  Tommy said while Em said, "You knew?"

"Yes and yes."  Ryan looked at Brockton, "End the conversation right here or it's coming out here and now."

"Em?"

"God Ryan!"

"I've kept your secrets."  He reached out and took her hand.  "He wants to know, and there's reasons.  We kind of talked about it last night but he needs assurances."

"What happened?  What did you hear Mike?"  Em held Ryan's hand and turned back to her son.

"The skinny dipping, the sleeping on beaches."

"Honey, those were kid things.  It wasn't sexual.  We didn't sleep together or have sex."

"Uncle Connor…"

"I should have known."  Em's color started rising.  "He has me made out to be some slut seducing the lot of you!"  She almost shouted at Ryan.  Brockton put his hand over their joined hands. 

"There's the adoption." He said quietly.

"I'm not verifying anything.  We don't have to ask if I don't put it in writing or go after child support.  DNA, well that's your business, but I know exactly who your father is Mike."  He looked relieved but confused.

"He hit you didn't he?"

"Yes baby."  She felt both Brockton and Ryan's hands flinch at that.  "You saw him when you were a baby."

"I wasn't a baby I was six."

"Yes, you never were a baby.  You don't have to worry about this though.  Charles and you have an arrangement and your biological father wants nothing to do with us."  Em and Brockton felt Ryan's hand tighten on hers.

"Right Ryan?"

"Yes."

"See, nothing to worry about."  The flight had been delayed twice before they could take off.  The incoming flights and delayed flights from Oahu had their schedule slightly off.  Everyone had a bit of cabin fever but she hadn’t recognize Mike was upset and she was worried now. 

"You're ok?"  Mike nodded. "If you want to discuss this, Ryan's right, we can talk about it here and now."  She caught the hesitation. Em turned to Brockton. 

"Do you want to know?"  He nodded slightly. 

"This family can't keep a secret.  There will always be whispers and pointing.  It comes out and it comes out."  She proclaimed, then nodded.  "Robert McFadden.  I knew him from college classes I was taking
and
the bar."  Tears filled her eyes and Mike regretted his decision to ask her for this.  "We weren't together very long before we started having sex.  It didn't last long either.  I probably got pregnant the second or third time we were together.  We had already stopped seeing each other by the time I knew for sure.  I knew what a small community the bar was and everyone knew everyone else's business so I packed up and moved to Austin.  I had my name legally changed, took my savings and tip jar and got a studio apartment and a job in the mail room at Brockton Petroleum and as a cashier at Willie Burger.  I was six months pregnant by the time news broke and I didn't tell anyone where I was but that I was doing ok. I did have Curtis as contact and when I went into labor he called and Aunt Martha flew everyone to Texas for your birth.  I stayed there another couple of years to prove to myself that I could and then moved back to California when you were getting ready to start preschool.  Ham set it up for me."  Her voice stayed monotonous and tears ran down her cheeks.

"I screwed up and mentioned Em was thinking about coming back but to work in the restaurant and somehow word got to Bob and he went looking for you.  He wasn't by any means a regular but we didn't really watch what we said or try to keep it quiet that we were glad she was back.  He got it into his head that she had moved back to go after him for child support."  Ryan squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry Em."

"It's ok.  Mike needs to know it.  Ok?  It was just a matter of when and where it came out and I'm glad he had a chance to choose."  She leaned forward and kissed Mike's cheek "OK?"  He nodded.  "By the time we land most of the family will know, the plane is probably wired into rumor central so keep it to the facts and don't fill in the blanks, there's no fault or blame.  OK?  Good.  We're done with that."

"So who was the first?"  Ryan tugged on her hand teasing her.

"Shut up Ryan."  She'd noticed the volume of the conversations had cut off completely and after she said OK and Mike had nodded conversations started but much lower in volume and fewer varieties.  Most of the primary players were with them.  She'd field any additional questions.  Charles was still fuming and she'd have to address that but she wanted to make sure Mike was ok before she did a sidebar.  She stood took Charles's hand and locked themselves into the lavatory.

"He hit you."

"It was a long time ago."

"In front of Mike."

"We talked about it and he knows it was wrong and he's still not allowed to hit girls, no matter what."  This made Charles smile.  He stroked her face and hair.

"Does he still want to be adopted?"

"You'll have to work that out between the two of you.  I promised myself I wouldn't interfere."

"You're amazing."

"I can only hope you think so."  She jumped off the counter and into his arms.  "I have to kill O'Bryan though so your kid may be born in prison."

"Not funny."  They came out of the bathroom and everyone quickly returned to their own conversations after a pause.  Ryan and Mike were sitting in exactly the same location with their heads together.

"Mike baby.  You have to make these moral dilemma calls yourself.  You know me; you know what kind of person I am.  If you question what happened or want to know anything about my past…SHUT UP RYAN… I'm an open book.  I'll tell you anything."

"You stole a car?"

"No I broke into a car; Josh STOLE the car, I didn't drive yet."  She turned to Charles.  "Atlanta.  We'll move to Atlanta."  Mike and Charles both laughed at the expression on Ryan's face.

"And she was on house restriction for two months for that Mike."  Bea announced from the other side of the plane.

"Isn't it reassuring how sound travels in confined spaces."  Em bent down and kissed Mike.  "We'll discuss the beach thing and the bar thing at home.  Ryan is there any other stories you've been feeding him?"

"No that just about covers it."  He smiled innocently.  "I didn't bring up the bar in Rosarito."

"What bar in Rosarito?"

"She made $30...  OUCH!"  Tommy received a full fist blow to his bicep.  "I was going to say dancing on the table but she was removing garments… STOP THAT!"

"I'm hearing this after the wedding."  Charles asked.

"UH."  Em paused.  "I thought they filled you in on that at the reunion, I went into the arcade when Pete brought it up."

"I didn't put the two things together.  I mentioned the dancing on tables, metaphorically and didn't know it was literal."

"Uhm."  Em hesitated.

"He said dancing but you didn't
really
remove your clothes..."  Mike asked.

"Would you like to continue this in the bathroom?"  Charles teased.

"Oh no, this is getting good!"  Bea said from her side of the plane.

"SHUT UP MOM!"  Em called out to her mom.  "Connor better have a chute on because I'm throwing someone off the plane and it might as well be him."

"He's asleep." Bea assured them.