Wrapped in Silk (12 page)

“Hello, are you excited about Wicked?” London asked and skipped up to Lila and Brody.

Brody smiled, “I need to talk to your Mom first okay? Emma may I have a moment,” he said as he walked towards the bedroom.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, London is
…” Emma started.

Brody smiled, “Trust
me,” he said pulling her in to the room he was staying in, “sit please.”

“Okay,” Emma said and blushed.

He smiled and shook his head as he sat next to her and showed her a website with a picture of the four of them taking the carriage ride. Brody was sitting next to London and both were beaming.

“Well you both look great,” Emma said and took a deep breath.

“Does this upset you?” Brody asked. “Her privacy being violated, those scum taking pictures of her?” he said in an angry tone.

“I don’t like it, I bet she will,” Emma said and smiled as she shook her head.

“What about your divorce Emma?” Brody asked looking apologetically at her.

“I am not worried, he kind of sealed his own fate with that one, I hope anyway. I don’t know, are you alright with it?” Emma asked looking confused.

“I am never alright with my privacy being invaded,” Brody said. “I am not alright with hers being or yours being invaded either.”

“Alright but really what can we do about it?” Emma asked.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to go this evening Emma,” Brody said.

“Oh,” she said shocked.

“That upsets you?” Brody asked taking her hand gently in his.

“Well London kind of
went crazy on a disguise today,” Emma laughed. “But she will understand I suppose.”

He smiled and shook his head. “She did?”

“Yes, it was actually kind of funny,” Emma smiled.

“Do you want to
discuss this with her or maybe I could tell her my doctor wants me to stay in for a few days?” Brody asked.

“I don’t lie to her Brody. I answer her truthfully with age appropriate answers of course, hoping that
will help her do the same in years to come,” Emma smiled.

“Alright then,
” Brody said and stood up.

Emma smiled at him, “Can I kiss you?
I mean…sorry that was stupid, this is obviously a bad idea, I mean quit while you’re ahead….”

“Are you done Emma
?” Brody scowled and she shook her head yes, “would you like to know what the doctor said?”

“Sure, what
did he say?” Emma asked as her face started to turn red.

“All the test results came back and I am healthy. Blood work was rushed so I should know
in a couple days,” Brody said looking in her eyes and she knew he was trying to figure something out.

“Oh, a few days?” Emma asked.

“Yes, why?” Brody asked.

“Well I will be home and you will be
in England right?” Emma asked.

“Oh so we have to wait until everything comes back?” Brody asked confused.

“Well yes,” Emma smiled and looked away.

“So no condoms?” Brody asked.

“I am allergic to latex,” Emma said looking down.

“Good to know
,” Brody said.

“A
re you monogomis? I mean…” Emma started and and he interrupted.

“Emma do you want me to be?” Brody asked trying not to laugh.

“No I want you to have sex with lots of other people while you…you know what this is irresponsible. Let’s just forget it” Emma said and stood up.

“Emma
,” he said grabbing her hand and pulling her onto him, “I haven’t had sex in months. I am very choosey now and I am choosing you, I trust you.”

“How do you trust me? How am I supposed to trust you?” Emma said standing
back up.

“Have I given you reason not to?” Brody asked seriously.

“You didn’t tell me about your past,” Brody looked hurt, “I am sorry, but you should know the only person I did this with was Troy. I made him wait two years. I knew him very well. I am not trying to hurt you. I’m just not like that. I already feel like, I don’t know a week is really too soon.”

He looked down and didn’t say anything.

“Okay this is a bad idea, I’m sorry.” Emma stood up and walked out.

She walked into the
living room, “Hey London we need to chat,” Emma said looking at her smiling.

Brody walked out and looked at Lila
, his eyes wide and confused.

“Ok
some silly person took pictures last night, see right here?” Emma said showing her. “I am sorry. Does it upset you?”

“No it
’s kind of cool,” London said and smiled.

“Ok so it bothers me and it bothers Brody that someone would invade your privacy. He isn’t going with us tonight,” Emma said.

“But we got him all this stuff mom, it was going to be fun,” London said looking upset.

“Sorry London, maybe I could wear it?” Emma smiled and hugged her.

“Does he know it’s not his fault Mom?” London whispered.

“I don’t think so London but we are not going to cause a scene, it will be fine,” Emma said and hugged her closer and closed her eyes.

“I need to use the bathroom,” she whispered and stood up and walked away.

“You alright London?” Lila asked.

“I am fine,” London said and smiled just like her Mom did when she was upset and Brody noticed.

“Sorry London,” Brody said.

“It’s not your fault, it’s those people who took the pictures, not your fault,” London repeated. “But why is my Mom upset?”

“I don’t know,” Brody said looking down.

“Are you sorry about that?” London asked and looked at him raising her eyebrows.

“Well if I upset her I am very sorry about that,” Brody said
softly.

London smiled at him, “She will be fine, she always is.”

London’s eyes looked into his for a while. He didn’t turn away and they both ended up smiling. When her mother came out she looked at her and smiled.

“We should bake cookies,” Emma said and smiled at London as she grabbed her hand and pulled her into the kitchen.

Lila looked at Brody and he looked at her and shook his head.

“What’s going on?” Lila asked quietly.

“She isn’t ready Lila, and I am,” Brody said sadly.

“Emma will never think she is ready. They have been separated for over a year. She hasn’t dated or hooked up or done anything that wasn’t well planned
, perfectly
and
precisely
,” Lila smiled.

“I get that, she just wants to know things Lila
, things that I have put behind me and am not ready to bring back. Is it not enough that I care for her? I went and got tested for disease today Lila what is that about?” Brody said shaking his head as Lila tried not to laugh.

London skipped in the room, “Do you need anything at the store, Mom and I have to get a few things,” she said waving the list.

“I need a lot of things at the store, how about we go together and let your mother start getting ready to bake,” Lila asked and walked in the kitchen and told Emma they would be right back.

~

When they left Brody walked into the kitchen and hugged Emma from behind.

“Brody please don’t,” Emma said softly and tried to turn around.

“Please just stay,” he said holding her firmly. “So my past is not something I enjoy talking about, at all. However you are important to me so I will let you know a few things. My mother died when I was twelve. I was withdrawn, my father was not home very much at all. My brother moved out and my father’s much younger girlfriend moved in. I left and lived with my Aunt and Uncle for a couple years and then started singing and partying and having lots of sex. I am not proud of who I was then or the amount of sexual partners I had. I hooked up with a very wild partner and we partied hard. She died and I moved here,” Brody said and she could hear him trying to breathe calmly. “I understand that sex is different for you than it has been for me, young, dumb, and recklace. All physical,” he said and she heard the smile in his voice, “You as a sign of love or something special.”

“We wen
t from your life to sex awfully fast,” Emma said softly.

“Emma yesterday and last night,
I thought that meant you wanted me as badly as I want you, and today you are ready to walk. I am confused,” Brody said still holding her.

“You
’re going to England. I am going to try to fix this mess that I have made of my life so that my daughter can have a good life,” Emma said and turned to him, “Brody wanting you and doing the right thing… I don’t know they don’t seem to fit.”

“Maybe not when your head is spinning Emma, when your feet are planted solidly where they are meant to be. It will fit perfectly. It will feel like they were supposed to be there forever. You may not want to hear this Emma but I know I fit perfectly with you. It was not
planned, I did not search for this, I did not even know I wanted this or even that I would immediately feel this ever with anyone. It just showed up and I literally ran into it and I feel like I have been chasing you ever since. Emma I want more than one night, I want you to know that. I am not going on a European sex campaign. I am going to finish my album. After that I am going to take a break, a long break. When I return I would love to see where this leads. I know you’re used to making all the plans and decisions but I also know you don’t like it. I want you now and when I get back and no one in between. I don’t need you to promise you’ll be here waiting when I return, I know you would be. I do not need you to put it into words. It is visible in your face, your kiss, the way you look at me. You feel the same way I do. If things were not messy you would have given us a chance. Emma, turn the hurt off and feel it. Feel what we have both been trying to avoid that has only grown deeper.”

She stood on her toes and kissed him and he sat her on the counter and kissed her back, he pulled back and smiled. “What did that mean?”

“I want you to dress up all stupid tonight and go with us,” Emma said and kissed him again. “I need to figure my life out and I do believe you think you want this.”

“I don’t think Emma, I know.
Emma what do you want?” Brody asked.

“A happy l
ife,” Emma said and he hugged her.

“Alright then, me too,
” Brody said and kissed her gently.

They heard the door open and London ran in with the chocolate chips and real butter.

“Mom you look happier. What did you do Brody?” London smirked.

“Well London, I agreed to go tonight, for you,” Brody said and picked her up and spun her around.

London smiled and let out a belly laugh that Emma had not heard in months, one that she missed terribly.

“What do you say,
shall you let me see what magnificent outfit you have picked for me?” Brody laughed.

~

London stood in the hallway waiting for Brody to come out of the bathroom. Brody walked out and smiled at her. He wore baggy army green pants and a light pink shirt and matching green blazer.

“I kind of like this,” Brody said and smiled.

“How about the hat, wig, and glasses?” London asked smiling.

“I thought I should save those for later,” he said. “Are the cookies done?”

“Looking good Mr. Hines” Emma laughed. “Put on the glasses.”

He put them on and Emma smiled.
He looks good in glasses, kind of like Clark Kent.
Emma thought. He looked at her and wondered what she was thinking.

“Thank you Emma,” he smiled. “Whe
re are those cookies?”

“Lose the glasses and I will give you some,” Emma said seriously and turned around.

“I think Mom likes the nerd look,” London whispered, “Maybe you should leave them on, I mean if you want too?”

“What do you think I should do London
?” Brody whispered back.

“Whatever you want to,” she said and belly laughed again.

Emma turned and smiled, “What’s so funny?” she asked as she put cookies and milk in front of them.

London looked at Brody and smiled, he raised his eyebrow and peered over the glasses at her. “Thank you for the cookies Emma,” he said seductively.

She looked shocked and turned around, “You’re welcome. I am going to get ready.”

Brody and London laughed as she walked out the door.

“You like my Mom don’t you?” London asked.

“She is very likable,” Brody answered
and took a bite of his cookie.

“But you really like her right?” London asked with her eyes wide.

“I really like this cookie,” he smiled giving her the same wide eyed look.

London rolled her eyes and groaned.

“Can you keep a secret?” Brody asked whispering.