“I’m so glad we got you into that place.” Gabi murmured softer, more seriously than any of the conversations had been throughout the evening. “I still remember your birthday last year, and while the conversations that night were hilarious, getting woken up the next morning to get your phone call…” Trailing off, Gabi shook her head, though she leaned back against Devin upon his return, both gazing at Emma, sending her thoughts drifting back to a night so similar, yet worlds apart.
~*~
One Year Earlier
“C’mon darling, I know they’re setting you up to fail so they’ll get rid of you, but you can do this. Just think about it a little harder.”
Growling in Devin’s direction, Emma shook her head stubbornly, muttering, “You hit the round thingy with the wooden thingy, and hope you score. But not the kind of scoring that I’d like to be doing!”
Palming his face and rolling his eyes at his wife, Devin tried again. “And what’s the name of the sport?”
“Baseball.” Emma retorted immediately before her eyes lit up, the obvious finally dawning on her. “Right. So the round thingy is the baseball. And the wooden thingy was an alliteration. Baseball bunt? Baseball branch? No, baseball bat. That’s it, bat!”
Reaching across the table to give Emma a high five, Devin gave her a wide grin, “Exactly. And yeah, the rules are a bit complicated, but the essence is like most stick or ball sports; you’re trying to get more points than your opponent.”
“And is that the same for football? Do you kick the ball with your foot? Is that how it got its name?”
Exchanging another grin with Gabi, Devin shook his head. “Not quite. There’s a bit of kicking in football, but it’s more of a running and throwing game. Except it’s only called football here in the States. In other parts of the world, football is what we call soccer, and they do kick the ball with their feet.”
Emma furrowed her brow, then shook her head, mumbling at them, “So why the fuck do we call it football then?”
Finally, for the first time in the better part of an hour, Gabi interjected, voice wry but still soft, “Because we’re the States. We’re the same country that pays athletes and actors millions, and teachers and public safety people barely enough to live on. The only thing logical about this country is that we completely lack in logic.”
Nodding her head in agreement, Emma stretched her arms over her head with a yawn, taking one final sip of the beer she’d been nursing for the better part of the evening before setting it on the table. “I should head out. Baseball game tomorrow, and I’m hoping after tonight’s chat I’ll have a bit better handle on what I’m watching. But the press box boys look out for me and try and point me in the right direction.”
Once more exchanging glances, it was Devin who again spoke, telling Emma softly, “You know you don’t have to go back to that dump tonight, right? You’re for sure welcome to our guest room, we’d even give you earplugs so you don’t hafta risk hearing anything we might do.”
With a wrinkle of her nose and a shake of her head, Emma declined their offer, telling them, “I know you don’t understand the appeal of my place, but the people there are salt of the earth. Working hard for their piece of the pie. And yeah, some of them have some ugly backgrounds, but they’re trying. And I enjoy talking to them, learning more about their lives, finding out what brought them to our shared homes.”
The only response Emma received was a pair of shaking heads before Devin rose to his feet and pulled her into a loose hug, already well familiar with her dislike of the affectionate gesture, but knowing that she tolerated it from him. “We worry, little one. It’s not so much a bad neighborhood but...”
“But I’m a big girl and I can handle myself.” Her voice was quiet but confident, and after another moment she pulled out of the hug, reaching for Gabi’s hand and giving it a squeeze. “Thank you guys, for everything. I don’t know where I’d be right now without you.”
“That’s what best friends are for.” Gabi assured her, and after another moment, Gabi too tugged her into a quick, loose hug before letting go. “Just text to let us know you got home safe, okay?”
Rolling her eyes, but in an affectionate manner, Emma nodded, teasing, “Yes Mom,” and as she ducked a swat from Gabi, she shifted away laughing, moving to gather up the keys to her jalopy and head home. Emma turned long enough to give Gabi a mock salute before waving and letting herself out of their nice not-so-little suburban digs. Glancing over her shoulder as she approached her car, she could make out the outlines of her friends watching her from the front window, Devin’s arms wrapped around Gabi, and his chin resting on her shoulder. Waving at them one final time, Emma climbed into her old, rusted, junker of a car, offered up a prayer to the God of Starters, and fist pumped when the vehicle started up on the first attempt of a key turn.
She knew that Gabi was right about her apartment – it was in a less desirable part of town. She’d not understood when she’d moved to the Midwest that the town structures weren’t as they were back east. A property in Blue Springs could technically be in Independence or Lee’s Summit or even Oak Grove. So, while her apartment was “part of the Blue Springs school district”, it was actually located in Raytown. And while Blue Springs proper was the kind of town her parents would have no doubt considered living in had they ever desired to leave New England, Raytown – at least the part where she ended up - was not.
In the approximately 20 minutes it took her to drive from their place to hers, Emma once again wished that her lease agreement had allowed for her to get a dog – even a small one – to make her feel safer in her own place. Or that she had opted to spend the extra $250 a month to go for a second-floor unit, rather than the tiny one-bedroom on the first floor that she currently occupied. But neither of those situations was likely to change anytime soon. As with most of her life, Emma was going to have to deal with the cards she had been dealt.
After a brief stop at the community mailboxes to grab what were no doubt bills, Emma eased her car into her carport spot and glanced around cautiously. She wasn’t quite as naïve as Gabi thought her to be, and once she was convinced there were no strange men or monsters hiding behind any of the other cars, Emma grabbed her work satchel and scurried over to her apartment’s kitchen door.
With the door safely closed and locked behind her, Emma finally let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Pulling her smartphone out of the satchel to text Gabi, Emma continued straight through her living room and into her bedroom, not the least bit surprised to see that her answering machine was blinking. Two blinks meant two messages. The first was undoubtedly her family, singing “Happy Birthday” and then chorusing the same sentiment, but who was the second? She pressed the button on the machine to find out.
And indeed, the first message was from her family, singing “Happy Birthday” before her siblings dourly wished her the same. Oh, to be so loved.
Shaking her head a bit, Emma waited for the next message to queue and was surprised to hear her brother, Keegan. “Hey sis. Just wanted to call an wish ya a Happy Birthday separate from that family shit. Y’know I don’t agree with what you’re doin’ but I am proud of ya for stickin’ to your guns and doin’ it. Try an keep in touch, aight?”
Blinking for a long time, Emma could only stare at the answering machine in stunned silence. A member of her immediate family, giving a damn? Yes, it was her birthday, but was the world ending or something? She couldn’t believe Keegan had called on his own, to express a desire that they remain in touch.
Wandering out of her bedroom and into the small area that was supposed to serve as her living room, it was then that Emma looked up and noticed that her hallway door didn’t appear to be sitting right.
Swallowing her instinctive reaction to scream, Emma edged closer to the door to examine it – there was no two ways about it – someone had tried to break in. Glancing around for something suitable to push against the door until she could get the landlord to fix
it, Emma’s eyes finally settled on her beloved and entirely too large recliner. Grunting, muttering and otherwise shoving at the unwieldy chair, she finally got it blocking the door.
Taking a step away and gazing around the room, Emma took a silent inventory. Nothing else appeared to be missing or out of place. Still, perhaps Gabi was right. Maybe it was worth it after all to find a safer place to live.
Could she spend another 10 months living in constant fear?
Chapter 3 - A New Home
The Next Day
“What were you thinking?! Were you even thinking?! You think a god-damned chair could have kept someone out of here? They could have attacked you or worse.”
While Gabi took a breath during her rant, Emma hazarded a glance over at Devin and asked him under her breath, “Is she always like this when she’s angry?”
Just barely nodding his head and murmuring back in just as soft a voice, he answered, “Frankly, I find it a turn on.”
Emma closed her eyes and shook her head at the immediate mental imagery that provided and it was at that point that Gabi realized that she wasn’t being paid attention to and stalked closer to Emma, shaking her finger as she resumed her lecture, “I’m not messing around here young lady! Why didn’t you tell me about this in your text? Crisse de Tabarnak! You should have called us, or better, come back to our place.”
“Oh, she’s so pissed if she’s pulling out the French.”
“You shut up! This isn’t a joking matter. Would you be sitting here mocking me right now if we’d come here to find her raped or worse, murdered?” Gabi waved towards where Emma’s mammoth chair still blocked the other apartment entrance. “That chair, big and fluffy as it is, wasn’t going to stop anyone hell bent on getting in here.”
Head lowered, eyes locked on the ground, Emma’s voice was soft to the point it was almost inaudible. “I’m sorry for scaring you. I thought I had it under control. And I’m okay.”
“Okay enough that you’re willing to live in this hell hole for another 10 months, risking this happening again and again?” Emma couldn’t prevent her wide gray eyes from darting up involuntarily and Gabi nodded triumphantly. “Thought so. We’re getting you out of here. We’ll get you out of your lease, get you some place safer.” She paused for a long moment, and had Emma been paying more attention, she might have noticed the almost devious gleam in Gabi’s eyes. “In fact, I know a place in Blue Springs proper that you could get for the same price you’re paying here because of some other factors.”
“Oh, don’t do that to her.” Devin interjected almost immediately and this time Emma did look up to gaze at him curiously. “I don’t want her here either, but you don’t want her to have to put up with that, do you?”
Gabi smiled at her husband, murmuring at him, “It will be educational.”
Gazing back and forth between her friends, Emma finally asked in a still soft voice, “Do I get any say in this matter?”
“No.” They both answered in damn-near unison, before Devin continued. “It isn’t safe for you here, little one. And while I’m not completely sure I agree with her plan, I do agree that you shouldn’t stay here a moment longer. Baby, why don’t you work your magic on the lease agent, I’ll call some of my boys over, see about how fast we can move her stuff out of here.”
When the couple turned to start discussing further details, Emma eased out of the room and into her bedroom, closing the door behind her. Almost mechanically she went to her closet, pulling out suitcases and clothing, methodically packing even as slow tears trickled unchecked down her face.
It wasn’t that Emma didn’t appreciate her friends cared – that she had friends at all was still something of a wonder to her - it was more that, once again, people were deciding what was best for her. She’d spent her entire life being a disappointment to most of her family, the odd duck who wanted out of their pretentious little town, and the one who just never fit in. Even when she’d graduated Summa Cum Laude from Columbia University this past May, only Keegan had made the trip to New York City to see her accept her diploma. And the previous night’s phone call was the first time he’d made any sort of reference to keeping up any sort of relationship with her.
Glancing around the room at her meager possessions, Emma noted with some sadness that had anyone attempted to burglarize her apartment, they‘d have been sorely disappointed. While she did have a laptop, tablet, and smartphone, those were all work-issued, and were luxuries she never would have considered if she’d had to get them on her own. Even the old suitcase she was now packing was held together in several spots by duct tape – but like the chair in the living room, it had belonged to her Grandpa Connelly. So even if she could afford to replace either item, she never would.
A soft knock at her door caused Emma to pause her packing and see which Malone had decided to check up on her. Opening the door, she found Devin’s big brown eyes gazing back at her and without a word he pulled her into a hug, his voice a whisper as he ran a slow hand through her blonde curls. “It’s going to be okay, little one. We’ll take care of you, keep you safe.” He pulled back from her a bit and gazed into her eyes. “I wish you had called us last night.”
She sighed and backed away, too overwhelmed by emotion to deal with his affection outright and turned back towards the half-packed suitcase. Mumbling at him in the same soft but defiant voice, she reminded him, “I had it under control. I’m still here right now, aren’t I?” She shook her head, knowing Devin would be less prone to lecture her than his wife would, but still aware she was treading in dangerous territory.
“You are. For now. She’s not only gotten you out of your lease, but you’ll be getting your security deposit back.” When Emma turned to stare at him in shock at that bit of news, he nodded his head. “You should see her in the courtroom. She’s fierce. Like I said, it’s a turn on.”
Once again Emma was closing her eyes and shaking her head. “I really, really, really do not want to know about your sex life, Dev. No matter how much I like you guys, no. Just. No.”
“Is he telling you about how I tie him up and spank him when he’s a naughty boy?” Gabi’s voice trickled in from just outside Emma’s bedroom door, and this time held the more playful tone that Emma had grown accustomed to.
“Brain bleach! Brain bleach! Oh my fucking god, you guys! How am I supposed to do anything with those mental images in my head?” Emma had her face covered with her hands and was shuddering a bit.
“I guess that means we shouldn’t tell her about the handcuffs?” Devin inquired casually and at that Emma just screeched without a word while Gabi laughed and came further into the room.
Coming up behind Emma and placing her hands on her shoulders, Gabi spoke softly to the younger woman. “I’m sorry that we’ve kinda taken over here. I just don’t think either one of us could stand the thought of losing you. You’ve become like a little sister to me.”
“I have a younger sister,” Emma murmured back at the same volume. “You’re more than welcome to her.” Not realizing how serious Emma was being, both Devin and Gabi chuckled. Their laughter stopped abruptly as she continued. “Course, you’re not embarrassed to be around me, so she’d have little use for you, either.”
Devin and Gabi exchanged a wordless glance and then Devin spoke, trying to cautiously change the subject. “This place in Blue Springs. The unit you’d be potentially getting is about the same size as this place, but more clean. It’s within walking distance of a grocery chain and a home improvement store. There’s also a hospital right up the road.”
“Sounds nice. And expensive. So how exactly are you expecting it to cost me the same that I’m paying to be here?” Emma inquired as she waved her hand around the dilapidated room.
Once again, the couple exchanged glances, and this time it was Gabi who answered. “Because it’s owned by the people who built the rink that they plan to put a minor league hockey team in, and they’re being careful about tenants. It’s where they’ll host the p
layers, and it’s liable to be a bit louder and rowdier than this place. But still, infinitely more safe.”
Shaking her head side to side, Emma retorted, “I know you said they legally can’t enforce that no-fraternizing clause, but it seems like a big fuck you to the paper if I go and live where the players are. Is that the smartest option?”
They both nodded their heads and Devin answered, “You’ll be safe there. And Gabi’ll make sure you don’t have to pay a penny more than you are now.”
~*~
And true to her word, Gabi had negotiated so that not only was Emma paying less, but she had more space, even a second bedroom – even if she hadn’t stuck any sort of bedding in there a year later. She just used the room for storage, for various items that the baseball and football teams had given away and other assorted items.
It almost felt like the home she’d thought she’d found in Jefferson City – a bit too big to be quite as cozy, but still comfortable. And as the Malones had assured her, safe. The community was gated, within walking distance to the new rink, and the owners had only been too happy to inform her that her rent covered access to the training facilities in the practice arena. So between that and weekly kick-boxing sessions with Gabi, Emma had found herself to be less fluffy than when she first moved to Missouri.
Just Another Season Page 2
