by Mj Fields
“I could get used to this,” Emma smiled as London hugged her gently so she wouldn’t hurt her.
Caroline had been researching recipes that had cancer fighting ingredients. She made sure that most everything was high in vitamin D which was linked to slow the growth of cancer. As well as green vegetables, tonight it was brussel sprouts.
As they ate Lila made mention that Brody had a couple interviews that would be aired tonight and winked at Caroline. Emma thanked Lila and wrote down Mark’s number.
“Call him, he is as married to his career as you are, and hot as hell. His eyes twinkled when he looked at you Lila,” Emma smiled and hugged her.
When London was asleep Caroline brought over laundry and turned on the TV.
“I will fold them just sit and relax and watch TV with me,” Caroline smiled.
Emma was almost asleep when she heard Brody’s voice and jumped. Caroline smiled and looked at the TV.
“Welcome Back Brody Hines” Gordon the host said.
“Good to be here,” Brody said and flashed his sexy smile.
“So as per your Publicist we have to avoid any talk of your personal life except what is on this card,” Gordon laughed as he crumpled it up and threw it over his shoulder.
Brody licked his lips and his eyes narrowed a bit, “Well we just feel the less personal the better,” he said sitting back.
“Well let’s get all the personal stuff out of the way first, we can time it if it will make you feel better. Let’s do thirty seconds of rapid fire questioning. You can skip three. Agreed?” Gordon asked smiling.
“We shall see, shoot,” Brody smiled.
“Boxers or briefs?” Gordon asked.
“Neither,” Brody smiled.
“M&M’s really your favorite?” Gordon asked.
“More than you’ll ever know,” Brody answered.
“Miss your ex wife?” Gordon asked.
“Hell no!” Brody laughed.
“Anyone new in mind?”
“Yes,” Brody gave a half smile.
“Have you sealed the deal?” Gordon asked.
Brody raised his eyebrow “Skip.”
“Do you want to seal the deal?”
“I believe in abstaining until marriage,” he chuckled.
“Will you remarry?”
“Sure, if she would have me.”
“How long would it last?” Gordon laughed.
“Forever,” Brody said deep in thought.
“Do you like top or bottom?” Gordon laughed.
“Hmm, top,” Brody said.
“Vanilla or mix it up?”
“Skip” he laughed.
“Do you want children?”
“I love children, doesn’t matter either way.”
“Now look at the screen and tell me which is more your type, A B or C.”
Brody watched as the pictures came across, one was of Ariel, the second of Princess Kate and the third of Emma from the first time he ran into her at the park.
“Skip, are we done here?” He asked annoyed.
“Yep, thirty seconds is up, thank you for playing that with us. After commercial break we will return to talk about Brody Hines’ new Album, to be released a week early. And to discuss a new charity he has founded. Stay tuned,” Gordon stood and smiled at Brody as Brody looked at the ground.
~
“He is very handsome Emma,” Caroline said softly.
“Mom, please I need to get through all this,” Emma said looking down.
“Do you love him?” Caroline asked.
“In a perfect world without cancer or ex’s he would be wonderful, possessive and…” Emma started.
“Domineering is the word I think you’re looking for dear,” Caroline giggled.
“Mom I am sorry about that,” Emma was embarrassed.
“Don’t be sorry, enjoy him,” Caroline laughed and Emma joined her.
They heard his voice again.
~
“So Brody tell us about your new Charity,” Gordon said.
“Well it’s called London’s Child. It is to raise money for families, mainly orphaned children whose parents have died of terminal illness. So that they don’t have to fend for themselves. This is Rebecca, my sister,” he said looking into the camera and Emma gasped, “She will be running a home here in London for kids who have lost a parent. A lot of times when someone dies the other parent struggles and it’s the children who are failed. Be it to drugs or alcohol or just the demands to work more to replace income, those children lose. We want to help them, as many as we can.”
“Is there a reason behind this?” Gordon asked.
“Actually it’s personal. But I will share. My mother died of cancer when I was young and well, to put it mildly, I lost my way for awhile. Until the past few weeks I didn’t realize how much I needed my mother. There you have it,” he smiled shyly.
“So what else are we going to do today Brody?” Gordon asked.
“Well I would like to wrap some gifts that Rebecca and I bought that we will be donating to the charity for Christmas. We want to wrap them up in bows,” he said grinning and looked at the camera. “Pretty little packages, if anyone cares to donate a gift the address should magically appear on the screen.”
~
Caroline laughed and looked at Emma who was crimson and crying. “What’s wrong Emma?” Caroline said and hugged her.
“His mom died of cancer, he was alone and scared and sad for many years. Now I have cancer and that’s just yet another reason I can’t be with him and I love him Mom, I do,” Emma cried.
They sat snuggled up on the couch and watched Brody laugh while he tied the gifts Rebecca wrapped in bows.
~
“So what do you do when you run out of ribbon?” Gordon laughed holding up the empty roll.
“Improvise, like use a scarf or I don’t know socks, whatever you can get your hands on I guess,” Brody laughed as he tided up the bows.
“Wow bows make you happy,” Gordon laughed as he took his tie off and handed it to Brody to use to make a bow.
“I love bows,” Brody said trying to hide his amusement.
“And M&M’s” Gordon laughed as his assistant brought out a bag.
Brody shook his head and bit his cheek as he tried not to laugh but failed miserably, it was a darker deeper laugh, “Yes nothing makes me happier than Bow’s and M&M’s, nothing in this whole world.”
“So we could set you up in a chair with a bowl of M&M’s and a box full of ribbons and that would be good for you?” Gordon laughed.
“Oh it would be like I imagine heaven to be, I could stay cooped up like that for at least two days,” he laughed, and looked at the camera, “Maybe three,” he said and his eyebrow raised.
“Alright so you have a surprise for us tonight Brody, why don’t you tell the audience,” Gordon smiled.
“Tonight we are going to release our title track. All proceeds will go to London’s Child,” Rebecca Hines shared, “And Brody and the boys are going to sing you the title track.”
Emma sat and watched him as he sang. Just like the first time she saw him perform it was like watching a private moment, one that she was part of. Her heart ached when she remembered the night Brody and she had talked about the song and how open he seemed. She was reminded how quickly that changed and how cold he became and she knew she could not go through that again, ever.
“I think I may love him too Emma, on that note I will leave you and go find your father,” Caroline laughed as she took the empty basket and disappeared out the door.
Emma received a text at midnight
-I hope you caught the show. No reading between the lines Princess, I will have you in bows…Brody
- Think deeply Brody Hines of what happened after you opened up to me about that and let this go…Emma
Her phone rang and she ignored it.
-Please Emma I need you …Brody
- The interview was comical, now all your crazy fans know yo
u don’t wear undies The foundation you started with your sister is beautiful and you should be very proud of yourself. Your performance was amazing. Take care .... Emma
-Don’t patronize me…Brody
-I am not, you did great…Emma
-I hope you can see I have been busy Emma this trip has been far from pleasurable…MM
-Brody please, I don’t know how to end this but I can’t do this to me or to you…Emma
-Then don’t Em, just don’t..MM
~
Emma sent Dr. Slain a text message with a few questions.
-Do you work near the office…Mark
-A few blocks away…Emma
-Meet me for lunch? Tell me where you want to meet I have an hour and a half. We can chat…Mark
“Thanks for meeting me,” Emma said as she smiled at Mark Slain.
“No problem, I know you’re working at a new job and after work you have your daughter to tend to so I can be flexible,” Mark smiled. “So what do you think?”
“Well how often do I need to do the treatments, how long do they take, how will I feel, what are the side effects?” Emma bombarded him.
He smiled and sat down and took her hands in one of his, “First I want to do another Mammogram, next we will start with treatments five days a week for seven weeks. Unless you want to try twice a day for a week. The side affects vary. There is armpit and chest pain, fatigue, lowered white blood cell counts, and can cause lung and heart issues.”
Emma realized how hard she was squeezing his hand and let go.
“Sorry,” Emma said and looked horrified.
Mark hugged her, “You’re fine.”
“What do you suggest I do, I mean which treatment plan?” Emma asked.
“Well you have to make that choice, you may have no side effects. The one week treatment plan will obviously hit hard and fast but if it were me I would do that. But I didn’t just start a new job or have a London,” Mark smiled sweetly.
“Well maybe I can see if I can spread my hours between five days instead of three and work that out, I want this done,” Emma said decisively.
“Good, listen we can start Thursday or Friday and you would go until Monday or Tuesday. It’s up to you but three of those days you would have off of work. Maybe you could stay with your friend in the city?” Mark smiled, “I could come by and check on you.”
Emma laughed, “I will think about it.”
Mark walked with Emma back to her building and answered more questions. She hugged him and thanked him and went back to work. She spoke to her boss and was given permission to work from home both Thursday and Tuesday. Emma was extremely grateful. She texted Mark and let him know and he would set things up. Lila insisted she stay there and Caroline promised to bring London on school days. Lila would occupy her on the weekend at her place.
~
Emma was scheduled at eight in the morning and four in the afternoon on each day.
Thursday the good doctor brought her back from each appointment and walked her in. “You have my number Emma anything you need or are concerned about let me know,” Mark said sternly.
“Thanks so much, I think I may be concerned at around eight tonight if you would like to stop over and have dinner,” Emma smiled.
“You’re a doll, we will see. Go get some rest,” Mark said and gave her a quick hug.
Emma walked into the bathroom to examine her breast. There was a small incision which was healed and nicely except for the pink mark it left behind to the left of her areola. Her once perfect breast now marked for life. It wasn’t a huge change, her breast was still the same size as the other but if you looked close enough you could tell that a small dent would forever be there. The incision was low and horizontal so that if she wore a tank top it would not be noticeable. But Emma knew she would never feel completely comfortable the way she had felt with Brody, completely naked and tied up allowing someone to explore every part of her. It had taken her years to feel confident enough to wear a bathing suit let alone be in her birthday suit. She made Troy turn off the lights and still used covers most of the time. It was never like that with Brody, he made her feel beautiful and desirable and now he was gone. Tears fell down her face as she looked at herself. London would be here tomorrow so today she could cry and so she did.
She was asleep when Lila came home to check on her. It was eight o’clock and she had been asleep for three hours. Lila saw her phone flashing missed calls. She grabbed it and walked into the hall. Lila returned Caroline’s call and told her that Emma was asleep and they decided it would be best to let her sleep. She answered the phone when Mark called and told him she was asleep and he offered to come over, she accepted his offer.
They were chatting in the living room when Emma walked out.
“Oh hey what time is it?” Emma asked.
“Eight thirty, you should call London, she is worried about you,” Lila smiled.
“How are you feeling Emma?” Mark asked and felt her head and immediately took her pulse.
“I am fine just tired,” Emma said with a forced smile. “Is that my phone?”
“Yes I am sorry, I returned your calls, I didn’t want to wake you. All except one,” Lila said giving her a sad puppy dog face.
“Give it a rest Lila,” Emma said and walked away to call London.
Friday was the same except London would be there at seven and she was very excited. Lila had rented some movies and Mark was stopping over again. Friday ran into Saturday and Emma was getting more tired everyday. By noon on Sunday she was exhausted and her body ached. Her breast was red and hot and very uncomfortable. Caroline had come to get London and Emma thought she had held it together wonderfully for her daughter and now she was going to bed.
~
Caroline pulled into the driveway and London screamed and jumped out of the car and ran towards her Grandfather and a man Caroline couldn’t tell yet who he was.
“Brody,” London screamed and jumped in his arms.
“Well hello there London, have you missed me?” Brody said laughing.
“Of course I have, more than you could ever imagine,” London squeezed him tightly and he felt her little body shake and could tell immediately that she was crying.
“Miss London what is wrong?” Brody whispered.
“I missed you Brody,” she sobbed.
“Well you were with me the whole time,” he breathed out and closed his eyes.
“Brody, mom is not here, she is in the city, and she...” London began.
“Brody Hines, what brings you here?” Caroline interrupted.
“I just returned from London and I missed it so much that I figured I would stop by and see someone who outshines the whole city itself,” he smiled and twirled her around.
“Well why don’t you come in for a little bit, it’s almost London’s bedtime but I think we could bend the rules this once,” Caroline smiled and patted his back. “Henry you have met Brody?”
“I have, he pulled in a couple minutes before you did,” Henry smiled and kissed his wife.
London was still wrapped around Brody and he held her as tightly as she held him. “I brought you some things from the city that was named after you,” Brody said and pulled her away and looked in her eyes still full of tears. “Okay Miss London, I don’t know what is going on but I am going to fix it so you don’t have to worry anymore.”
“I love you Brody,” she whispered.
“I love you more,” Brody said softly.
“That’s what Mommy says,” London said with a smile on her face.
“And I learned it from her, she is very smart. Just like you,” Brody set her down, “Are you going to be okay?”
“Are you going to see my Mommy?” London asked.
“Do you think I should?” he smiled.
“Yes,” London said sticking her nose in the air.
“Well then I guess I should then,” Brody said and kissed her nose.
“London, your Mom is going to be
busy for a few days, three to be exact Brody,” she said giving him a knowing look. “Maybe you should wait until then.”
“No Grandma she needs…” London started.
“London my sweet sweet girl,” Caroline said “Your Mommy needs a few days okay?”
London started to cry and Brody fought the urge to destroy something. “With all due respect ma’am…”
“Watch yourself Brody,” Henry sneered, “My wife and granddaughter are standing right here, and our daughter, our little girl needs just a few more days without a bunch of...”
“Okay Henry. Thank you,” Caroline said and wrapped her arm around his waist.
