Wrapped in Silk

by Mj Fields

  “Thank you,” Emma said squeezing his hand.

  “I don’t know why he is at our house but I need to speak to him alone,” Brody said softly.

  “Okay, I am tired anyway,” Emma began.

  “How tired Em…you know we should get you to a hospital,” Brody began.

  “I am seriously just tired, if I feel any differently I promise to tell you okay?” Emma interrupted.

  “Promise me Em,” Brody said as he pulled into the driveway.

  “Of course,” Emma smiled.

  ~

  Brody tucked Emma in and kissed her, “I will be back soon.”

  “Brody I don’t know what the relationship is with your father and I hope you understand when I say this but he is your father. Regardless of what has happened in the past please don’t be angry at him about tonight. He is going to be our child’s grandfather, people can change Brody they just need reasons to. Look at Troy, he is trying,” Emma hugged him and he kissed her cheek.

  “I will be back soon Emma,” Brody walked out the door and down the stairs and found his father in the study looking through the music library.

  “Father,” Brody said as he approached.

  “Son,” Robert smiled, “Are you alright? Is your wife alright? I was on my way here to talk when Rebecca called, I was literally shocked to hear you went to your Uncle’s.”

  “Everything is fine for now,” Brody wanted to say more but stopped.

  “No Brody, not for now, you have to let it go. Bo has changed. He isn’t right, he is …” Robert stopped.

  “Why aren’t you there father, you never missed a party, not since mom became ill. Or as you told us, left you,” Brody snapped.

  “I can’t change the past Brody but I do understand that what I told you was wrong. She would not let me take care of her. She did not want you all to know she was sick…It killed me Brody. God do you know what it’s like to let someone walk away knowing…” Robert stopped and stood up and walked towards the fireplace, “I am truly sorry son.”

  “Alright Dad, alright,” Brody walked over to him and patted his shoulder.

  “What I did after was inexcusable, I did not understand that until later. I was angry at her, so angry. I think that’s why I leaned on Bo and his lifestyle. She hated him and all that he was and I truly felt I hated her at that time. I know it was wrong now, I…” Robert wiped away a tear, “I loved her so very much. I turned away from all my family could have offered our family because I knew it was all corrupt and that living with nothing but her love was more than enough. And then you all came...”

  “Dad, I understand alright, I do. I forgive you,” Brody hugged him.

  “Thank you, thank you so much,” Robert and Brody hugged for a long time.

  “Can I get you a drink,” Brody said stepping back and drying his eyes.

  “I don’t drink anymore,” Robert smiled.

  “Excellent, tea then?” Brody asked.

  “I am alright but if you need something go ahead,” Robert sat next to the fire, “And then we need to talk.”

  “I am fine, tell me what’s on your mind,” Brody sat in the chair next to him.

  “Stay away from Bo. I am serious Brody. You have started a wonderful thing, London’s Child will help so many, stay away from him,” Robert warned.

  “I have no intention of going back there. But he made a threat…” Brody began.

  “Then listen to it, he is in a bad place Brody,” Robert warned.

  “Dad…” Brody began.

  “Just let it go,” Robert was visibly upset.

  “Has he threatened you?” Brody snarled.

  “No.” Robert stood up and walked away.

  “Dad, I want you to come to the States, we would like you to stay with us, we have plenty of room,” Brody offered.

  “Okay,” Robert smiled, “Let me tie up a few things around here. I am going to be a Grandfather huh Brody?”

  “You are,” Brody smiled.

  Brody and Robert talked for another hour before they hugged and Robert insisted on leaving. Brody went upstairs and Emma was in the bathroom.

  “You alright Em?” Brody asked as he walked in the bathroom.

  “Of course, I just had to use the bathroom,” Emma smiled, “Are you alright?”

  “Wonderful actually, Dad has agreed to leave here and move to the States. He is sober and I understand why things turned into such a mess for him. I could not imagine what I would do if I lost you Emma,” Brody grabbed her face and kissed her.

  Emma knew he had a rough night and that he needed her.

  She pulled back and let out a breath, “I want you.”

  “Then have me,” he said and grabbed her and kissed her hard on the mouth.

  Emma wrapped her legs around him and he carried her to the bed. She slowly began to unbutton his shirt as he kissed down her neck. As she struggled trying to unbutton his shirt he lifted her shirt over her head and grabbed her breast and squeezed it gently. Emma moaned and continued unbuttoning his shirt.

  “Fuck it,” he snarled and ripped his shirt off and continued kissing her.

  Emma released him from his pants and he gasped and bite down on her nipple as he rubbed the other between his fingers. Brody pulled her up off the bed and pushed her up against the wall and wrapped her legs around him as he licked and sucked her breast. He moved into her slowly and she gasped.

  “I will never lose you,” he groaned in her ear, “I love you Emma, you are my life.”

  Brody continued kissing her neck and pounding into her as she hung on for dear life.

  “Brody,” she moaned and felt her body explode.

  Brody lay her on the bed and continued slamming into her until she came again and he finally finished and lay on top of her.

  “I love you,” he said against her cheek, “So much Em, I love you.”

  “I love you more,” Emma said right before she fell asleep.

  ~

  “Rebecca what time is it?” Brody asked when he answered the phone.

  Emma sat up and looked at Brody and saw his face in the moonlight, his expression turned from confusion to pain immediately.

  “I will be right there,” Brody hung up and jumped out of bed.

  “Brody?” Emma asked following him into the bathroom.

  “Em,” he grabbed her and hugged her and quickly pulled back, “There has been an accident, I need to get to the hospital, it’s my father.”

  Emma grabbed him clothes as he washed his face and brushed his teeth. Emma dressed quickly and walked out of their room and woke her mom to tell her they had to leave and that she would call when she could.

  Brody was grabbing his coat when she ran down the stairs, “Em you don’t have to go. I will call you.”

  “I am going with you,” she grabbed her coat.

  Brody stopped and looked at her and let out a deep breath.

  “Brody if it were my family you would insist so don’t bother, let’s go,” Emma grabbed the keys and walked out, he followed behind her.

  “I can drive Emma,” he snapped.

  “Get in,” Emma said and started the car.

  Emma held his hand as they walked into the hospital and Rebecca met them at the desk of the Emergency Room.

  “Brody, he isn’t good,” she cried.

  “I want to see him, take us to him,” Brody and Emma followed Rebecca into the exam room.

  Brody stopped short at the door and turned to Emma, “You don’t have to be in here.”

  “Brody stop,” Emma whispered and gently stroked his face.

  Emma took Brody’s hand and walked to Robert’s side. Brody gasped when he looked at him. Robert’s eyes were swollen and purple, his face had several lacerations and a blood stained bandage was wrapped around the entire top of his head.

  “Mr. Hines, I am Doctor James. I would like to discuss your options, would you care to have a seat?” Brody sat down and Emma stood beside him with her hand on his shoulder. His face was
expressionless as he looked at Robert.

  “Your father suffered a great deal of trauma to his head. He has what we call countercoup injury. The force of the impact from the accident caused severe brain damage to the opposite or left side of his brain. He has also had a fractured skull, the blood you see is from his ears, his pupils are uneven. From the scans we have run it is only a matter of time before he passes. We would like to know if you would consider allowing us to harvest his organ…”

  “Get the fuck out,” Brody screamed and stood up.

  “I understand that this is a horrible…” Doctor James continued.

  Brody took a step towards him and Emma stood in front of him.

  “Now is not the time Doctor,” Emma said holding Brody’s hands tightly around her waist.

  “But it’s a time sensitive…” Doctor James started.

  Brody tried to release his hands from Emma’s grasp.

  “With all due respect, get the hell out, get out now,” Emma snapped and the doctor left the room.

  Emma turned to Brody and grabbed his face and looked into his eyes, “Sit, Brody sit down over here.”

  Emma dragged a chair next to Robert’s side and Brody sat, “Hold his hand.”

  Brody closed his eyes and held his hand. Emma started to walk away.

  “Em…” Brody started.

  “I am not going anywhere,” Emma looked at Rebecca who still stood in the doorway.

  Emma pulled a chair next to Brody’s and took Rebecca’s hand and walked her to the chair where she sat next to Brody.

  Emma stood behind them and kissed them both on the head. They sat for close to an hour and the heart monitor started to beep loudly causing a team of nurses to rush through the door.

  “Clear the room,” the head nurse yelled and brought a crash cart into the room.

  “Brody Rebecca we need to let them work,” Emma said softly and pulled them both into the hallway.

  No one said a word.

  Emma held their hands as they leaned against the wall.

  Emma heard a woman crying in the room across the hallway. A stretcher was being brought out of the room with a child on it attached to a ventilator.

  “We can’t lose him,” the woman cried into what appeared to be her husband’s chest as he rubbed her back.

  “We have to be prepared,” he held her tighter.

  “No,” she cried.

  Doctor James walked past them and nodded.

  “Anything?” the woman grabbed his arm.

  “I am sorry,” he said and patted her hand.

  Emma closed her eyes and did not want to see Brody’s reaction.

  The nurses exited Robert’s room and Emma looked up.

  “Go ahead in,” the nurse said.

  “Could you tell us anything?” Emma asked.

  “You don’t have a lot of time, his heart is giving out. His brain waves are slowing down. You should be prepared to say your goodbyes,” she rubbed Emma’s back and walked away.

  “Rebecca, you go ahead in, we will be in momentarily,” Brody said and kissed his sister.

  Emma hugged Brody and he hugged her back.

  “Please tell me what I have to do, I can’t make that decision Em,” he said quietly.

  “You have to, you and Rebecca have to make the decision together,” Emma kissed him.

  “Brody Hines?” the woman who was crying looked at him.

  “Yes,” he said quietly.

  “My son is a huge fan, he will be back soon. He doesn’t have long but it would mean a lot to him if you said hello,” she said and cried.

  “Of course,” Brody smiled softly.

  Brody looked at Emma and shook his head and pulled her tighter into him.

  “If he were ours…” Brody started.

  “He isn’t,” Emma ran her hands through his hair.

  “My father is not going to wake up,” Brody said searching for answers in Emma’s eyes.

  “No,” she said in barely a whisper.

  “I need to talk to Rebecca,” Brody said pulling her head against his chest.

  “I will give you a few minutes alone,” Emma offered.

  “No, I need you Emma unless…”

  “No unless, I just thought you may want a few minutes, of course I want to be there for you,” Emma took his hand and they walked in.

  “We need to make a decision,” Brody said and hugged his sister.

  “I think we both know what we need to do Brody,” Rebecca said, her facial expression unchanged, “He isn’t here.”

  “Emma would you go speak to Doctor James please,” Brody asked.

  “Of course,” Emma said and hugged him.

  All the paperwork was signed and they began to wheel the stretcher out of the room.

  Brody held his hand tightly to his chest and a look of panic crept into his eyes.

  Emma could not stop the tears from welling up even though she tried.

  “Stop,” Brody’s voice echoed down the hall as he ran to the stretcher and held his father, “I love you, I love you.”

  He looked at the monitors hoping for a change and nothing had changed. Brody stepped back and watched as the operating room staff took him through the doors and they shut behind them. Brody crouched down and leaned against the wall and hugged his knees.

  Emma ran down the hall and knelt down in front of him and held him as he cried.

  Another stretcher passed them as they held each other.

  Brody stood and Emma wiped away his tears, “Get me out of here,” he whispered in his ear.

  “Mr. Hines!” the woman yelled.

  Brody turned to see the woman motioning her into a room, he closed his eyes and took Emma’s hand and walked towards them.

  “This is my son Johna,” she smiled.

  “Hello Johna,” Brody shook his hand.

  “Wow, it really is you, are you here to see me?” Johna asked.

  “I am,” Brody smiled.

  Dr. Green entered the room and looked curiously at Brody. “Johna we have some great news for you, we have a match, you’re getting your transplant.”

  Johna’s mother cried and fell to her knees in prayer. Emma held Brody’s hand tightly.

  “Awesome, I mean I am happy but someone died? Mom I don’t know if I can,” Johna said with tears in his eyes.

  “Johna, you don’t have a choice darling,” his mother said as she stood and held his hand.

  Brody stood and stared at the floor, “Mr. Hines what would you do?”

  “Well Johna I would take it, you have many years ahead of you. Things happen for a reason. Think of it as a gift from God,” Brody smiled and kissed his head.

  “Okay, are you sick? Why are you here?” Johna asked as curiously as any eight year old would.

  “I am here to see you, and now that I know you’re going to be okay I can leave,” Brody smiled.

  ~

  Brody, Emma, and Rebecca walked into the house and Henry met them at the door, he looked at Emma and at Brody.

  “What can I do to help?” Henry asked.

  “Thank you Henry but there isn’t much we can do at this hour. Rebecca why don’t you go rest, call our brother and Bo. You and I will make arrangements and get back to them,” Brody looked at Emma, “You should rest, we can’t do anything for a couple more hours.”

  “I will when you do, I am going to make some tea,” Emma kissed him and disappeared into the kitchen.

  ~

  The funeral service was small and private, held graveside. It was held two days after Robert’s passing. Bo, Bobby, Rebecca, and Brody stood together quietly. London and Emma behind them and Caroline and Henry were there as well. The minister read several passages and shook their hands before he walked away.

  “Emma, Dad and I are going to take London back and get lunch set up,” Caroline said hugging Emma.

  “Grandma I want to stay with Brody,” London said and started to cry.

  Emma hugged London, “We have to let him griev
e London. We will be there very soon okay?”

  London looked up and Brody took her hand, “London, thank you.”

  London hugged Brody tightly, “Brody I am so sorry.”

  Brody scooped her up in his arms and held her, “Me too.”

  “Do you need me to stay?” London asked.

  “I need you all the time but maybe Grandma Caroline needs your help setting the table,” Brody wiped London’s tears as he put her down, “Sometimes I wonder if she knows where the fork goes.”

  “I know where it goes,” London smiled and wiped his tears.

  “I know you do,” Brody kissed her finger.

  “Okay but if you need me Brody,” London said raising her eyebrows.

  “I know where to find you and I can promise I will need extra hugs this evening,” Brody smiled.

  “Okay, like a hundred?” she asked.

  “Maybe a hundred and fifty,” Brody winked.

  Brody took Emma’s hand and walked towards Bobby and Rebecca.

  “Bobby this is Emma, Em this is my brother,” Brody introduced them.

  “I am so sorry for your loss,” Emma said and shook his hand.

  “Thank you, I am sorry this is how we had to meet,” Bobby smiled slightly.

  “Me too,” Emma said softly.

  They stood looking at the grave quietly, “Well he is with Mom now.”

  Bobby shook his head, “Ya, what the hell happened? Did he have a heart attack, was he drinking?”

  “He had not drank in awhile, he left our home ad hit a tree,” Brody said scowling down.

  “He stopped drinking?” Bobby asked surprised, “What caused the accident?”

  “I haven’t had time to get a copy of the accident report,” Rebecca said quickly.

  “We have been busy, Rebecca it’s alright,” Brody said and hugged her.

  “I will look into it, I know a few people in the police department,” Bo offered.

  “No, I can do it,” Brody scowled.

  “Brody let him, you guys leave in two days. I will call you as soon as we know anything,” Rebecca patted his back.

  “Fine.” Brody let out a breath.

  They all drove back to Brody’s and ate. Bobby was staying the night and Bo and Rebecca left shortly after dinner.

  “He stopped drinking?” Bobby laughed.

  “Yes,” Brody smirked.

  “Well I guess miracles do happen,” Bobby laughed.