Part 204 (1/2)

art.

She liked its lofty windows, the little gla.s.sed-in balcony where she

could pot herbs, and the fact that it was only a brisk walk to Johnno's.

She saw him almost every day. He went along with her on her hunts

through antique stores, something that bored Drew. It was habitual for

Johnno to drop by once or twice a week for dinner, or to join them on an

evening out. If she couldn't have her father's approval, it soothed to

have Johnno's, to hear him talking music with Drew. Emma was pleased

when he and Drew began to write a song together.

She threw herself into domesticity, making a home for herself, for Drew,

and for the children she couldn't seem to conceive.

It had surprised and pleased Emma that Drew wanted to start a family

right away. Whatever else they disagreed on, whatever differences she

had discovered in their tastes and viewpoints, in this they shared the

same dream.

She imagined what it would be like to carry a child, to feel Drew's

child growing inside of her. Often she daydreamed about how she and

Drew would push a pram through the park. Would they wear those smug

smiles she noticed on new parents?

As the months pa.s.sed, she told herself to be patient, that the time

would come. It was stress, it was trying too hard. Once she had

learned to relax during lovemaking, it would happen.

As spring breezed in, she took dozens of pictures of pregnant women, of

babies and toddlers in the park. She watched them enjoying the fine

warming afternoons. And envied.

Plans to open her own studio and work on her book were postponed, but