Part 3 (1/2)
Emma leaned in and placed a kiss on Addison's cheek. ”You know, I'm lucky to have you.”
Addison chuckled. ”Dense as the fog, and you still love me.”
”Pretty much,” Emma answered playfully. Addison laughed.
It was true. Addison sometimes created questions where there didn't need to be any. She didn't mean to. Emma had grown to realize that many of Addison's quirks and insecurities stemmed from losing her mother. People didn't think of death as abandonment. Emma imagined that was because death was not a choice. It was just something that happened when it decided to. In some ways, that made it the worst way to be abandoned. You were given no choice. That was a reality that Emma had never experienced in the same way as Addison had. Addison possessed an underlying need to stay in control. She wasn't controlling, but she remained fearful of loss. And, Emma did know that what Addison feared the most was somehow losing Emma. That sometimes clouded Addison's judgment. Dense as the fog was an accurate description. But, the fog was momentary. It always lifted. Emma sometimes needed to remind Addison of that fact.
”I think we all lose sight of the sun in the sky from time to time,” Emma mused. ”We know it's there; we just get lost in all the clouds.”
”You sure you're not the writer?” Addison asked.
”No. I've learned a lot from loving one, though.”
”Em?”
”Yeah?”
”If you asked me to give it all up, I would.”
Emma nestled against Addison. ”I know that,” she said. ”You never have to, Addy.”
Addison closed her eyes and breathed Emma in. ”Lavender,” she mumbled.
”What?”
”I like that name-Lavender.”
Emma giggled. ”We are not calling a child Lavender... or Magenta for that matter.”
”Like you,” Addison mused happily.
”I'm not sure I want to know what you are talking about.”
Addison pulled Emma closer. ”You smell like lavender.”
”You are silly, Addy. And, we're still not naming any child Lavender.”
”Lilac?” Addison suggested. Emma remained silent. ”Orchid?” Addison offered.
”Well, I'm sure he will thank you when he gets to kindergarten.”
”Ahh... You think it's a boy.”
”Maybe.”
”Really?” Addison asked. Emma tried not to laugh. ”Em? Do you think it's a boy? Emma?” Emma's body began to quake with laughter. ”Come on; you have a weird sense about this stuff.”
”What does that mean?” Emma kept laughing.
”You knew the munchkin was going to be a girl.”
”I thought so, yes.”
”So?”
”Does it matter?” Emma wondered.
”Nope, but I'd hate to name a girl, King.”
Emma smacked Addison lightly. ”The only thing you'll ever name King in this family is a dog.”
”Are we getting a dog?”
”Go to sleep,” Emma said.
”Em? Maybe we should.”
”Maybe we should what?”
”Get a dog.”
”No.”
”It can protect you when I'm working,” Addison said.
”No.”
”It will teach the kids responsibility.”
”No.”
”It will keep you company when I travel,” Addison argued.
”It will keep me dealing with more p.o.o.p. No.”
”I think we should.”
”You would.”
”Em?”
”Addy, I swear if you don't go to sleep, we will be getting a dog house-for you.”
Addison laughed. ”Thanks, Em.”
”You're welcome.”