Part 6 (1/2)
”You're kidding? I would have thought you'd have called her as soon as you found out you were preggers.”
”It was an interesting weekend. I just sort of wanted to spend it with Addy.”
Tamara nodded. ”Emma?”
”I just wish I could tell her in person is all.”
”Missing home?”
”Missing Mom,” Emma said. ”It's kind of strange. I was with her when I found out the sprout was on her way,” she explained and leaned down to kiss her daughter's head. ”There's something about being a mom that makes me want my mom,” she explained. ”G.o.d, that sounds ridiculous.”
”Nah. I don't think so.”
Emma smiled. ”It makes me understand Addy more.”
”Come again?”
”Well, I'm sure she wishes she had someone to call and tell the news to; you know what I mean?” Emma asked.
”Mm. Never really thought about that. Well, Daddy Dearest does love Sprout. So, I'm sure he will be happy.”
”Yes, he does,” Emma agreed. ”But, he doesn't always show that with Addy.”
”Look, Emma, I know I'm not qualified to give any advice in this area, but maybe you should think about inviting him here to visit again.”
”Adam?”
”Yeah. I hate to admit it, but maybe it would help Addy.”
”I don't know. He balks at coming to the west coast every time we mention it as a possibility.”
”What about to your parents' place?”
Emma thought for a moment. ”I invited him for the holidays a couple of times.”
”Yeah, but that was before you were preggers again.”
”Such a poet,” Emma teased. ”I don't know. What purpose would I invite him there for?”
”Sprout's birthday?” Tamara suggested.
Vicki's birthday was coming fast. Emma hadn't considered taking a trip home for the occasion. ”I don't know, Tam. If Addison takes on this project, she might not have a lot of free time.”
”So? She can fly out for a weekend. Seriously, Emma, think about what you told me. Maybe it'd be good for you if she does start working on something again.”
”Me going to Kansas?”
”Not like moving there. Like, maybe visiting for a couple of weeks. Let Addy do her thing and then come visit. See if you can get Grandpa to come. Who knows? Maybe it'd help them both. And, who knows? Maybe Addy would realize she's not going to make anything bad happen by doing what she loves. Besides, you miss your mom. It might be good for you too.”
”Maybe,” Emma sighed.
”Hey, listen, Addy will be okay,” Tamara a.s.sured Emma. ”You know her; it just takes her a little time to wake up and smell the coffee sometimes. Just like when she met you.”
”What do you mean?”
Tamara laughed. ”Oh, please... Addy was all we're just friends.' You know? She's my friend.' Friend, friend, friend,” Tamara rolled her eyes. ”The whole time she was moping around like a lost puppy.”
Emma smiled. She'd done her share of denying that anything more than friends.h.i.+p had existed between her and Addison when they had met. And, she'd seen Addison's puppy dog eyes more than a few times over the years. ”Puppy, huh?”
”Pretty much.”
”Well, good,” Emma commented. ”Since I already have a puppy, we don't need to get a dog.”
Tamara laughed. ”You've lost it, Em.”
Emma nodded. ”Maybe so.”
”So? Do I get fed now?” Tamara asked.
Emma placed Vicki on the ground and took her hand. ”Sure. You drive; I'll buy.”
”What? I thought you were cooking?” Tamara's disappointment was evident.
”Chuck E. Cheese,” Emma replied.
Tamara hopped from her seat and swept Vicki up onto her hip. ”Come on, Sprout! I'm driving.”
Emma laughed as Tamara hurried back through the house. ”Works every time.”
Chapter Four.
Two Months Later Addison rubbed her eyes and groaned. It had been a long day that had followed an even longer week. She hated being separated from Emma. It wasn't as if they had never been apart. Emma had pointed that out numerous times when she had started planning her trip to Kansas. Addison had raised various arguments against the idea. None of them had managed to deter Emma's plans. Addison had even slept on the couch one night, frustrated by Emma's insistence that a trip home would be good for both of them. Even that had not swayed her wife.
”This sucks,” Addison mumbled. She stared at the phone on her desk and rubbed her eyes again. ”s.h.i.+t.” Addison picked up her cell phone and dialed the number.
”How are you feeling?” Sherry Bronson asked her daughter.
”Pretty good,” Emma replied.
”Missing her, huh?” Sherry guessed.
Emma smiled. She did miss Addison. And, the fact that Addison had been less than receptive to this excursion was making that feeling worse. ”I always miss her,” Emma replied.
”Emmie? Want to talk about it?”