by Mj Fields
���Well, you already know that I know Brody, this is actually his car,��� she smiled. ���Is it really?��� London asked elatedly. ���How did you get his car?���
���Well he is my friend, and your mom needed to get to you fast and he offered. Wasn���t that nice of him?��� Lila asked.
���It was very nice of him,��� Emma said and gave her a look, ���So tell her more.���
Within ten minutes London was asleep lying on Emma���s lap.
���What do I do for someone like him as a thank you?��� Emma whispered.
���Tell him,��� Lila tapped on the window and it rolled down.
���Everything alright?��� Brody asked peering into the back.
���Yes, I just want you to know how much I appreciate your help tonight. If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know.���
���You are welcome. Your daughter looks just like you,��� he smiled. ���Is she alright?���
���She is, thank you,��� Emma stroked her hair.
���London would love to meet you Brody,��� Lila said smirking.
���Alright anytime,��� he smiled. ���By the way Lila, when is your birthday?���
���In February,��� Lila said.
���How old will you be?��� Brody asked.
���Well, I���ll be,��� Lila paused, ���How old are we Emma?���
���We���re thirty five, how can you forget how old you are?��� Emma laughed.
���I���m not sure,��� Lila said raising her eyebrow as she looked at Brody.
* * *
The car stopped in front of Lila���s building. Emma stepped out with London draped around her.
Brody rolled down the window, ���Goodnight, ladies.���
Emma turned and smiled, ���Thank you again.���
���Goodnight Brody, by the way when is your birthday and how old are you?��� Lila said loudly.
���I���ll be twenty eight in May,��� Brody scowled at her, knowing she was in his head.
* * *
Emma was glad to be home. She was taking clothes out of the dryer when the phone rang.
���We got home about an hour ago,��� Emma told Lila on the phone.
���How���s she doing?���
���She���s well. Right now she is in her room playing.��� Emma laughed, ���And I���m drained.���
���Have you talked to the police, about Troy?���
���I did. They charged him with endangering the welfare of a child. I���m so sick to my stomach over it all. Why couldn���t he just be better for her? I was certain he could handle one night a week. I was scared about the three nights and then he changed it when he was upset. I guess he has court next week. I should go,��� Emma said softly so that London would not hear.
���Come stay with me that night, I���ll watch London,��� Lila offered.
���I���ll think about it,��� Emma said.
���Hey I���m sending you an e- mail right now of jobs I think you should apply for, just to see, you know?��� Lila pushed.
���Thanks I���ll look them over.���
* * *
London and Emma spent the next two days school shopping. London insisted on picking her own clothes out. She was going for retro rock star in the first grade. Emma was very amused by this, she���s her own little spirit, and at least he hasn���t broken that. London didn���t ask about her father. She hadn���t seen the police there that night and for that she was grateful.
The house was prepared and ready for the crazy school year to begin. Emma lay down and snuggled with London until she fell asleep. When she felt London���s little body startle she knew she had fallen into a deep enough sleep for her to exit the room.
Emma opened her e- mail, finally, to check out the jobs Lila had mentioned she was sending. She read through it and decided to print them out. Her phone rang it was her mother.
They talked about what had happened while she was in the city and what London had gone through. Her mother was coming up to stay with London while Emma went to court.
���Honey, maybe after your divorce and custody hearing you���ll consider moving back here. I don���t mind driving to you, but you would have a much stronger support system living here. Will you please think about it?��� Caroline asked.
���I will, I just need to get through this first,��� Emma said softly.
Emma took the papers from the printer and read over the jobs. All were in the city, a thirty minute train ride from her childhood home in Tarrytown. Her head was spinning, she was overwhelmed.
I should just do it. London would have more opportunity living close to the city. She would have family who loved her. There were more jobs available. This is all too much, she thought.
Emma opened up her e- mail again and saw another from Lila. She had told her that Brody had asked how she and her daughter were doing. He also asked for her phone number and e- mail address. Apparently his court date was next week for his divorce.
Emma texted Lila.
- Tell him thank you again and good luck…Emma
- I think he likes you Em���Lila
- No, I am sure he just feels vested in the situation after the newspapers and taking us to get London. There is a difference, and BTW he���s just a baby���Emma
- Whatever you need to tell yourself���Lila
- It���s reality, but thank you for the ego boost���Emma
- Weird coincidence that you���re both going to court next week huh? ...Lila
- Yes, coincidence. Leave it alone!!!...Emma
- Sweet dreams, Em!!...Lila
- U 2���Emma
Emma spent the rest of the night e- mailing her resume to every company that Lila suggested. Her dream was that one would pick her and let her work from home. It would allow her to continue parenting the way she wanted to.
* * *
Emma walked into Lila���s apartment. She was glad Caroline was with London. Not that she didn���t trust Lila enough to take her up on her offer but this way she wouldn���t have to miss school. London didn���t ask where she was going, and down deep she was probably aware it had something to do with her father.
Emma decided to cook dinner for Lila who was supposed to be home at eight. She plugged her iPod into Lila���s system and played some tunes as she danced in the kitchen. One More Night by Maroon 5 was playing as she cleaned up her mess and danced around and sang loudly. When the song ended she heard clapping and turned around to see Lila, Brody, and another guy she didn���t know. Her face burned, and she turned off the music and pulled her hair away from her face.
���Sorry,��� they all stood there smiling, ���I made dinner,��� she said trying desperately to change the focus. ���Will you be staying?���
Why on earth did I just ask that?
���Great idea,��� Lila said. ���What do you say guys, a working dinner?���
* * *
They all sat at the large square dining table, Emma was still trying to recover from the earlier embarrassment. The others talked about Brody���s court date tomorrow. The press had found out about his upcoming court appearance, and Lila was telling them how things would go down. The other man was Brody���s lawyer, Eli, he seemed too young to be a lawyer but if he���s Brody Hines��� lawyer, he must be good.
Emma began to clear the table as Lila and Eli coordinated tomorrows plans and strategies for Brody to walk away unscathed by the divorce.
���Let m
e help,��� Brody grabbed the dirty dishes.
���Are you ready for tomorrow?��� Emma asked while standing at the sink.
���Not particularly, but it���ll be nice to close this chapter of my life. And you, Emma, are you ready for tomorrow?��� Brody asked with concern in his eyes.
���Yes, it���ll be nice to know what the next step is for London and I,��� she said looking down.
���London is an interesting name. What made you choose it?��� Brody asked curiously.
���Well,��� she laughed. ���Her father and I had planned to go to London for our five year anniversary but couldn���t afford it,��� she looked at him feeling perplexed about whether or not he was just making small talk or truly wanted to know. She looked in his eyes, ���We spent a lot of money on fertility treatments. Our trip plans changed. I made mention during an argument about money that the little one growing in my belly was better than ten trips to London. It kind of stuck.���
He smiled, ���That���s wonderful.���
���Yeah, I think so too,��� she smiled as she put the leftover food in the refrigerator.
���So you like Maroon 5?��� Brody tried not to laugh.
Emma giggled, ���I guess so.���
���May I see your music player?��� He took it off the counter.
���Sure, help yourself,��� Emma said cynically.
���Lots of Kids Bop,��� Brody said, and the way he pronounced the P in Bop made her laugh.
���Yes���it���s more appropriate for kids,��� she sat on the barstool at the massive kitchen island.
���Hmm,��� he said setting it down next to her.
���What���s that supposed to mean? Hmm,��� she said jokingly.
���No Brody Hines music,��� Brody said astutely.
���Oh I guess not, I did enjoy your music though,��� Emma said trying to save face.
���Apparently not enough to listen to it again,��� he laughed. ���But Maroon 5, huh?���
���Alright do you want honesty?���
���Yes please, do go on.��� Brody turning to her looking into her eyes totally focused on her.
���Okay I like music that doesn���t make me feel like your music does,��� as soon as the words escaped her mouth she felt her face get red.
���Interesting Emma, how is it that my music makes you feel?���
���Well I had never heard your music before, I guess Kids Bop isn���t your thing,��� she laughed. ���I like music I can sing and dance to, fun music.���
���Yes, I saw that earlier,��� he laughed.
Emma scowled at him.
���Okay but that doesn���t answer my question,��� he asked immediately expunging the humor from his voice.
���When Lila and I came to your show the other night,��� Emma looked down. ���It was like watching someone tell a story, a very personal story. When you came on stage you looked over the crowd, not at them. The entire time you sang, you didn���t make eye contact with the audience. The way you held your guitar was different. You cradled it, like you were holding a child or something that you held precious. It was like you wanted to share it, but not like someone would share their cookies,��� Emma smiled and looked up. ���More like an artist displaying their greatest piece of art for the world to see but with the red cordons embodying it so no one could get close. I felt like you were saying ���look, hear, and feel from a distance, but don���t come to close.��� You close your eyes a lot when you sing. Which made me feel like it hurt you to share it,��� She smiled and looked down. ���I personally felt like I was watching you through a window during a very personal moment. Your music is very intense. Beautiful ��� but intense, and honestly, it makes me uncomfortable,��� Emma took a deep breath and looked up at him.
He looked deeply in her eyes, ���Thank you.���
Her eyes widened, ���Okay, what does that mean?���
���Well that���s all very true. I���m a very private person.���
She laughed and went to stand up.
���Don���t leave yet, please. Tell me what made you laugh.���
���Well, you���re a celebrity; your job is to perform for people. How can you be a private person and do what you do?��� Emma sat back down.
���I love music, and I���m very good at what I do,��� he smiled. ���Well, most people think so anyway.���
���I think your music is great,��� Emma raised her eyebrow, ���I just said it seems very personal and private for you,��� her face softened. ���Is it because you feel insecure about what is going on in your personal life?���
���Wow,��� he laughed.
���Sorry, I just know that after my husband and I split up I felt like I���d failed. Every time I turned around someone would ask me how I was or wanted to know what happened. People at the grocery store would look at me differently. They even started asking in front of my daughter,��� she shook her head and smiled sadly looking down. ���I stopped going to the store in our town when London was with me. I took her out of our local dance school, and took her half an hour away, just so I didn���t have to deal with the chit chat or the looks. So for someone like you, it must be just like that, except everyone knows who you are. Not just the people in your little town. And the way you were when you sang made me want to hug you or help you, knowing you���re going through what you are. So your fans must feel so much pain for you. Which I���m certain that makes you uncomfortable, embarrassed, and pissed off,��� she laughed. ���On a much grander scale of course.���
Brody looked at her thoughtfully, ���I see, but add to that the letters, e- mails, and screaming fans who feel like they may actually be able to fix it for you. Or those who say they would like to take your mind off of it,��� he grinned seductively which made Emma laugh.
���I don���t get those,��� she said jokingly.
���You are lucky then, Emma,��� Brody smiled. ���They���re kind of freaky.���
���Do you get unsolicited advice from everyone like I do?���
���Hordes of it,��� he smiled.
���Everyone else knows what you need, and how to fix it. When sometimes all you want to do is vent or just enjoy life and not think about it,��� Emma grinned.
���Exactly, and I���m not sure how it is for you but in my case I feel like everyone needs something from me. Often I feel if I went on a sexual binge people may back off. That���s deranged thinking isn���t it?��� Brody snickered.
���Maybe after your divorce you could come out,��� Emma laughed.
���Do you think I���m gay, Emma?��� He asked seriously.
Emma smiled and tried to mask her amusement, ���No, I just think that way, the screaming fans would realize they had no chance.���
���Or they would try to fix me,��� He looked horrified.
They both laughed.
���What is going on in here?��� Lila asked playfully.
���Divorce chatter,��� Emma smiled.
���So did you fix it all, Lila dear?��� Brody stood up.
���I think you���ll be just fine,��� Lila said shaking her head and walking out of the room.
���See even Lila is trying to fix both of us,��� Brody winked at Emma.
���I kind of gathered that, sorry,��� Emma said as if she was annoyed.
���Best of lu
ck tomorrow,��� Brody said extending his hand.
Emma shook it, ���You too.���
���Would it be awkward if I texted you to tell you how things went with me and you could let me know how things went for you and London?���
���Not at all, it is kind of nice having someone who understands what I���m going through. I hope you feel the same way,��� Emma smiled.
���I do,��� he looked at her intensely for a few moments and then looked away.
Emma and Brody walked out into the living room and she said goodnight to Lila. She walked into her room and checked her e- mails. She had several responses from the companies she had submitted her resume to. Many asked for her to come in and interview. Emma was happy but knew from previous attempts at finding a job an interview meant that they may be interested.
* * *
���Hey Mom, how���s my girl?��� Emma asked her mother on the phone.
���She went to bed after she talked to you. She was very tired,��� Caroline reported.
���It always takes her a few weeks to get used to the school schedule,��� Emma said softly. ���So depending on how court goes tomorrow, I may need to stay a few days for some job interviews. Would you be willing to bring London back home with you and I���ll meet you there?���
���Emma, you said home. Are you considering my proposal?��� Caroline said with a smile in her voice.
���Depends on court Mom,��� Emma said with reserve in her voice knowing if she said yes, her mother would be pushing her to do it now.
���Well of course,��� Caroline said happily.
Emma skipped out in her pajamas to tell Lila the news.
���That is amazing, Emma,��� Lila said hugging her.
���Celebratory dance party,��� Emma jumped on the couch and shook her fanny at Lila as she made a loud whoop, whoop noise as if she were at a sporting event cheering on her favorite team.