“That’s for sure. I invited Tam and Christie over in the afternoon. Vicki was prattling on about Auntie Tam when I called tonight.”
“Yeah, I think Tam missed the kids too.”
“She is such a sap underneath it all,” Emma mused affectionately.
“Yeah, she is. Emma?”
“Hum?”
“Thanks for this week.”
“What part?” Emma grinned.
“All of it,” Addison replied honestly. “For agreeing to take on so much with the show for one thing. For making time for us most of all,” Addison said. “It’s funny, but I realized how much I missed you.”
Emma shifted and kissed Addison’s lips tenderly. “I know, I missed you too.”
“Not that I would change anything.”
“Me neither,” Emma agreed.
“But, I do think we should make a point to make some more time to be alone. Even just a night away once in a while.”
Emma nodded. “You sure you are up for another baby?”
Addison’s eyes grew misty. “Completely. I love you, Em.”
“I love you too,” Emma said. She kissed Addison again and let her lips linger. “I think I should be thanking you.”
“For?”
“For this. For us. It’s funny.”
“What’s that?”
“Tamara was raging through her diatribe about her vows, and it got me thinking.”
“About?” Addison wondered.
“I’m not sure I tell you enough how I feel.”
“Emma, you tell me all the time.”
“No, I don’t just mean saying the words. I mean that when we got married, I thought long and hard about how to explain to you what that meant to me with my vows. It’s like we have this one moment where we make certain we say it clearly, and then life marches on.”
Addison kissed Emma’s forehead. “I think I understand.”
“I try to tell you in my own way,” Emma said.
“And, you do.”
“But, Addy, what I would say to you now? If we were standing in that place now making that commitment?”
“Yeah?”
“I’d have so much more to say. I shouldn’t need an event to be reminded to say it. I don’t know why saying it is so hard sometimes.”
Addison smiled. “I think it’s that way for all of us. Maybe we all just fear it will be too much somehow.”
“I hope you know how much you mean to me,” Emma said emotionally. Addison cupped Emma’s cheek. “You’re not just my wife, Addy. You’re my best friend. You’re the best Mom I know. Being with you this week, thinking about our life; I want you to know how much what you’ve given to me means to me—all of it.”
“Em,” Addison kissed Emma lovingly. “You know why I think we work so well?”
“Why?”
“Because it’s always been give and take, and give some more. You’ve given me everything you think I’ve given you. It’s funny. After Tamara had called, I started thinking that I wish I could marry you again.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, because I had no idea how much more I could love you. Sounds like a cheesy Valentine’s Day card, but it’s true. I guess it’s because I’ve gotten to know you in new ways over these years. The truth is, even when we fight, I still find myself wanting to hold you the next second. Most people wouldn’t believe that.”
“Addy…”
“It’s the truth,” Addison said.
Emma kissed Addison. “I know it is. I feel the same way, love. I hope our kids find that person one day.”
“Bite your tongue.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I do. So? What do you think? This time around do I get the chance to name Cornelius?”
“Depends.”
“On?”
“How well your negotiation skills have developed.”
“Oh? I think you’ll find I have an array of tactics in my arsenal.”
Emma laughed. She cuddled against Addison and sighed in contentment. “Well, I look forward to meeting you at the table.”
“The dining room table?” Addison teased. Emma chuckled. “The coffee table?” Addison asked. Emma tightened her hold on Addison’s middle. “Oh… I know! The table in the office!”
“Go to sleep,” Emma laughed.
“There is the table in the…”
“Addy, how many tables we need to visit for negotiations will depend on how well you’ve honed your skills.”
Addison smiled. On second thought, I need a lot of practice.
EPILOGUE
ONE WEEK LATER
Addison walked through the door to find Emma sitting in the kitchen looking at the table. “Em? You okay?”
Emma looked up and smiled. Addison tipped her head when she noticed the tears streaming down Emma’s cheeks. Weddings could be emotional. Tamara’s and Christie’s had been simple, small, and surprisingly sentimental in nature. Tamara had taken Addison’s advice, at least in that she had opted to write her vows without Addison’s input. True to character, Tamara had made everyone laugh. Not because her vows lacked depth, but because the words were perfectly Tamara.
“I’m supposed to say something memorable,” Tamara looked at Christie. “That’s easy. We both know what I say tends to be memorable.”
Christie smiled.
“It’s also supposed to be honest. Memorable and honest. Well, honestly, I still can’t believe we are standing here. But, then again, I couldn’t believe it the night we met either. I was sitting on the beach eating a burger with Christie Shelton! And, she was a lesbian! Who knew?”
Christie laughed.
“Then I stopped thinking about it,” Tamara said. “And, I realized I wasn’t in some scene from a movie. You weren’t that person I saw on the screen. You were just Chris. You made me laugh, and you listened to me even when I didn’t make sense, which, let’s face it is a lot of the time,” Tamara admitted.
Christie shook her head.
“And, I fell in love with you. I probably don’t say that enough. Not the way you might want to hear it, but I did. I fell hard. I couldn’t believe you were crazy enough to fall for me,” Tamara said. “I’m glad you did because the truth is, I am a better person because of you. I’m happier because of you. You make me want to be a better person. I don’t know how you put up with me sometimes. I know you hate watching old reruns of seventies sitcoms, but you do it anyway. You would prefer a burger by the beach than going to a movie premiere, but you always take me because you know how much I love being at them. You get me, and you still love me. And, the thing is, you are the most amazing person I know. It’s not just that you are beautiful and talented and smart. You’re also kind and funny and patient. You never judge me even when I make you nuts. And, again we both know that’s my special talent.”
Christie winked at Tamara.
“I’m not a poet, Chris. I’m just me. I didn’t ever think I’d be standing here. Now that I am, there is no place I’d rather be, and no one else in the world I’d want to be standing beside me. I hope that I can make you as happy as you make me. I hope you know that I love you. I really love you—every part, and no matter what happens tomorrow or the next day, I promise that I will still love you and I will always be here for you. I’ll even watch those murder shows you love,” Tamara said. “For the rest of my life,” she said. She paused and then smiled. “For the rest of my life, I will be with you. That much I can promise you.”
Addison moved closer to the table. “Are you okay?” she asked Emma.
Emma nodded and slid a card across the table to Addison.
“What’s this?” Addison asked.
“Read it,” Emma suggested.
Addison looked down at the card and opened it. She recognized the handwriting immediately.
Emma,
Addy seems to think I should practice on you—writing my feelings, that is. The funny thing is, she was right. This is the fifth card I’ve tried to write. I know
it’s customary to give your wedding party a gift. I bought Addy something special. I think she’ll like it. I know I didn’t ask you to stand with me. I never thought I’d do this marriage thing, but I swore if I ever did that Addy would be there with me. She’s my best friend. Without her, I wouldn’t know you at all. But, the thing is without you I wouldn’t be here. I realized that when I started trying to write things down.
I’m not close to my family. You know that. You and Addy are my family, and the sprout and the bean. The truth is, Emma, you have changed more than Addy’s life. You changed mine too. When Addy first met you, I was so jealous. I didn’t know that I was going to end up with three best friends: Addy, you, and Christie. I didn’t know that I was going to get to be part of a family again. You gave Addy that, and in the process I got that too. I guess what I am trying to say is that I love you. If I could have a sister, I would want her to be you. I hope you know that I am always here for you. Most of the time it seems it’s me running to you for advice. But, I can listen, and I always will. I got you something too. I hope you like it.
Thanks for everything, Emma. I might tease you about being The Brady Bunch, but the truth is I’m glad I am part of it.
Love you tons,
Tam
Addison smiled, closed the card, and handed it back to Emma. “What did she get you?”
Emma reached into a box on the table and pulled out Tamara’s gift. She looked at it for a moment and then handed it to Addison. Addison’s smile broadened as the lump in her throat grew. It was a wooden picture frame that read “Family” at the top. Around the sides, each of their names were engraved: Addy, Emma, Sprout, Bean, and Tam. The picture Tamara had placed inside was of all five of them at Disneyland earlier that year. Emma was holding Hannah, Tamara had Vicki on her hip, and Addison was standing behind Emma, holding onto her waist. Addison nodded.
“She really is a sap,” Addison observed affectionately.
“I hope she knows how much we love her,” Emma said.
“She knows, Em,” Addison assured her wife. “She needed to make sure you knew.”
“I know.”
“Mommy!” Vicki blew through the door, rousing her parents from their emotional exchange.
Emma smirked. “What happened to you?” she asked Vicki.
“I’s gots diwty.”
“I see that. Well, there’s a reason we call you sprout,” Emma laughed. Vicki was covered from head to toe in mud.
“Where did you find mud?” Addison wanted to know.
“Momma, King gots diwty in da garden.”
“Okay?” Addison encouraged her daughter to continue.
“I’s had to cwean him.”
As if on cue, King barreled through the door covered in mud. Emma covered her mouth to keep from laughing when Addison screamed.
“King!” Addison yelled.
“Bad boy, King!” Vicki scolded the dog. “I twied to give him da baf.”
Emma looked in the doorway to see Tamara grinning at her, splashes of mud adorning her white pantsuit.
“Oh, no,” Emma covered her mouth. It did nothing to quell the laughter that followed.
“Who taught the sprout how to use the hose?” Tamara asked.
Addison joined her wife in laughter. “Well, you wanted to be part of the family. We share everything, mud and all,” she told Tamara.
“Oh, good. You can share your shower too,” Tamara cracked.
Emma hopped to her feet and scooped up Vicki. “Bath time, Sprout.”
“Mommy,” Vicki giggled. “You’s all muddy too.”
“I guess this one will be in tandem,” Emma said.
“What about me?” Addison pouted playfully.
Emma looked down at King. “You taught her to use the hose. You know where it is.”
“Aw, come on, Em!” Addison whined.
Emma shrugged and trotted off with Vicki who giggled with delight. “Tam, you can use the guest bathroom,” she said.
“Cool, I was gonna change anyway,” Tamara replied.
“Hey, Addy!” Sherry Bronson called from outside. Addison stepped through the door. “Your daughter likes the mud,” she said.
Addison smacked her forehead. Hannah was crawling happily in a mud pile that once resembled a garden. She looked down at King and laughed. “Don’t suppose she’d consider you the third; do you?” she asked the husky. He wagged his tail happily. “Yeah, me neither,” she said. She made her way to Hannah and picked her up. “You are filthy, Bean,” she tickled her daughter’s tummy. Hannah laughed. “In the pool, King!” she directed the dog. King jumped in and swam across to the other side. “One down. Come on, kiddo,” she moved into the house.
Emma heard the bathroom door open and slid the shower door to peek out. “Oh, no!” she laughed.
Addison and Hannah were standing on the bathmat covered in mud. Addison stripped the baby and then herself.
“Get in here,” Emma chuckled. Addison stepped in with the baby in her arms. “I don’t think I want to know. Poor Tam,” she laughed. “What a topper to your wedding day.”
“Hey, she wanted in this family. Like I said, we share everything.”
Emma’s eyes twinkled. “Not quite everything, love,” she winked.
Addison shook her head. “Pass me the soap.”
***
“Did the sprout finally go down?” Addison asked Emma.
Emma nodded and yawned. “Finally. I think I read about oobleck at least five times. I think that’s why she wanted to make that mud.”
Addison laughed. Emma flopped onto the couch beside her, laid her head in Addison’s lap, and closed her eyes. “You know, I was thinking,” Addison said.
“Let me guess, that we need a bigger shower,” Emma joked.
“Actually, you are not too far off.”
Emma opened her eyes and looked at Addison curiously. “Addy?”
“Well, maybe it’s time we thought about a bigger house.”
“You want to move?”
Addison sighed. “Not really,” she confessed. “But, I’d like the kids to have their own rooms,” she explained. “And, I don’t know—I want a place for your folks or my dad, or hell, Tam and Christie to stay when they want to. Let’s face it; this is not going to fit that bill.”
Emma sat up. “You’re serious.”
“Yeah, I am. I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Talking about adding another baby… Em, I think it’s time for bigger quarters. The pool’s great. The kids need someplace to play.”
Emma took a deep breath. “Mm. Funny you should mention it.”
“Why?”
“Dad told me the lot of land behind the farm is for sale.”
“You want to move to Kansas?”
“No, but it might be nice to have our own place there,” Emma said. “And, yes, I’d like to spend more time there, Addy.”
“Okay.”
“Just like that? Okay?” Emma questioned.
“Yep. Just like that. What do you think about my idea?”
Emma sighed. “I love this house.”
“I know. I do too,” Addison admitted.
“But, you’re right.”
Addison smiled. “There’s another but.”
“I’d like a little distance from the insanity if we move. Maybe go a little farther south. I know it’d mean more commute time for you, but…”
Addison silenced Emma with a kiss. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“You were?”
Addison nodded. “Out of the city into the suburbs. That’s our new lesbian life,” she laughed.
Emma smacked Addison gently. “Sounds like a new show,” she said as she let her head fall back into Addison’s lap.
Wouldn’t be the first hit you inspired. Stranger things have happened, Em—much stranger things.
THE END
To be continued in:
SCENE CHANGE
cript Doctor (Off Screen Book 8)
Script Doctor (Off Screen Book 8) Page 11