Wrapped in Silk

by Mj Fields

  “Say what?” he asked laughing.

  “Come now Emma,” she whispered in his ear and they both laughed.

  “This is wonderful and all but dinner is going to get cold,” Henry said.

  “Oh wow, sorry Dad, Mom, and London,” Emma said, “London are you sure?”

  “Mom seriously, I love him, check out my bling” she laughed.

  “London did you thank Brody?” Emma asked in a motherly tone.

  “She said yes, that is thanks enough,” Brody smiled at London.

  “Manners are very important,” Emma said and shot him a look.

  “I said thank you Mommy,” London laughed.

  “Did she?” Emma asked Brody.

  “Of course she did Emma you have done a wonderful job raising her,” Brody said and giggled.

  “Did you really have to buy such an expensive ring for a seven year old?” Emma asked and he laughed, “What’s so funny?”

  “London will be my stepdaughter, Emma,” Brody smiled, “If she wants something all she need do is ask.”

  “And then you will ask me and we will discuss it, right Brody?” Emma said and locked eyes with him.

  “Yes love,” Brody said and smirked.

  “So when will the wedding be Mom?” London asked.

  “We haven’t talked about it yet,” Emma laughed.

  “Well I think it should be soon,” London said and looked at Brody.

  “I think so as well, maybe this weekend?” Brody said and smiled.

  “That’s perfect!” London smiled.

  “London, you get to see your father Saturday, remember?” Emma said and let out a big breath.

  “Well then next weekend, or Halloween. A sleepy hollow wedding, in costume Brody!” London cheered.

  “Wow, that sounds like fun,” Brody said and laughed.

  “Where will we live?” London asked taking a bite of her soup.

  “Well I have a few homes I would like to look at, I thought we could go tomorrow and check them out,” Brody told her.

  “You know you can stay here right?” Henry said his eyes fixed on Brody.

  “Thank you Henry, that is very kind,” Brody said and looked at Emma who looked angry.

  She looked up at him and he winked. She looked back down and tried not to smile.

  Brody and Emma got London to bed and sat on the couch.

  “Can we talk about a few things?” Emma asked.

  “Anything you want,” Brody smiled.

  “Do we need a house right now, I mean is it that important to you?” Emma asked.

  “I thought it would be to you,” Brody said confused.

  “Well...” she began.

  “Okay Em we have talked about this before, please just say what’s on your mind, don’t over think or try to take care of me, just tell me what you want to say,” Brody smiled gently as he took her hand.

  “Okay, I don’t want to move London again, she just started school here,” Emma quietly said avoiding eye contact, “And my mom works at her school and I just feel like she is safe. It was a big move for her, and for me.”

  “What else?” he asked and lightly kissed her hand.

  “Well I need to tell Troy, not ask his permission but tell him. God Brody he doesn’t even know about the cancer,” Emma said and sat back closing her eyes.

  “And you feel he needs to know everything,” Brody stated.

  “He is her father Brody, I can’t change that ever,” Emma spoke finally looking into his eyes.

  “Alright I understand. I don’t like it but I knew all that before I asked you to marry me,” he said and pulled her closer to him.

  “I want to go tell him, with his therapist and not with London. I want him to have a couple days to process it before he sees her. I just think it will be better for both of them,” Emma stopped and waited for him to respond and he didn’t, “Please don’t shut down, please talk to me.”

  “I am just mulling it over in my head, I am not shutting down,” Brody thought out loud.

  “If Troy is aware he won’t be reactive when London is there. She won’t see his anger or hurt or whatever it is he will feel at first. I just want him to have a heads up ya know,” Emma asked hoping he would see her side.

  “Alright I understand. Why don’t you go Thursday after work?” Brody suggested.

  Emma’s gut reaction was to tell him she didn’t need him to tell her how to do it. It was going to be difficult having someone around that was a true partner and not just part of the furniture. Emma loved the way Brody was with London and she wanted to be sure to not hinder or weaken that relationship.

  “Would you ride with me?” Emma asked. “I mean if I set it up and you are available, would you like to go?”

  “Yes and I will make sure that I am available,” Brody said, “Emma, are we finished, is there anything else pressing?”

  “Ya, I kind of what to know what homes you had wanted to look at,” Emma asked quietly.

  “To see if I had considered London in this decision?” Brody asked.

  “Well, yes and I want you to know how perfect it was that you asked her before asking me to marry you. It was so amazing, you are absolutely amazing,” Emma said trying to make up for doubting him.

  “All the homes I want to see are a little bit closer to the city, by maybe ten miles, all still in the same school district. With one exception, I know that she could still attend school there I would just pay tuition, I could take her to school every day,” Brody smiled pleased with himself.

  “I love you. I am sorry I asked, I just have to think of her in every decision I make,” Emma said looking at him.

  “I know, just know I am doing the same thing Em, okay?” Brody asked.

  ~

  Emma sat in the small office waiting for Troy and his therapist. Her stomach was in knots. Regardless of what he had put them through over the last t eight years of their marriage she still didn’t want him to be hurt. Troy was here getting help for his alcoholism and trying and now she was about to set his recovery back.

  “Emma,” Troy smiled and hugged her when he walked through the door.

  “Hello Troy,” she smiled politely and returned his hug coldly, just like his hugs over the past several years.

  Joe Login smiled at Emma. He was about five foot ten and had very short black hair and kind brown eyes.

  “Troy have a seat, Emma it’s very nice to put a face to a name I have heard a lot over the past few weeks.”

  “Thank you for taking the time to do this for me,” Emma said returning his smile.

  “Nice ring Emma,” Troy said with forged smile.

  “I guess we should just jump right into this,” Joe gently acknowledged.

  “Brody has asked me to marry him Troy…and I accepted.” Emma blurted out as her face reddened.

  “Okay,” Troy said trying to hide the anger or sadness in his voice.

  “How do you really feel about that?” Joe asked.

  “I guess I knew it was coming but not this soon. I worry about what he will be like as a constant influence in London’s life, and Emma’s. I know I have no right to ask her to wait,” Troy said looking at Joe.

  Wow, my ex-husband expressing feelings. Like he used to, like the man I married, this is not good, Emma thought.

  “Emma do you have anything to say?” Joe asked.

  “He is good to London and me, Troy has nothing to worry about,” Emma said giving him a reassuring look.

  “Okay Emma why so soon?” Troy calmly asked.

  “It’s just right for us,” Emma said wishing she could figure out how this all happened so quickly.

  “Okay”, Troy said looking briefly lost.

  “There is something else Emma needs to tell you,” Joe said looking at Troy and then back to Emma.

  “London is coming for a family visit on Sunday and I want you to know what has been going on in our lives, everything. Troy you’re her father always and I want you and I to be friends, maybe
not best friends but I don’t know, we have her and she is the most important thing in either of our lives. We will forever be bound by that,” Emma said and let out a breath.

  “I know that now Emma, I wish that I had before. But we can’t change the past, and I understand that now,” he said looking emotionally drained.

  “Been a rough few weeks?” Emma said and squeezed his hand.

  “You have no idea?” Troy answered in a distracted tone.

  “Emma, you have something else to tell Troy?” Joe said redirecting the conversation.

  “I have had a really horrible few weeks as well,” Emma smiled and told him the whole story about the cancer.

  Emma finally looked up at Troy when she finished. Troy’s face was full of trepidation and tears fell down his face.

  “Oh please don’t do that,” Emma said.

  Emma remembered the only other time she had seen Troy cry. It was after the premature death of his father while they were at college. They were in his room studying when he received the call that his father had been in an accident and that he had died instantly. It was also the first night Troy and Emma had sex. She realized now that she had done it to try to ease his pain.

  Troy laughed as he wiped his tears away, “Oh sorry I forgot, crying does something to you hu Emma?”

  “It does, maybe not in the same way your thinking but I don’t want you to hurt,” Emma explained gently.

  “Alright then, are you sure you are ok?” Troy asked sincerely.

  “Yes, but this made so many things become even more important to me. If something happened to me Troy,” she stopped. “You have to stay healthy for her, as healthy as you can anyways, sober and strong Troy,” Emma said intensely.

  “I will, I have one request Emma. I want to speak to Hines,” Troy said and Emma could tell there was no budging on this one.

  “Okay when?” Emma asked taking a deep breath.

  “As soon as possible,” Troy answered.

  “Now?” Emma asked, “He is waiting for me in the car.”

  “No time like the present,” Troy smiled and looked at Joe shaking his head.

  ~

  “Back so soon?” Brody asked and he stretched stepping out of the car and and grabbing her hand pulling her into him and kissed her.

  He is so damn yummy, she thought lost in his kiss.

  Emma pulled away smiling shyly, “Not really,” she said stepping back and kicking the imaginary stones at her feet.

  “What is it Emma,” Brody said cupping her face in his hands.

  “Troy wants to talk to you,” Emma said still looking down.

  “Good,” he grinned mischievously.

  “Brody can you be nice, he is trying,” Emma protested.

  “I hate him Emma, the way he spoke to you, the way he had absolutely no regard for London’s safety and well being…” Brody said and his eyes where dark and full of hate and disgust.

  “He is trying and you Brody look so far away right now,” Emma said astonished.

  “I am full of anger right now. Let’s go get this over with,” Brody said taking her hand and dragging her behind him.

  Everything had gone so well with Troy and now Brody is pissed, really pissed, what the hell just happened? How am I going to get him to fucking calm down, why is it my job to make this better for everyone on the damned planet, Emma screamed in her head.

  Emma released his hand harshly and stopped dead in her tracks.

  “STOP,” she yelled and stood with her arms crossed in front of her.

  “Are you alright Emma?” Brody asked and walked back to her feeling her head.

  Emma let out a deep breath, “I am doing the best I can...” she started and the damn broke, “I can’t keep trying in vain to make this better for every person in my life, and you are scaring me right now!”

  Brody looked at her confused and tilted his head as he studied her, “Emma?”

  “I will meet you at the car, I will deal with this...this shit!” Emma screamed.

  Brody jumped when she yelled, “Emma, damn it talk to me. Tell me what you need from me right now because I thought I was doing exactly what you wanted ME TOO!”

  “Fuck you Brody,” she said under her breath.

  “Excuse me?” Brody asked in shock.

  Emma scowled and looked down, Brody’s eyes lit up in amusement, “It’s not funny.”

  “Emma go sit in the car, I will take care of this,” Brody said in his direct tone.

  Emma laughed, “I don’t think so.”

  “Go Now!” Brody snapped and she didn’t move.

  Brody quickly swooped her up, tossing her over his shoulder and smacked her ass all in one swift move, she was in the car and the door shut before she even had time to protest.

  Emma tried to open the door and it was locked.

  “Open the damn door,” she yelled.

  The privacy window lowered, “Ma’am did you say something, do you need anything? A drink maybe?” Brody’s driver Clive asked.

  “No but you can unlock the doors NOW!” Emma snapped.

  “I am sorry ma’am, this new car has a security system, I honestly was just looking at the manual trying to read up on it, would you see if you can find it for me please ma’am?”

  “Sure,” Emma said quickly and grabbed the book looking at the index and thumbing through the pages. She read and found the security system information. She scowled up at him, “Push the button.”

  “Really is that all there was to it? A button? Could you tell me where that button is ma’am?” Clive asked.

  “How long have you worked for Brody?” Emma snapped.

  “Ma’am?” he asked.

  “I don’t think he would hire an idiot and I am very sure you are toying with me,” Emma said with annoyance in her voice.

  “No he would not, I have worked for him for nine years,” Clive answered.

  “So you know him from England,” Emma asked inquisitively.

  “Yes, we have known each other for many years,” he smiled.

  “I should have known from your accent. I am pissed, let me out now,” Emma stared into his eyes trying to intimidate him.

  Clive jumped out and opened the door.

  “Sorry ma’am.” he whispered.

  “I don’t believe you, but if you do that again, you will be,” Emma scolded him and he tried not to laugh.

  Emma waited as instructed by the receptionist rather impatiently in the waiting room. Joe, Troy, and Brody walked out from his office behind the glass wall. Emma watched as Troy and Brody shook hands and Brody walked out.

  “What a pleasant surprise,” Brody smiled roguishly and grabbed her hand.

  Emma pinched his finger and he laughed a deep mischievous laugh and she threw him a malevolent look.

  They walked outside and around the corner of the building, Brody grabbed her by the waist and gently pinned her against the brick building and she gasped. He leaned into her and pressed his nose roughly into her neck and nipped her ear.

  “I played nice with your ex Emma. For London and for you,” he kissed her throat, “I will until he fucks up, and then I will destroy him,” he pulled her tightly into him, “You were supposed to wait for me in the car.”

  “Is that why he locked the fucking doors!” Emma yelled.

  “Get you hot little ass back in there now,” he said and rubbed his hand down her spine and squeezed her roughly on the ass.

  Emma started to argue and he kissed her hard on the mouth and she gasped.

  “You’re making a scene,” she whimpered.

  “You need to come Emma,” he breathed in her ear and grabbed her hand pulling her behind him. She had to walk fast to keep up with his long strides.

  I need to come? The audacity of this man is crazy, he makes me crazy! And I want him which makes me just as damn crazy, she thought. Not going to happen I am not an on demand kind of girl!

  Brody slid in beside her and tried to grab her to place her on his lap.
<
br />   “Oh no,” she said pulling away, “I am pissed at you!”

  “Emma, if you don’t get back here I am going to come after you,” he said in a dark intimidating tone.

  “You need to listen to me...” Emma began and he laughed a deep interrupting laugh and jumped up and straddled her legs and kissed her.

  Emma pushed him and started to cry.

  “I don’t need to listen to you, I already know Emma, exactly what you need. In here,” he said touching her chest and then wiped her tears. “And you know it, so stop please, stop trying to control everything when I know damn well that’s not what you want. You’re calling the shots Emma, I am listening and doing exactly what you need me too. You need to trust that I am going to give you exactly what you need.”

  “Well I don’t need what you suggested,” Emma snapped.

  Brody smiled and looked her up and down, “Okay then,” he said sliding off of her lap.

  He grabbed his iPad and began working on something and she sat tapping her foot still annoyed.

  They drove for fifteen minutes and she looked at him.

  “Are you going to tell me what happened?” Emma sneered.

  “No Em,” he said and continued typing, “you need to trust that I did what you wanted, he was still breathing wasn’t he?”

  “Oh that’s really mature,” she snapped.

  Brody bit his lip and tried not to smile and said nothing.

  “Are you going to act like this the entire ride home?”

  “Are you?” he asked and raised his eyebrow looking at her.

  “Yes,” Emma scowled.

  His eyes twinkled and he put away his iPad, he closed his eyes and sat back. She saw a grin creeping across his lips.

  “Why are you so damn smug?” Emma asked.

  “Are you done acting like an errant child Emma or do you need a spanking?” he asked his eyes still closed.

  She didn’t answer him and he opened his eyes and looked at her mouth still dropped in disbelief, “Emma you need something?”

  No way she thought, no way did I need that, Yes asshole but I will be damned if I am going to admit it.

  “Listen to me and don’t say a word. Your nipples are erect and want nothing more than for me to touch them and pull at them and take them in my mouth until your body starts to melt. You’re wet and wild with desire, you may think you’re pissed at me but you are not Emma, you are so fucking hot and wet because I took care of something you needed me to, your body belongs to me and wants me so fucking bad it almost hurts. Regardless you also told me no, and I take that very seriously. So as you sit there in flames desiring everything I can give you, you can thank yourself for the let down,” Brody said and leaned forward lightly kissing her nose, “No means no Emma.”