My Real

by Mallory Grant

“So I am officially all moved in?” Bailey asks excitedly. I pull her around into my lap and wrap my arms around her.

  “You are,” I answer kissing her on the nose.

  Ella starts handing out beers and pizza to everyone. Bailey stands up and takes a seat next to me. Jake walks around and pulls out a chair for Ella. My eyes get huge and just as I was about to say something, Bailey elbowed me.

  “You girls get everything you needed tonight?”

  “Oh yeah, your ties.” Bailey jumps up and grabs the bag off the kitchen table and brings it to the deck.

  “Blue for Jake and white for you,” she says showing us the ties they picked out.

  When everyone is done, we move into the living room. Bailey and I share the love seat, curling onto each other. Jake sits down right in the middle of the couch, leaving Ella little choice but to sit near him.

  “Listen, couch hog. Move over so I can spread out,” she pokes at Jake with a smile. Scooting over a few inches, Jake pulls on her arm so she sits down next to him. He then reaches down to swing her feet up onto his lap.

  “Oh, Bailey, your mom left a message for you on the answering machine.” I lean up and reach behind me on the table to play the message for her.

  “Bailey, it’s your Mother. I’m not going to be able to make it this weekend. I’m flying out to Italy to meet up with a high school friend.”

  That was it. She didn’t mention anything about the wedding at all.

  “I’m sorry baby,” I whisper into her ear.

  She shrugs under me and says, “Who’s got the remote.” I genuinely couldn’t tell if it bothered her or not.

  I hate waiting rooms. They need to come up with a better name instead of the waiting room. I know I’m waiting. Waiting to hear bad news. Waiting to hear that I need surgery again already. Waiting.

  “Bailey,” the overly cheerful nurse calls my name.

  I follow her down the hall to the exam room, and she gives me instructions to strip down and put the gown on.

  Now, I’m lying on the table waiting again.

  “Hi Bailey. How are you doing?” Dr. Cam asks as she glances over my chart.

  “I’ve been better,” I reply flatly.

  “So, you’re having abdominal pains again?” Dr. Cam inquires.

  “Yes, they feel a little different than last time though. And, I don’t feel them as often either,” I explain.

  “Ok, let’s get an ultrasound and see what we have,” Dr. Cam explains.

  She pulls the machine over and puts the gel on my stomach. As she runs the wand over my stomach, her only reaction is, “Hmmm.”

  I’m just pulling Emerson’s suitcase down from her closet when I hear Bailey come in from school.

  “I’m in Emerson’s room,” I call down the steps as Emerson races down them.

  “We’re packing for the beach,” I hear her yell to Bailey.

  “You are? Did you pack your snow boots?” Bailey asks her as they walk into Emerson’s room hand in hand.

  “No silly, it’s not going to snow. Grandma’s taking me swimming,” Em says, giggling.

  “I can think of something even more exciting than going to the beach,” Bailey says.

  Emerson freezes and turns to look at Bailey to find out what could possibly be more exciting than the beach.

  “Back to school shopping. WooHoo!” Bailey raises her arms in the air and hollers.

  I moan and Emerson cheers at the same time. Bailey looks at me and smiles. I’m really not ready for Emerson to go to Kindergarten. I want her to stay my baby forever. I want to keep her home another year, but Bailey told me I was being crazy. She is more than ready to start school. Bailey has already been reading with her, and she can read a good portion of the words in some of the books they are reading.

  “Why don’t we get your clothing packed up, and we can go shopping for your school things? We can even make Daddy take us out for dinner.”

  Emerson’s eyes get huge, and she spins around to look at me.

  “Sure, Kindergarten shopping is a big deal. We should celebrate,” I answer as I start packing her pajamas in her suitcase.

  “I’m going to go color while you guys do all the work,” Emerson says while skipping down the hall.

  I walk over to Bailey and wrap my arms around her. “So soon-to-be Mrs. Cooper, how was school today?” I ask.

  “Uggg. Painful. But, there’s only one in-service left, so I can’t complain.”

  I let her go after giving her a welcome home kiss. She goes over to Emerson’s closet and starts pulling outfits out. I’m no longer allowed to pick out her clothing after being told that Emerson never matches. I put her bathing suit in the bag and ask, “You have all of Emerson’s things she will need for the wedding right?”

  “Yes, all of our things for the wedding are already packed in your mom’s car. She will bring them to the hotel with her tomorrow morning that way the hotel can steam everything,” Bailey confirms.

  “Perfect, Emerson is now all packed and ready to go tomorrow morning. Let’s go shopping.”

  I grab Emerson’s bag in one hand and put my arm around Bailey.

  Emerson is tying her shoe, getting ready to go out when I call out, “Last one to the car is a rotten egg.” Bailey jumps on my back and holds me back. Emerson jumps up and runs to the car. I start to get ahead when Bailey turns and drops me to the ground. Bailey and Emerson both start doing a victory dance after Em touches the car first.

  “Alright you two party animals, let’s get going,” I announce.

  Once everyone is buckled in, and we are on our way, Bailey starts going down the checklist to make sure everything is done for this weekend.

  “After dinner, we are dropping Emerson off at your mom’s, and she is sleeping there. And then you are picking them both up in the morning and leaving early,” Bailey plans.

  “Right,” I agree.

  “The flowers are being delivered Friday afternoon, and the minister and photographer will be there at seven.”

  “Check, check and check,” I answer. “The only thing left to do here is to pick up the wedding rings.”

  “Right, and I’m doing that tomorrow after school. Ella and I will be up as soon as I she picks up her dress from the seamstress. Then tomorrow, you are paying the restaurant. I think that’s it,” Bailey grins.

  “You actually pulled off a wedding in less than a month,” I remark, very impressed.

  “Oh, I had no doubt about that. With two type A personalities at the helm, we could have done it in a week,” she says.

  Bailey turns around in her seat. I can see Emerson is coloring in her seat. “What about you Emerson? Do you have everything you need to get married in two days,” she asks.

  “I have my bathing suit and my dress. I’m ready,” she answers as she continues to color.

  We pull into the parking lot and all file into the store. Emerson is pulling us both by our hands as she bounces down the aisle. Bailey slides a smile my way, probably as excited as Emerson is.

  “Okay Emerson,” Bailey kneels down in front of her. “Picking your book bag is a very important decision. It’s the same bag you will have to carry for a whole year. It can be a tough to pick so just take your time,” Bailey explains.

  “I want that one,” Emerson replies pointing to a bright blue bag.

  Stunned, Bailey looks at the bag she points to. “Are you sure? You didn’t even look at all the bags yet.”

  “Yep. It’s my favorite color.” Emerson replies pulling the bag off the wall and walking down the aisle looking for a lunch bag. Bailey stood, and we watch her pull a matching blue lunch bag off the wall, then walk back up to us. “I’m ready.”

  Bailey’s mouth opens to say something, but no words come out. I grab her hand, and we follow Emerson into the next aisle.

  “It took me an hour to pick out my book bag for this year,” Bailey says still looking stunned.

  We start loading the cart with Kindergarten essentials when Emerson
goes running down the aisle yelling, “Mommy.”

  We follow behind her to see Jessica standing in the book section, holding a pile of new romances in her arms.

  “Awe, isn’t this nice. The happy family out shopping together,” she answers with a sneer.

  “Hello Jessica.” Bailey says politely.

  “Mommy, look at all the good stuff I got for school,” Emerson says bouncing up and down again.

  “Emerson, stop that incessant bouncing,” Jessica snaps.

  “Emerson, why don’t you go with Bailey and get some snacks for your lunch box? I’ll come find you in a minute.” They walk off hand-in-hand, talking about what kind of snacks are the best. I turn back to Jessica ready to explode.

  “Listen,” I growl at her, “we are finally divorced. We’re both with someone else now. We are going to have to deal with each other for the rest of our lives. Why can’t you be cordial? Bailey said ‘hello’ to you, and you ignored her. Then you snapped at a five-year-old for being excited about her school things.”

  “I’m not here to make your life easier Andrew,” Jessica states coldly.

  “I’m not asking you to make my life easier. I’m asking you to make Emerson’s life easier,” I counter.

  “Whatever. I can’t take her this weekend, by the way,” Jessica snaps again.

  “You are completely unbelievable Jessica. I told you that we were taking her to the beach this weekend for the wedding,” I say, rolling my eyes.

  Jessica’s eye go wide. “Oh wait, I did want her this weekend. I’m bringing her to my mom’s,” she backpedals.

  “I’m done playing this game with you. I’m going to tell you how it’s going to go. You will call me on the first of every month and give me the dates and times you want to take her. The first time,” I emphasize by putting my finger up between us, “you miss one of the times, I will go for full custody with child support. And let me just tell you, there is easily two hundred dollars worth of back to school things in this list. I already have the papers drawn up at my lawyer’s office.”

  Jessica looks flabbergasted. “Do you understand?” I repeat.

  Her shoulders slump. I think she finally gets the picture that I was done with her messing with my life. She turns around and stomps off. Damn that felt good.

  I give myself a minute to cool off before going to find my girls. When I’m finally calm enough, I walk toward the snack aisle and find Emerson and Bailey sitting in the camping section reading a book.

  I stand back and watch them while they read. I take a moment to appreciate everything I have. My ex-wife is finally put in her place, and I doubt she will be giving us any trouble anytime soon, my beautiful wife-to-be is reading to my, no our, daughter. I’m getting married to the love of my life in two days. I can’t imagine how my life could get much better.

  Bailey notices I’m staring at them and winks at me. I walk up to my girls and ask, “Who’s hungry?” Both girls shoot their hands in the air in lighting speed.

  I rolled over in bed, an empty bed. This will be the last time I ever wake up in a bed that I don’t share with my husband. That thought makes me smile. I roll out of bed and change into my running clothes and head out.

  After a shower and a quick breakfast, I’m out the door for school. I’m still a little early, so I do a little work in my room. This will be my last chance to get anything done before the kids start on Tuesday. I’m taping name tags to their desks when Ella walks in humming “Here Comes the Bride.”

  “You ready hon?” She asks. I nod and smile at her.

  “I have to go pick up a few things at the mall. Can you drop me off while you go pick up your dress?” I ask.

  “Getting me an awesome maid-of-honor present, aren’t you?” She prods.

  “Yeah, the mall’s the only place I can get a pearl necklace.” She wrinkles her nose as I laugh at her. It was a running joke because every Christmas her grandmother gets her a new set of pearls.

  “I’m not wearing some ugly granny pearl necklace,” she says as she links her arm in mine and pulls me out the door. “Let’s get this over with,” Ella continues as she walks toward the library.

  We end up working through our lunch, so we can leave an hour earlier and head to the mall. As we are walking to the parking lot, I see Jessica standing next to Ella’s car.

  “Oh, shit. What does she want?” Ella asks. I shrug my shoulders in response.

  As we get closer, I see that Jessica’s eyes are red. She’s been crying. I instantly feel concerned for her even with all she’s put me through.

  “Can I talk to you for a minute, Bailey?” Jessica asks quietly, almost remorsefully. When neither Ella or I say anything she asks, “Alone?”

  “I’ll grab us some hoagies for the ride. I’ll meet you back here in a few minutes,” Ella says, getting into her car. I turn toward Jessica waiting for her to stay. When she doesn’t say anything for a minute I walk over to a bench and sit down. She follows behind and takes a seat next to me.

  “I don’t know where to start,” she says as a tear falls down her cheek. She plays with the buttons on her shirt and continues slowly, “Cody left me. He called me a raging bitch. He went on and on about what a horrible person I am. The entire house was empty. The only thing left was the boxes of my clothing that I brought with me.”

  I’m not sure what I’m feeling about all this. I know what it’s like to be left, so I do feel sorry that she has to go through this. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, not even Jessica.

  “He told me that he sold the house and that I needed my things out by the end of the day, or the movers were going to take it to the dump. After my anger subsided I figured I better call some friends to help me out. That’s when I realized, I don’t have any friends. Not one,” she continued to play with her button not looking me in the eye.

  “It took me all night to move just a few boxes to a hotel room. It gave me time to think about my life. Think about the person I’ve become. The horrible person I’ve become,” Jessica said as she looked up at me with tears in her eyes then continued again before I could say anything. “I just wanted to apologize to you. I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I needed to tell you that I am sorry. We were friends in college. You were the most loyal and trusting friend I’ve ever had and I ruined that. I’m really sorry.”

  I scoot closer to her on the bench and put my hand on hers.

  “Jessica,” I say.

  “No, you don’t need to say anything. I just wanted you to know how sorry I am. I’m going to talk to Andrew too and apologize, for everything. He is a great man and didn’t deserve what I put him through. I’m also giving up my parental rights,” Jessica says.

  “Jessica, that’s really not necessary,” I say quickly. “Andrew and I both want you to be a part of Emerson’s life.”

  I see a small smile escape. “Well, we can talk about it. I know I’m not a good mother. I do love Emerson, I just don’t have the Mommy gene. Not for someone this young, maybe when she gets older I’ll be able to relate to her better. Anyway, I’m moving back to Pittsburg with my parents,” she shrugs.

  “We can work something out so you’ll be able to see her,” I tell her.

  “Thank you, that would be nice,” she says then takes a deep breath. “I know you and Andrew are getting married tomorrow. I really do hope you two will be very happy together.”

  I hear Ella’s car pull up behind us. Jessica stands up quickly and wipes her tears. When I stand next to her she pulls me in for a quick hug and says, “I’m sorry,” then rushes off to her car.

  “What was that all about?” Ella asks, walking up to me.

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” I say still stunned over what just happened.

  “Try me,” she begs.

  “Come on, I’ll tell you in the car on the way to New Jersey. That way, I can call Andrew and not have to tell the story twice,” I say as we get in the car and head toward the mall.

  When Ella drop
s me off, I go to the jewelry store first to pick up our wedding rings. The woman walks up and recognizes me from when we bought the rings earlier in the week. As I walk by the watch case, I get a brilliant idea. I add a watch and a necklace to my total before heading back to meet Ella.

  We leave the mall and head straight to Ocean City, New Jersey. Lead Foot Ella will get us there in less than two hours. She’ll also take years off my life.

  “When you call Andrew, ask them in they’ve had dinner. I could go for some boardwalk food,” Ella mentions.

  “Crap, my phone’s dead. Where’s yours?” I grab for her phone at the same time she does. Ella yells, “Wait.”

  I have the faster hands and snatch it up holding it to my chest. “What are you hiding woman?” I ask with a laugh. She reaches over and tries to grab it out of my hands.

  “Hands on the steering wheel,” I scold. I push the home button and gasp. “Ella, you have fifteen texts from Jake,” I exclaim.

  “Give it back to me you, bitch,” she laughs, making a grab for the phone again. I hand it back to her waiting for an explanation when I notice her face is bright red.

  “Ella, spill.”

  “There’s nothing to spill.” She stashes her phone away. “We’re just texting.”

  “Mmmhmm.” I plug my phone in and wait for it to turn on to call Andrew.

  “Hey, where are you guys?” Andrew asks when he picks up.

  “We are almost there. You’ll never believe who was waiting for me outside school today,” I say. I have yet to wrap my head around her sudden change, and I’m thinking Andrew will have an even harder believing it.

  “Jessica.”

  “Hey, how’d you know?” I question.

  “She called me after she talked to you. Apologize for everything she’s done to me, Emerson and to us. I thought she was joking at first, but I really think she was being sincere.

  “She was. It wasn’t an act,” I say.

  “She also told me that she is moving, and the you told her we would working something out so Emerson could see her,” Andrew says.

  “I did. I hope I’m not over stepping my bounds,” I say worried that he will be angry.