Page 22 of Wedded to a Wayne

Chapter Five

Tanisha

J-Pop:You can come with us.

T-Diddy:I’m not a hobbit, Joey. We just had this conversation at our meeting. You remember? The one you left three minutes ago?

J-Pop:Three minutes is a lifetime. New Zealand isn’t all about hobbits. Bring your kids and the hubby. How weird is our life now? We have kids. We’re not just watching them or hiring people to watch them. Speaking of, should I stay to do that in-home visit we were talking about?

T-Diddy:I can handle the Stein family. We’ll be fine for a week without you. You deserve a trip before Elliot has to be all baseball, all the time.

J-Pop:Did I tell you we’re stopping at home for a few days so he can meet Rick and Matilda? He wants to bring them balloons. It’s our thing now.

T-Diddy:I approve of your thing.

J-Pop:I can’t believe you said that. I miss you.

T-Diddy:Literally just saw you. Now go. And hug your parents for me.

J-Pop:I didn’t have the nerve to ask you in person. Did you…? Has that happened yet? Has DOT DOT DOT happened?

J-Pop:You would get the reference if you liked musicals. ABBA? Nothing?

J-Pop:Are you still there?

T-Diddy:You have reached the voicemail of Nonya Business. Please leave a message at the bleeped expletive. *&^%#$

J-Pop:You haven’t. How am I supposed to leave now? What if you need me for The Talk?

T-Diddy:You want to give me The Talk?

J-Pop:I would rock The Talk.

T-Diddy:Would you rock the—one of these things is not like the other—talk?

J-Pop:Good point. Can I reserve you in advance for Rue’s The Talk? Keep in mind that I’ll panic for the next several years if you say no.

T-Diddy:Leaving now. Talk later.

Less than an hour later, Derek drops me off at my front door and I unlock it quickly, impatient to get inside and have some time to myself. Joey and I spent hours on that work call, putting out fires and planning for his trip. I wasn’t sure how long it would take, so Emerson’s mother agreed to pick up the boys up from school and keep them until he gets back from his meeting with the lawyer.

When I knew I could come home early, I took the opportunity without letting anyone know I was free. I feel guilty about it, but on the other hand, I haven’t been able to catch my breath for close to two weeks now.

And I really need to catch my breath.

Not because of the boys. They’re absolutely wonderful. Barry reminds me of a younger Joey, which is really all that needs to be said. He’s a caretaker. A nurturer. Full of love and tender feelings. His older brother, Langston, is amazingly intuitive and attentive. Almost too observant at times.

For example, he notices almost before I do if I need to be off my feet or adjust my prosthesis. He’s fascinated by it from a purely mechanical prospective, so it doesn’t make me uncomfortable at all. I’m almost positive he’s a genius, and he’ll grow up to do something innovative in the medical cybernetics industry. Or build a robot army that could kill us all. It’s too soon to tell.

I’m already in love with both of them.

We hung Christmas lights a few days ago, and I got the best pictures of all of them together, tangled up in wires and bulbs.

It doesn’t seem fair to Emerson, to be honest. So far, I’m getting so much more out of our deal than he is. My mother even left a message today, thanking me for sending those pictures.

This is the first time she’s initiated contact since I moved.

Do I wish she’d done it without me having to conform to her version of femininity by getting married? Of course I do. But I’m not expecting a holiday miracle. All I need is a chance to reconnect. To keep my promise.

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