Page 117 of Emergency Exit
“Ash,” said Rowan, “the only thing we need you to be is yourself.”
Ash tried to come up with something meaningful to say and instead blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“Harper said the same thing.”
“And this is why we like Harper,” said Forest. “Also, because she likes boring machines.”
“And punches people,” said Rowan, laughing.
“And apparently makes furniture? That coffee table is amazing,” added Forest. Ash wanted to agree with Forest, but he wasn’t sure if he was still angry.
The door to the condo opened, and Rose stepped out, shutting it gently behind her. Ash thought she looked scared.
“Ash, I’m sorry I said that about karate,” she said. “I knew you didn’t want to tell them, and I shouldn’t have taken that choice from you.”
“It’s OK, Mom,” said Ash.
“No, it isn’t,” said Rose. “I…” She hesitated and then plunged ahead. “I wasn’t a good Mom, and all of you learned to keep secrets because you had to protect yourselves.”
“Mom,” protested Ash.
“No,” said Rose firmly. “If I can’t be vulnerable about big stuff, how are you supposed to manage even little stuff?”
“I’m trying, Mom,” said Ash.
“Mom,” said Forest, and Ash braced for something dismissive. “Olly had a really good time at lunch with you and Chloe. He wants to visit again.”
Rose’s face lit up, and Ash wanted to hug Forest.
“He’s so wonderful! You are such a great father! And I just love Chloe.”
“Doesn’t she make you feel like everything is going to be all right?” asked Forest.
“Yes! She reminds me of Mr. Rogers,” said Rose.
“That’s what I said!” exclaimed Ash.
Rowan chuckled. “Except when she wants the slow-mo version of Ash kicking ass.”
“Thatwasodd,” said Rose.
“She does kung-fu,” said Forest. “That surprised me too. I thought it was yoga.”
“Baby,” said Rose doubtfully, “those areverydifferent.”
“Well, I may have been distracted by the yoga pants,” saidForest, and Ash couldn’t stop a squeak of laughter from escaping. Beside him, he felt Rowan also struggling not to outright laugh in Forest’s face.
“OK,” said Rose, looking at the three of them. “You’re all... Everything’s OK?”
“Yeah, Mom,” said Rowan. “We’re fine. We just needed to remind Ash that he’s not the only weird one in the family.”
“Oh,” said Rose. “No. Definitely not. No, I remember when you were six, and you used to tell everyone that when you grew up, you were going to have your belly button removed. You’d just found out about plastic surgery and umbilical cords, and you thought it would be cool. But it freaked Aunt Dolores out. Which was fine with me because she used to say unkind things about Forest’s ears.”
“What’s wrong with my ears?” demanded Forest.
“Nothing,” said Rose. “They stuck out after you were born, which is totally normal, but she kept suggesting I tie them to your skull. Who says that?” Rose shook her head. Then she looked at the three of them again. “Really—everything is OK?”
“Yeah, Mom,” said Rowan. “We’re fine.”
