Chapter 18
EMERSON
A week after what their family is dubbing ‘the incident,' she sat at home alone while her parents had taken Miles to a parent teacher night at his school. After helping her baby brother with his media presence, writing his speech and helping him dodge racist internet trolls as well as the 'Blue Lives Matter' crowd - she was emotionally exhausted. She had expected to spend the evening alone watching murder shows, but was surprised when she got a text from her big brother that he was coming to the tower without the toddlers and he’d be there in five minutes.
She considered texting him back to ask why, cause when was the last time he came around without the twins, but thought better to just wait for the dramatics.
And sure enough, a few minutes later, her brother came out of the elevator in a huff.
“How goes it, brother?” she asked with a smile as Pete walked around to plop on the couch next to her.
“Men are the worst, stay gay.” She snorted in laughter from that, glad to see a smile break across his face as well.
“Wasn’t planning on switching teams anytime soon, so…I think I’m safe there. What’s up, having hubby problems?”
“Not gonna be my hubby much longer,” he muttered before flopping fully across the couch.
“You love him,” Em countered, smiling as his face again broke into a smile.
“I do, god help me.” She looked at her brother a moment longer before an idea popped into her head.
“So the mister is watching the kids, right?”
“Part of his punishment,” he confirmed.
“Pete, let’s have a fucking drink,” she said in excitement, which grew when she saw her brother’s face light up in equal excitement.
“Oh my god, yes! We haven’t been drunk together since your twenty-first,” he said as he got up and led the way to their Dad’s liquor cabinet.
Amongst the many unopened bottles, was one with a ribbon wrapped around the neck that neither had seen before. But their parents received alcoholic gifts often so it made sense another one was sitting unopened.
Since it was unopened, the two siblings hesitated before deciding their Dad probably wouldn’t care anyway since he cut back on drinking.
Plus the name was ‘Turn Back Time Wine’ – so anything Cher related was probably amazing, right?
The brother and sister cheered and clinked their wine glasses together before sipping the drink. She can safely say, she had never tasted anything like it.
They took the bottle and sprawled out on the couch together.
“So what’s got you so mad at your husband?” she asked as she took another sip of the tangy drink. He took more of a gulp than a sip before answering her question.
“He wants another kid. This seven year old he saved from a gang...I can barely handle twin toddlers and that motherfucker just suggested getting a nanny.”
“That’s pretty insensitive.”
“Thank you! Look, don’t get me wrong. I love being a stay at home dad. But I have twin toddlers. Throwing any other kid, let alone one that...needs extra attention, into the mix will make me finally lose it.” She took another moment to sip her drink as she stared at him a long moment.
“You don’t...regret adopting them do y-”
“No! God, no, Emerson. They’re my babies. I just...the thought of throwing another one in right now makes me want to yank my hair out,” Pete said as he finished his glass before pouring another one.
“Why don’t you tell Wade he needs to help out more, then?”
“Cause he’s a big boy, he can figure it out on his own.” She laughed, glad to see him join her, before asking him something she wouldn’t have otherwise without alcohol.
“Pete...have you ever wanted your own kids?” He looked at her another moment before responding.
“Like genetically?”
“Yeah.”
“Um...no? Not really. Wade and I never even discussed surrogacy. There are too many kids out there that need good homes.” He smiled as he looked at her another moment. “Do you want your own kids?”
The question shouldn’t have caught her off guard, because she literally just asked him that, but she couldn’t help the initial choked out response.
“I…” She closed her eyes tightly, remembering her aunt’s comforting words before finishing in a quiet voice. “I can’t have my own kids, Pete.”
“What?” he asked quietly before resting a hand on her shoulder.
“I had a hysterectomy. Few years ago…” she said, hoping that would somehow explain everything.
“Shit, Em. Are you...like, is everything okay down there?” he asked in a slight panic as she quickly reassured him.
“Yes, now, it is. It was...more of a precautionary measure. Not to be too gross, but my periods were horrendous and the doctor’s suggested it anyway since...my, you know...past kind of fucked me over down there anyway…”
“God, Emerson. I’m, I’m so fucking sorry,” he said as he slowly pulled her into a hug.
“Pete?” she asked, still staying curled in his embrace.
“Yeah?”
“Can you pour me another glass?” They laughed and drank and talked about their current marriage woes before the two became overcome with the feeling of tiredness.
Then they fell back in unison, both unconscious.