Two
The drive home was mercifully quick; at midnight there was little traffic, and the route home was direct. Although the kids would be long asleep, Emily looked forward each night to kissing their sleeping faces and whispering I-love-yous to each. Aidan and Ava, twins, a boy and girl, the millionaire’s family, everyone said. Except in the millionaire’s family, Emily thought bitterly, the dad doesn’t die and leave the mom with two preschoolers.
After Thomas had died, Emily’s mother-in-law, Ellen, had moved in with Emily and the twins. She lived in an in-law suite in Emily’s house, and looked after Aidan and Ava. Although they were in school full-time now, Emily worked crazy hours and Ellen’s tireless commitment to their strange New Normal after Thomas’s death seemed to have made the transition smoother for everyone. Although their relationship had always been easy and comfortable, since sharing the parenting responsibilities for Ava and Aidan, Emily and Ellen had become as close as two women could be. Thank God for Ellen, Emily thought, as she did every night.
Ellen was dozing in the recliner with the TV remote in her hand. She stirred as Emily dropped her bag and coat on the couch and considered flopping down, knowing full-well that she would likely not arise from it until morning. Only the pull of her children kept her bone-tired legs under her.
“How was your day, Em?” Ellen asked, stretching and clicking off the TV.
“Hell, thanks. How was yours?”
“Well, Ava is getting sniffly again but I sent her to school anyway, and Aidan had a major tantrum over his homework tonight, but otherwise, it was business as usual, I guess. Anything I can do for you?” she replied.
“No, thanks, El. I’m exhausted. I never did sleep last night, and we got a big trauma tonight, because all the city ERs were closed…” she thought about telling Ellen about her run-in with the rock star, but suddenly couldn’t remember his name. She sighed. “How can I ever thank you for everything?” she walked over to give her mother-in-law a hug.
“You don’t need to, honey. They’re my grandchildren. I love them and I love you. Now, go kiss them and get some sleep. When do you work again?” she asked.
“Not until Friday, thank God,” Emily replied. They exchanged good-nights and Ellen headed for her own part of the house.
Emily headed for bed, but not before checking on each child. Aidan was a bit warm, but not feverish, and sleeping soundly. Ava had one of Emily’s old t-shirts clutched tightly in a small fist, a bizarre sort of security blanket, and Emily tucked the blankets around her and kissed her sweaty forehead. Neither child stirred. As she always did at the end of a long shift, Emily had a quick shower to “wash away the trauma”, as she thought of it, and fell gratefully into bed, asleep before her head hit the pillow.
After Thomas had died, Emily’s mother-in-law, Ellen, had moved in with Emily and the twins. She lived in an in-law suite in Emily’s house, and looked after Aidan and Ava. Although they were in school full-time now, Emily worked crazy hours and Ellen’s tireless commitment to their strange New Normal after Thomas’s death seemed to have made the transition smoother for everyone. Although their relationship had always been easy and comfortable, since sharing the parenting responsibilities for Ava and Aidan, Emily and Ellen had become as close as two women could be. Thank God for Ellen, Emily thought, as she did every night.
Ellen was dozing in the recliner with the TV remote in her hand. She stirred as Emily dropped her bag and coat on the couch and considered flopping down, knowing full-well that she would likely not arise from it until morning. Only the pull of her children kept her bone-tired legs under her.
“How was your day, Em?” Ellen asked, stretching and clicking off the TV.
“Hell, thanks. How was yours?”
“Well, Ava is getting sniffly again but I sent her to school anyway, and Aidan had a major tantrum over his homework tonight, but otherwise, it was business as usual, I guess. Anything I can do for you?” she replied.
“No, thanks, El. I’m exhausted. I never did sleep last night, and we got a big trauma tonight, because all the city ERs were closed…” she thought about telling Ellen about her run-in with the rock star, but suddenly couldn’t remember his name. She sighed. “How can I ever thank you for everything?” she walked over to give her mother-in-law a hug.
“You don’t need to, honey. They’re my grandchildren. I love them and I love you. Now, go kiss them and get some sleep. When do you work again?” she asked.
“Not until Friday, thank God,” Emily replied. They exchanged good-nights and Ellen headed for her own part of the house.
Emily headed for bed, but not before checking on each child. Aidan was a bit warm, but not feverish, and sleeping soundly. Ava had one of Emily’s old t-shirts clutched tightly in a small fist, a bizarre sort of security blanket, and Emily tucked the blankets around her and kissed her sweaty forehead. Neither child stirred. As she always did at the end of a long shift, Emily had a quick shower to “wash away the trauma”, as she thought of it, and fell gratefully into bed, asleep before her head hit the pillow.
posted by Cluttered Mind | 6:47 PM
|
0 comments
