Jade

Chapter 45

I let her play and swat at the bubbles for a little while.  Then sensing that it was time to get out and get on with it, I stood up.  She stood up to.  I lifted her up and out of the tub, where Aris was waiting with the towel.  I climbed out and put on a robe and slippers.  Aris was rubbing a towel into her hair, drying it.  He picked her up and sat her on the vanity.  I started combing her hair.

“Emma,” I started, she looked at me in the mirror, “what would you think if I told you that Tobias Drake wasn't really your dad?  That he had stolen you from your real parents when you were a baby?  And that we found your real parents?”  She froze for a minute, then narrowed her eyes at me, “that is just a story, right?”  “No,” I answered, “They want you very much.  They have been looking for you the whole time that you were gone.”  She went quiet, then I saw a tear trickle down her cheek, “Is that why he did all of those bad things to me?  Because I was not really his kid?”  She turned around and hugged me really tight.  “I don't know,” I whispered, “he was just a really bad man.”  “Does that mean that you can't be my parents?” she asked between sniffles.  I pulled back to look into her eyes, “Emma, I read only good intentions with them.  They have been so sad every since you went away.  They are really nice people.”  “They are?” she asked, hopeful.  “Yes,” I went on, “remember Jason, Craig and Steven.”  Her eyes lit up, “I like them.”  “They are coming for lunch today and bringing your mom, for you to meet,” Aris cut in feeling her excitement.  “My mom,” her eyes got huge, “I have to get ready.  Can I wear a pretty dress?”  “Of course you can, but not yet.  We are going to try to take a nap first,” he told her.  “I do not know if I can,” she smiled.  “Well, we are going to try.  You have been up for a long time.”  “Okay.”

We put a clean nightgown on her and we changed into our night clothes.  We had her lay down in between us.  “What about you?” she asked us.  “What do you mean?” I asked.  “I do not want you to be sad if I go,” she answered.  “We will miss you, but you won't be too far away for a visit.  Don't worry about us.  Just seeing you happy makes me happy,” I reassured her.  “Really?” she asked.  “Yes.”  “You too,” she looked at Aris.  “Me too,” he answered, “we will always be here if you need us.”  She hugged Aris.  She let go then he gave her a kiss on her forehead, each eye, her nose then her mouth.  He gently laid her down, asleep now.  He tucked the blanket in around her then got up, “cigarette?”  I got up and we changed into outer wear.  We went out on the balcony and shut the door softly.

“That went smoother than I thought it would,” he handed me a lit cigarette.  “They better be good to her,” I told him.  “They will,” he answered, confidently.  “You seem sure,” I observed.  “Because I am,” he told me.  We were both silent for a minute.  “Stop worrying Jade,” he reassured me, “Everything will be fine.  I will make sure of it.”  What a strange thing to say.  “How will you make sure of it?” I asked.  “Do not worry yourself with that,” he replied, “I will take care of it.  The hardest part was telling Emma and you handled that like a pro.”  What?  The hardest part was telling Emma.  What's he talking about?

We finished our cigarettes and went back in.  I changed into night clothes and got into bed with Emma.  He chose to stay up and look over some paperwork, at his desk, in the corner.  He must've pushed me to sleep, because I went to sleep almost immediately.  I dreamed of playing in a field of flowers with Emma and a puppy.  Puppy dreams really are the best.  I don't really like getting licked in the face by them, though.

I awoke to Emma inches from my face.  I opened an eye to see her tickling my nose with her finger.  She giggled when she figured out that I was watching.  I fake sneezed all over her.  “Ewe, gross!”  I reached over and tickled her.  She giggled even harder, “Yaris wants to know if you need a shower?”  “Didn't I just take a bath with you?” I asked.  She nodded her head yes.  “No I don't!” I yelled.  “I'm right here,” he said from right behind me.  I jumped.  “It's time to get ready,” he told me.  “Awe, can't we just stay like this?” I asked.  “No silly, I have to meet my new mom!” Emma reminded me.  “Oh, that's right!”  I sat up and leaned on Aris, “what are you going to wear?”  “I don't know,” she answered, “I need your help.”  Are they in the closet?”  “Yes.”  “Pick out your two favorites and bring them to me.”

She climbed down off of the bed and ran into the closet.  She came out awkwardly carrying two dresses.  “I will help you with that,” Aris got up and went to her.  He took both dresses and held one in front of Emma.  It was red with black stitching and white lace trim.  It was a tank top with a long flowing skirt.  Then Aris switched them.  The second dress was canary yellow with white lace trim and black stitching.  It had a sweetheart neckline and a full princess skirt.  “Such a hard choice.  They are both so beautiful,” I told her, “I choose the red and white.  Only because I think it will go better with this.”  I pulled a wrapped box out from under the bed and handed it to her, “an early Christmas present.”  She climbed up onto the bed and tore at the paper until it revealed a shoebox.  The shoes I picked up at Lia's favorite boutique.  She took the lid off of the box.  Black boots with white stitching.  They would come up to about mid-calf on her, were lined with fur, had a zipper closure, and had a one inch hill.  She took one out and held it up.  “What do you think?” I asked.  “I love them!” she cried.  “I think that the red dress will go better with the boots, if you are wanting to wear them,” I explained.  “Okay.”  I reached under the bed and pulled out the sack.  I pulled the tights out and pushed the sack back under the bed, “I also got you some warm tights.”  I helped her put the black tights on.  Aris helped her get the dress on, then I helped with the boots.

Aris took her to the full length mirror on the wall opposite the bed.  “I look so pretty!” she cried, “I love it!”  “You look beautiful,” he told her, “I think you are beautiful with or without the dress.”  I saw a tear slip down her cheek in the reflection.  Aris caught it with his thumb, “Are you sad?”  She nodded her head no.  “It's okay.  Sometimes people cry when they are happy too,” I told her, “spin around for me.”  She spun around until she got dizzy.  Then Aris had to help her to the bed.

It was time for me to get dressed.  I let the skin pick.  I was in a white uniform again, but pants, knee high boots, a long sleeved polo and my hair was up in a bun.  “Don't you want to dress pretty like me?” Emma asked.  “No, today is your day to shine,” I told her, “I will dress pretty for Christmas, okay?”  “Okay,” she agreed.  Aris changed his clothes to match mine.  The only differences were his boots rose to mid-calf and he left his hair down.

“They are here.  Are we ready to go?” Aris asked.  Emma stood up on the bed and held her arms out to him, “carry me.”  He picked her up.  We left the bedroom and headed toward the dining room.  “We had another storm last night, so they are coming by snowmobile.  Do you need a cigarette?” he asked me.  “Yes,” I answered.  He set Emma down on her feet, “Stay with Uncle Theo while we go smoke.”  She ran to Theo.  “Look at that pretty girl,” I heard him say as we made our way to the back door.

Ripley and Lia were on the back porch.  Aris lit me a cigarette and one for himself.  “Is lunch ready?” he asked Ripley.  “It's ready to be served.  We are just waiting on them to arrive,” Ripley answered.  “Max, Antony and Kale went to escort them.  It is just Jason and his wife.  The boys didn't come with them,” Lia informed us, ”they are sick with a cold.”  “Are you doing okay Jade?” Ripley asked.  “Just a little nervous,” I answered.  Aris took my hand and rubbed small circles on my palm, “nothing to be nervous about, everything will be fine.”  “If Yaris says everything will be fine, it will,” Lia reassured me.  We finished our cigarettes and went inside to wait.

A few minutes later we heard the back door open and heard a commotion as they changed out of their Winter gear.  We stood to go greet them.  “Jason,” Aris shook his hand.  I just smiled at them both.  “This is my wife, Lizzie.  Lizzie, this is Yaris and Jade,” Jason introduced us.  “I hope you are hungry.  Lunch is ready,” I invited them to follow us to the dining room.  We got to the dining room, “Emma come here,” Aris called, “we have a special lady for you to meet.”  Emma ran to Aris.  “Emma, this is Lizzie, and you remember Jason, right?”  She nodded her head yes.  “What a pretty dress for such a pretty girl,” Lizzie complemented Emma.  Emma beamed with pride.  Not one to be shy for long, “Would you like to sit by me at lunch?” Emma invited her.  “I sure would,” Lizzie accepted.  Emma took her hand and led her to the table.

Aris pulled my chair out for me, sat in his chair and Ripley took the chair on the other side of me.  “Sit here Emma,” Aris indicated the other chair next to him.  Emma climbed up into the chair.  Lizzie sat next to her and Jason sat next to Lizzie.  The others took their seats.  In the middle, the table was full of finger foods, sandwiches and chips.  Drinks had already been set out.  I opened my Diet Coke and took a drink.  I picked out some fruit, carrots and two of the sandwiches to start.  To my surprise, I actually have an appetite.  I looked at Aris, who was helping Emma get some food.  Lizzie watched Emma adoringly.  The family resemblance was very strong.  Emma looks more like Lizzie than she does Jason.

“So, Lizzie,” I started, hoping that Yaris was ready, “are you a housewife? Or do you work outside of the home?”  She looked at me, “I am a housewife.”  “Jason said that you like to cook,” I continued, “What's your favorite dish to make?”  “I don't know,” she replied, “There are so many.  Jason likes lasagna and enchiladas.  I like making those.  And the boys love spaghetti.  I love making that too.”  “Spaghetti,” Emma got excited, “I love spaghetti!”  She looked at Emma, “Jason told me that you like to cook and clean.”  Emma nodded her head yes.  “I can not wait to cook something with you,” Lizzie told her, “we will have to make spaghetti together.”  “Okay,” Emma agreed.

“Are you my mom?” Emma asked Lizzie.  “I believe so,” Lizzie answered, “They are going to perform a test on me to make sure.”  “We will do that right after lunch,” Aris told them.  “Will you hold me like I am your baby?  Yaris does that and I like it,” “Emma asked, “And Jade takes a bath with me everyday.  She lets me wash myself and she lets me pop the bubbles before we get out.  I like that.”  “I suppose we could do those things,” Lizzie answered, “Do you have any other demands?”  “A lot of hugs and kisses,” Emma answered, “Sometimes tickles, but not a lot.”  “We can definitely meet those demands,” Jason agreed.  “I also want to come visit here.  I will worry about all of these people because I will not be here to watch over them,” Emma continued, “and I want to be able to call Yaris and Jade every night to say goodnight.”  “Sounds like a good plan,” Lizzie agreed.  “What is my real name?”  “Desi, short for Desiree,” Lizzie answered.  “I like that better than Emma,” Emma told them, “I will be Desi from now on.”

We finished eating then Antony led Lizzie away for the blood test.