Serendipity

chapter 19

Emily was nervous. Not because she was having dinner with the Director, in his home no less, but because she was meeting Isabella’s family. She couldn’t begin to explain how thankful she was for them for giving her little baby the life she had dreamed of. Isabella was a beautiful person, one Emily was sure she wouldn’t have been able to raise herself. She could tell JJ was nervous, too. It would be the first time they went out as a couple, the first time they didn’t have to hide; everyone in attendance knew about them. And it didn’t help that it was at their boss’ house.

The house Isabella turned into was nothing like she had imagined. It was a perfect ‘American dream’ house, complete with white picket fence and blue shutters; somehow she thought the Director would have a much more upscale residence. It made her feel a bit better to know he was just a normal person, it would be easier to not see him as the Director. She really hoped it helped JJ relax, too. A squealing grey haired woman came running out of the house and all but tackled Isabella to the ground. She was small, but she managed to hug Emily so tight she felt her back crack. “Thank you. You’ll never know how grateful we are.” The woman had whispered in her ear, and she bit back tears. She hugged Lorainne back. Next was Isabella’s dad, he was a tall man with light brown hair. He had also hugged her, and whispered words of thanks in her ear. While she was usually uncomfortable with so much physicality, she was oddly relaxed. Isabella had disappeared into the house, leaving her and JJ to follow Lorainne. She stole a glance at JJ, then remembered that they didn’t have to hide there. She slipped her hand into JJ’s, the blond instinctively tried to pull back, but Emily just held her tighter. Within a second, Emily felt JJ relax, she must have also remembered they were allowed to hold hands. It made her heart warm. The Director had only shook her hand, she wondered if Isabella had said something about hugs to him. That must be where she disappeared to. Emily was touched by the sentiment.

When she sat down on the picnic bench, she was a little startled by JJ immediately leaning back into her arms. She had longed to be able to hold the woman like that, and she couldn’t help but smile as she placed her arm around JJ’s waist, and gave her a little squeeze. They were talking to the men so comfortably, Emily imagined anyone who saw them wouldn’t know they had just met an hour ago. She was only vaguely aware that Isabella and Lorainne had left, but the conversation shifted to stories of Isabella as a child, and Emily was happy. In that moment, she was truly happy. Douglas told them, “When she was 2, she went through a phase where all she would eat were carrots and plain dry bread. For preschool, she made Liza pack her only 2 slices of dry bread. It was so bad that the school called us in to check if everything was okay at home. I’m 100% sure they didn’t believe us when we told them it was what she wanted, but Liza just said to them they were welcome to try and put something on the bread. If she did happen to eat it, they should let us know so we could get some of it for her.” Emily was amazed at the antics of a toddler. James added, “yes, but at least Lorainne got her to eat vegetables other than carrots. She’d give her a bowl of mixed veggies, cut up into squares. The little nut would eat one square at a time, asking with every bite whether or not it was a carrot. We just kept telling her it was white carrots and green carrots…she ate all of it like that.” Emily felt JJ laugh against her, it was marvellous. “Oh!” Douglas said, “Also when she was about two, she had an obsession with The Aristocats. James and Lorainne had gotten her the VHS tape, and she watched it ad nauseum. She didn’t sleep, she sat in front of the TV watching that tape. When it was done, she’d come wake me so I could rewind it for her. Then she’d watch it again. I got tired of getting up so much, so I just taught her how to do it herself. She could recite the entire movie. Probably still can.” Emily was amazed, “She learned to use the VHS when she was 2?” “Well, she learned to use the rewind button.” JJ snickered against her again, and she tightened her grip for a moment.  James was telling them about Isabella’s protest regarding an oak tree when she and Lorainne came back carrying plates and cutlery. She found it incredibly cute the way Isabella defended her 6 year old thinking. She was sad that she hadn’t been able to experience it herself, but she was more happy that Isabella had been able to live it. She looked on in wonder as Isabella sang the silly songs for them, feeling almost like she got a glimpse of the young woman’s childhood. She thought again that Isabella would have made an excellent actress in another life.