Unexpected

Chapter 12: Explained Pain

Finding Emily in front of a window of newborns, Mingus sighs and then walks over to her. She's tearfully smiling at each and every one, as she bites her lip and wipes her eyes. Standing quietly beside her, Mingus doesn't say anything, but watches the babies also.

"They're lucky ya know?" Mingus says out of the blue. "The only thing they have to worry about for the next 8 months is who's gonna feed and change them. They can cry in front of anyone and not feel ashamed or embarressed about it- people coddle them and give them anything they cry for."

He pauses and waves to a little baby who is staring at them with his fingers in his mouth.

"I wish we could do that. But then again, I guess we do. Kids cry cause they want something and most times they get it. Women cry cause they want their husbands to spend more time with them and the husbands usually do. But it's funny how we often run away from our vulnerablity so others see us a strong- which really makes us look pretty weak."

Emily looks at him for a while and then back at the babies. He's right- she is weak, vulnerable, and ashamed of her tears. She wishes she was stronger, but she isn't.

"My grandpa had a heart attack and died because I wanted to play and scare him. He said Boo to me- right before he started running and had the heart attack. Yer Dad said boo to me and....and I don't understand it at all. It makes me feel terrible."

"Hey, my dad had a heart attack because he's been stressing for months over you, but you didn't cause him to have the heart attack. He did it himself. He holds everything in because he's like you- ashamed to look weak. But crying isn't weakness by itself- it's actually strength if you show it." Hugging her, Mingus feels her body pressed against his, arms around his neck and her heart beating out of her chest. Shaking his head, he lets go and looks at her. "Emily, this whole friend thing is shit. You love my Dad- I know you do. And, well, all relationships are messed up. People are gonna talk and have opinions about them, but Love surpasses everything. So if you love him- tell him. Give him a second chance to show you that you are the reason he smiles every day and acts like a child. BECAUSE you are!"

"Mingus, yer really wise you know that? Yer very caring, and mature." She kisses his cheek and starts back towards Norman's room. Sighing, Mingus follows with a small smile on his face. When they get back to Norman's room, he's fast asleep and Emily just sits beside him on the bed amd pushes his hair from his eyes and kisses his forehead. Mingus sits in the corner on his phone, hiding his pride and joy that he is so convincing and smart.

After about two hours, Norman wakes up to find Emily sleeping soundly beside him with her hand on his heart and face on his shoulder. Scanning the room, Mingus is fast asleep in an arm chair with his legs drapped over an arm. Blinking away his confusion, he smiles for a few moments until he feels Emily stir beside him. Leaning toward her, he kisses her forehead and she stirs some more, gently rubbing her eyes and yawning. When she opens them, a smile crosses her face and she kisses his gowned shoulder.

"Hey..." He whispers to her so not to wake Mingus.

"Hi..."

"How are you?" She quietly giggles and looks at him with compassion.

"Yer the one who is in the hospital. How are you?" Their whispers are soft, but Mingus can hear every word- he pretends to be sleeping still so not to take away from the moment.

"I've been better....Em...I met someone---Felix Kinney...."

"I know..." She looks down and plays with his hand in hers.

"He said to tell you not to blame yerself....then he called me a Jackwagon." Emily giggles again and covers her mouth as a few tiny tears spring up into her soft blue eyes. "Em...I'm sorry for what I said..."

"I'm sorry...I don't want to be just friends...."

"You don't?"

"No... I wanna be whatever you want me to be...."

"How about a maid.....my house needs cleaned badly." He smikes wide and she shakes her head."

"Norman!" She whisper screams and he laughs and looks deeper into her eyes.

"How about wife...." Mingus nearly jumps out of the chair at his father's words, but tries to remain completely still. Emily smiles widely and her eyes glisten with happy tears.

"How do you go from maid to wife?"

"Easy...I like maids....but I love you more..." Brushing her tears away, Norman kisses her lips before she can say anything. Her lips, foreign from weeks of abandonment- finally feel like home against his. "We can take our time, but I want you to know that's my life long goal for us...I love you."

"I love you Norman... And that sounds perfect..." They kiss and Mingus is internally cheering and tries so hard to hide his smile.