Hidden in Plain View: Normily 2

Chapter 17: As A Matter of Fact Mr. Kinney

Chapter 17: As A Matter of Fact Mr. Kinney

Getting back home in the states, Emily begins to feel like herself again. No more wanting to die. No more 'poor me' syndrome. No, Emily is back to normal, thanks to Norman. When they get into New York, for her to grab her things she has slowly been packing away, something feels odd. Off, per chance. Making their way up to her apartment, she hesitates before opening the door. Finally finding some sanity, she pushes the key into the lock and opens the door with a slow familar creaky twist. Her predictions of oddity are confirmed when their eyes fall on Mr. Robert Kinney himself. He looks befuddled, agitated, and almost older since the last time they saw him. Closing the door behind them, Emily sets her stuff down and Norman tightens his grip on his back pack. He doesn't feel like getting the shit kicked out of him again.

"Dad, what are you doing here?"

"Where the hell have you been? You're mother's been trying to call you for days. You're not in Atlanta, you're not in L.A, you're not here! We've been trying to locate you. Thought you were dead in a ditch somewhere, about to put out a search warrant. Then we find him missing too. Where the hell have you been!"

"Stop yelling at me." Emily is beginning to lose her patience. Staring at her dad he isn't backing down.

"You don't talk to me that way, Emily Rebecca Kinney! Where were you for two weeks?"

"On an unplanned vacation. With my Fiance! Like you care."

"Of course we care. Why wouldn't you tell someone where you were going?"

"I've been going through things and Norman wanted to get me away so my mind could rest for once. I get stressed out just like you and everyone else. I need breaks too without people calling me every five minutes. And my phone died when we were gone, that's why I didn't pick up. So just calm down."

"You have to learn respect, young lady. I'm your Father. Not some, some guy you're dating."

"I'm sorry, but you need to just chill. I'm only one person. I have needs and stress, and a whole bunch of other stuff going on. And you coming in here, yelling at me like I'm a teenager, is pretty ridiculous and uncalled for." She crosses her arms and Norman can see the fight leave Robert's eyes.

"I'm sorry, honey. I know you have a lot on your plate. We've just been so worried."

"And that's my fault, Mr. Kinney, but as a matter of fact, the only way to ever get her to agree to a getaway was not to tell her and to just take her. It wasn't supposed to upset any one. So I'm the one who should be appologizing and getting yelled at, not Emmy." Norman steps forward and Robert looks slightly devious, but attempts nothing.

"Huh, you're a good, honest man Norman. It's obvious I'm never gonna get Emily to stop caring about you and wanting to marry you. And if I can't beat her, I guess I'm gonna join her." Robert sticks out his hand and Norman takes it. Then he gives Norman a clap on the back and looks at Emily. A smile is brimming on her face and all Robert has to do is open his arms and she's in them, wrapped tight and thanking the Lord, he's finally caught on.

Robert stays to help pack up Emily's things into boxes so she can move them to L.A. As they pack, she can only smile as Norman and her Dad share funny conversations and stories. It's moments like these that she wants to remember. Moments where two people learn to push their differences aside for the people they love. Packing them up in the corner of her apartment, they stand there looking at the lonely wood floor and only a hula hoop leaning against the window.

"Whelp, we did a good job if I do say so myself." Robert laughs and looks at the room. "I'm gonna hurry and catch my flight home if you two don't mind. I'll tell yer mother about the vacation and what we talked about. Don't worry, Emmy."

He kisses her on the cheek, hugs her, shakes Norman's hand goodbye and then leaves. Norman just smiles at the door, knowing he's won. Looking back at Emily, she's slumped on the floor crying. Going to her he kneels in front of her and holds her hands.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"I don't know why I'm so emotional. It's jus' a stupid apartment... it's so dumb." She's blubbering like a baby and trying to wipe her eyes as fast as she can.

"Hey, I get it. It's tough. You've been here forever. It's gotta be hard."

"It's jus... this is where everything started. College, my career, boys, sure they all sucked, but there were good memories. I met Simon here and Alice.... God, my life's a shit show."

"Come here. Listen. Why don't we keep it?"

"What?"

"Sure. You didn't turn in your vacancy slip yet. Let's just keep it, as a getaway. Ya know, Mingus comes to New York a lot. When he's here, we can be too. There's no real reason to give it up anyway. I mean look at it." He gestures around and she follows his hand with her eyes. "It's screaming for us to come and visit. I think you're a fool if you give this adorable two bedroom apartment up."

Wiping her eyes she looks at him, slightly confused, and slightly excited.

"This is why I love you. I do. I love you, because of this adorable apartment. It's the best feature about you. You thought I feel in love with you cause of your beauty... but really it was this apartment. I've been jealous this whole time and you know what? Now we can share it!" She can't stop laughing at his absurdity. He always knows how to make her feel better.

"You really want me to keep it?"

"YES! And if you don't, I... I don't know if I can marry a woman who doesn't own a cute little apartment in the heart of New York. I'm sorry but the cards are on the table." He smizes at her and she laughs again before passionately kissing him.

"I love you Norman." She hurles herself into his grasp and just nuzzles her fae against his chest. She whispers against him. "You make me feel like I'm worth a million dollars."

He smiles and whispers back with a kiss pressed against her ear.

"You're worth the whole damn world, sweetheart. The whole damn world."

Huhh, love.