Steeling My Haart (18 page)

        
 
“Shh, darlin’, it’s goin’ to be tough,
but you will get through. We’re here and you can do this. Let it all out now. Then
you’ve got to be strong for these two beautiful kids,” Lou soothed. “My sister
lives pretty close by and she has three hell raisin’ kids. She’s on her way
over, if that’s okay. She’s bringing a few things that you might find useful
and says she’s a pretty mean diaper changer if you need a hand. I don’t know
much ‘bout raisin’ kids, but I’ve been around enough snot monsters to know the
basics, too. Do you want us to say here? We can take the couch.”

        
Breathing
deep, Emma peered through her now swollen eyes at her new support network and
for a fleeting moment she was confident that she could do this. “I can’t ask
you to do that. You have your own lives. I’m totally ruining your weekend with
all of this drama, aren’t I?”

        
“I
have to admit, darlin’, this isn’t how I was expecting to spend this weekend,
but we aren’t leavin’ you alone until we can get reinforcements to come and
help you out. That okay, Bruce?”

        
“Absolutely,”
he whispered, taking his current role as a pillow for the contented infant
seriously.
 

        
“Thank
God you’re both here. I need to call my parents, but we also need to go
shopping. There were only two diapers left in the bag and I need more formula
for the little guy there and they won’t let us into the apartment to get any
bits.”

        
“Hush,
darlin’, like I said, I’ve got it all handled. Sue is on her way here with
supplies. I have changed enough shitty baby butts to tell her what brand and
size of diaper to get and she’s bringin’ you more of the formula you have in
the cupboard. So will you try relaxing and go ring your mom and dad and fill
them in? Big Daddy over there seems to be handling the little guy and I’m sure
I can entertain Miss Bossy Butt over there if she wakes up. And if Sue turns
up, I’ll just deal with her. Now go.”

        
As
the phone rang out Emma prayed that her parents were home. She needed them
right now more than she had ever needed them before. Just as the line connected
to the answer machine, Nicky’s voice came over the line interrupting the
mechanical voice in mid flow.

        
“Mom,”
Emma croaked. “It’s me.”

        
“Emma?
Honey what’s wrong?” Nicky immediately answered.

        
“It’s
Lily, she’s dead. So is Gary.”

        
“Oh,
no, sweetheart I’m so sorry. What’s happened? What about to the kids?” Nicky’s
voice cracked and she choked back a sob. The line crackled signaling Mike
joining in the conversation.

        
“Emma,
honey, it’s dad. Can you tell us what has happened?”

        
“Well,
it’s been a hell of a day for me today and I’m exhausted but I need you guys.
How quickly can you get here?”

        
“I
can be on the next flight out, honey. Dad may have to stay to sort out cover
for the business but will follow me as soon as he can. You’re worrying me. What’s
is wrong? Can you get home to us?” she demanded.

        
“Yes,
Em, why don’t you get on the next flight home, hon?” her dad asked.

        
“I
can’t. Oh, it’s all a disaster, but they want to make me sole guardian of the
kids. Lil and Gary were killed last night. The police don’t fully know why, and
social services turned up this morning with Adie and Leo and a pile of paperwork.
It seems you’re going to be surrogate grandparents,” she blurted out before the
tears started flowing again.

        
“Emma,
hon, your mom will arrive by tomorrow. I’ll get her to the airport as soon as I
can and on the next flight. I’ll text you the details, but she will be able to
get a cab to your place and be there as soon as possible,” he assured her.

        
“Yes,
I will, Emma. You know I will be there for you, honey.
 
How are you holding up?” her mom asked. The
concern in her voice was palpable.

        
“I’m
not at all if you want the truth. It’s a long story but you remember me telling
you about Bruce? Bruce Jenson, the ad executive I work with a lot?”

        
“Yes,
yes, I do! The one you were in Las Vegas with?”

        
“That’s
him, well, he’s been a rock, Mom, and so has his boyfriend, Lou. He’s been
amazing and they are both staying with me tonight to help out.”

        
“Boyfriend?”
both Mike and Nicky exclaimed at the same time.

        
“Yes,
guys, boyfriend. They are an amazing couple. And seriously, mom, dad, after
what I’ve just told you that’s what you both focus on?” Emma almost chuckled at
the scene she was imagining going on between her parents right now.

        
“Oh,
sorry, honey yes we are taking in what you said, but I was sure you might end
up with that young man yourself after the amount you’ve told me about him. Oh,
well, I’ll have to shelve the wedding preparations again.” Nicky sniggered down
the phone.

        
“I
can’t wait to see you. I need you so much.” Emma croaked out.

        
“I
know and I’ll be there. I’m sure work will let me have compassionate leave for
a few days at least, but I will sort something out. Is this going to stop you
from moving home? Should I get your dad to start looking for somewhere nearer
you? He’s wanting to retire in the next few years and we could move our plans
up if you need us to,” she offered.

        
“No,
I’m still coming home, in fact I might now be home sooner than I was
anticipating, if I’m being honest. I don’t think the city is any place to raise
a family and I’m going to need you guys more than ever now,” she admitted
between sobs.

        
“Oh
my goodness, I can’t believe I’m a surrogate grandma. Is there anything you
need right now or can I get on and pack? Your dad has booted up the computer
and is buying me a ticket for tonight. Looks like I will be with you by around
midnight. I’m going to go now and pack, but do you need anything, honey?”

        
“No,
just you here as soon as you can get here, please. Love you. Tell Dad I love
him, too.”

        
“We
love you, too, honey. See you soon.”

        
“Thanks,
Mom.”

        
She
sat in the silence of her bedroom for a while after speaking to her parents.
First thing on Monday she needed to talk to the child services department at
work and get the lawyers on to the case. The sooner she could get the court
orders in place, the sooner she could move. The things she was piecing together
about the last few weeks with Lily and Gary weren’t adding up and she was
beginning to think that both her and the kids would be safer as far away from
the city as possible. She made another note to speak again with the Officers on
Monday to share her concerns.
   

        
She
heard the door buzzer sound and the sound of a sleepy Adie coming round from
her nap so she made her way into the main room. A shorter woman, who was
unmistakably Lou’s sister greeted her. They shared the same dark hair and olive
skin. Sue threw her arms around Emma and hugged her close.

        
“Hey,
you must be Emma. I’m Sue, and if you haven’t already guessed, I’m related to
that ugly ass-wipe over there.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder with
mock-horror on her face. “And, listen, I’m so sorry to hear about what’s
happened. I’ve got all I could manage to pack into the cab with me, but I have
plenty of other stuff at home you can have if you need it, okay?” The genuine smile
on her face calmed Emma.

        
“Thanks,
Sue, I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am for all of this.”

        
“You
might not be saying that when you see what she’s brought, darlin’. A cab full,
my ass. Are you sure you haven’t rented a U-Haul to get rid of all of your
kiddy crap, sis?” Lou joked as he helped Bruce to unload the elevator.

        
“Louis
Dupoint, watch your language around little ears, will you?”

        
“Yes,
ma’am, and sorry, darlin’. I wasn’t thinking.”

        
“Darned
right, bro, you don’t think I know where my three have learned to cuss like
sailors?” Sue chastised.

        
Emma
managed a smile at the friendly banter the two siblings had going.

        
“So,
Emma, how old are the little sweethearts?”

        
“Well,
Adie is three and Leo is coming up five months, I think. I don’t even remember
just how old he is. I’m going to be terrible at this. Oh, what am I doing?”
Emma started to panic.

        
“Oh,
come on, you can do this. If I can raise three, you can do two. And look at it
this way; those kids already seem to have two surrogate uncles who know just
what they are doing. I’ve known Bruce almost as long as Lou has, and he’s great
with my kids,” she reassured.

        
“Really?
I didn’t think anyone knew about them until recently.”
        
“No,
not officially, but I’ve always known. I’m Lou’s big sis. You really don’t
think I was going to let him get away with hiding stuff from me. I swore to
Bruce I’d not to tell a soul and gave them space to really get to know each
other. Watching them with my kids and now these two precious things, I think
they’d eventually make fantastic parents, don’t you? I’ve already offered to
surrogate for them. Now Bruce has finally taken the step to tell his family, I
reckon there will be wedding bells before we know it,” she confided. Emma had
warmed immediately to Sue, just as she had to Lou and was so touched by what
she had just told her.

        
“So
what do you have? Boys or girls?” Emma asked, wanting to find out more about
this Good Samaritan.

        
“Two
boys and a girl, for my sins. They are now a bit older. My youngest, Tammy is
six, so I have no more use for any of this. Grant and Josh are twins and are
about to start high school. I started young, before you ask. And for the
record, my next pregnancy won’t be for me, I’ve got more than I can handle with
my trio.”

        
“It
certainly sounds like you’ve had your hands full! Can I give you anything for
any of this?” she offered.

        
“Absolutely
not! It’s been gathering dust for a while and Gord, my better half, has wanted
rid of it since Tammy first came out of diapers. Consider this as you doing me
a huge favor, if you like. I won’t stay and bug you unless you need help with
anything, but I have packed up the Pack n Play for the little one and have
brought a couple of sets of bedding for you, as well. I have also brought a
couple of bags of clothes that will fit both of them. Toys are in the duffle
over there and there is a travel seat and I’m just having Bruce bring in the
stroller I still have. It’s well used but still works and will put you on for now.
In the shopping bags that Lou is unpacking over there.” She nodded in the
general direction of the kitchen area as she listed the haul she had just
delivered.

“You will find
diapers, wipes, and formula, as well as some basic toiletries and rash cream.
I’ve put together a bit of an emergency bag, too, with some of the basics I
swore by. I am sorry if I’ve overstepped the mark, but I know what it’s like
being a first time mom; I got time to prepare for each of mine though and I
wasn’t thrown in to being mom to a complete family. There is also a kiddie
camping bed that will fit Adie and again some bedding for her too. And finally,
in that bag over there, the important stuff.” She pointed out the various bags
as she spoke.

        
“Oh,
my goodness, I can’t thank you enough.
 
This is so generous and kind of you. And what is the important stuff?”
she asked as she furrowed her brows at Sue.
        
“Alcohol
and caffeine, honey, the two elixirs of life you will come to rely on as a
parent. Trust me, by the end of the weekend, you’ll be begging for an IV of the
wet stuff.” She winked as she leaned in for another hug. “Good luck, Emma,
here, take my number. Please ring me anytime. I can be here within half an hour
or so if I’m needed and I will always be at the end of the phone if you need
me. Now, go get to know your family and don’t forget, enjoy every precious
moment you have with them.” She released Emma and wandered over to Bruce and
Lou, embracing them both warmly as she headed out.

        
Within
the hour and with the help of both Lou and Bruce, the kids were fed, bathed,
and their beds made up ready for them to sleep. Leo was easy to settle and as
he had before. He fell asleep pretty easily after taking his milk. The problems
started when they were trying to settle poor Adie to bed. The questions about
where her parents were flowing from her little, innocent mouth and none of them
knew what to say.

        
Sleep
evaded the poor little girl as she kept having nightmares about things happening
to her mom and dad. They all took turns to try and help her though the night,
but by the very early hours of the morning, she was still unsettled and
clinging to Emma. Just as things came to a climax, Nicky arrived amidst the
chaos and took control. The newly appointed mom of two was exhausted, and
although her own mom had been traveling for the best part of the afternoon and
night, she was fairly refreshed after sleeping on the flight.

        
Nicky
quickly hugged her wearied daughter, promptly dispatched her to bed and sent
the grateful guys home to Lou’s place. They promised that they would visit in
the morning with sustenance for them all. Emma was grateful for Nicky’s decades
of experience with kindergarten kids. With her unyielding patience, and the right
words in the little ears, it didn’t take her long to settle Adie.