Wrapped in Silk (21 page)

“
I don’t think she did Em I think it was coincidence,” Brody told her even though he questioned it as well. He didn’t want her to worry.

“Okay, please be safe Brody. I have a feeling that I can
’t shake,” Emma’s tone was tense.

“When do you move Em?” Brody asked.

“Next weekend, why?” she asked.

“D
o you have a security system?” Brody asked.

“No, Brody you
’re scaring me,” Emma said.

“No you
’re fine Emma, I just think you would feel better, less on edge. I am going to get one installed while you’re at the hotel. London won’t know and you’ll feel better,” Brody said in his bossy voice.

“Okay that’s not necessary,” Emma
scowled.

“Not up for discussion. I love you, see you soon,” Brody said with a cheerful tone in his voice.

“I love you, see you soon,” Emma said and waited for him to hang up.

“Emma
, Skype tonight, bring that gift,” his voice was hot and steamy and he hung up.

~

London and Emma walked into the Hilton and Troy met them at the front desk.

“Daddy,” London smiled and ran up and hugged him.

Troy looked shocked, this wasn’t the normal greeting he received from his daughter.

“Hello London,” he said stiffly, “Hello Emma,” he said and quickly looked away.

“Hello Troy,” Emma smiled politely to him and he looked confused. “Hey London would you check out the window Grandma and Grandpa will be here soon.”

London turned and looked at her and rolled her eyes and nodded back to
Troy. Emma smiled and laughed.

“What is going
on with her she seems, I don’t know different,” Troy asked flustered.

“She is happy
Troy. And she loves you and probably missed you, it’s been almost two weeks since she has seen you,” Emma said with a soft smile.

“I expected her to be pissed,”
Troy snorted.

“Well she wouldn’t be pissed, she would be hurt,” Emma said correcting him.

“Of course she would be, especially if that’s what you told her to be,” he said rolling his eyes.

“Let’s not do that please. Have fun with her
Troy,” Emma said sadly.

“Mom they are pulling in,” London beamed.

“Cool wait for them and then help Grandpa grab the bags,” Emma said smiling, “Dad and I are going to talk for a minute.”

“About what Emma?”
Troy asked sarcastically.

“Well for starters we will be moving next weekend…” Emma began.

“With Brody Hines,” Troy said angrily through his teeth.

“No
Troy, with my parents,” which seemed to relax him a bit, “I got a great job and start the following Monday. I only have to be in the office three days a week, the rest I will work from home. London is excited to be going to the same school as Mom works at. Do you have any questions or concerns yet or shall I go on?”

“What kind of job did you get that’s so great you
’re going to move to Tarrytown and uproot London, that you only have to be in the office three days a week Emma, sounds like a crock of shit to me,” Troy laughed.

“Well it’s a junior editor
’s job and the starting pay is excellent. There are commissions and bonuses. Honestly it’s a dream job,” Emma smiled.

“Really
, well that’s great, how much is great money Emma. Do you plan to live with your parents forever?” Troy laughed.

“Well
Troy, I will be starting at a little less than you make. I assume that I can afford my own place at some point. Living with them is absolutely fine with me for as long as it’s necessary,” Emma smiled.

“Sounds perfect Emma, everything you deserve right
. So how is your love life? How is your Rockstar?” Troy said flippantly.

“Brody is in England finishing an album
for three weeks Troy. He has nothing to do with what happened with us. Nothing at all,” Emma said looking sadly at him.

“No but you’ve let him into
London’s life haven’t you?” Troy said in a bitter tone.

“Well London saw him when her weekend with you ended abruptly, and she had a lot of fun with him.
Troy she is so much fun I wish you would just enjoy her. You’re her daddy, always. She is the one person in your whole life who will never hate you regardless of how much you screw up,” Emma laughed and elbowed him gently, “Do the same for her, love her, have fun with her, find yourself again Troy, please.”

Troy
looked at her like he was lost, “But never us again Emma? We were good together.”

“
Troy I wish nothing but happiness for you, always. You hurt me, I can get past all of it for London, but never for us as a couple, only us as parents to the most amazing little human being on the planet,” Emma smiled, “That’s what I wish for anyways.”

Troy
watched her and shook his head, “I fucked up. I loved you Emma, I really did.”

“Okay, so what now
Troy. What will you choose for London?” Emma asked feeling her eyes fill up.

Troy
reached over and wiped her tear away, “Emma I want to be the man I was, I don’t know what happened I really don’t. Please forgive me,” he pulled her towards him and hugged her.

“I can
’t be anymore but…” Emma cried.

“I know Emma. I see that, just help me get better for her, please. She is the best part of us she really is,”
Troy said and held her tighter. 

“Daddy please don’t cry,” London said and sobbed, “Please.”

Troy closed his eyes and took a deep breath and pulled her into the hug he shared with Emma.

“Hey wh
at do you say we head up the suite. This is kind of embarrassing,” Troy laughed and held her hand and held Emma’s hand with the other.

“Emma your father and I are going to grab some dinner, call us if you need us,” Caroline smiled.

Emma, Troy, and London ate dinner in the suite and talked about the move. Troy seemed happier than he had been in years. “Daddy, you know everything that went on the other weekend?”

“Yes London, I am so sorry,”
Troy said and leaned forward like he wanted to hug her but stopped himself.

“Well it was bad, really bad and scared me. I did not feel safe, please don’t do that to me ever again,” her voice cracked and she started to cry, “Please!”

Emma gasped and looked at Troy who looked horrified. Emma gently pushed his back so that he moved towards her and they hugged and both cried.

“
I am going to get better at being your Dad London I promise you that, Mommy and I aren’t going to fight anymore. And I am choosing you right now London over anything else, I choose you.”

“Oh Daddy, thank you!” London continued to cry.

Emma cried and closed her eyes,
why now you asshole, why now she thought.

Troy
looked over at Emma, “London my hope is to be half as good a parent as your Mom. And our marriage failing was all me, not her. I want you to know that she has been nothing less than what I knew she would be when I married her.”

“Daddy Brody loves her,” London said looking him straight in the eyes, “And he is very nice to her.”

“Wow London,” Troy laughed uncomfortable and looked at Emma, who looked down. “Well she deserves to be loved, I kind of sucked at it.”

“Yes you did,
” London said. “Mom are you mad that I said that?”

“No London, I want you to be honest with both of us but always considerate,” Emma said, “And sorry
Troy but something’s even adults can’t emotionally handle so just be kind alright?”

“Your mom thinks I can’t tell she is in love with him
. She seems to forget I know how easy she is to love, but I get it. I won’t interfere. I know she deserves to be happy,” Troy laughed, “So how about we hit the pool?”

“Sounds good, can Mom come?” London asked.

“Whatever you need until I have earned your trust London,” Troy smiled.

They swam and laughed and had a great time. Caroline took pictures and talked with Emma about the move. After Emma and
Troy tucked London in he apologized to her parents and promised to get the help he needed.

Emma went to her adjoining room and showered and threw on the
sweatshirt Brody had left and a pair of shorts. She decided to lay down and rest her eyes while she waited for Brody to call. Emma woke to a knock on the door, she opened it.

“Emma you left your phone out here,”
Troy said and handed it to her.

“Oh, oh God
Troy I am sorry,” Emma said shocked.

“Nice picture by the way,” he laughed and shut the door.

“Brody?” Emma laughed.

“Em,” he said and laughed too, “Wow that’s kind of like getting busted by your parents doing it in the car.”

Emma laughed as she covered her mouth, “Okay it’s not funny,” she chuckled, “He has been wonderful today.”

“Oh well thank God your ex who is sleeping in the next room
has been wonderful and we have been found out?” Brody laughed a belly laugh and Emma couldn’t help but fallow suite.

“God I love you,” Emma said laughing.

“Emma, do you realize how loud you just said that?” Brody gasped jokingly.

“Well it’s been one heck of a night. After we talked and hugged and cried and London hugged and cried with us, which by the way is the first
since our separation, we actually talked and he told her she would be first in his life. He also told her how perfect I was. Do you know what she told him? She told him that you loved me and said it looking him right in the eye. She also told him that you were nice to me, like warning him. And he said that he could tell I loved you too and deserved to be happy. So Brody I think me being loud is a moot point,” Emma laughed again.

“London said that to him?” Brody asked with a smile in his voice.

“Yep she sure did,” Emma laughed, “Do you know how exhausted I am?”

“I am sorry Em. Does that mean no Skype tonight?” he
chuckled.

“Brody that’s not going to happen, sorry I want the real thing,” Emma said softly.

“Emma you’ll have it soon,” he whispered.

“Tell me about your day,” Emma said as she laid back in her bed.

“Compared to yours mine has been pretty dull,” Brody answered.

“No raunchy photos that I may come across that you need to warn me about?” Emma asked.

“None, I stayed locked in my room writing. Two more songs to finish up and then to the studio for a week if I am lucky, then onto interviews for another week. Followed by a flight home and directly into you,” Brody said and Emma moaned, “Emma don’t do that.”

“Sorry,” Emma giggled.

“So I finished a song today, I would like your opinion on it, or approval I guess. May I email it to you?” Brody asked taking a deep breath.

“Yes please, I will boot up my new
iPad now,” Emma said cheerfully.

Emma opened her email
and it was there, she giggled, “Can I open it now?”

“Please do,” Brody answered jovially.

Date September  23
rd
, 2012

Honest opinion expected. If it
’s to much let me know.

Love ,

MM

London

Once cold and broken not knowing where to go. Pain unbearable when I let you go.

Dulled the memories where did it all start,

Where it all began when she broke my heart.

Fall
ing down sitting broken for years and years

waiting to begin still waiting for the tears.

I return to you hoping you can give me strength to do what is right

stop
this painful bitter internal fight.

Chorus

In your rain I fall to my knees

In your light I beg you oh please, oh London o
h, oh, London

The sky lights up from your light the clouds break and I know it's finally right.

The fog it's lifting could it be oh could it be

That light
from London's eyes is shining for me.

The brilliant light you come from is where I need to be.

Opening oh opening up the ground beneath my feet,

the warmth of her smile its my hearts heat.

Memories not so dulled by the pain anymore,

Through her eyes I see what I left behind, now I ache to explore.

Standing, watching,
learning, feeling what was buried deep inside.

The love that I shoved
so far away burns so bright it can no longer hide.