Wrapped in Silk (25 page)

“Well how often do I need to do the treatments, how long do they take, how will I feel, what are the side effects?” Emma bombarded him.

He smiled and sat down and took her hands in one of his, “First I want to do another Mammogram, next we will start with treatments five days a week for seven weeks. Unless you want to try twice a day for a week. The side affects vary. There is armpit and chest pain, fatigue, lowered white blood cell counts, and can cause lung and heart issues.”

Emma realized how hard she was squeezing his hand and let go.

“Sorry,” Emma said and looked horrified.

Mark hugged her, “You’re fine.”

“What do you suggest I do, I mean which treatment plan?” Emma asked.

“Well you have to make that choice, you may have no side effects. The one week treatment plan will obviously hit hard and fast but if it were me I would do that. But I didn’t just start a new job or have a London,” Mark smiled sweetly.

“Well maybe I can see if I can spread my hours between five days instead of three and work that out, I want this done,” Emma said decisively.

“Good, listen we can start Thursday or Friday and you would go until Monday or Tuesday. It’s up to you but three of those days you would have off of work. Maybe you could stay with your friend in the city?” Mark smiled, “I could come by and check on you.”

Emma laughed, “I will think about it.”

Mark walked with Emma back to her building and answered more questions. She hugged him and thanked him and went back to work. She spoke to her boss and was given permission to work from home both Thursday and Tuesday. Emma was extremely grateful. She texted Mark and let him know and he would set things up. Lila insisted she stay there and Caroline promised to bring London on school days. Lila would occupy her on the weekend at her place.

~

Emma was scheduled at eight in the morning and four in the afternoon on each day.

Thursday the good doctor brought her back from each appointment and walked her in. “You have my number Emma anything you need or are concerned about let me know,” Mark said sternly.

“Thanks so much, I think I may be concerned at around eight tonight if you would like to stop over and have dinner,” Emma smiled.

“You’re a doll, we will see. Go get some rest,” Mark said and gave her a quick hug.

Emma walked into the bathroom to examine her breast. There was a small incision which was healed and nicely except for the pink mark it left behind to the left of her areola. Her once perfect breast now marked for life. It wasn’t a huge change, her breast was still the same size as the other but if you looked close enough you could tell that a small dent would forever be there. The incision was low and horizontal so that if she wore a tank top it would not be
noticeable. But Emma knew she would never feel completely comfortable the way she had felt with Brody, completely naked and tied up allowing someone to explore every part of her. It had taken her years to feel confident enough to wear a bathing suit let alone be in her birthday suit. She made Troy turn off the lights and still used covers most of the time. It was never like that with Brody, he made her feel beautiful and desirable and now he was gone. Tears fell down her face as she looked at herself. London would be here tomorrow so today she could cry and so she did.

She was asleep when Lila came home to check on her. It was eight o’clock and she had been asleep for three hours. Lila saw her phone flashing missed calls. She grabbed it and walked into the hall. Lila returned Caroline’s call and told her that Emma was asleep and they decided it would be best to let her sleep. She answered the phone when Mark called and told him she was asleep and he offered to come over, she accepted his offer.

They were chatting in the living room when Emma walked out.

“Oh hey what time is it?” Emma asked.

“Eight thirty, you should call London, she is worried about you,” Lila smiled.

“How are you feeling Emma?” Mark asked and felt her head and immediately took her pulse.

“I am fine just tired,” Emma said with a forced smile. “Is that my phone?”

“Yes I am sorry, I returned your calls, I didn’t want to wake you. All except one,” Lila said giving her a sad puppy dog face.

“Give it a rest Lila,” Emma said and walked away to call London.

Friday was the same except London would be there at seven and she was very excited. Lila had rented some movies and Mark was stopping over again. Friday ran into Saturday and Emma was getting more tired everyday
. By noon on Sunday she was exhausted and her body ached. Her breast was red and hot and very uncomfortable. Caroline had come to get London and Emma thought she had held it together wonderfully for her daughter and now she was going to bed.

~

Caroline pulled into the driveway and London screamed and jumped out of the car and ran towards her Grandfather
and a man Caroline couldn’t tell yet who he was.

“Brody,” London screamed and jumped in his arms.

“Well hello there London, have you missed me?” Brody said laughing.

“Of course I have, more than you could ever imagine,” London
squeezed him tightly and he felt her little body shake and could tell immediately that she was crying.

“Miss London what is wrong?” Brody whispered.

“I missed you Brody,” she sobbed.

“Well you were with me the whole time,” he breathed out and closed his eyes.

“Brody, mom is not here, she is in the city, and she...” London began.

“Brody Hines, what brings you here?” Caroline interrupted.

“I just returned from London and I missed it so much that I figured I would stop by and see someone who outshines the whole city itself,” he smiled and twirled her around.

“Well why don’t you come in for a little bit, it’s almost London
’s bedtime but I think we could bend the rules this once,” Caroline smiled and patted his back. “Henry you have met Brody?”

“I have
, he pulled in a couple minutes before you did,” Henry smiled and kissed his wife.

London was still wrapped around Brody and he held her as tightly as she held him. “I brought you some things from the city
that was named after you,” Brody said and pulled her away and looked in her eyes still full of tears. “Okay Miss London, I don’t know what is going on but I am going to fix it so you don’t have to worry anymore.”

“I love you Brody,” she whispered.

“I love you more,” Brody said softly.

“That’s what Mommy says,” London said with a smile
on her face.

“And I learned it from her, she is very smart. Just like you,” Brody set her down, “Are you going to be okay?”

“Are you going to see my Mommy?” London asked.

“Do you think I should?” he smiled.

“Yes,” London said sticking her nose in the air.

“Well then I guess I should
then,” Brody said and kissed her nose.

“London, you
r Mom is going to be busy for a few days, three to be exact Brody,” she said giving him a knowing look. “Maybe you should wait until then.”

“No Grandma she needs…”
London started.

“London my sweet sweet girl,” Caroline
said “Your Mommy needs a few days okay?”

London started to cry and Brody fought the urge to destroy somethi
ng. “With all due respect ma’am…”

“Watch yourself Brody,” Henry
sneered, “My wife and granddaughter are standing right here, and our daughter, our little girl needs just a few more days without a bunch of...”

“Okay Henry
. Thank you,” Caroline said and wrapped her arm around his waist.

“Shit Grandma
, that’s what he was going to say and Brody isn’t shit, he loves her and she loves him,” London screamed and ran to Brody crying.

“Oh London,” Brody sai
d picking her up and held her. His eyes narrowed and jaw clenched as he shook his head. “Is she at Lila’s?”

“Yes and she is sick Brody really sick,” London sobbed.

“What is wrong with her?” he growled.

“
It will be her decision to tell you if she feels like it,” Henry answered with piercing eyes.

“Grandpa
…” London yelled.

“
Shhh it’s okay, your Mom would do the same thing to protect you. Caroline, Henry could I please read London a bedtime story and hang out until she falls asleep?” Brody asked politely.

“Yes you can, Brody come with me,” London said jumping down and grabbed his hand and pulled him into the house. “Come with me to our place, I can get my PJ’s.”

Brody walked up the open stairway behind London that led to a beautiful open floor plan. It was about sixteen hundred square feet, the living room and kitchen were separated by a large granite island with a stovetop and a grill built in, there were four cast iron barstools. There was a large dining room pub style high top table and six chairs and four bay windows, two of which had window seats. the others set up as office areas. One was clearly were Emma worked. Brody walked over and grabbed the sweatshirt he had given her that was hanging over the back and smelled it, he could smell her sweet sent mixed with his and he felt tears fall down his face. He loved her and something was horribly wrong and he had been told he could not go to her.

FUCK he thought I don’t give a shit what they say, there is no way I will spend three more fucking days without her.

London gave him a tour
and he noticed she had not gotten the furniture he had given her, and when he saw the garment bags he knew she had not touched the clothes.

“How does your Mom like her new job?” Brody asked.

“She loves it,” London smiled.

“So she isn’t feeling well?” Brody asked and London looked over his shoulder.

“She will be fine,” she said and smiled.

“Okay miss London let
’s get you into bed, tell me where,” Brody smiled and took her hand.

Brody waited until London was asleep. He knew she was because Emma had told h
im about the little shake she did before she fell into a deep sleep. Emma was right she knew her daughter so well, and he knew it took a lot to keep her away from London. As he lay with London in his arms he took his phone and searched the web and found many pictures of Emma with a man, all involved hugging. He immediately was pissed and when he saw Lila in one of them he felt betrayed.

He couldn’t move, he didn’t want to, he adored her daughter and thought there was no one else but Emma for him, forever. He fell asleep holding London, Caroline went into the room and took a picture and texted it to Emma.

-He loves you Emma and she loves him, please don’t over think this…Mom

B
rody woke up to London giggling, “London, I am so sorry I can’t believe I fell asleep, you Mom is going to be so angry and your Dad well…”

“Good morning Brody,” Caroline smiled as she walked in the room, “Did you sleep well?”

“Caroline I apologize..” Brody started.

“I didn’t have bad dreams last night Grandma,” London said and took his hand and pulled him up.

“I know, that’s the first time in almost a week,” Caroline smiled at her and winked at Brody, “Breakfast is ready and then showers and school for you Miss London.”

~

It was ten o’clock when Brody’s car pulled up in front of Lila’s building. He still had the key and let himself in. He walked down the hall and the bathroom door opened and Emma was standing in a towel fresh out of the shower looking like hell.

“Brody,” she whispered and started to fall.

“Emma,” he yelled as he grabbed her and held her in his arms.

“I am so sorry,” she whispered.

“Emma?” Brody looked up and saw the man from the photos.

He was pulling his shirt over his head, “Emma are you okay?”

“Who the fuck are you and what have you done to her,” Emma tried to pull herself up and her towel dropped and Brody grabbed her and looked down and saw the scar and the red swollen breast, “What the fuck did you do to her!”

“Please stop, please. Mark the towel
, please cover me up,” Emma said softly.

“Mark? Emma is that what you want
, someone to fucking leave marks on you?” Brody yelled.

“Brody please I don’t feel
well,” Emma said and closed her eyes.

“Brody Hines?” Mark asked looking at the angry man holding Emma, “I need you to go put her on the bed and let me make sure she is alright.”