Disclaimer: the world never goes the way you want. This story is about growing up. It is a little dark and may not be for everyone. I understand that, but in the end it is for me. I have set this in the US, because I am a little more familiar with the systems in place. This is later in life in an alternate universe, and if I do it right the bits and pieces will be filled in as I go. But if you see a hole I missed let me know. This story will be from Emily's point of view, so some of the characters may look a little different; it is just her view of them. Let me know if it gets too far astray.
I apologize up front, I should not start a multi chapter while I still have another in progress, but I needed to do this now.
Skins may not be mine, but the grammatical and spelling errors are.
Another Friday afternoon, the work week done and all I really wanted to do was sit and stair at the wall. Just let it all be done for a while. No one asking me to make decisions, no one expecting me to be responsible. I hoped the most taxing thing I would face was finding something for dinner. I came in the front door and set down my coat and bag on the bench in the entry way. I looked down at the coat already occupying the bench, the shoes under it and knew Naomi had beat me home, again. Not that that was a big surprise, her commute was about ten minutes shorter then mine, and I had been stopped three times on the way out to answer questions I did not have the slightest idea about.
My shoes joined Naomi's under the bench and I headed towards the kitchen hoping dinner had already been solved. I entered he kitchen to find my lovely blonde wife standing in front of the stove a spoon in one hand and a glass of red in the other. She took one look at me and put down the spoon and handed me the glass.
"You look like Friday almost did not come soon enough."
I accepted the glass and after a swallow replied, "I am not sure if it did make it in time."
"Bad day?"
"Not so much bad as just stupid. The same dumb things over and over again. What's the quote about history? 'Those that fail to learn from it are doomed to repeat it.' Or something like that."
"The pasta will not be ready for another 20 minutes, go take a shower, you will feel better."
"That sounds like a wonderful idea. Sure you don't mind?" She just smiled and shooed me away.
I turned to leave and was stopped by the sound of her throat being cleared. I looked back as she asked, "Did you forget something?"
With what I hoped was a cute and disarming smile I turned back and pressed my lips to hers. As I pulled back she looked deep I to my eyes and said, "Okay, two things. That, and my wine," as she removed the glass from my hand. "I will have one waiting for you when you get back."
A hot shower, some soft warm clothes, and I was ready for dinner with my favorite person. I was almost to the kitchen when my phone started making noise in my bag. Against my better judgment I went over and dug it out to find I just missed a call from Katie. Living hundreds of miles a part for many years, we didn't talk as often as we did when we shared a room, but it had only been a few days so I was a little surprised. I took the phone with me into the kitchen, retrieved my promised glass of wine and sat down at the table to call her back.
I dialed the number and the phone rang almost once before she answered.
"Why can't you ever answer your phone when I call?"
"I called you right back. What's up Katie?"
"It's Mom. She's in the hospital."
"It's she okay?" The concern and stress in my voice was not helping either side of this conversation but it did get Naomi's attention.
"NO SHE NOT OKAY, SHE'S IN THE HOSPITAL! I thought you were the smart twin." When she stopped yelling her voice had dissolved into tears. "I don't know what to do Em."
"Just take a breath and tell me what happened."
"She had an appointment to see her doctor yesterday, but was so tired she moved it to today. I was trying to help her out to the car when she collapsed in the front hall. I called the ambulance, I didn't know what else to do."
"Is she okay?" I was sounding like a broken record.
"SHE'S IN THE HOSPITAL EMILY! What do you think? What's the point, your not here you don't care. It's all on me to take care of her. Sorry to bother you nice little life."
The call dropped before I could respond. I just sat and looked at the phone in disbelief. Okay some of that might be deserved, but at the same time I knew she was scared and upset, and I hoped she didn't mean all of it.
Katie's dating life took a drastic turn after she found out she could not have kids. The life she had planed, a successful and well off power husband and two kids, was no longer an option. She stuck closer to mom and then dad was killed by the drunk driver while he was out jogging, events pushed them even closer. Naomi and I went to help mom, but we could only stay so long before jobs pulled us away. Mom started to built a new life. Katie moved back home. With James out on his own, and Naomi and I following jobs some 300 miles away, they were on their own. They depended on each other, and as much as they might get on the other nerves, they were family and the rest of us became extended family.
Mom had never fully accepted Naomi. She was tolerated, but even after 20 years, I think mom still hoped it was a phase I would grow out of. That just added to the separation and distance between us. We both tried, but not as hard as we should have. I had my life, with Naomi and she and Katie had theirs.
I just sat there and looked at the phone while all those thoughts and memories paraded through my head. Naomi rescued me from the spiral by sitting down at the table.
"Emily?" Her voice was soft and halting as if she feared disturbing my train of thought. "What's going on?"
"I'm not real sure. Katie said mom is in the hospital."
"Did she say what was wrong?"
"Not really, just that she collapsed, and some how because I am not there I don't care about either of them any way." I continued to look down at the traitorous phone. I got it a nice case and paid the bill every month and it brings shit like this. And worse I knew I needed to pick up the horrible device and try and call my sister back.
All I really wanted was to stare at the wall and have the world go away. At least for a while.
Naomi refilled my glass, I didn't remember drinking any of it, and turned the stove down to delay dinner. She gave me smile that let me know she would be there if I needed her, but for right now I was getting some space. She retreated from the room glass in hand. I looked back down at my nemesis, the phone, took another swallow of wine and readied myself to deal with Katie.
A short intro. Is this a story line anyone would want to read? There might not be many butterflies or rainbows. Review and let me know.