Bobby's New Relatives CH 10

About 5 am, Bobby heard movement and he opened his eyes in the darkness of the motel room. Emily was rustling around in her sleep every few minutes. She finally tried to get up quietly. "Morning." he said.

"Morning. I'm sorry. I was trying not to wake you."

"I sleep lightly." he said.

"I'm an early riser. Go back to sleep if you want to."

"I'm fine."

"I have to ..."

"Go ahead, I won't look."

"That wasn't what I was worried about." she laughed and got up, walking to the bathroom with a casualness that surprised him.

While she was gone he got up and pulled his pants on. Zipping up was a bit problematic but he was careful. "Is it safe to come out?" she asked from the door.

"Yes."

She came out. She had splashed water on her face, combed her hair and was braiding it as she walked. "All clear."

He got up and went in to use the facilities. "Is it all clear?" he asked before he came out.

"All clear." she called back.

He came out to see she had skinned into some clothes. He figured it had to be a record of some kind. She went over to the bucket that had been ice and pulled out a can of Diet Soda and looked to see if he wanted one. "I'll wait a few minutes. How did you sleep?"

"Good, I guess. I never remember sleeping much. How about you?"

"I slept well, thank you for asking."

"Can we talk for a few minutes? Before we start the rest of the day."

"I'm listening."

"You sound so formal."

"It's habit. I don't mean to. Conversations that start like this seem to go badly for someone."

"Nothing like that. I'd say it's confession time, but that wouldn't be accurate. More like an opening of some very private doors. Things I want to share with you and only you. Only if you want to know."

"I do."

Emily eyed him, still hesitant, still unsure of him and his level of safety. "I told you about your aunts and my mother. What I didn't feel I could tell you at the time is that there was more quirkiness going on in the family than ever went outside the walls. Nothing dangerous just odd. Some of it made itself known in how they dressed me as a kid, things they sent me for lunch instead of sandwiches they sent pickles and chocolate milk, odd things they put around the house made me smell odd at school and I was never comfortable around children at school. I didn't know how to play their games, I was picked on all the way through school and eventually I just left school all together. I got my GED all on my own and no one questioned that I wasn't in school and that I graduated without any grades at all."

"What did you do while they thought you were in school?"

"Worked. I hid a bicycle and rode to the next town, changed my name so I wasn't traceable back to the family and worked. I used to buy things like regular food and bring it home. I made friends with the owners wife and kept clothes there so I looked and smelled like everyone else. And I read everything I could get my hands on, watched TV, made my way into the real world. That kid still lives inside me. She's still trying to fit in and probably always will be. I don't do normal things, because I am not normal. I don't look at the world the same way and I'm not sure I want to. I'm needy, and dependent and striving to be neither. I try really, really hard to stand on my own, live my own life and go my own way without being a burden on other people. I've been a burden all my life and I won't be that anymore."

"That's why you try to buys peoples love?"

"Buy their love? I hadn't thought of it that way. I guess, that is what I'm doing. I give to people not only because it makes me feel good but that way I know they'll want me to hang around. Yes, I suppose I am trying to buy love. I don't know any other... someone always wants something from me. I don't have any real friends, close friends. That's just who I grew up to be. I'm odd. That's it. I'm just odd. I just wanted you to know, I don't mean to hurt anyones feelings or make anyone angry, I just don't interact well with people."

"You aren't any odder than I am. I don't interact with people well either. I think we're an acquired taste."

Emily grinned. "An acquired taste. That's a good way of putting it. Like learning to like Diet Cola when the whole rest of the world drinks regular."

"Exactly like that. I don't want you to give me presents. You can't buy my affection and you can't chase it away. Nothing you can do is going to make me think you're a bad person and I'm not going to ask you to go away."

"Do I need to rush you to the emergency room? You sound feverish to me."

He grinned at her. "I'm not feverish."

"What about Alex? I know you think the world of her and I'm sure she thinks I'm more than half a wagon load of hay short of a full load."

"I'm not sure she thinks of it in that way, but she's just cautious. We see the seamier side of life and she looks very carefully at things. It's part of being a detective and a good friend."

"I don't know how to tell her, how to show her, or what I have to do to prove to her that I'm not out to scam you or do you any kind of harm. I just wanted to see if I could find my family. See if they're all crazy like me or I'm just the odd duck."

"Alex is just careful." he told her about the partners he'd had for years and about Alex sticking with him About how they were now a solid partnership and working together with a brilliant precision.

"Good. I'm so happy for you, Bobby. I really am."

"And you want that, too. What about Stas?"

"I can't trust him. He's proven that. I can't ever tell him anything else. That's no way to have a relationship much less a marriage. If he wants to stay friends that's fine, but I won't ever trust him again. Not with the stuff that really matters."

"He was trying to help you."

"He was trying to make me the woman he wants me to be. That's been his plan all along. He doesn't accept me as I am and I'm not going to change for him. He needs a woman who will clean up pretty and play the political games he wants to play. I'm liable to call someone a cow in public. I won't handicap him that way. It's better this way. I like him, I'd vote for him, but I won't marry him."

"Just like that? One mistake and he's history?"

"This isn't the first time, but this is the worst. It's a pattern, not an isolated incident. I can't live in the public limelight which is where he's heading. He needs a socialite or someone who can handle that. I'd give it all up in a heartbeat if one of my animals was sick and I don't want the company under the microscope for anyone. It's better all around if I make sure he knows it."

"I think you're selling yourself short." Bobby said. "But if that's what you want then it's your choice. Does Stas know how you feel?"

"No, we've never actually discussed our future so I think now's the time to do that."

"So you're going to let him off on being mad at him from last night?"

"I'm over being mad at him, but I'm still hurt that he betrayed my confidence and that cuts worst of all. That's why I can't even consider marrying him."

"He told me knowing you and I are related. I don't think he'd go around telling just anyone."

"That still leaves his political ambitions."

"I think you're looking for an excuse not to make a commitment to him. Tell him how you feel and see where it goes."

"I will if you will."

"Me? We were talking about you."

"We were talking about committment. Are you ever going to get around to asking Alex to marry you?"

"I don't think that's any of your business..."

"Ah, what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. We're family remember?"

"You dance well when you want to."

"And you backpedal very quickly when marriage and Alex are mentioned." Emily observed casually.

Bobby gave her a sharp look. "I'm ready for breakfast now."

"Do you want to go somewhere and ask Alex and Stas to join us or go back to your place?"

"Someone brought me a whole bunch of meat. Suppose we go back to my place and I can cook you breakfast. You've cooked for me, now it's my turn."

"Let's stop at the store first. I need some things, pop, and antacid."

"Do you have a stomach ache?" Bobby asked concerned.

"I won't know until I taste your cooking. I just like to be prepared."

"Excuse me?! Thanks alot for the vote of confidence. I happen to be a very good cook." he grinned at her because she was teasing him again.

"But you're a man and I've seen the inside of your frig, remember?"

"I prefer fresh ingredients." he told her with dignity.

"Just keep telling yourself that. Get dressed or I'll never get to eat."

"Just my luck I get stuck with crazy, bossy women for relatives." he grumbled and grinned at her so she would know he was teasing. He laughed and ducked when she threw a pillow at him.

"I think I'll gather my things and go out to check out as long as I'm leaving. I don't want to keep staying here."

"I'll help. I'll get the stuff out of the bathroom for you."

"Thanks."

She was an efficient packer. She was half done by the time he made sure he had it all out of the bathroom. She quickly folded the last of her clothes and stowed it away, put her computer in the case and the cord in it's place. She stood with her hands on her hips surveying the room brow furrowed in concentration for a minute then opened the drawer alongside the bed and pulled out a flashlight and a gun. Bobby stiffened when he saw the gun. "You have a gun?"

"Always. Don't worry, it's registered and I follow all the rules. I know how to shoot and what's more important I know when. Do you want to see my permit, officer?"

Bobby flushed. "No, I believe you. So the local department has been notified?"

"Yes, sir. Officer Steve Jones."

"Stop that." he said annoyed at her sarcasm.

"And you tell me I'm suspicious." she shot back.

"That's my job." he said.

"That doesn't make it exclusive to you. I sometimes carry large amounts of money or valuables so I'm allowed to carry a gun." She stowed it in the holster into her purse. She put the flashlight in her bag and zipped it up. She picked up the bags and reached for her computer bag.

"I'll get that." Bobby offered.

"Thank you. She picked up the room key and opened the door.

Bobby followed her out, feeling a little put out. He'd spent the whole night here and hadn't even known there was another gun in the room except his. "Why didn't you tell me you had a gun?" he asked sounding to himself like a petulant child.

"Hmm? Oh, it didn't occur to me. Did you need to know?"

"It-It would have been nice."

Emily stopped to cock her head at him, consideringly. "This is a big deal for you. Care to enlighten me as to why?"

"As a cop, I really need to know where any weapons in a room are at any time. I didn't even know you had one until you pulled it out. It's my job."

"But you weren't on the job when we were together last night. Or were you?"

"No, but..."

"Make up your mind, Bobby. Either I'm trustworthy or I'm not. Do you need me to tell you where my gun is at all times?"

"No, just at least let me know you have it."

"I'm sorry. I hadn't realized it was such a button for you or that you needed to know. It won't happen again. I'll even let you inspect it when we get back to your place, okay? Are we good now?"

"Yeah, we're good."

They went into the office and Emily checked out. The motel manager gave her a friendly smile and told her if she was ever back in town, yak, yak, yak. Emily made nice to him and they left. They stopped at a grocery store and she bought her supply of soda and teased him about the antacid, but didn't buy any, a few other things and they left the store.

They walked into Bobbys apartment. Alex was just up and Stas was dressed. Alex smiled at Bobby "Good morning."

"Morning."

Stas looked at Emilys smile and wished for it to continue. "Good morning." he said.

"What's up?" Emily asked immediately.

"You could at least say good morning." he said.

"Good morning. What's wrong?" she said.

"I have some bad news. You're not going to like it."

"Can it wait until after breakfast?"

"If that's what you want."

Emily stiffened. "Then let's have it. Better to get it over with."

"Barry called. They had the vote yesterday. He's the new CEO." Stas said baldly.

Bobby looked at Emily to see her reaction. Her eyes narrowed and she got a very mean smile on her face. "This changes alot. I'm hungry. Bobby, you promised me breakfast."

"So I did. Alex, will you help me? I think Emily and Stas need to talk."

"Sure." Alex said.

The look in Emilys face did not make her feel good and Stas looked like he agreed. Alex followed Bobby into his kitchen.

TBC