Chapter Ten

Phone Call Home

Sharon reached for the telephone and stopped herself for the tenth time, taking a deep breath. Her hand was resting on her stomach as she released the breath caught in her chest. She closed her eyes mentally preparing herself. Her fingers hit the ten numbers she had memorized since she was three years old. Once the ringing started, she felt a familiar tightness in her chest and resisted the urge of hanging up. Taking a deep breath between every ring.

"O'Dwyer residence."

Sharon smiled, glad to hear a familiar voice. She cleared her throat, "Martha, it's Sharon."

"Sharon?" the woman asked. Then a breathless sigh. "Mija, we've all been so worried. Estan bien? Mr. and Mrs. O'Dwyer—"

Martha had been working for her family since Sharon was as young as Emily. She was hired to take care of the household chores, but she had also on many occasions been a caregiver to Sharon. Martha wasn't just help, at least not to Sharon. She was family.

Martha laughed happily as Sharon responded. "Yes, we are safe. Are they home?"

"One of them is always home waiting to see if you call." Sharon could hear movement on the other side and then the familiar squeak of her father's office door. "Mr. O'Dwyer you have a call."

She wished Martha would have blurted it out. Said it was her. And the surprise would be gone by the time her father answered. But she knew Martha was far too professional and careful.

A familiar, yet tired voice answered. "This is Richard."

Her heart ached than raced erratically.

"Daddy." The last time she had called her father Daddy was when she appeared on her parent's doorstep with Emily crying in her arms. It was after the law enforcement raided her house. Richard had taken Sharon and his granddaughter into his arms and never pushed for explanations or berated her with I told you so.

"Sharon!" She heard shuffling than a bang on the desk. "Martha get Stella down here." A heavy breath was released. "Where are you? Are you and Emily safe?"

She tried to project strength and confidence as she said. "We are in Los Angeles."

"Mom's old place." He sighed. "I didn't even think about looking there."

There was a long pause, where Sharon did everything she could to control the emotions building within her. If her father were to hear her cry, he would do anything to get to her. To get her to him.

Sharon bit her cheek for a second. "I'm sorry, but I needed to get away…"

His voice was loud and hurt. "From us? We were…" He stopped, and she could just imagine him running his palm across his face. The way he did whenever he was overwhelmed or exhausted.

"I know. I think of how I must have hurt you and mom every day but I couldn't call you until Emily and I were settled." Sharon looked around the office, her eyes landing on the picture of Tommy. "Because I know if I called you, you'd fly us home, and if I wasn't settled I'd take the offer in an instant."

"So, you're safe? You have money? The apartment probably needs a lot of care."

"We are safe and comfortable." Sharon smiled, glad she could call home and be able to say that in truth. "I got a job."

He chuckled and released a heavy sigh. "Of course, you did. Stubborn like your mother."

Sharon felt the tears run down her cheek. "How—"

"She was brave the first few weeks. She's losing her mind now Pumpkin. We would have supported anything you wanted."

And that was the issue. She had disappointed her parents, and yet they were ready to do anything to solve her problems. Running away may have been abrupt, even a little childish but she needed to do it her way. To know that she could survive without her parents bailing her out.

"Rich," Sharon straightened out at the muffled voice of her mother. "Martha told me it was urgent. Is it Sharon?" Sharon could hear shuffling and silence before a weak. "Sweetheart?"

"Yeah Mom, it's me." Her voice cracked.

"Oh." Stella let out a strangled noise of relief and happiness. "You're alive. Rich, they are alive. How's Emily?"

"Missing you so much. She asks for you every day, but she is happy and safe."

"Oh, I miss you both." Stella started crying. It felt like the longest thirty seconds of her life, not being able to console her mother. For causing her such anguish. "Why'd you run Pumpkin? We would have helped. We will have helped you leave if that's what you needed. You have no money. No one to help you. We were always listening, doing everything we could for you."

"Mom," Sharon whispered when she could the hurt in her mother's words. "I'm at the bookstore and got a job at a restaurant. I…I…needed to do it alone. I know you can understand that." Her mom hummed and sniffled. Sharon's mother had left her family at a young age to pursue her own dreams, despite her parent's wishes. It had taken several years for them to reconcile. "My life had been controlled by others for too long. It was just something I had to do."

There was a long pause. Sharon knew that a few words were not going to mend the pain she caused them, but she knew it was a stepping stone.

"You want us to come get you? Rich, book her a flight."

"Mom, I'm staying." She wanted to chuckle. "At least for now I am. Emily is happy here. And I'm starting to feel happy too." Her eyes landed again on Tommy's picture, and she realized a piece of her was with the little boy. A piece of her was deciding to stay for him. She smiled. "I haven't felt this way for too long. I need to know if I could find a place here."

Stella said, "Let us at least send you some money."

"I'm safe mom. I appreciate it though."

There was shuffling and murmured conversations, Sharon waited patiently.

"Sweetheart, your lawyer he called and said he got control of some of your accounts. Since he was able to prove that none of that money belonged to Jack." Sharon released a heavy sigh dropping her head to the desk and feeling her shoulders relax. It wasn't only the relief of knowing that she had some of her money back. Everything that she worked for. It was knowing that Jack hadn't won, he hadn't taken everything away from her. "You'll have to come in for one more interview. And the house—"

A glimpse of images of five years flashed in front of her eyes. Painting Emily's nursery. Bringing Emily home from the hospital, her and Jack cooking together in the kitchen, cuddling together on the blue couch in the living room. Spending Christmas alone with Emily.

"I don't want it."

Sharon wouldn't ever think of settling in that house again. She had purchased it, but it had been to build a family with Jack, furnished for Jack. To make him happy. But it had all been an illusion.

"But it's yours honey, and Emily's belongings are still there."

"We will talk about it another day," Sharon said as she released a heavy breath.

If she was being reasonable, she knew she could not just abandon the place. She would need to clean it up, make it presentable if she ever wanted it to sell for what it is worth.

"So, you're going to call again?" Her father asked. They had set her on speakerphone.

"Of course, of course, I am." Her heart racked with guilt and longing to see them and hug them. "Emily wants to talk to you both. Just wait a few minutes while I go and get her."

Sharon pushed up and walked across the way where Emily was playing tea party with a few action figures and the doll that had appeared in the last few weeks. Sharon had seen Andy include more and more toys that Emily would enjoy. The tea set being one of them. She had not known how to bring it up, to tell him he should not spend money on her daughter.

"Em." Her head popped up. "Grandmama and Pappy are on the phone." Emily sprinted by Sharon and down to the office. When Sharon made it to the office, Emily was on the desk chair bringing the phone to her ear."

"Grandmama, Pappy!"

Sharon watched her daughter as she told her grandparents about all her adventures. She felt a tentative hand to her back and turned to see Andy smiling at her. It was an instant realization that had her skin tingling. It was not only Tommy that had her wanting to stay. It was Andy too. A piece of her wanted to refuse that Andy was a reason but she knew it to be true. They were part of the reason her and Emily had been feeling happy again.

She knew the restaurant was full of customers and employees. But for a moment she did not care. Sharon turned around, facing him and it was as if he knew exactly what she needed. His response was instant as his hands went around her and embraced her. His warm fingers fluttered gently against her back until they settled steadily. Sharon's wrapped around his neck.

He turned his face into her hair and closed his eyes as he took in the scent of her. The comforting way she fit in his arms. The way she hummed against his ear.

When he felt her tremble, he asked. "You okay?"

"Yes." She whispered.

Andy's eyes fell on Emily chatting excitedly, and it dawned on him that she must have spoken to her parents. When Sharon pulled back, she licked her lips and cleared her throat. Andy smiled at her running his hand down her arm. She hummed when he offered a soft squeeze to her wrist.

"I was going to ask you and Emily to have lunch away from here with me today. Burgers and fries at the park maybe?" He sounded very hopeful.

"Yeah." Sharon looked at Emily hating to cut her off so soon.

"Oh, take your time. Let her wear them out." Sharon smiled as he stepped out of his office closing the door to give them privacy.

Once Sharon had given her parents the office phone number for emergencies, they felt much more comfortable with saying goodbye. Emily was happy with her storytelling and promised to call them soon.

As they arrived at the park, they found a table to sit at setting out Emily's meal first and then their own. Emily's eyes kept darting to the kids on the playground. Andy, Sharon was sure, would have given in the moment she looked at him with begging eyes. But Sharon reinforced that she had to finish all her food first.

Andy focused instead on eating silently. Sandra always accused him of being a softy with Tommy, and he felt no different with Emily. It wasn't until Sharon allowed Emily to play that he spoke.

"Your parents are they alright?"

"Much better now, they may call your office one day when they think it's been too long since we've communicated."

Andy chuckled. "You're their only daughter. Which means Emily is also their only granddaughter. I'd be concerned if I didn't get a few calls in the office."

They walked closer to the playground sitting on a bench and watching Emily play with a girl around her age.

"What happened on the call? You are very thoughtful."

Sharon smiled when she felt his hand take hers from her lap. His eyes were meeting hers to make sure it was okay to do in front of Emily. Her relaxed expression told him she did not mind one bit.

"I need to go back home for an interview to get control of some of my accounts. My house." She looked down to where their hands were locked together. His thumb was stroking in a way she had come to know. To find comforting.

"That's good news, isn't it?" He asked.

"It is." She nodded. "Things are settling, and I haven't felt this relaxed…well, I don't remember."

They turned at the laughter to see Emily running towards them. The other girl was leaving with her mother.

Emily jumped into Sharon's awaiting arms and laughed when Sharon tickled her and peppered kisses across her face. "How about we ask Andy to push us on the swings?" Sharon lifted a playful eyebrow that made Emily giggle.

"Yeah, please Mr. Andy!" Emily giggled happily.

"Oh, but who is going to push me?" Andy asked.

Emily thought for a moment but solved the issue quickly. "You and mommy can take turns!"

Andy chuckled as Emily ran to the swings and he followed Sharon at a more reasonable pace. They did as Emily asked. Taking turns being pushed and swinging. When Sharon watched, Andy jump from his swing while still in the air, she winced knowing what was coming. Emily letting go and falling face first into the sand. Andy got to her quicker and Sharon kneeled into the sand like Andy as the girl stood upright crying loudly.

Andy said, "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," Sharon said as she lifted Emily's face to get a good look at her. "How much does it hurt?"

"It burns." Emily put up her hands to show scrapes on the palm of her hands. Andy winced, but Sharon smiled at her daughter.

Emily bowed her head and whined, "No jumping?"

"Exactly, I've said no jumping from the swings." Andy scratched the back of his neck. He would hate for Emily or Sharon to blame him for this. His son was too afraid; he had never expected for Emily, two years younger to follow his lead. Sharon looked over at him, "My daughter thinks she's invincible. It isn't her first fall from the swings." Her hand landed on his arm and brushed soothingly. "I'm going to take her to wash her hands, and maybe we should go."

"But I want to play on the swings." Emily pouted, crossing her arms in front of her chest. To Andy looking all too much like her mother.

When Sharon's face hardened. Emily immediately moved to Andy. She curled into him, not daring to glance at her mother. Andy smirked at the girl's tactics, but a single glare from Sharon made him quickly pull Emily away from him so he could look at her in the eyes.

Her eyes were beginning to well with tears. He knew it was a mix of things. Of getting hurt and not being babied. Of having to leave. And of her not getting him to be on her side. He wanted to. Wanted to give her all the time she wanted on the playground, but they needed to play by Sharon's rules.

"How about I take you to wash your hands, then if your mommy says yes, after your nap we can have some ice cream?"

Emily looked at Sharon, hopeful.

"Wash your hands, and then we will see." Emily followed Andy to the faucet where Sharon watched him gently run his thumb across her scrapes, Emily trying not to wince. She approached them with their things in hand as Andy lifted Emily into his arms.

Sharon wanted to tell Emily that she was old enough to walk, but a part of her melted at the sight of Andy holding her daughter as if she was his own. Her little arms wrapped around his neck and she looked over his shoulder at the swings with a longing expression.

"Mr. Andy why isn't Tommy with you all the time?"

It was as if Andy had been expecting the question, or maybe he just understood how the girl's mind worked. "Because his mommy and I live in different homes. So, he has to spend time with both of us."

"Oh." Sharon watched Emily's eyes flicker over to her and then back to the playground. "Mommy said Daddy went to live somewhere else too. But he can't see me for a very long time."

Sharon buckled her into the back of the car, in one of Tommy's car seats and kissed Emily's forehead. "Remember what else I said about your daddy."

"That he loves me and misses me and thinks about me all the time." Emily recited like a memorized poem.

"That's right," Sharon said.

She then kissed Emily's cheek before joining Andy in the front of the car. Her eyes were on the road, and besides Emily's singing, it was silent. Andy watched Sharon tense more and more every minute. He wondered if she was uncomfortable with Emily asking so many questions about Jack. When they arrived at the bookstore, Sharon opened the door and asked Emily to go upstairs and get ready for her nap.

Once Emily disappeared at the top of the steps, Sharon looked at Andy. "Thanks for lunch and the outing."

"She doesn't know he's in jail?" The words had left his lips before he could think of what he was saying.

But Sharon did not look offended.

"She does. Sometimes I think she thinks I made up a story." Sharon reached for Andy's hand. She pulled it so he could take a step closer to her. She squeezed his hand and put it against her chest. "I rather not talk about Jack." She met his glance.

He nodded, looking at her thin fingers hold his much larger hand.

He said, "How about that ice cream once she's up?" His eyes landed on her lips.

Sharon smiled at him, biting her lip. "Can you come over in about an hour?"

He nodded. "It would be my pleasure."

He pulled her hand, tugging her closer, just as she had just done. She let out a surprised squeak. He brought her hand to his lips kissing the back of her hand before letting it fall and walking towards the restaurant.

She watched him walk away, yes, Andy was part of the reason she was feeling happier and staying in Los Angeles.

Author's Note: There was almost no update today, let us just say... a toothache, dentist, and strong meds. Anyway, I'd love to continue hearing from everyone. Notes, suggestions, and what you'd like to see in future chapters are welcome. Thanks everyone for the support! Oh, also, thanks to all of those who've been pointing out name mistakes amongst other things.