A new face after the race
Chapter 41
Emily listened while Michael talked of his teacher, the homework, his studies, his good marks.
"Math is a little hard, she's talking of division and I can barely do multiplication." Michael complained, and Emily tried staying awake, Michael was a lovely kid, lively and nice, but she was just so worn out. Her eyes kept falling, until they stayed closed.
Sonny saw this and went over to Michael. He had been sitting in the chair, letting the three half-siblings get to know each other. That was until Emily was about to fall asleep. He almost forgot she was still weak and vulnerable by the way she was. She needed rest, but Michael was too talkative to notice.
"Michael, are you hungry? It's almost lunch time." Sonny asked. "We could try that place that was highly recommended, Kelly's wasn't it?" He offered.
Michael's stomach grumbled, but he really didn't want to leave Emily, who he now found, fast asleep. "Did I bore her that much?" Michael asked, curious.
Sonny didn't explain the extent of her injuries, so Michael didn't know of Emily being so weak. You could barely tell, really, Emily showed more strength than he could, given the situation. "No, of course not, she was really interested to hear you talk of school. You were far from boring, but you remember she's still injured? To heal, she needs to sleep, and she simply didn't have the strength to stay awake anymore." Sonny explained.
Morgan had fallen asleep too, right on Emily, her doll she received from Lucky close by. It had been a tiring experience for them both, but it still made a cute picture. Morgan really liked his big sister, as did Michael from the sound of it.
"She'll be okay, right?" Michael asked a little worried. "She's pale and looks like she's about to collapse." He looked up at Sonny, expecting an answer.
"She'll be fine, Michael. She's still sick, and Emily, from what I hear, has always been a little pale looking. It's her natural color." Sonny told him. He had heard that from Lucky. They'd spent some time discussing Emily and had got some useful information from him.
"Really? That's a little strange, I mean James has a sister who puts a bunch of makeup to look it, but behind it all, she's really red." Michael described. James was one of his best friends back at Utah.
"Does he? Well, yours isn't like that, she just came that way. Now, we were talking food?" Sonny asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah, do you think I can get a huge hamburger with fries?" Michael asked. He loved hamburgers and fries.
"Yeah, sure you can. Let's just get your brother here." Sonny reached for the sleeping Morgan and raised him from Emily, placing him on his shoulder, to use as a pillow to continue his nap. Morgan contentedly did so.
Michael grabbed his bag, unintentionally bumping the night table, allowing something to fall in that wasn't his.
They left the hospital and made their way to Kelly's, entering and taking a seat near the windows so Michael could look out in fascination. He really loved this town, everything was small and simple. The people were nice, and for a small town, there was a lot to do. It wasn't fast like home.
"Hey, dad?" Michael called Sonny.
Sonny was looking at the menu and taking care of Morgan, and when a moment let him, he looked at Michael. "Yeah?" He asked, not sure what Michael wanted. Dessert perhaps, Michael had a sugar tooth.
"Can we live here?" Michael asked, and took Sonny for surprise.
He had thought of it. He wanted to be near Emily, to be a father to her as to his sons, but he wasn't so sure moving would be a good idea. For one, he didn't know how Morgan or Michael, or Carly would respond. Second, he had no job and no place to stay. He'd have to do his research, get a job, get a place, and check out the schools, before anything was final.
"I don't know Michael, that'd be a big change." Sonny told him, unsure.
"I know, but I really like it here. The people are nice, the food is good, the slow pace is better than the city, and besides, Emily's here." Michael explained his likes. "Morgan would grow to like it too." He insisted.
Sonny smiled at Michael, full of uncertainty. "I like it here too, and believe me, I'd hate to be distanced from Emily, but Michael, there's more to a move across states than you know. We'd have to find a place, I'd have to find a job, and you'd have to change schools, so much more. And don't forget your mom. I don't think she'll appreciate moving." Sonny explained.
Carly had been enraged to find out he had an illegitimate child, but that argument didn't go far, because Sonny for one, pointed out Michael was illegitimate. Carly couldn't deny it, and then sputtered off in anger, that he didn't tell her. Though she was allowed to be angry, he'd kept something from her, but for heaven's sakes, Emily was thought dead! Carly didn't care though, and he eventually blocked her out. When he was done, he went into Michael's room and delivered the news.
Michael had been so happy; he threw thousands of questions at sonny. He answered them to the best of his ability and explained it all. Michael told him he wanted to meet her, and because he had a few days off, here they were. Morgan just came with them, Carly was still angry, and didn't care if they went to meet her. She needed to "process all he said."
Sonny knew it had been bull, and he didn't care anymore. That call, he had gotten when he was with Emily, had been his lawyer. He was filing for divorce, and was just working out the details of getting full custody of Michael and Morgan. Carly didn't suspect a thing.
She was too busy in her own world, her own affair, with of all people, Michael's jerk father. Her mom was never sick, she was fine, she was just meeting her boyfriend, and they no doubt found a room for some privacy. He was so angry at first, but soon learned he didn't care. That he'd lost all love he had for her, he was just acting to keep her ignorant. She was dependent on him, and when he was going to officially file for divorce, she was in for a fight. She'd be able to spend time with her boyfriend, all she liked, with the kids gone, and him having full custody. He didn't care what'd she do for money, but he expected child support too.
The only real trouble was telling Michael. He'd be crushed, and broken hearted; he just didn't know when would be a good time. He'd hate to ruin his day. Morgan, as an infant, would just be innocent, and probably wouldn't remember a thing.
Their waitress showed up. It was Emily's best friend and co-worker Elizabeth. "Mr. Corinthos, how are you doing today?" She asked a notepad and pencil in hand.
He smiled at her. "I'm doing okay, enjoying my stay. This is my son Michael and Morgan." He introduced his sons.
Elizabeth smiled. "Hello Michael, have you seen your big sister yet?" Elizabeth asked, being polite and friendly, with the small town attitude.
"Yeah, she's cool! But she fell asleep on me." Michael was disappointed he wouldn't be spending anymore time, for the moment anyway, with her. He really liked her and wanted to know more.
"Sick people do that. What could I get for you?" Elizabeth commented and continued with her job.
Elizabeth took their orders and left to give the cook the list. Michael continued looking out the window, and Sonny found a bottle for Morgan, as he whined for a drink. He took it in his hands, with some help from Sonny, and drank from it.
When the food came, Michael dug in and Sonny just finished feeding Morgan. He busied himself exploring and looking around the small restaurant, from his dad's lap.
A few minutes later, Jason and Melissa came in, looking also, for a bite to eat. Jason also didn't mind seeing Elizabeth. They had seen so little of each other, their schedules not matching.
The lunch crowd was slowing, but not enough for them to talk just yet. So Jason and Melissa ordered from another waitress, and waited. They made small talk, of school and plans, and he updated her on Emily.
Michael was messy with ketchup and grease, so Sonny told him to go wash up, allowing him a chance to talk with Jason, the man who adopted his daughter.
They had just gotten their food when Sonny walked over, with Morgan. "Could I sit here?" He asked, politely, even though he'd rather just sit and talk without permission. He wanted some questions answered, ones no one will tell him.
"Be my guest." Jason said, reluctantly so. What could he really say to this man without breaking Emily's trust? Thanks for saving her life? Oh, that's original, besides he shouldn't be thanked at all given him and Emily's past.
"You're Emily's dad, right?" Melissa asked, curiosity abound.
Sonny looked to Melissa. She was a very pretty and innocent little girl, taken care of by the looks of it. "Yes, I am." Sonny answered.
Melissa gave him a weird look. "You don't look like her at all." Melissa observed, having yet to learn of genetics and such.
"No, your right, she looks nothing like me. She takes her after her mom." Sonny answered and the little girl fell silent again. Why, he didn't know, and he wasn't going to ask just yet. It was, of this moment, none of his business.
"I assume all blood lost is back." Jason said lightly, changing the subject for Melissa's sake.
"Yeah, all is returned." Sonny replied, as Michael came back from washing up. Michael gave Sonny's company a glance and waited for his dad to explain. "These are my sons Michael, and Morgan."
Jason finished the introductions. "I'm Jason and this is my daughter, Melissa." Melissa looked up at the sound of her name and saw Michael; she smiled and went back to her food.
Michael skipped a greeting and got to the goods. "If you adopted Emily and took care of her, does that make me a big brother again?" Michael didn't launch the question to anybody in particular, so anyone was open to answer. Melissa continued to ignore everyone around her.
Sonny answered. "Michael, that's going a little far, don't you think? I'm sure Jason doesn't like you talking like that about his daughter." Sonny scolded him.
Jason interceded. "That's alright Sonny. It's a good question, but you have to understand Melissa is timid, quiet, she's not very lively, but it's really up to you and her to determine that. If she wants a big brother its fine with me, but if she doesn't, she doesn't." He answered the question and Melissa continued to mind her own business, even though this was about her.
Sonny knew the only way he and Jason would be able to talk is if the kids go away. He took his wallet and pulled out a bill that would pay the food bill. "Michael, would you and Melissa go pay the bill? Get a cookie if you want." Sonny asked, and Michael took the bait.
He goaded Melissa away and that left the two of them alone. "You don't mind your daughter having sweets, do you?" Sonny asked just to be safe.
Jason shook his head. "No, I'm fine with it." Jason said and cleared the air. "Listen, I thank you for saving Emily's life, but don't expect anything friendly. Lucky spilled about you and her past." He cautioned Sonny.
"I don't expect anything less, especially from Emily, but I'll handle it. Could I ask a few quick questions?" Sonny asked.
"I can't promise answers, but go ahead." Jason responded, determined to keep Emily's past a secret from Sonny, despite the guilt he wanted to inflict. The fact was it wasn't his place.
"Understood, can I ask about Emily's adoption?" Sonny proposed. He was curious about why it came to this way, since he knew very little of Emily's life after year three.
"What do you want to know?" Jason asked for specifics, it was a very broad topic, but he could talk about it, most of it.
"Anything you can tell me. When, why, how, pick one." Sonny would go for anything.
Jason cautiously answered. "I adopted Emily when she was twelve, after her father, correction stepfather, died." Jason left out the details.
"Do you know when her mother died?" Sonny asked he knew she was dead if Emily got adopted, but not any specifics.
"She died a year or so before I met Emily, of cancer I believe. I can't seem to recall the kind." Jason said, not really knowing anything of her mom's death. Emily was traumatized about it, so she couldn't really speak of it.
"Cancer." Sonny murmured, a bit sad. "That's terrible, so Paige died, her husband died, and she got adopted by you." Sonny got the timeline right. "If you had known of me, would you have given her up without a fight?" He was curious, but knew he couldn't play the what-ifs.
"I'd probably do what's right for Emily. Let's say you didn't totally reject her and was a part of her life, then I'd say yes, but you did, so I probably would have fought you, me and my wife." Jason told Sonny with explanations.
Sonny nodded in understanding. He wasn't all that trusting when it came to Emily; he had to live with that. "I totally understand. I was a jerk back then, but I'm learning and trying to make better. Would you answer me if I asked what happened to your wife?" Sonny asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
Jason considered saying no, but he'd hear eventually, if he was going to stick around, and from the sounds of things, he was. "My wife has some problems a few years ago and had to go get them figured out." Jason didn't designate what areas was the problem, which was far too detailed for Sonny, a stranger if anything to him, to know.
"I see I'm very sorry about that." Sonny said, and figured out that was why Melissa was so quiet, she was missing her mom and needed a figure that could be one to her to really open up. "I noticed between you and Emily, there's no paternal feelings, more brotherly and sisterly ones." Sonny observed.
"Yeah, after you and her stepfather Emily had it for fathers, so we stuck to sibling like feelings. It was for the best." Jason reasoned.
Sonny was kind of glad to hear that, he'd have no real competition, if Emily gave him a chance of course. It was all her decision. He debated whether or not to ask about Emily's stepfather, but knew Jason wouldn't answer. Emily was very quiet about her past, everyone knew and said. And the stepfather would definitely go in the past.
"Thanks for your cooperation; I have a few answers at least. I'll leave you and your daughter be." Sonny said, as Michael came back, cookie eaten, as was Melissa's. "Come on Michael, let's be going. It was very nice talking with you two." Sonny replied and he and his sons left.