Author note:
Thanks for being patient. I hope you like this chapter. I truly appreciate your reviews and support!
CH 107-Hazy Shade of Winter
After the bustle of the Holidays, life fell back into its familiar rhythm. Emma had school and work while Clay was kept busy with training, intel briefings and short Spin Ups. Thankfully, he always came home to her. Sometimes a little banged up and bruised, but whole and hers. During Bravo's time off active rotation, Harrington had even called on him to come talk to the newest group of Green Team recruits. She beamed at him with pride.
Neither one of them minded the routine. While most people went out of their way looking for action, adventure, and even danger, Clay got enough of that on a daily basis with work. And so did Emma, by pure association. They liked to have fun as much as the next couple. But what they truly craved was just each other. Uneventful evenings with dinner at home and cuddling on the couch watching TV. Nights ruled by passion or spent simply in the contentment of each other's arms. Followed by lazy mornings devising reasons to stay in bed.
This weekend was the same. The morning started off with Clay making his famous omelets and then the two taking Koda on a walk in the early morning chill. The wind, blowing in a cold front, cut right through them. When they got back to the apartment, Koda sought out the warmth of the fluffy bed in his kennel, and Emma headed toward the shower.
She promised Jameelah she would take her to the American Girl store today to buy an outfit for the doll she and Clay gave the little girl for Christmas. The store also sported a small café where the dolls could "eat" with them. She made a reservation for lunch and planned on surprising the little girl. Emma was working the shampoo through her hair as she imagined Jameelah's reaction. The smile on her face quickly turned into a smug grin when she felt a puff of cool air and heard the soft clang of the shower door closing behind her. Soon Clay's muscular form was pressed against her back as he stepped under the hot spray. She barely had a moment to process the feel of his chest pressed to her back before she felt his arms wrap around her. She could feel her blood begin to run hot and the thrum of excitement start low in her belly anticipating his next move. Clay didn't disappoint. His hands settled on her hips and slid slowly up her ribcage to her breasts. As much as she wanted Clay to continue his exploration, she knew they didn't have time. Arching herself into him, she rasped her regret.
"We…uh, we can't. I have to be over at Ray and Naima's in forty-five minutes to pick up Jameelah."
Clay nuzzled into that sensitive spot behind her ear and licked down to the curve where her neck met her shoulder.
"You sure you can't be late?"
"Y-Yes. I promised her."
"I supposed you have to keep your promise then," he answered as he spun her around and maneuvered their position until the flow of water was washing the sweet-smelling bubbles from her tresses.
Once her hair was rinsed, he washed swiftly and turned off the tap. The two stepped out and dried off. Emma readied herself quickly. Clay walked her to the door and helped her with her coat.
"Be careful and have fun."
"We will."
She looped and arm around his neck and pulled him to her lips. After their goodbye kiss, she looked up, letting her eyes twinkle at him.
"Can I get a rain check on that offer from earlier?"
"I'll have to think about it," he teased back.
She pretended to be offended, sticking out her lip in protest. Clay laughed and kissed her on her adorable pout.
"You better get going. The sooner you leave, the sooner you can get back."
He opened the door for her, shivering in the gust of wind. He peered up at the heavy, overcast skies.
"I mean it, Em. Be careful and keep an eye on the weather. It looks like it could get nasty today."
"We'll be fine. See you later."
"Yea. Give Jameelah a hug for me."
She waved her response, and he closed the door.
Emma was only five minutes late getting to the Perry's. Their front door opened as soon as she pulled in the driveway and Jameelah darted out to greet her. Emma could hear Naima calling to her daughter, scolding her gently about running outside without permission, and without her coat. Ray ushered Emma inside while Naima got a coat on their eager daughter.
"Come on in out of the cold."
Ray placed a quick kiss on Emma's cheek as she passed.
"Whew! That wind is like knives."
"Yea, it's a cold one alright."
"Are you ready to go Jameelah?"
Ray and Naima laughed.
"She's been ready since six o'clock this morning. Couldn't wait for Aunt Emmie to get here."
"Well, I'm excited too."
She turned to the little girl.
"Do you have your doll?"
"Mmmhmm. Can we go now?"
The adults all chuckled.
"I guess we're ready then."
Naima hugged her daughter and then stepped forward to embrace Emma.
"Thanks for doing this. She hasn't talked about anything else since you made the plans."
"You don't have to thank me. It's been too long since I got to spend any quality time with my favorite niece."
Ray handed Emma the car seat and as the two started out the door, he stooped down to talk to Jameelah.
"You have fun, baby girl. Listen to Aunt Emmie, okay?"
"Uh huh," she nodded absently as she took Emma's hand and tugged her out the door.
Emma got Jameelah settled and buckled into her car seat and then took her place behind the wheel. Ray and Naima stood in the window returning their daughter's excited waves.
"Can we sing Aunt Emmie?"
"Sure. What do you want to sing?"
Emma could see her young charge's face in the rearview mirror. She smiled at the look of concentration.
"Can we sing Little Mermaid?"
"Of course."
Emma started the lyrics to, "Part of Your World", and Jameelah enthusiastically joined in. The sing-along lasted until they pulled into a parking spot at the shopping center. After unbuckling the little girl and helping her hop out of the car, they walked hand in hand across the parking lot. The wind was whipping around them and driving the microscopic drops of ice-cold rain into their faces. She made sure Jameelah's coat and hood were on tight, while wishing that she'd remembered her own hat and scarf. Her woolen mittens were in her pockets, but it wasn't far to the entrance. The two burst through the door along with a wicked howl of icy wind.
"Whew! That was cold, huh?"
The preschooler nodded her head in agreement and giggled at Emma's wind tossed hair. She laughed along, play growling.
"I look more like Ursula than Ariel now."
She smoothed down her curls the best she could and led the way to the doll paradise. When they stopped in front of the store windows, Jameelah's eyes were as big as saucers, trying to take it all in. Emma slipped out her phone and capture the moment of wonder in her expression.
As soon as they entered Jameelah had them bouncing from display to display like two balls in a pinball machine. She was enthralled by the selection of clothing for her doll. Then there was the furniture and the accessories. She 'oohed' and 'ahhed' over everything. Emma wondered fleetingly if she would ever slow down long enough to make up her mind and pick out an outfit.
At about five minutes until one, Emma steered her charge over near the hostess stand for the café. She kept a close eye on Jameelah as she checked in with the young lady stationed at the entrance. Soon, their name was called, and the little girl turned toward Emma, her eyes full of questions.
"I thought that you and Keshia and I might like a little lunch while we're here."
"You mean it?"
Jameelah was dancing back and forth, hopping from one foot to the other. Emma laughed at her enthusiasm.
"Of course, I do. Come on, let's follow this nice lady to our table."
They were led to their table and took their seats. The café provided a small seat that attached to the table for the dolls. Emma helped settle Jameelah in her booster seat and then aided in getting her doll situated at the table. Then, she read off the menu choices and guided her niece to an appropriate selection. While they waited for their food, Emma took a couple pictures of Jameelah sitting next to her doll and sent them to Ray, Naima, and Clay.
Back at the apartment, Clay was finishing up rinsing the breakfast dishes and putting them in the dishwasher when his phone pinged. He dried his hands and pulled it from his pocket. He saw the text from Emma and smiled when he looked at the image of Jameelah's excited face. He quickly typed out a response.
-Love it! Have a great time! –
He glanced out the window and saw the sky darkening to the west. Pulling up his weather app, he saw that the temperature was dropping, and the precipitation was going to increase, probably changing over to snow. He figured that the two shoppers would home before the snow was forecasted to begin.
After their meal, which included ice cream sundaes, they went back to shopping. Emma tried her best to get Jameelah to make a selection. She finally had it narrowed down to a fairy princess dress, or a cheerleader outfit and just couldn't seem to decide. When she spied a swimsuit and goggles, that almost derailed the whole thing. As they made one final pass of the store, Emma urged the little girl to make a decision. A glance at her phone told her they were much later getting back on the road than she expected. Finally, Jameelah chose the fairy costume and they went to the desk to pay.
They left the store and walked toward the exit to the shopping center. When Emma looked out the glass doors, the parking lot was already covered in a dusting of snow and there was more falling at a steady pace. She made sure Jameelah had her coat zipped and put on her hood. They dashed back to the car and got in out of the wind as quickly as they could.
"Whew! I think it's gotten colder!"
She buckled Jameelah into her booster seat and took her place behind the wheel. She started the car and headed toward the interstate. As they approached the highway Jameelah spoke up from the back seat.
"I'm cold."
"I know honey. The car isn't warm enough yet to turn on the heat."
She fumbled in her pockets and passed her mittens back to the little girl.
"Here, I know those will be big on you, but they should help keep your hands warm until we can turn on the heat."
She couldn't blame her, it was freezing, Emma had to clench her jaw to keep her own teeth from chattering. Things were going fine until Emma saw some lights from emergency vehicles up ahead. The pace of traffic slowed to a crawl. She had a decision to make. Stay on this route, and probably be stuck for an undetermined length of time for the accident to be cleared away or get off the highway and take a slightly more circuitous path to get the two of them home. She made up her mind and turned on her signal, exiting the highway at the next opportunity.
Emma knew the way home. Their apartment was closer going this way. She figured that Ray and Naima would be okay with their daughter spending the night with her and Clay as long as the two of them were safe. As she navigated the snow-covered road, Emma realized that since this was a side road, it hadn't been plowed yet, and there weren't enough cars to clear off the snow. Glancing at the dash, she noticed that they could now turn on the heat. She turned the dials and had the warm air blowing out of vents. Even though it was still daytime the heavy cloud cover made the skies dark. Emma made sure her headlights were on.
Now that she was warming up, Jameelah started chattering from the backseat again. Emma tried to answer her appropriately, while still keeping her focus on the road. The further they got from the highway, the fewer cars they passed. She was beginning to second guess her decision. Maybe it would have been better to keep on the main streets, even if they were stuck in a back-up. Still, they were making rather good time. She calculated that they should be home in about fifteen minutes. Feeling a little of the tension leave her, she took a deep breath. Then, all hell broke loose. The car hit a patch of black ice and began to slip and skid. At first, she didn't know what to do. Only the skills Jason had drilled into her as he taught her to drive kept them from spinning out and crashing outright. As hard as she tried, she couldn't avoid sliding off the road and grazing a guard rail, bumping down an embankment and stopping just short of a bank of trees. The last thing Emma's brain registered was Jameelah's terrified scream. Then, head hitting the driver's side window, everything went black.
