"The Neighbors: A new Emaya story"
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Rated M for Mature Content.
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"Em, are you going to tell Ryan about what happened?" I ask thinking that she should.
"He has a right to know. He's done so much to help us. He needs to know what he did to me and Maya—Josh was in a hospital bed with an IV attached to him. When he gets out of the clinic, Ryan needs to know what he's up against."
I can see the worry in her eyes and I wonder if there's any hope of bringing my Josh back, the Josh I know who would be a great father to my baby or is he so consumed with jealousy that all hope is lost and…
Am I responsible?
Chapter 31: The Parents and the Plan
Maya POV
My parents Eva and Frank St. Germain arrive at the end of the week. They had difficulty getting a flight until then but I assured them that I would be okay until they got there since Emily was right next door. Well at least that's what I told them. When they finally do arrive, they get settled with their things in one of the guest bedrooms.
Josh's parents are out of the country on a Mediterranean cruise and won't be able to arrive in the states for a few weeks. I take advantage of this time with my parents while Emily visits Ryan in the city to fill him in on what happened between her and Josh. She convinces him that everything is fine now so he'll stay away from the clinic. Ryan makes Emily promise to call him if she needs anything. He also wants to be in the house when or if Josh is released from the clinic to finish his recovery at home. She agrees.
For the next couple of weeks my parents take me to visit Josh who seems to be in good spirits and seems to be like the man I fell in love with and married. I'm even beginning to wonder if that incident with Emily was something that he did without even knowing that he did it. Like he was in a sleep trance or something like that. He doesn't talk about it and I don't bring it up. Physically though, he's struggling…
Back at home, I'm acting like a sixteen year old sneaking out of my own house to be with Emily. I'm not ready for my parents to know. Though I think they suspect. I'm just too tired to explain it all but I will, soon.
I slink down the stairs trying to avoid any loud creaking noises. My parents sleep pretty soundly so I've been able to sneak out of the house unnoticed. I open the slider on the deck so I can get into Emily's house through the backyard. When I let myself in she has just descended from the staircase.
"Hey, I was wondering when or if you would ever get here."
"My parents were up later than I thought they would be so I came over as soon as they turned their light out."
Emily laughs, her arms encircling my waist, "I can't believe we're sneaking around. Do you really think it's necessary?"
"I'll tell them Em, just not yet. Are you okay with that?"
"That's funny considering I'm the one who shunned any type of PDA."
"Soon baby, soon," I press my cheek against hers.
My body sags bearing most of my weight onto her while her arms stay wrapped around me and her hands entwine through my hair.
"It's okay. Everyone will know in due time."
"I know baby. I'm just not sure how everyone is going to take the news."
We stand like that for a while just clutching onto each other. The heat from her body soothes me, relaxing me. However our breathing and heartbeats speed up signaling a fierce intenseness. And if there's any movement between us I'm sure our bodies will uncoil with passion. I break away despite the physical ache that sets in.
"Come on baby, let's go upstairs," I say brushing past her needing her to follow me up to bed.
But before I reach the stairs, she stops my forward motion by stepping into me. Her hand touches my neck and her forehead leans against mine. She's breathing hard and a fluttering goes through my chest because I want her. More than I've wanted anything in my life. I want Emily.
Her hand tilts my chin up. I close my eyes. Her breath is warm against my skin. Our noses brush against each other. I hold my breath. I can feel how close we are like the nerve endings in my body are so sensitive, they're reaching outward towards the electrical impulse attracting them charging our love for one another.
Her lips touch mine. They're soft and smooth. And then she opens her mouth, our tongues touch. I taste mint and smile a little. She probably just brushed her teeth. Her other hand slides around my waist settling on my back. My mouth opens wider, and I don't know if I'll ever get enough of her…
She pushes me into her firmly. There's no space between our bodies anymore, and all thought turns to frenzy. Our lips are pressed together, our tongues moving, exploring. There's biting and sucking, and I don't' have time to think about what I'm doing. Our hands are all over each other, gripping and pulling as if we can get any closer without merging into the same person.
Her kisses trail from my ear down my neck, and a moaning sigh escapes my lips, mingling with my panting breaths. Her kisses move back up my neck, her breath is hot and just before she snatches my lips with hers she says,
"I fucking love you."
A smile breaks over my face, because even though it's not such a romantic declaration, considering all we've been through it is perfectly fitting. I grab her face covering her lips with mine, kissing her harder. Our hands reach under each other's shirts lifting them so skin touches skin. My baby bump just barely beginning to show. I feel towards her breast and press my palm against it to feel her heartbeat, to see if it's beating as hard as mine. And it is…
I slow our kisses, "I fucking love you too…"
One Week Later…
I know my parents know something's up but still they have yet to say anything to me and I just assume not get into it right now, especially with Josh's parents due any minute…
"Maya, dear when are the Graysons due to arrive?" my mom asks.
"I think anytime now. This should be interesting," I can't keep to myself.
"What do you mean My?" my dad asks.
"Well, you know how they are. So, sooo privileged. I'm not sure this home will be adequate for them," I roll my eyes at Emily.
"Are they stuffy?" Emily asks.
We all sort of chuckle.
"It's not that they're stuffy. It's that they are of a particular social status. They are old money so to speak. Josh never acted like he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth but I guess he's used to getting what he wants," I look to Emily who makes it clear with her returning gaze that Josh is not getting me.
"That's the doorbell. That must be them," I get up to answer the door.
"Maya, remind me again, what are their names?" Emily asks before I exit the room.
I stop and turn my head giving her a sideways glance with my hands on my hips, "Joseph and Miriam."
As I continue towards the door I can hear Emily say, "Sounds pretty stuffy to me." And she starts laughing with my parents joining in. I have to control my urge to laugh along with them. I take a breath and open the door giving my best daughter in law impersonation.
"Joseph, Miriam, thank you so much for coming," I say carefully embracing them.
"Well dear, are you going to invite us in or are we going to be forced to stand outside in this, this neighborhood all day." That's so Miriam.
"Oh don't mind her, she's always cranky after a long flight," Joseph slips in. He might be stodgy but I do love him. Miriam on the other hand has always been a challenge.
I step aside letting them into the foyer.
"We spoke to the clinic last night. He seems to be recovering as expected. Maya what happened?" But before I can answer we hear laughter coming from the kitchen. Saved!
"Who's here dear?" Miriam asks so societally.
"That would be my parents and Emily, my next door neighbor." And lover…
I take them into the kitchen and introduce everyone. Mr. Grayson seems to be smitten with Emily right away which makes me smile so big I have to hide it with my hand pretending to cough.
We exchange pleasantries before I'm about to lead them to their room.
"Oh dear, we won't be staying here. It's so…drafty." I roll my eyes having had the feeling she might pull something like that.
"So, where will the two of you be staying then?" I ask as politely as I can muster.
"We'll be at the Ritz-Carlton in the city. This way we aren't so far away from the clinic when we visit," Joseph explains.
Hmmm maid service, room service, soft fluffy towels, being waited on hand and foot. That's more like it. I catch Emily widening her eyes warning me that my thoughts are transparent and to be careful. I acknowledge her warning.
"Well, then will you be taking the train with us back to the city?" I ask.
"Oh heavens no dear. The limo is waiting for us outside," Miriam informs me just so Miriam like.
"Why don't all of you ride with us?" Joseph encourages.
"Joseph, are you sure there's enough room?" Miriam quietly lets her husband know she is displeased with his suggestion but not that quietly. She wanted us to hear her. That's so Miriam.
"Yes and Emily, you can sit next to me," Joseph holds out his arm for Emily to take leading her out to the limo.
I cannot suppress my smile as she looks over her shoulder completely taken with the older gentleman's flirting with her. Dare I say it, she's blushing! Haha!
I in turn take Miriam's arm distracting her from her husband's dalliance with my girlfriend telling her about the baby, who is due in six months, and it seems to be working.
"Come on mom, dad," I call to them.
My father bows to my mother and then she curtseys. They are so bad! But that was so funny! My mother then hooks my father's arm so he can escort her to the limo. I'm so glad they're here. I don't think I could handle Josh's parents without them. I've decided not to mention his aggression towards me or my relationship with Emily. Not yet anyway. They need time with their son and I need them to believe that I will be there for him. I have to be. He's the father of my baby…
My parents are in their fifties. My dad's hair is graying at his temples and my mom has decided she's not ready to hold onto her grays just yet. They are both fit and still so in love. They've been married thirty years and are still going strong. I want that. I want that with Emily…
Josh's parents are a little older, sixty, sixty-two. Joseph has nice thick silver hair. He is naturally tan and he looks great in a suit. Josh takes after him in that way. His dad has an air about him that commands respect and he enjoys beautiful women. His wife, Miriam, is a beautiful woman. Her short auburn hair, she's not ready to share her grays either, complements her Pilates body and she plays the role of Mrs. Grayson to a T. She, however, is a bit elitist and stays within her social status of friends. It's not going to go well when she finds out about Emily. That won't go well at all. I just hope Joseph's affinity for Emily will lessen the blow…
The limo drops us off at the clinic, Joseph still attached to Emily making me shake my head.
"The clinic called this morning to let me know that Josh was awake and he did a pretty decent job of eating," I let everyone know.
"Well, I'm sure Joshua will need a colonic when he leaves this god forsaken place," Miriam lets her thoughts be known instead of leaving them in her head where they should've stayed in the first place.
"Now, now dear. Let's go see our son," Joseph reaches for his wife finally relinquishing Emily from his side.
We let them get a head start leaving a good distance between us.
"Oh Maya, I'd almost forgotten what a piece of work she is," my mother lets out what she's been holding in the whole limo ride.
"And Emily, Mr. Grayson seems quite smitten with you," my father winks.
Emily lifts her head looking right at me. Yep that's where I got it from and just to prove it I wink at her too. I can tell she wants so say something but she holds back. My parents walk ahead arm in arm while Emily and I walk a few paces behind, my arm wrapped around hers.
She leans towards my ear, her lips brushing against my hair sending waves of emotion through my body, "I'm just glad they're not coming back with us."
I whisper back, "He likes you," in a school girl who knows a secret sort of way.
"You stop," she pulls me closer to her.
"Oh poor Emily has a boyfriend," I can't resist.
"You are so gonna get it when we get home," we can't keep ourselves from smiling.
But then something comes over me. I stop, making her stop as well. I look around sneaking a kiss on the lips, "What am I gonna get?"
I wink and walk away leaving her to contemplate what I just said. I look over my shoulder seeing the love escape from her soul taking my breath away.
But reality hits us hard as we arrive on the floor of Josh's room. His parents ask to see him first and the doctor immediately accommodates their request.
I want him to remember but I don't. What is he going to tell them? More importantly, what am I going to tell them?
"I can see you thinking about something," Emily says caressing my arm gently which does not go unnoticed by my parents but for now I'm ignoring it.
"Em, I'm going to have Josh's baby and I don't want to fight them. They're a powerful people. God knows what he's going to tell them. I mean, eventually they're going to find out. Then what?"
"I think it's time you got yourself a lawyer."
"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing."
I can feel my parents watching us and I know they've figured out that there's more to this than a car accident. I suppose I need to tell them soon. I need them to support me and my decision.
Well, I guess, when I openly spend the rest of my nights at Emily's with Emily their suspicions will be confirmed…
Narrator POV
"Mother, dad what are you doing here?" Josh asks surprised.
"Is that any way to greet your parents who cancelled their Mediterranean cruise to be here?" his mother makes sure her son is being respectful regardless of his injuries.
"You didn't have to do that. Maya's here. She's taking care of me," he sounds happy and relieved.
"Yes she is along with her parents and that lovely Emily girl," his father tells him not realizing the anger he just unleashed in his son.
"Emily's here too?" He seethes through clenched teeth.
"Yes. She's quite lovely. I'm rather fond of her," Mr. Grayson nonchalantly responds.
Mrs. Grayson gives him a searing look.
"Well I'm not," Josh reveals his truth through darkened eyes.
"Joshua! Is that anyway to talk about a lady?" his mother is surprised by his actions. He was brought up better than that and she will not have him tarnishing her lineage.
"She's no lady mother. She's my wife's lover."
"Joshua, don't be absurd!" Miriam exclaims in shock.
"Josh, are you sure you know what you're saying?" his father asks concerned with his behavior.
"Mother, dad, Maya plans on raising our daughter with Emily. I need your help. I need you to convince her that I don't remember anything before Emily moved in next door. I need you to get her to fall back in love with me!" he erupts with a passion they've never seen before.
"Joshua! That harlot cheated on you! And with another woman! Why on earth would you want her back?" Miriam questions. Her facial expression shows how confused she is by her son's decision.
"Miriam, let the boy talk. If he wants to save his marriage then let him."
"Mother, I love her and I know she still loves me. I want our baby to have two parents, a mother and a father. But there's only one problem."
"That other harlot, Emily," Miriam indignantly replies.
"What do you propose we do Josh?" his father asks.
"I'm having some trouble with my legs and the doctor already said I would need months of therapy."
"Are you really struggling dear?" his mother's tone softens.
"Yes. I need Maya. And when the time is right we're going to go away."
"Away? Where?" Miriam asks still bewildered by her son's revelation.
"I was thinking, your island. But Maya can't know she's getting on a plane."
"Joshua, you're not making any sense unless you want your father and I to somehow drug her without harming the baby."
"And use your private jet to take us there. All of us," Josh adds.
Their eyes meet; Josh, his father and his mother, a plan silently forming between them. While Maya sits in the waiting area next to her true love oblivious to her and her baby's manipulated fate…
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To Be Continued…
Oh that Miriam!