The Long And Winding Road
Notes: For a change, a few responses to those who left all the great feedback:
Alexis: Digital Survivor – I agree: episodes without a JT appearance are disappointing even when the episode is otherwise good.
Degrassidreamer – Glad you liked Emma's rant; it was especially fun to write.
The Vampire Illiana – Don't worry, I like your lengthy reviews. They're always interesting (and you don't sound like a parrot to me).
PsYcHoJo – I'm glad you like my take on Emma as well as JT's dad.
Fearless Dreamer – I think you and The Vampire Illiana are correct; Yorke would be the type to sue if he'd been hit.
cutiepye06655 – Glad you're still enjoying it!
Chapter 25 -- No Time Left For You
"Hi JT," Emma responded after her boyfriend's sudden appearance at the table. She felt both happy to see him and sorry that his arrival meant that he would now have to deal with his overbearing and insulting father.
"Hey Emma," JT said. He looked at her momentarily and then reached down to briefly kiss her. After the kiss he turned toward his father, who was now standing. "Hello Dad. It's been awhile."
JT started to move toward his father with his arms out about to hug the man, but Nathaniel Yorke prevented that by putting his hand out to shake his son's right hand instead.
"James. Good to see you. Yes, it has been a few months. Of course, you delayed this little reunion even more by arriving late."
"You know how work is," JT said, uneasily laughing off his father's comment as he sat down beside Emma in the booth.
"And you know how important – and limited – my time is."
"I remember you coming home late for dinner lots of times…when you made it home for dinner at all."
"Pardon me," Yorke replied, his tone slowly becoming more sarcastic. "You're right. I was often late due to working on the legal issues pertaining to multi-million dollar corporations. You were no doubt late due to the pressing business of scraping gum off the bottom of a movie theater chair. Why, we're practically equals."
"It's nice to know that you think an assistant manager spends his time removing the gum that's stuck to chairs. Actually I thought about taking on that particular responsibility, but when it comes to gum, I just can't stick to it."
"Still with the constant joking around, I see."
"I tried to be serious once. I believe it was a Thursday afternoon nine years ago. But it just wasn't for me."
JT then turned toward Emma.
"Sorry I was a little late."
"To HER you apologize," Yorke stated. "Typical."
"No problem," Emma said to JT. "It's given your father and me a chance to really get to know one another. I think we now have a good understanding of each other. Wouldn't you say so, Mr. Yorke?"
Yorke was about to respond when the waiter arrived with menus.
"So Dad, what have the two of you been talking about?" JT asked after the waiter left and as the three of them browsed their menus.
"Oh, I've merely been confirming some fascinating information with Emma."
"Well, she's definitely the one to go to if you're not sure of something," JT said with pride.
"I found what she had to say most informative."
"What sort of information were you checking out? Something environmental-ish? If so, you made a good choice because Emma's probably got better information than anyone else around here."
"It was nothing," Emma said, trying to steer JT away from asking about the earlier conversation. "What are you going to order, JT? You ought to get a basket of onion rings to go with your meal. I know how much you like them."
"True, but it's mostly fun to order them because you start those making beeping sounds like a heart monitor whenever I start to eat a ring, and then once I've finished off the basket you make that flatlining sound effect. Nothing like being reminded that with each bite of a fried food, I get closer to death. And it's even more fun if people are sitting nearby to see the confused looks on their faces."
"It's sad to see what passes for intelligent conversation among young people nowadays," Yorke commented, which made Emma wish she had another glass of water to throw.
"Don't worry," JT reassured his father. "I try never to have intelligent conversations. After all, intelligent conversations are a sign of the devil. No, wait. I'm thinking of karaoke. Never mind."
The waiter returned to take their orders.
"I'll have the garden salad, with mayonnaise on the side," Emma ordered.
"I'll have the same thing," JT followed, "only with Italian dressing instead. And a Coke. Oh, and a basket of onion rings for the two of us."
"JT, you're not really expecting me to eat any of those, are you?"
"Emma, when you're not making the sound effects, I see you out of the corner of my eye grabbing a few when you think I'm not looking. You're just too scared to order them yourself."
"I refuse to respond to that on the grounds that I might have to admit that you're right, which is never a pleasant experience."
Yorke handed his now empty glass to the waiter.
"No food for me. Just top off this drink."
"You're not eating?" JT asked.
"Nothing on the menu looked very appealing. Later, I'll have my cab stop somewhere nice on the way to the airport."
"So Dad, what all WERE you and Emma discussing before I got here? I'm guessing it was interesting."
"I don't care much for repeating myself. How much did you happen to overhear?"
"Don't worry about that."
"Well, as I promised the other week, I've simply been trying to get to know Emma better. Of course, to do so I felt it would be a good idea to do some studying beforehand."
"Studying?" JT asked, looking confused.
"Asking around," Emma explained. "Or rather snooping."
"I see."
"I found out some interesting facts. James, I tried to warn you against getting serious with anyone right now, particularly her, and it looks like I was right. Wait until I tell you. You probably won't believe it at first, but it's all verifiable."
"Oh. This sounds serious."
"I can see you're upset, son. Still, it's better you found out now than years from now after you married her and had kids."
"So, this asking around…you did the interviews yourself?"
"One of them."
"I see. And the others?"
"An investigator handled it."
There was a moment when nobody said a word.
"Sorry Emma," JT finally said. "At first I thought he had made up a bunch of lies to tell me. But it sounds like he went all out. I think he really does have some hard truths about you. Were the things he discovered and confronted you about true?"
"Yes, but…"
"This could change everything."
"JT…"
"No, Emma. Things can't keep going the way they have been, with all this secrecy."
Emma grew alarmed about JT's current attitude, which she didn't understand.
"Son," Yorke interjected, "I must admit, you're handling everything much better than I expected."
"Dad, for a long time I didn't think you really cared about me, and that now by leaving town for good it was even more proof of that. I figured you would lie or make something up to disrupt my relationship just because you felt she wasn't fit to be connected with your family, such as it is. But what you've done…to think that you would go to all this trouble just to help me out…I don't know what to say."
"James, just because I never wanted kids doesn't mean I'm not going to look out for the one I've got."
"You don't know what it means to hear you say that, Dad. Now, Emma, I think it's time that the whole truth came out into the open once and for all. Dad, you should know that I think I have an idea about what it is you've learned. And I want to confirm to you that it's all true."
"So, she was right? You know?" Yorke asked.
"I've known Emma all my life. How could I not know? It's all true, Dad. Emma WAS originally a guy."
"I'm so glad you're able to talk about…What?" Yorke was surprised and shocked to hear this.
"That's right, Dad. But I assume you already knew this."
"Son, maybe you'd better explain further."
"If you insist. Since birth, young Emerson Nelson was a girl trapped in a boy's body. So, many years ago, his family saved up enough money and he was able to have the operation and the hormone injections. And Emerson became Emma.
"Look at him, Dad," JT continued, pointing toward Emma. "Don't you think the doctors did a convincing job? Now I know it's difficult to believe, but I'm sure it's all in your investigation notes.
"But despite it all…maybe because of it all, I'm still in love with the big guy. I know you're worried, Dad. And it's true that society frowns on our love. But I can't help myself. After all, she didn't choose this life…it chose her. And I'm right there every year marching in those switched-gender parades next to her. I mean him. No, her.
"Isn't that right, fella?" JT then gave Emma a light punch in the arm.
Emma, relieved to see that JT was apparently trying to mess with his father's head and wasn't seriously reconsidering their relationship, was unable to restrain herself any longer and broke down laughing.
"Or was that NOT the deep dark secret you were going for?" JT asked, still maintaining a straight face.
"Again with the jokes during a serious discussion," Yorke responded, far from pleased. "It's no wonder we get along the way we do."
At that, Emma stopped laughing and was again starting to get mad.
"Now, if we can have a real discussion, I discovered several GENUINE details about Emma's life. First, there's the fact that…"
"Already know about it," JT interrupted.
"But…?"
"What else you got, Dad?"
"Okay. How about the week when…"
"Doesn't matter."
"Well," Yorke continued, getting flustered, "did you know that in her family background, there's…"
"Could be. Hard to say. Either way, it's no big thing. Next."
"James, you're not giving me a chance to even finish mentioning any of this, much less go into detail."
"Yeah. Funny that."
"Don't you care?"
"About Emma? Yes. Very much. And whatever little scraps of trivia you took the time to find out about, I already knew it. Or she hasn't gotten around to telling me yet because it's not that important. Or she hasn't told me because it's none of my business."
"But…"
"If you had tried to get to know Emma the right way like I asked you to, you'd have found out she's not one of those people who walks around with lots of sinister secrets. If there's anything about her that I don't know, I don't need to know it unless she wants me to."
"Is that it?" Yorke asked moments after JT finished speaking.
"What do you mean?"
"I assumed that you would probably keep talking on and on nonstop for another five minutes as she did earlier. Not that I'd mind too much. Her speech gave me time for a quick nap and I could always use another."
"Sorry. I'm no good with speeches. But I guess you're not surprised. You probably don't think I'm good at anything."
"You're quite capable when you want to be which, granted, isn't often. But if there's one thing I've never doubted, it's your love for your mother."
"That's true enough," JT replied, now uncertain where his father was going with the conversation.
"In fact you would do anything for her. Right?"
"Of course."
"I'd like to think we can both agree that Jillian Yorke was an important person, both to this family and to her segment of the business community."
"Yes, we can agree on that."
"When you and I spoke on the phone – not last night, but the other week – do you remember everything we discussed?"
"Oh you mean those minor details like how you felt forced into fatherhood and how it's better to sleep around rather than get involved with Emma, who you called certain names I won't repeat and who you said would reflect bad on you."
"Us. Not just me."
"Yes, I remember it all."
"Good. Then you also recall our talking about your mother's business."
"Of course. You said if it ever became too much trouble we should sell it."
"Correct, and I think it might very well become too much trouble now."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's simple. You have your own life that is separate from mine. And you know I'm all for this. But now it looks as though you don't even want to consider my advice about ridding yourself of this – What's the word I'm thinking of to represent this girl? Oh, yes. – this albatross. So go ahead then and go your own way. Involve yourself with whomever you want. But there's no further need for us to pretend we can relate to one another. I won't let your poor choices reflect on me.
"Jillian's company connects us. Without it, you're just someone living in and looking after my old house until the end of next summer. We should sell the business and move on."
"You would sell your late wife's company – her legacy – just to have one less reason to make a return visit?" Emma was outraged.
"No, Miss Righteous Indignation. I would sell the company because it will net a sizable amount of money. For me AND James. Jillian kept that business running so well that all these months after her death it's still going strong. But after a full year passes – maybe 18 months – who's to say whether or not the existing managers will maintain this excellence or send the company on a downward spiral. The amount we can sell it for now is much better than we're likely to get even six months from now. Selling now is a smart move, not that I expect the assistant manager of a struggling theater or a poor wannabe environmentalist to understand what good business is all about."
"That's too bad, Dad, because Mother left each of us 50 percent of the company. You can't sell it without my approval."
"They don't even teach kids to read at that Degrassi school. If you had bothered to check, you would have noticed that according to Jillian's will, while we ARE co-owners and thus split all profits down the middle – and would split the money from a possible sale – until you turn 18, only I am authorized to make decisions concerning the business. That means if I wanted to expand or relocate or go in an entirely new direction, I don't need your approval. I also don't need your approval to sell. Until January, your 50 percent entitles you to the monetary rewards without any of the decision-making responsibilities. If you ask me, that's a sweet deal."
"Oh."
"If you don't believe me, I can give you another copy of the will and you can read it for yourself."
"No, I believe you. I'm sure Mother didn't want me to have to worry about all those business decisions, especially if she had died when I was much younger. But she wanted to make sure I wouldn't miss out on the benefits. And I'm sure she never thought she wouldn't be here now."
"Yes, she was always looking out for you. You were her priority, along with her work."
"And you resented it," Emma interjected. "That's what this is about. What it's always been about."
"Emma…" JT interrupted.
"But I would be willing to hold onto this company, as a favor to you and as a show of family loyalty. That is, if I thought you were willing to also show loyalty and act in a manner befitting this family."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning, James, that if you could show that your head is on straight and you won't disgrace your family through a continued association with…"
Yorke looked toward Emma.
"Then you wouldn't sell my mother's company to outsiders."
"Good, we understand one another. What do you say? Can we come to an agreement?"
The waiter came and set down their food and drink refills. JT picked up his glass of Coke and looked at it. For a brief moment, Nathaniel Yorke thought his son might follow Emma's lead and toss it at him. But soon, JT took a gulp from the glass and then set it back down.
"Want to hear a riddle?" JT suddenly asked his father.
"Are we back to joking around? Honestly…" Yorke was losing patience.
"I know, I know. Riddles aren't really my brand of humor either, but sometimes you come across one that you just have to try out."
"Fine, if it will help you hurry up and finalize things, go ahead. Ask away."
"What did the clown say to the horse's ass?"
"I have no idea."
"He said, 'Have a good life.'"
"I don't get it."
"I know, Dad. You never have, and I don't think you ever will."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying you should go ahead and sell the company my mother built, and then mail me a check. As we talked about, I'll keep on living at the house until sometime in August next year. Once the sale of the company goes through, your work here is done, which I'm sure will please you. There's no reason we should ever have to be in contact again. You don't have to claim an unwanted embarrassment of a son and I don't have to claim as a father some guy who would try to bribe me with my own dead mother's legacy."
Yorke looked across the table at Emma with an angry expression.
"Don't you dare look at Emma. Did you think that because I came here in time to see her toss water at you that I might suddenly take your side when you try to badmouth her again? She doesn't do anything without a good reason.
"But don't look at her with your anger. I refuse to give her up but this is MY choice, not one she's forcing me to make. You should also know that one moment with her is worth more to me than anything you've ever offered me in nearly 18 years.
"Anyway, this isn't just about Emma. You can't have it both ways, pretending you don't want a family one moment and then trying to control it the next. You don't even want to control it because you care about family, you just don't want to worry about any embarrassment to you. I get it. Only, you're the embarrassment and I want you to stay away from me."
Yorke finished his drink then stood up.
"Fine. I took a shot. Either way, I knew I was done here. I even had a potential buyer lined up just in case you decided to make this decision. I'll call him tomorrow and we can finalize the sale in no time. Just remember, you've made the choice, not me. It's for the best that your mother is gone because she would be very ashamed of you if she knew you were so willing to let go of her business."
"The only thing my mother might have ever needed to feel bad about was thinking you were still the man she fell in love with. Whatever you meant to her, you're not that person now. Enjoy this new life of yours, all alone in Winnipeg."
"Alone? I've got friends and business associates. Not to mention a secretary who's as good working behind a desk as she is in my bed. I'll be fine. Enjoy life with your high-strung friend and your menial job. Oh, be a good son and pay for my drinks. Thanks. And Emma? It's been…interesting. Let's not do this again. Good night all."
"Dad!" JT called out as Yorke began to leave.
"Yes?" Yorke asked, briefly wondering if JT had a change of heart.
"In case you're still confused…I'm the clown. Have a good life."
Without another word, Yorke walked away from the table and out the restaurant door. Neither JT nor Emma said anything for several moments.
"And some people say Monday nights can't be interesting," JT said, breaking the silence.
"JT…"
"I don't even know what you two were talking about but when I saw you toss that drink at him, I was just hoping I wouldn't bust out laughing."
"I wasn't so lucky," Emma said, taking hold of one of JT's hands. "You started getting me all worried that you might take his investigation seriously. But then you came up with your own little secret about me that was so outrageous and unexpected that I couldn't contain myself."
"Sorry Emma."
"Don't be. I should have known I had nothing to worry about."
"No, I mean sorry for all of this. Can't believe I thought that if he could sit down and get to know you, he'd – I don't know – see that I was doing something right. Instead he didn't have anything good to say about either one of us. And I couldn't even get here on time, so you had to listen to all of it."
"Don't apologize. Your idea was a longshot, but since he's your father I know you wanted to take a chance. You like to play peacemaker. Like with me and Manny."
"That was probably a bad idea, too."
"Hey, I'm getting along with her, right? I was even afraid my insult skills were getting rusty. After tonight, I think the skills are still there. Just needed the right person to slam."
JT laughed.
"So you really lectured him for five minutes?"
"I wasn't timing it or anything, JT. He deserved more. I'd like to tell you what we talked about."
"You don't have to."
"I know, and you DID know all the things he came up with about me."
"Even if I didn't, it wouldn't have mattered."
"Besides, don't you want to hear all the good things I said about you?"
"The perfection that is JT Yorke? I'm always open to hearing about that."
"I wouldn't go THAT far, JT."
"Let's save it for later and just eat."
"Okay."
"Emma?"
"Yes?"
"She wouldn't…I mean, she isn't…"
"Your mother is very proud of you. I know it. You did what you had to do and you didn't let him push you around. Your dad was right about one thing – you made the choice and put an end to the situation. Agreeing to the sale and telling him to stay out of the picture…there's no way she would fault you."
"Thanks Emma."
JT reached for the salt.
"JT, if I'm going to eat any of those onion rings, don't you dare put salt on them."
"Nag, nag, nag," JT rolled his eyes. He then put the salt shaker down. "Satisfied?"
"Thanks Jamie."
"It's just salt."
"No, not that. I know you said the sale wasn't just because of me, which is good, but I know I'm a big part of the reason and…I don't know how to tell you what it means that…"
"Emma," JT interrupted, "I love you. Always. But don't start or you'll end up crying and your food will get all soggy."
"Okay. You're right. As long as you know what I meant."
"I do. Now let's eat already."
"Emerson?"
"Hey, I was making this stuff up as I went along. It sounded good."
"So how was work?"
"You wouldn't believe the strange guy who showed up."
"Think he'd sign this new petition I'm working on?"
Next Chapter – And then there was Sean…