The Long And Winding Road
Notes: The usual disclaimers apply.
Chapter 66 - Let Nothing Come Between You
Early Monday evening, Emma and JT were at her house, happily focused on one another. Snake was inside with Jack, so the newly engaged couple had decided to enjoy some time alone, sitting outside on the back steps while waiting for Spike to get home.
"Do you have any idea how hard it was to focus on work after you left my office this afternoon?" JT asked after the pair had completed a lengthy kiss.
"Probably about as hard as it was for me to think about helping put together the new brochures at my job this morning," Emma related. "All I had on my mind was how things might go once I came to talk to you."
"By the way, I got a call from Manny about a half-hour after you left."
"I figured you might," she responded. "She'd come over yesterday and we talked about a lot of what was going on. So after I left your office I wanted to go ahead and tell her how it all turned out. I'd say she was happy for us."
"That's an understatement," JT remarked. "We only spoke for a few minutes, but she made it very clear that she was pleased. I think she even squealed a couple of times."
"No doubt," Emma said. She was pleased with – and not surprised by – their friend's enthusiasm. "Anyway, so far Manny's the only one who knows. And I think it's important that my mom and Archie are the next to find out."
"I agree."
"You see, JT? If you just keep agreeing with me, we'll end up having the happiest marriage ever."
JT rolled his eyes in mock annoyance, but soon they were both laughing.
"Very funny, Mrs…"
He stopped and thought for a moment.
"Hey," JT soon resumed speaking, "after we're married, what do you think you'll call yourself?"
"Well, I've always been partial to 'Emma,'" she responded with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "It's been good enough for the last 18 years. Why change it now?"
"I mean for the last name," he explained.
"I know what you meant," Emma teased.
"It's just that you have a lot of choices. Of course there's my last name. Or you could stick with your last name. Then there's always that whole thing where you string a bunch of names together with dashes in between. But if you do that, then every time you have to take a test or fill out a form, you'll never have enough room to put your whole name."
"I've already considered my options, JT, and…"
Before Emma could finish her sentence, though, they noticed her mother pulling into the driveway. Getting out of her car, Spike watched as the young couple stood up.
"Hey kids," she greeted pleasantly, choosing to remain casual.
"Hey Mrs. N.," JT returned.
"Hi Mom. I see you survived another Monday."
"Barely," Spike kidded. "How are things around here?"
"Great," Emma replied.
The couple was holding hands, which didn't surprise Spike. But she did note the extra excitement in her daughter's voice.
"So…do you two have something planned that you'd care to tell me about?"
It was only after she'd started to ask the question that Spike realized she'd made the leap from casual to pushy without even meaning to.
"I mean about dinner," she quickly backpedaled. "If the two of you don't have any plans… I'm not cooking tonight, but we have all sorts of take-out coupons at our disposal."
"One thing that's fun to do sometimes if you're not sure what you want," JT suggested, "is to toss your various take-out menus so they're spread out on the table, close your eyes, point to one, and that's where you're getting your meal. Then, just open your eyes and you've got a nice surprise. That is, unless you've somehow managed to pick the same place several times in a row. Then you should try for best 2 out of 3."
"I'll have to try that sometime," Spike said as she opened the door and walked into the house.
"Thanks for the invite," JT offered while he and Emma followed Spike inside. "But Emma and I already have plans."
"No problem," Spike assured.
With all three now in the kitchen, Emma knew it was time.
"But we wanted to talk to you first," she spoke up. "You AND Archie."
"Oh," Spike answered simply. "Of course."
Spike wondered if this forthcoming conversation was about what she thought it might be about. About the proposal she's overheard her daughter discussing with Manny the previous afternoon. She noticed that Emma didn't have an engagement ring on her finger, but she understood that didn't necessarily mean anything. As much as Spike already knew, she was eager to learn more. She was also still determined to refrain from commenting until she knew the whole situation.
Going into the living room, the three saw Snake coming down the stairs. After greeting his wife, he explained that Jack was now up playing in his room until dinner. He wasn't surprised when Spike explained that Emma and JT wanted to talk with them.
Soon, the elder couple was sitting on the couch, JT was in a nearby chair and Emma chose to remain standing. Next to JT with a hand on his left shoulder, she felt a combination of excitement and nervousness about the news they were about to share.
"Don't worry," she began. "Nothing's wrong. But JT and I do have some news. Good news."
Emma looked down at JT and smiled.
"I take that back," she continued, returning her attention to Spike and Snake. "Winning a lottery would be good news. What we've got is great news."
"Come on," Snake urged in a lighthearted tone. "Don't keep us in suspense."
"Okay. Well… Saturday night, JT asked me to marry him."
Snake looked over at his wife, who appeared very interested but so far wasn't jumping in with a response.
"Wow," he decided to speak up.
"But instead of answering my question right away," JT interjected in a humorous tone, "your daughter decided to torture me by getting all sensible and telling me she needed time to think about it."
"The torture was short-lived, though," Emma remarked. "This afternoon we discussed the things that concerned me most, and then I was able to give him an answer. Simply put, we're engaged."
"Engaged," JT repeated. "The word has a nice ring to it.
"JT, tell me you didn't just say that," Emma responded, trying not to smile.
"Hey, no pun about engagement rings was intended," he claimed, knowing Emma wouldn't buy it.
"Yeah right," she said, rolling her eyes.
"Okay, maybe just a little bit intended," he admitted.
Snake was used to the teasing that went on between the young couple, and it was also easy for him to see the love that existed between them. He then thought back to his conversation with JT on Saturday morning and he felt confident that this could work out. Still, he wanted confirmation of something, and since Spike still hadn't commented, he felt it was up to him.
"Based on what you've just explained – and knowing both of you as well as I do – I think I already have my answer, but I want to go ahead and ask it anyway."
"Ask away, Mr. Simpson," JT granted.
"As great as marriage can be," Snake prefaced, "it takes real effort on each person's part to make it the best it can be. It's really a work-in-progress because it's always developing. Hopefully in positive ways. But even the best marriages are not without occasional struggles.
"The two of you have known each other for a long time and have already been through a lot together. So you already have a good foundation to build on. Still, this will be the biggest commitment either of you has ever made. Are you both absolutely sure that this is what you want to do at this point in your lives?"
"Without a doubt," Emma answered without hesitation.
JT nodded in agreement. He then looked over at Spike and was surprised that so far she hadn't said a word.
"I was right about already knowing the answer," Snake then said. "But you know I had to ask."
"It's fine, Archie," Emma cheerfully assured. "I'm glad you're concerned. Just know that this isn't a whim. We know what we're getting into, and we're going to be okay. Better than okay."
"Then let me just say one other thing," Snake requested. "Congratulations! I wish you both nothing but the best."
Emma walked over to the couch, reached down and hugged her stepfather.
"Thanks," she said.
After the hug, Emma looked over at her mother.
"So Mom, what do you think?"
"It's really big news," Spike finally said after one last moment of quiet contemplation.
"That it is," Emma agreed.
"It's great to see the two of you so happy," her mother continued. "I'm just curious… Have you set a date yet?"
"Nothing set in stone," Emma answered. "But we were discussing it this afternoon and we've narrowed it down to the latter half of August."
"August," Spike repeated. "August of THIS year?"
"It made the most sense," Emma explained.
"But this is June. I know you're in love, but what's the rush?"
"We have to," JT spoke up.
Both women looked over at the young man, equally confused.
"You what?" Spike asked.
"JT, you might want to re-word that," Emma suggested.
JT thought for a moment. Then, once he realized what his words must have sounded like, his eyes got bigger.
"Wait," he hurried to clarify. "Not 'have to' as in HAVE to. We're not pregnant. I mean, she's not… I mean… There's no baby in all of this. Sure, I sometimes like a pickle with my ice cream, but that's just me. Not a pregnancy craving. We're both completely babyless."
Snake sat back and worked hard not to laugh as he watched JT's attempt at damage control.
"I mean that we have to because we love each other very much," the young man continued, "and neither one of us is the type to want a long, drawn-out engagement. We know this is right for us."
"The timing is also practical," Emma added. "School starts in September. And while I'm busy with classes during the day, JT is hoping the commercial that airs will bring TMD more business and exposure. Enough so that maybe next year he can put on the theater's first ever film festival. All that, of course, is in addition to his regular day-to-day managerial duties. By getting married in late August, there's still enough time to make arrangements for a nice wedding, find an apartment, get married, go on a wonderfully romantic honeymoon and then get settled into our new home and our great new life together. You know, before we have to start balancing being newlyweds with our school and work responsibilities."
"I couldn't have said it better," JT remarked. "And I think I just proved that a few moments ago."
"Okay," Spike granted, "but I still think it wouldn't hurt to consider waiting. Like you said, there's already so much that's going on in your lives right now. With even more about to happen."
JT was about to respond, but Emma spoke up first.
"Mom, I have to go downstairs and get something. Would you like to come along and help?"
Spike understood that her daughter thought they should talk in private.
"All right," she said as she stood up.
Emma walked back to where JT was sitting.
"I'll be back in a moment," she told the confused young man before giving him a brief kiss.
Once the women had left the room, JT looked over at Snake, who was still sitting on the couch.
"Do you think I should go down there too?" he asked the teacher.
"No," Snake answered calmly. "Everything's fine. You know how open they are with one another. Those two are almost as much like friends as they are mother and daughter. They just need a few minutes alone to talk, which is nothing new."
"I guess you're right."
Snake could tell that JT still appeared uneasy.
"So…all these years and I still don't know…"
"What's that, Mr. Simpson?"
"Can you bowl?"
"What?" JT asked, curious about where this conversation was headed.
"You know…bowling balls, knocking down pins, wearing rented shoes. That sort of thing."
"I bowl almost as well as I play pool," JT declared.
"Really?"
"Don't get too impressed. Just ask Sean. Innocent bystanders have been known to almost get concussions from flying pool balls when I play. Allegedly."
Snake laughed.
"Not to worry, JT. Give me one hour, and I'll have you bowling like a pro."
JT gave him a doubtful look.
"Okay, not really. But I can promise that you won't be the cause of any concussions."
This made JT smile.
"Besides," Snake continued, "it won't be too much longer before Jack is big enough for me to start teaching him how. By then, you'll be ready to help me show him how it's done."
"That would definitely be interesting," JT responded. "But this all sounds like father-son territory, and I don't want to step on anyone's toes."
"If you're talking about Jack's toes, they're safe. You know how Jack feels about you. Not to mention how his mother and I feel."
This was indeed nothing that JT didn't already know.
"Yeah, well…just don't get any ideas that I'll want to wear some special kind of bowling shirt."
"That's what every bowler says at first," Snake jokingly warned.
JT laughed, and Snake was glad that the tension that had been in the air seemed to have left.
"You and Emma are going to be fine," Snake then assured, returning the conversation to more serious thoughts about the impending marriage. "I don't have any doubts about that. But if you ever need anything…"
"I know," JT understood.
JT was pleased, though he wished that Emma's mother was as positive about all of this as Snake was.
Spike, meanwhile, had followed Emma downstairs.
"We didn't really need to come down here to finish this discussion," she said.
"Maybe not," Emma responded, "but I honestly did have to get something from down here and I wanted to show it to you."
Emma then picked up the small box that was on her nightstand. Opening it up, she let her mother look at the ring.
"It's lovely," Spike said softly.
"I haven't tried it on yet," Emma admitted. "And let me tell you, it hasn't been easy. But I'd decided that I couldn't until I'd made up my mind and given JT my answer."
"And now he has it."
"Yes. So later on tonight, I'll let him place this on my finger."
She watched as her mother merely nodded.
"I also thought you and I could talk this out alone down here," Emma continued as she closed the box and held it in her left hand. "Like was said upstairs, I had a number of concerns I needed to work out, both by myself and with JT, before I could accept his proposal. Maybe they're some of the same concerns you're having."
"Maybe," Spike concurred.
"First, you should know that he was already planning to propose before he…before everything that happened to him. So his question wasn't based on fear."
"And what about your answer?" Spike questioned. "I'm not saying it would all be based on some sort of emotional follow-up to what happened. But was any of it?"
"No, Mom," Emma replied with ease. "I'm doing this because it's what's right for me, and because I'm also convinced that it's right for JT. Neither of us is thinking that we need to hurry and get married because of what happened to him. That we almost missed out on many more years together. It's been a scary time, but we're not living our lives based on fear."
"Okay," Spike accepted while sitting down on the side of Emma's bed. "Knowing how much the two of you genuinely love each other, it's not difficult to believe that this is solely based on love. But you're both just out of high school."
"True," Emma interjected, having anticipated the age challenge. "It's not common to get married at such a young age, but it's not unheard of either. We know what we're doing. Or at least as much as any couple does before getting married – regardless of age."
"Em, aren't there things each of you would like to do before taking on the responsibilities that come with marriage?"
"What kinds of things?" Emma asked curiously.
"There's your education, for one."
"I'm still going to university," Emma assured. "Those plans don't change just because I won't be single."
"You also want to be a professional writer," Spike then commented. "Wouldn't you like to do some traveling? See what life is like outside of Toronto? More first-hand life experiences can only be a benefit to a writer. I'm sure there are things that JT would either need or want to do as well. Maybe business trips or conventions. When you're married, you have to learn to take each other's schedules into account. To make compromises that you wouldn't necessarily have to make if you were together but not married."
"Mom, I know what you're saying. But as independent in many ways as JT and I both are, we want to have our big adventures together. If I were going to travel, I'd want him right there with me to share those first-hand life experiences. You could ask JT, and I know he'd say something similar. Though I'm sure he'd say it in a more humorous way than I just did. We're a good team. Any schedule conflicts or compromising won't be too difficult for us to deal with."
"Emma, I just…"
Spike paused for a moment, but continued moments later.
"Your grandmother had to grow up so fast because she had me at such a young age. Then the same thing happened to me. You've managed not to…to carry on the tradition, so to speak. I'm not saying I'm disappointed with my life. Not at all. I run my own business, have a great husband and wonderful son. And a daughter who may have come early into my life but who has also been the best part of my life. But right now you have a level of freedom neither your grandmother nor I had when we were your age."
"I understand," Emma responded calmly.
There had been brief moments in Emma's youth when she thought her mother regretted having her. But she'd long since realized that it was only the timing issue that Spike regretted. She knew that these current concerns were because Spike loved her. That's why it was easy for Emma to be patient.
Patient, but not swayed.
"I also know that marrying JT right now isn't going to limit me," she continued. "You should know. You said as much to me a few weeks ago."
"Did I?" Spike asked, looking confused.
"I asked you if it was unrealistic to try to have it all. You answered by saying that as long as you're willing to put in the effort and also accept the possible struggles and disappointments along the way, then anything is possible."
"Yeah," Spike said, now understanding what Emma was referring to. "I do remember saying something to that effect."
"I had already been thinking about making a proposal of my own to JT when I asked you that question. Then a few minutes after that discussion, Manny came over and told me that JT was on the way to the hospital. I put all of those thoughts to the side, but apparently JT had already been thinking along those same lines. You haven't changed your mind about your answer to that question, have you?"
"No," Spike admitted. "And a part of me knows that the two of you could get married today and likely have a thriving relationship. I just don't want either of you to look back one day and feel like you missed out on certain things because you moved so quickly."
"We won't, Mom. We're only going to be gaining, not missing out. You'll see."
"I look forward to it."
"But in the meantime, do you think you could be a little happy for us? We're not asking for your blessing. But this is an exciting time, and I can't imagine not being able to share it with you."
"I suppose I can take the cautiously optimistic approach," Spike suggested.
"That's a reasonable start," Emma accepted, smiling.
Spike then stood up.
"Well," she said, sounding more enthusiastic than she had been during the rest of their conversation, "it looks like we've got a wedding to put together."
Later on that evening, JT and Emma were at his house. They were sitting together on the couch. Emma, with her head on his shoulder, was extremely relaxed. But JT was still thinking about her mother's initial reaction to their news.
"Okay, I think I've figured out when your mom decided she didn't like me," he announced.
"JT…"
"It was six, maybe seven, years ago," he recalled. "She fixed that tofu casserole thing for dinner one night and I whispered to you that it looked like I already ate it. I bet she overheard me."
Emma rolled her eyes. She didn't recall that particular moment but could certainly picture it in her mind.
"Despite all that," she said as she sat up to look at JT, "you know perfectly well that my mom has never disliked you. Far from it. And she hasn't started to now, either. You heard her when she and I came back upstairs. She made it clear that even though she had those concerns, she was going to support our decision."
"That was just code for 'Eat dirt, Yorke,'" he suggested.
"Yeah? So when she gave you that big hug before we left, what was that a code for?"
JT considered this for a moment but came up with nothing.
"I haven't worked that part out yet," he soon replied.
"JT, your proposal took ME by surprise, so just imagine what a shock all this must have seemed to her. It's a lot to take in right away. I think she's handling it pretty well."
"I guess."
"Anyway, that's enough talk about my mom. The pizza should be here in a little while, and there's something important that needs to happen first."
Emma reached into her purse, which was on the end table next to the couch. Pulling out the small box, she handed it to JT.
"From the moment I first opened this box in the restaurant," she recalled, "I wanted you to put this ring on my finger. And now the time is finally right."
"So you liked the way I proposed?" JT asked.
"Absolutely."
"Good. I hadn't done something like that before."
"I should hope not," Emma kidded him.
"What I mean is…This is new territory for me and I didn't want to mess it up. But I've heard that some guys will hide the ring in the woman's food and let her find it for herself."
"I've read about those kind of scenarios, too. Never sounded particularly romantic to me."
"I know," JT agreed, glad that they were on the same wavelength about this. "To me, it always seemed disgusting. You could accidentally bite down on the ring and break a tooth. Or swallow it and start choking. Or maybe you WOULD spot it. Except now you've got a ring that's been sitting inside whatever you've been eating – in your case, it would've been a piece of cheesecake – and the ring is all sticky. The guy has to say 'Would you take this sticky thing and be my wife?'"
"You're right," Emma agreed after she'd finished laughing. "Not really the ideal romantic gesture you eventually tell your grandkids about. Your way was much better."
Opening the box, JT wasted no time in taking the ring out and slipping it on Emma's finger.
"Beautiful," Emma remarked as she looked down at it.
"Yeah," JT said, looking up at her face. "And the ring's not bad to look at either."
Emma looked up from her hand and fought the urge to kiss him.
"JT, I can't believe you just said that," she instead teased.
"I know it was an easy line," JT jokingly confessed. "But since it's also true, I figured I'd say it anyway. Just promise not to rat me out to the comedy gods."
"I promise," she assured. "Oh, and by the way…Yorke."
"Um…what is it, Nelson?" JT asked, clearly puzzled. "Is calling each other by our last names a part of the engagement process I didn't know about?"
"No silly. You asked me a question earlier, but I didn't get the chance to answer. Now I have."
"Oh," JT responded, trying to sound like he understood. "Of course. Naturally."
"You have no idea what I'm talking about," she stated.
"None at all," he said confidently.
"The last name I'll use once we're married," Emma explained. "I want your name to be my name."
"Really?" JT asked as his smile grew bigger.
"You sound surprised."
"Maybe a little," he admitted. "After all, the walls of Degrassi are still echoing your shouts about feminism from when you were accidentally called 'Emma Simpson' just the one time."
Like JT, Emma remembered that moment quite well.
"Don't worry," she explained. "I'm still consistent in my beliefs. That was a completely different situation, involving the misguided and idiotic assumptions of the school bureaucracy."
"But were they really trying to take away your choices, or did they just make an innocent little goof in the files?"
"Either way, at least I got it straightened out the same day. But as for this case, I'm making exactly the choice I want to make. I know my options in this situation, and I can't think of one I'd like more than to be known as Emma Yorke."
'That sounds great," JT said enthusiastically.
"Of course, I could always take inspiration from my husband-to-be and have people start calling me E.N. Yorke."
"Not so great," he responded, rolling his eyes and making Emma laugh.
She then moved over and sat on his lap.
"So," she said, looking him directly in the eyes and attempting to sound serious, "do you really think you'll be able to stand a lifetime of dealing with a highly opinionated and occasionally pushy woman whose words can echo off walls?"
Wrapping his arms around his fiancée, JT pretended that he had to think about an answer.
"Well…" he finally broke the silence, "What was it you said earlier tonight? 'It's been good enough for the last 18 years. Why change it now?'"
"Very funny…even if you haven't known me a full 18 years."
"Yet," JT replied confidently.
"True," she agreed. "And there'll be many more years after that. Guaranteed."