Chapter Two
The following two weeks were hectic. Emily and I both had finals, and we were inundated with congratulatory calls, letters, and messages from our friends and family. Work hadn't let up for either of us until today. It was Saturday afternoon, and I just got back from work. It was something to celebrate as it officially marked the start of a two-week vacation.
Really a stay-cation. We were too broke for anything else. It was going to be two weeks with no school and no work, just us and some nice weather. We could just enjoy each other's company and maybe hit the beaches downtown.
I was sitting in the living room watching Emily scroll through her phone. She was in one of my tee shirts and a pair of pajama bottoms. The material of the shirt hung loosely over her large breasts, and her nipple piercings were visible as small lumps.
Emily's phone suddenly rang.
She answered, "Hello!"
I watched as her face went from confusion to excitement.
"Good Afternoon, Ma'am!" she said, shooting a knowing glance at me, "Yes, we're both home... of course, you can stop by!"
I frowned, not wanting to get dressed for company, but Emily only laughed at me.
"Ok, I'll see you in a few minutes!" Emily hung up the phone and then looked at me with a mischievous grin, "That was Ms. Laura. She's in town and will be over in a few minutes. You might want to put your pants back on."
My misgivings about the company evaporated with that name. We talked to Ms. Laura frequently but hadn't seen her in almost two years. Her illness progressed, and she had moved to Virginia to receive care. The last time we heard anything from her, she had just gotten a liver transplant.
I scramble to find the jeans I had discarded somewhere on the floor. Emily disappeared to our room to presumably put on a bra. My stomach turned a little thinking about Ms. Laura again. She had always been a weird element in my relationship with Emily. She was like a mother-in-law to both of us, but the kind from a porno.
Now that we were engaged, would that dynamic change? Would she give us space as a couple, or would we fall back into old patterns? Then there was her illness. The last time we saw her in the flesh, she didn't look good. She was stuck in bed and needed help going to the doctor. We were less sexual partners to a mature dominatrix and more just company to a dying woman.
I slipped on the jeans and redid my belt. It was just in time because there was a knock at the door.
Emily shuffled past me, straightening a new blouse, "Coming!"
She opened the door just as I caught up to her. There, standing in the doorway, was Ms. Laura. Her hair had thinned and grayed a bit, but it was undoubtedly Ms. Laura. She was just as I remembered from the first time I saw her.
In a form-fitting tank top and cyclist pants, she was looking healthy. Her skin was flush, and her cheeks full. She was nothing like the picture of death two years ago. I was amazed. She must have felt good too, because her top had a deep cleavage showing, and she didn't seem to care who saw it. She wore an oversized set of sunglasses that covered her eyes but not her wide, devilish smile.
"Emily!" she squealed loudly, holding out her arms for a hug, "It's been too long!"
"Ms. Laura!" she squealed back, jumping into her arms.
Emily was on the verge of tears. We were both close to Ms. Laura, but they had a different kind of connection.
"Oh dear! I'm so sorry, Emily," Ms. Laura comforted her, "Everything is alright. I'm feeling better than I have in a long time."
"It's good to see you, ma'am," I said, approaching the emotional scene cautiously.
Still embracing Emily, she tilted her glasses to look at me, "It's good to see you too, Johnny. I hear you guys got engaged?"
Emily's reddened face suddenly broke with joy. She pulled away from Ms. Laura, jumping up and down, holding up her hand to show her the ring but waving it too fast to see.
"Oh yes, we did!" Emily said excitedly, "Oh, it was so perfect too! He got down on one knee in front of the whole restaurant."
"Slow down and breathe," Ms. Laura said calmly, taking her hand to look at the rock, "Oh wow, look at that pretty thing!"
I tempted fate and interjected, "Ms. Laura, why don't you come in and have a seat? Do you want anything to drink?"
She looked at me and smiled, "Always the gracious host. Yes, I'll just have some water. It's hot out today."
Emily happily led Ms. Laura inside, telling her the whole story of the engagement. I walked into the kitchen to get the glass of water for her. It looked like the transplant went well, but I was still surprised to see her. She had sold the house up near Dallas and bought a place in Virginia. It wasn't like she could just drop by like this.
Knowing her as long as I did, I suspected she had some kind of plan. It was the kind that both intrigued and worried me. I came back to find the girls in conversation.
Ms. Laura was looking around our house while sitting at our dining room table, "You are quite the homemaker, Emily. I'm sure Johnny appreciates it!"
Emily smiled, glancing at me, "I'm sure he does, but don't sell him short. He built this table himself."
Emily knocked on the wood surface. I gave Ms. Laura the glass and found a seat next to them.
"Oh, wonderful," She smirked, "I always knew he was good with his hands."
"Thank you, ma'am," I said, examining Ms. Laura to figure out her game, "I see your recovery is going well. I thought you moved out to Virginia, though?"
She smiled, "I did, but I have so many friends here in Texas. I couldn't stay away. I already had plans to visit some friends when I heard about the engagement. I'm straight off the plane and had to see you guys."
"Well, we're so happy you thought about us," Emily said, smiling, "Who are you staying with? Do you need a place? We could host."
