06-07-2025, 11:20 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-07-2025, 11:28 PM by Emily Shale-Vanders.)
Their friendship had started for no other reason than Jared had called Emily for a ride after a difficult time. Emily didn't recall too many of the details, but a bloody car ride had led to an exchange of phone numbers. That had led to Emily calling the next day, not because she cared about the car cleaning that Natalie had offered, but because she had wanted to make sure Natalie was okay. It had led a friendship that in many ways both of them needed. Natalie needed a confident who wouldn't judge, and Emily had needed someone who saw her as just a woman - not a businesswoman. It was always freeing when Emily got the chance to see her and chat like this.
Above all, Emily enjoyed all the little things, such as the way Natalie laughed a little at her blush, and the way she offhandedly spoke of what had really happened during the honeymoon. Of course, that's what honeymoons were more than anything, but Natalie said it with a smile and a raised eyebrow that caused Emily to laugh. At one time, that would have turned Emily beet red, but she was no longer the prude she used to be - at least not as much as she used to be. The teasing was fun, a mark of their true friendship, and Emily was glad for it. She knew she was one of the few who had the privilege of seeing Natalie truly at ease, and Emily was glad she could be that for her friend.
Natalie's congratulations were met with a genuine smile, but the expression changed when Natalie spoke of them being good parents. It wasn't darkness that crept over Emily's face, but gratitude. Natalie knew of Emily's parents - most people did - but Natalie knew how much Emily had really struggled with it. Natalie knew how much those words would mean to Emily, but she didn't know how much Emily needed to hear them. Natalie didn't know of her doubts since Rachel's accident and how often she had wondered if she was going to be good mom. The anxiety was natural. Jared had told her that and she believed it, but it didn't dispel the doubt.
Emily took Natalie's hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. "Thank you for saying that," she said, her gratitude sincere and genuine. Emily squeezed her hand again before letting go. "Rachel and Mara are both thrilled to be aunts. They are going to dote on this child for sure."
Both sisters had expressed their congratulations and excitement at her pregnancy, but Emily's hand twitched a little. Not a lie, but something left unsaid. Rachel's response, although congratulatory, had been marked with the fear that she constantly felt. Emily had seen a bit of Rachel peek through at the news, but it was muted. Her sister still wasn't completely back, and even though they could see Rachel getting better, Rachel wasn't seeing it. She was losing hope that she'd get better, and Emily could see Rachel was getting tired of fighting. Emily still hadn't played her ace-in-the-hole yet in that situation. She didn't know if Natalie had seen the twitch, and if asked, she'd talk about it, but there were other times for that conversation. This was supposed to be a happy meeting.
Above all, Emily enjoyed all the little things, such as the way Natalie laughed a little at her blush, and the way she offhandedly spoke of what had really happened during the honeymoon. Of course, that's what honeymoons were more than anything, but Natalie said it with a smile and a raised eyebrow that caused Emily to laugh. At one time, that would have turned Emily beet red, but she was no longer the prude she used to be - at least not as much as she used to be. The teasing was fun, a mark of their true friendship, and Emily was glad for it. She knew she was one of the few who had the privilege of seeing Natalie truly at ease, and Emily was glad she could be that for her friend.
Natalie's congratulations were met with a genuine smile, but the expression changed when Natalie spoke of them being good parents. It wasn't darkness that crept over Emily's face, but gratitude. Natalie knew of Emily's parents - most people did - but Natalie knew how much Emily had really struggled with it. Natalie knew how much those words would mean to Emily, but she didn't know how much Emily needed to hear them. Natalie didn't know of her doubts since Rachel's accident and how often she had wondered if she was going to be good mom. The anxiety was natural. Jared had told her that and she believed it, but it didn't dispel the doubt.
Emily took Natalie's hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. "Thank you for saying that," she said, her gratitude sincere and genuine. Emily squeezed her hand again before letting go. "Rachel and Mara are both thrilled to be aunts. They are going to dote on this child for sure."
Both sisters had expressed their congratulations and excitement at her pregnancy, but Emily's hand twitched a little. Not a lie, but something left unsaid. Rachel's response, although congratulatory, had been marked with the fear that she constantly felt. Emily had seen a bit of Rachel peek through at the news, but it was muted. Her sister still wasn't completely back, and even though they could see Rachel getting better, Rachel wasn't seeing it. She was losing hope that she'd get better, and Emily could see Rachel was getting tired of fighting. Emily still hadn't played her ace-in-the-hole yet in that situation. She didn't know if Natalie had seen the twitch, and if asked, she'd talk about it, but there were other times for that conversation. This was supposed to be a happy meeting.