WHO: Emmett and Euphemia Hayes WHEN: April 28th, 2018. WHERE: Their respective places on their respective phones! SUMMARY: A snippet of conversation shared between twins. WARNINGS: None.
“Mom wants to know if we’re coming home for her birthday.”
“It will be in the thick of Graduation season. I don’t think I can this year. There is a clatter in the background-- possibly pots and pans.
“That's what I figured. And that's what I told her. And then she did that whole, ‘Well, it doesn't have to be on the DAY, it could be sometime NEAR then.’”
“We could fly her out here…” For a moment it seems like she may continue, like there is a reason, but instead there is a palpable pause.
“... I mean, with Rhett being in town, that might be nicer. They could get a chance to... You know. Talk. Or something.”
“Ah--” A beat. “No, of course. Right...”
“You disagree.”
“I do not. I hadn’t thought of it.”
“You hesitate, then.”
“No, I just--” Again, the words do not come.
“You ‘just?’”
“It would be nice to see her in person is all that I meant, Emmett.”
“It would. And I don't know when next we'll get a chance. ...besides, weren't you just wishing we could throw a big Hayes-Wyatt-Exley reunion bash?” Har har.
There is a silence that stretches on for too long. Emmett knows better than to break it while Euphemia is trying to work out what it is she needs to say. Silences like this skip past want.
“Hugo and I are... trying.”
A pause. “As in...each other’s patience, or…?”
She laughed low, her mind weighing too heavy for anything higher. “No…”
“Huh.” Another pause. “How’s that, uh. Going so far.”
“It’s-- Well, I have no announcements planned. The doctor says I’m fertile.”
“Please tell me some doctor did not refer to my sister using the same terminology you'd use to describe a damn meadow.”
“If we could move on…”
“Right. So you're a meadow, Hooray, and Hugo--I assume is also a meadow, since you're proceeding ahead with this whole. Thing. Yeah?”
“Yes, Emmett.” Eager to move on, “Which days do you plan on going to the faire?”