The drugs worried Nysa for more reasons than just her belief that Emilia didn’t need them. The other woman’s health was at the forefront of her mind. Though Emilia always made her aware of the medications Doran put her on, she had lost track of all the various pills she had started and stopped taking. They couldn’t be good for her. She had often thought about taking Emilia herself to a real doctor, not some quack Doran liked because he was giving with his prescription pad. Then they could get to the truth about Emilia’s “afflictions”. But all that worry paled in comparison the fear Nysa had for the side effects. She knew that Emilia was careful – she hadn’t pushed herself to drive on the medication when she knew she wasn’t able to – but what if something she hadn’t accounted for happened? What if she lost control while she was out running errands one day? What if Alexander and Rose were with her? The very thought of it made Nysa’s stomach turn. Though she may have been sure to keep the darkest of her fears from reaching Emilia, she had never concealed her disgust and worry. If it were in her power to keep Doran from forcing the medication on her, she would have, but for now, all Nysa could do was emphasize to Emilia that she would never dream of doing such a thing to her.
Nysa knew that Emilia didn’t put much stock in today. She likely only remembered it because Doran had written it on the calendar and made the reservations at the restaurant. Nysa tried her hardest to forget, but every year as September drew to a close, her mind began to drift toward thoughts of wedding anniversaries. How could she not? That day had marked the time when she believed that Emilia – the one she had had during their first year of college – was lost to her. As much as she tried to keep her mind from dwelling, Nysa was aware that Emilia wasn’t happy. She and Doran fought more than any couple should and she couldn’t count all the times that Emilia had showed up on her doorstep with that very backpack. But Emilia had committed to this life (or lie, as Nysa thought of it in her darker moments) and Nysa would do what she must to uphold it. That meant making the other woman happy when and where she could. The corners of her mouth picked up slightly, giving away her answer before she spoke. Not only did she want to go because Emilia had asked her, but also because it would be more fun than going home. In her excitement for the change in her evening plans, Nysa didn’t keep her relief from her mind.
“Kavanagh sleepovers are some the best.” She made the statement more to keep her mind concentrated on the sleepovers the Kavanagh sisters would invite her to, as opposed to the private ones she and Emilia would share. Nibbling at the edge of her lip a bit, Nysa reached over to her bag and dug into the pit for her cellphone. Despite the fact that she was known for allowing time to get away from her (and for becoming deaf to her phone’s rings while she was working), it still bothered her that she did so, regardless of how little it bothered others. As she read over Desi’s text, she made mental note to thank her for the invitation later. “So where is the reservation? I have the feeling that I’ll be needing to change.” Nysa thought to add that she looked dowdy compared to Emilia, but then again, she would have believed as much regardless of what she had on.