Who: Elaine Mallory and Emma Summers Where: Chez Summers What: having drinks before a day out When: 8/3 before the bodyswap Warnings/Rating: PG Status complete
Elaine gave Emma a buzz that afternoon to see when she wanted to head out, leaving Cora to her own devices when it was time to head out. She would have been more anxious about leaving Cora alone if it weren’t for Mouse, the giant, furry, Tibetan babysitter--but knowing what she knew about Mouse, Cora was safer with the Foo dog than with most allegedly responsible, adult humans.
She didn’t know what exactly the plans were, but that was all right. Having a day that was flexible, and not planned out the wazoo was a good thing, now and then.
Emma was just hanging around the house, reading a book. She occasionally looked up to examine the bodyswapping device, smiling brightly at it each time she did. She felt so clever, she couldn’t wait to test it out. Elaine’s call was a welcome interruption, and she went to fix her hair while the other woman drove up.
Elaine parked out front, and jogged up to the door to knock. She she was dressed casually, but she’d freshened up her hair and makeup before leaving the house, and she was looking forward to a relaxed afternoon. Not that spending time with her daughter wouldn’t have been relaxed, but she had to start trusting the girl with responsibility somehow. Maybe Emma could help her work through the mother-of-teenager jitters.
Probably not, Emma was always using her telepathy to check on Nate, and he didn’t even count as a teenager anymore. She didn’t let Elaine get close enough to the house to knock before opening the door, smiling at the other woman. “Good to see you again. Would you like a drink before we head out?”
“Sure,” Elaine said, “That would be nice.” It was always warm in the car, especially when one was afraid to use the AC lest your wizard aura cause it to malfunction. “How’s your day so far?”
“Relaxing, more or less.” Emma noted, stepping aside so Elaine could come in. “I had Nate make some of that lavender syrup, but then I read online that lavender isn’t good for pregnant women so we also have raspberry, if you’d like to try that.” She led the way back to the kitchen. She couldn’t make this stuff but she could pour and mix it.
“Raspberry is good,” Elaine said, following Emma inside. “I suppose there is a bit of controversy over whether or not lavender is safe for use during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, because it can also be used to help correct an irregular menstrual cycle. There are quite a few essential oils that are contraindicated during pregnancy, actually.” She wasn’t pregnant yet, but she knew she’d have to cut back on what she could use, if and when she and Harry were able to conceive again.
“I’ve been reading up. Harry and I are talking about having another baby.”
“That’s wonderful.” Emma said with a smile. “Since Cora’s so much older she can be helpful.” Well, hopefully. She didn’t think sweet little Cora would be a jerk like her older sister. She poured the drinks and set one in front of Elaine. “I’m very anxious to meet our little girl. I don’t think I can wait until December.”
“Cora’s excited to have a new baby in the family,” Elaine said, smiling, “She hasn’t pestered, but I can tell she’s excited.” Probably more excited about weddings and babies than she was about high school, and driving. “You’ve had ultrasound pictures, I take it?”
“Yes, but she just looks like a little peanut to me.” Emma admitted with a laugh. “A friend of the family was able to confirm her gender for us.”
“Ah.” Elaine nodded. It helped to have people with powers who could sort of cheat. “So you’re not having telepathic conversations with your unborn baby yet, or anything like that.” She wondered if such a thing were possible, or the womb was like a magic circle to keep metaphysical intruders out. “I’m sure December will both drag its feet and creep up on you when you least expect it.”
“I think it’s posisble, but her mind isn’t developed enough.” She knew about Casandra Nova and Xavier’s telepathic fight in the womb, but it was a depressing topic of thought. “I’m sure you’re right.” She sipped her lemonade, then pressed her lips together. “How do you handle Harry running off to do dangerous things all the time?”
“I check the enchantment on his bulletproof duster every night, religiously,” Elaine said, grimacing. A tad obsessive, maybe, but she worried. He’d gotten himself shot once before his duster had showed up in his closet, and shot at more times than Elaine could count since then. “I try to laugh when he attempts ‘sexting’ me from the hospital, hopped up on painkillers.”
She sighed. “I don’t know. It’s not always easy, but he’s stubborn.”
“He’s honest with you when does these things?” Emma was suddenly quite preoccupied stirring her lemonade.
“Well, I don’t always hear about them until after the fact,” Elaine said, “But I know the kind of cases he tends to take are the ones that tend to get dangerous. He was honest with me about that up front.” He’d blubbered about it a little, saying he felt like he was disappointing her, back when he’d gotten shot the first time, but she blamed that on the painkillers. Harry couldn’t not help people, and they both knew that.
“Why? Is everything all right with you and Scott?”
“Yes.” And it was. For now. “I just suspect he’s done something stupid and dangerous and he won’t talk to me about it. I’m trying not to press the issue for now, but the more I think about it the angrier I get.”
Elaine opened her mouth, and then shut it again, exhaling softly. It sounded like the sort of thing that might be best if addressed sooner than later, but if Emma had already tried to talk to Scott about it and he’d refused, there wasn’t much else to be done. “I would be angry, too, if I thought Harry was hiding something. But I guess stupid and dangerous sort of comes with the territory, with our boys.”
“I suppose.” Emma noted, scrunching her nose up at the idea. “I’m just disappointed he’s not being open with me about it. I know he can take care of himself. There’s been so much drama recently, I’m ready for it be done.”
“So, tell him so,” Elaine said, shrugging her shoulders. There came a point when enough was enough. “Better to lay it bare than let it sit and fester, right? Unless it’s something he can’t tell you, for your own safety...” She let the words trail off, shaking her head. “I suppose it’s too much to ask that he’s just planning some romantic surprise?”
“It seems unlikely. I know what he’s like after a fight, I don’t think making dinner reservations would affect him the same way.” She finished her lemonade and shook her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to make this all about my irritation with Scott. Things will work out, I’m certain. We can only dance around a subject for so long. "
Elaine nodded. Harry was a very different kind of jittery when he was planning date night than when he was working a tough case. "It's all right," she said, "today is our chance to vent about things we can't vent about in front of spouses and children. I don't mind."
Emma smiled. “Thank you. I appreciate that. Would you like to cool down a little longer, or are you ready to go?”
“I’m ready when you are,” Elaine said, handing in her empty glass. “Is there any place in particular that you wanted to go, any errands you need to run while we’re out and about?”
“Not really. I would like to get yogurt at some point during this excursion. I’ve been craving it recently. I’m not sure if that’s the baby’s doing or my own love of frozen yogurt.” But she was definitely going to blame the baby.
“Mm, that actually sounds really good,” Elaine said, “Do we want real food first, or should we just skip straight to dessert?”
“Oh, we should probably be responsible and have real food first.” Emma noted. “But yogurt is healthy, and thus should count as real food.”