Chapter 30 #2
Vanessa snorted, the threat of tears now turning into a manageable lump that she swallowed down repeatedly. “You’re correct on both counts.”
They fell into an easy teacher tidy-up ritual, as Dani stacked chairs without being asked and Vanessa switched off the projector, both of them checking the windows twice even though they knew they were shut.
The ordinary-ness of it steadied Vanessa and reminded her that life hadn’t transformed into something unrecognisable. No, it had just widened.
“So, I’m assuming it’s going well with Jessie?” Vanessa said as she glanced over her shoulder.
“I think I’m in love, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Vanessa stopped what she was doing and turned around.
Dani Baldwin, the woman who was a serial dater, had fallen in love.
That was just what she needed to hear this evening to remind her that life, even though it felt different at the moment, was just perfect around them. “I’m very happy to hear that.”
“Only because you hate inviting me out on my own. But I’ve told you many times now that I don’t mind being the third wheel.”
“Mm.” Vanessa narrowed her eyes as she watched Dani across the room.
She was forever winding Emma up about the past once she’d had a few drinks, and that was precisely why she didn’t invite Dani out when it was just the two of them.
“I believe I stopped inviting you out because once you’ve got a glass of wine in you, you try to rile my wife up to the point that you’re taking your life into your own hands. ”
“If you’re talking about last time, she thought it was funny!”
“Oh, I beg to differ. She didn’t find it funny as we were getting into bed and she asked me if I’d actually consider having a threesome with you!”
Dani winked as she lifted a shoulder. “All I’m saying is that there are worse people you could invite into your marriage.”
“Let’s go before you get me into trouble.” Vanessa flipped the light switch and left her classroom. “But thank you for taking my mind off everything going on at the minute.”
They walked towards the back exit together, heels clicking in unison and echoing around the empty corridor. As they reached the doors, Dani stopped Vanessa with a hand on the arm. “How is Emma doing, really?”
Vanessa let out a breath. “Hopeful. Terrified. She cried last night reading Freya’s email for the millionth time and then laughed at something about pigeons mating on the TV five minutes later. She’s herself again, but for a little while, it wasn’t great.”
“Then I think she’s going to be absolutely fine on Friday.”
“I know. I just hope I am, too.”
They paused at the junction where their paths split. Dani always parked towards the back of the building, while Vanessa preferred the front entrance.
“Text me if you need anything, okay?”
“I will.” Vanessa squeezed Dani’s hand. “And thank you for not making me feel like my life has turned into a soap opera.”
“You wish.” Dani snorted. “You haven’t slapped anyone in the street, arguing over a parking space. That’s the moment when it becomes a soap opera.”
They hugged one another before parting ways. Vanessa felt lighter having spoken with Dani, and now she was ready to get home, where Emma, Lauren, and Daisy would be waiting for her. She took her phone from the side of her bag and smiled at the name waiting on the screen.
Got the Coke Zero and the apple juice. Debating crisp flavours now. Save me from myself!
Vanessa typed as she walked.
Cheese and onion, and ready salted. Always a winner. Maybe throw in some prawn cocktail to be chaotic. Also, I hope you don’t mind but I told Dani. She’s very happy for you and promises not to say anything.
Three dots appeared, then came Emma’s reply.
Tell Dani we promise to resurface and enjoy our social life again soon! See you when you get home. I love you.
Vanessa smiled against the wind as she slipped her phone away. She could see it now. The front door, the lights on, the smell of home and something delicious in the oven. She could see Friday, too. Freya’s trainers on their hallway rug beside Emma’s, and the energy around the house.
Things were moving in the right direction, so she was allowed to be excited, but Vanessa knew she was also allowed to be scared. So long as she got it right, it didn’t matter which emotion won on the evening of it all.
She pulled her coat tighter and quickened her step. There were snacks to buy, a blanket to wash, and a corner of the sofa to set aside for a girl who’d decided she wanted to belong.
And in between all of that, there was Emma—her wife, her universe—waiting at home, ready to plan the most ordinary, extraordinary dinner they’d ever had.
The house was quiet in that soft, late afternoon way Emma had come to love since she and Vanessa had gotten together.
Daisy was curled up on the couch under a knitted blanket, her toy rabbit tucked beneath her chin, fast asleep after nursery.
Lauren had said she’d been unusually clingy on the way home—her head heavy against Emma’s shoulder the moment Lauren had handed her over—and by the time they’d made it into the living room and sat down in front of the TV, Daisy hadn’t even touched the snack Emma had put in front of her.
Now her cheeks were flushed pink, and her lips parted in little whistling breaths, too worn out to fight the drowsiness as she slept on the couch in the open-plan kitchen/diner.
Lauren had arrived half an hour ago with her daughter, bag dropped by the door, her laptop now open on the dining table.
She was meant to be working on a presentation for work, but Emma had caught her staring into space more than once, sipping at her tea and chewing her lip as if the words on the screen refused to appear.
Emma had taken the seat opposite, her own mug untouched in front of her, those familiar nerves beginning to buzz under her skin.
She wanted to tell Lauren the news and progress they’d made with Freya, but the words seemed stuck.
Perhaps it was Emma’s knowledge of Lauren and her lack of optimism with most things in life…
or maybe she just didn’t want to speak it out loud in case someone found a reason to steal the hope away from her.
The front door opened, and Vanessa stepped inside, her scarf pulled loose and her hair slightly frizzy from the damp air. She shrugged off her coat with a weary sigh and froze when she spotted Daisy on the couch. “Why is she asleep already?”
Lauren glanced up from her laptop, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“She was knackered when we got here. They said she didn’t eat anything during nursery, and Emma tried when we arrived, but she wasn’t interested in it.
I think she’s coming down with something.
Probably caught a bug off one of the kids. ”
Emma opened her mouth to respond, but Vanessa was already at Daisy’s side. She scooped her up gently, settling into the armchair with Daisy cradled against her chest, the blanket pulled tight around her. Daisy stirred but didn’t wake, her head nestling into the crook of Vanessa’s neck.
Emma melted at the sight of Vanessa’s arms wrapped protectively around her granddaughter, one hand stroking through her curls as though that simple act had the potential to heal whatever had tired her out.
But that was the thing about Vanessa. She didn’t just look after those she loved; she absorbed.
Every ache, every shiver, every sigh…it all became hers until the world felt safe again.
Vanessa laid a gentle hand against Daisy’s cheek, then on her forehead.
“She’s too warm.” She carefully unwrapped Daisy from the blanket, and draped it over her own knees.
“I’ll keep an eye on her temp.” Vanessa kissed the top of Daisy’s head, then nodded towards Emma and Lauren. “Don’t mind me. You two carry on.”
“Actually…” Emma said as she cleared her throat. “I was just about to update Lauren on the whole Freya situation.”
Lauren’s head snapped around in Emma’s direction. “There’s an update?”
“Quite the update, kid. She’s coming here on Friday for dinner.” Emma couldn’t help the grin that spread wide on her mouth. “And I know I’ve been quiet recently; I should have kept you in the loop, but it’s been a lot to deal with.”
Lauren held up a hand. “You don’t owe me an explanation. So long as things are moving in your favour, that’s all I care about.”
“They…are. Right, babe?” Emma cast her gaze to where Vanessa sat huddled under the kitchen window, soothing Daisy.
Vanessa’s smile mirrored Emma’s as she nodded. “Things are really moving along.”
Lauren sat back, her eyes wide as she drew in a breath. “I can’t believe she’s coming here. Have her adoptive parents given it all the okay? I mean, obviously they have, but still…”
“She’s under a Special Guardianship Order. That’s different from fostering and adoption. It means she’s still entitled to family ties.” Emma ran a hand down her thigh. “So, Friday night. Just the three of us. I can’t wait.”
“This is the best news we’ve all had in a long time, Em.”
“I know.” Emma twisted her mug between her hands, the nerves and excitement warring with one another in her chest. “I’m just happy she’s giving me a chance.
After what she’s been told growing up, I’m surprised she’s given me the time of day, but…
she wants a relationship with me. And her guardians think it’s the right step, too. ”
Lauren tilted her head, her expression softening. “She must really trust you already. But obviously, she should. We all know how amazing you are.”
Emma’s throat constricted at that. “I don’t know if it’s trust yet. Maybe it’s just…hope. I don’t know. She’s had so little of it that even a scrap feels worth grabbing.” She exhaled slowly. “But yeah. It’s something. It’s…everything.”
Vanessa’s hand stilled on Daisy’s back, her eyes catching Emma’s from across the room. There was that same steady calm Emma had leaned on for weeks now. The one that said she wasn’t alone in this, no matter how heavy it got.
Lauren smiled. “I think it’s amazing. Scary, yeah, but amazing. I can’t imagine what it must feel like for her. Or for you.”
“Terrifying.” Emma laughed. “Like I’m going to mess it up if I breathe wrong.”
“You won’t,” Vanessa said quietly, her voice carrying enough weight to make Emma believe it. “I have every faith in you.”
The three of them sat in comfortable silence for a moment and took stock of the changes in their lives, the only sound Daisy’s faint snuffling and the occasional spatter of rain against the window.
Then Vanessa cleared her throat. “Oh, before I forget. Dani cornered me after work today.”
Emma lifted a brow. “That sounds ominous.”
“She wants to know if we’re free this weekend. Double date. Drinks and dinner. I told her we’d have to pass again, given everything we have going on, but she asked me to check with you before I gave her a firm no.”
Emma leaned back in her chair and considered the offer.
A week ago, she would have given an outright no, but now, seeing Daisy safe in Vanessa’s arms, Lauren smiling across the table, and the promise of Friday shimmering just out of reach, she felt steadier and more capable of actually enjoying a night of socialising.
“Tell her yes. We’re in.”
Vanessa grinned. “Really?”
Emma nodded. “Saturday night. It’s a plan. I don’t want this whole thing to swallow us up to the point we forget who we are outside of it. I think it’ll do us good. Something normal, you know?”
“Normal sounds good.” Vanessa kicked her feet up onto the footrest and sighed. “So, Saturday night it is then.”