Chapter 52 Twenty-One #4
“Well, don’t put it like that to him,” Emma said.
“Or I won’t get any more sugar packets.” She laughed.
“I’m kidding. Most guys we know with dominant personalities like Shay wouldn’t think to get sugar for their subs.
But the guys we know are very protective of the women in their lives.
They do consider it their responsibility to take care of them.
And if you challenged Shay on the sugar, he’d probably come back with ‘I’d know what kind of cat food my kitten likes, too.
The care and feeding of a pet is the owner’s responsibility. ’”
“Oh God,” Kathy said, laughing. “You started off so well, but that last part…” She shook her head. “Awful.”
Emma grinned. “I know it sounds terrible, but it really does work for us. Shay has such a phenomenal memory and such a capacity for anticipating what he’ll need or what I’ll need.
I guess maybe he learned that from you. Or inherited that forethought.
Anyway, it’s second nature to him. He notices I’m putting regular sugar in my coffee, surmises I’ve run out of the kind I like better, sees packets of it at Starbucks, and grabs some.
He wouldn’t see that as going out of his way.
His brain works too fast and too well for him to consider that effort.
So despite the fact that I’m supposed to be catering to him, he is also in actuality catering to me as well. ”
“You seem very happy together. I was glad to see him give you credit for your brilliant marketing ideas for MindSnap.”
“He was proud of me for that,” Emma said, flushing with pride. “It was quite a rush for me. I’m a strong student, but I hadn’t seen a real world application of my skills before that. When Shay showed me the site traffic and attributed it to my idea, it was really exciting.”
“And something of a feather in his cap, too.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. For a rich and handsome man to get a waitress or a stripper to treat him like a king is no particular coup, is it? Though even the majority of those women would draw the line at some things he’d want them to do.
But my point was that a lovely Ivy League coed wouldn’t respect most men enough to fall to her knees before them.
So Shay likely gives himself credit for having found you and convinced you to play that role for him. As well he should.”
“Thank you. That’s very nice of you to say.”
Kathy nodded. “One more compliment and then I’ll be finished.
For eight years there’s been a very big rift between Shay and me.
He doesn’t visit except on holidays and those visits are short.
I’ve never hugged him since we found out about his lifestyle.
Even at moments when I’ve been moved by some memory and reminded how much I love him, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I felt like that would be giving my approval to his choices and would be a betrayal of my convictions.
” Kathy sighed. “It’s been a cold war between us.
It really has. And all the guys have suffered the fallout.
But after that rough first night, these past few days have been the best we’ve had together in almost a decade.
You were the key, Emma. You were absolutely instrumental in giving me back my son. ”
Tears spilled over Emma’s lashes. “I’m so glad.”
“So am I.” A tear slid down Kathy’s cheek.
“We’d like to see more of you. Tim and I understand your school schedule is busy.
We’d never want to interfere with that. It’s important to me that you finish your education.
You have a bright future ahead of you, and you should absolutely maintain your independence in that part of your life.
If you ever decide to change your lifestyle I don’t want financial considerations to keep you from—”
“Leaving your son?” Emma said, laughing.
“Well… Listen to me go on and on. I’m not your mother.
Yet,” Kathy said with a smile. “Anyway, what I began to say was that Tim and I hope you and Shay will consider spending some vacation time in the Hamptons. Shay always loved it here in the summer. He’d probably have bought property here already if things hadn’t been so strained between us.
We’d like you guys to come for a week or two.
Or whatever time you can spare this summer.
Here,” she said, holding out a card. “My contact information. You can call anytime.”
Emma took the card and hugged her. “Don’t tell anyone I said so because it’ll sound terrible and reflect badly on me for admitting it, but you’re such a better mom than mine. Don’t be surprised if I decide to call you that after we’re married.”
Kathy hugged her back. “That would be—I approve.”
Emma laughed through tears.
“What’s happening here?” Shay asked, setting the suitcases at the bottom of the stairs.
“We’re bonding,” Emma said, wiping her face.
Kathy’s arm rested around Emma’s shoulders. “Yes, and I told Emma that if you ever mistreat her, she has a place to stay.”
Emma sucked in a horrified breath, knowing that Doms never liked being challenged for control of their subs, but when she looked at Shay he was smiling. So was his mother.
“Come here, Emma,” Shay said, voice cool and masterful.
“Right,” Emma said, hurrying to him.
“So, Mom,” Shay said, letting his hand slide down Emma’s back to rest possessively on her ass. “You were saying?”
Kathy rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “She’s very young yet.”
Shay kissed the top of Emma’s head. “Go look through the room, Em, to be sure we packed everything. We need to leave soon if we want to eat lunch before the flight.”
Emma went upstairs and checked the guest bathroom and Shay’s bedroom, not finding left items. When she came back down the whole family was assembled at the door. The suitcases were gone, already placed in the trunk.
Emma joined everyone, and they all hugged and kissed her and shook Shay’s hand. And then just before they walked out, Kathy touched Shay’s arm to get his attention. He turned and she hugged him. He hugged her back.
“It was really good to see you, Shay. Travel safely and take care of Emma.”
“I will,” Shay said. “Merry Christmas, Mom.”
“So putting her in that video game, dude, not a bone-headed move after all,” Jared said, making them laugh. “Mom, if I dedicate my next Comp 101 paper to you, can I have money for Yankees Season tickets?”
Kathy clucked her tongue and shook her head at Jared.
“What? It’s for my career. I want to be a sports writer.”
“Goodbye, Emma,” Kathy said. “Come back soon. As you can see, I’m quite outnumbered.”
“I’ll try,” Emma said, blowing a kiss over her shoulder as they were leaving.