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For the first time in a long time, J.J was able to pick up Henry at his baseball practice. It had been a slow day at work, and she took a chance and decided to eclipse herself from the office for an hour or so. However, when Henry ran toward her, she immediately regretted her decision to drive straight from work. The young boy was covered in mud and dust and jumped in her arms without thinking twice. For sure, she could say goodbye to her white blouse.
“Hey, kiddo, how was practice?”
“I hit two home runs, and the coach wants me to play with the team next week.”
“Wait? But next week, it’s the under 12’s team. You…”
“I know, mum. I’m 9, and he wants me to play with the big guys. I’m a little cheetah! Roarrrrr!” Henry added, roaring like a lion.
“Easy tiger, we need to see with your dad. He was picking you and your brother up this weekend.” J.J said, helping her son with his sport bag.
“Mmkay. Mum, can we go get ice cream?”
J.J froze in front of her car. Henry wasn’t the kind of kid to ask for anything. It was so unusual that asking to get ice cream was a code to say, “Mum, I need to talk without Michael or dad around.” It was their moment to talk about important matters. The young mother was worried, but she couldn’t say no to her son’s request.
She put everything into the trunk of her car, and she drove toward Henry’s favourite place to eat ice cream, The Frozen Island. Emily was the one who made them discover this place a couple of years ago, and since then, Henry had brought his two uncles and his favourite aunts, Aunty Penny.
“So, which flavour today, Mr Henry?” The ice-cream waiter asked with his solid eastern accent.
“Caramel and vanilla.”
“And you Miss. Jennifer?”
“I’ll just have a chocolate milkshake, thank you,” J.J said politely. She refocused her attention on her son when the waiter left. “So, what is happening in your little head of yours?”
“Nothing much. I just wanted to have ice cream with my mum. Uncle Reid says it’s important to keep healthy relations with our parents. Do something special with them, sometimes.”
“Are you sure you are just 9,” J.J said, laughing. “I’m happy to have this moment with you. So how was school today?”
“Good. There is a new girl in my class. She is really cool, but people are mean to her. So, I did like Uncle Derek said, be kind, be cool and make new friends.”
“So, you are friends with her now?”
“Yes. Her name is Loup, she comes from Canada. Did you know that her name means “Wolf” in French? She has one big brother who plays ice hockey in Canada, and she has three cats and five horses. Can you believe it, mum, five horses!”
“Wow, five? So many? Does she live in a ranch or something?”
“She is living with her two dads who raise horses. So, she is kind of lucky. She has two dads and one mum. And they all celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas together.”
“It looks like she could be a great friend.”
“She is. Mum, can I ask you a question?” Henry said suddenly, playing with his ice cream cup.
“Of course, you can. What is it, baby?”
“You see, Loup has two dads because her father loves another man like dad loves Helen. Is Emily like this for you?”
“What… Ehhh… What do you mean?”
“Emily makes you smile like dad was in the pictures. She is always the one you call when you are sad. Or when you’re coming home from a case. And yet, she never was aunty Emily; she was always just Emily. We saw her a lot, and I love playing games with her, but why she never was aunty Emily when we love her like we love Aunty Penny and Uncle Derek and Reid.”
“I don’t know. I… never thought of the fact she wasn’t Aunty Emily. You’ve always called her Emimly when you were a kid, and then Emily came naturally.”
“I really like Emily. She is cool, and when she reads stories, I love when she does the voices. Plus, she always makes the best pizza ever. Please don’t say anything to Dave.”
“I won’t. I kind of agree with you but chhhht!” J.J laughed with her son. “But why are you asking me all of this?”
“Because before Loup, I never knew someone with two mums or two dads. I never thought it was possible. So, when you and dad broke up, I never understood why he could have a lover and not you. You…”
“I have everything I need. I have you guys.”
“Mum… I never knew it was possible to have two dads or two mums, but I’m not blind. I may be nine, but I can see how Emily smile when you are here. Uncle Derek calls her Grumpy Emily, and I never saw her grumpy when you are with her. I know that her hugs are magical. When she comes to see us, Michael never has nightmares, and you fell asleep before us on the couch.” Henry said, eating his ice cream with a happy smile. “Plus, I know that Emily likes blondes like you. I saw her kissed one, one day when she was joining us at the park for your team playdate.”
“What are you trying to tell me here?” J.J asked, afraid to hear the answer that her heart had been screaming for years.
“That I wouldn’t mind seeing Emily more often, especially if she teaches us how to do her pizza. That you deserve to be happy like dad. So, you wouldn’t have to come home alone to us. I mean, I know you love us but let’s be honest, we don’t want to know about your work. Plus, you always said that lying was bad and we shouldn’t lie to people, especially the one we love.”
“I… Wow… And you are only nine. I also told you that we don’t profile people that we love.”
“It’s not profiling when it’s written all over your face, Uncle Derek always says that.”
“I really need to talk to your uncles and fast.”
“But first, you should talk to Emily. I bet you five ice creams that she loves you.”
J.J rolled her eyes. Her son was an incredible mix between the sassiness of his Aunty Penny, the cleverness of his uncle Reid and the protectiveness of his uncle Derek. She was lucky that he looked like her and Will because she was starting to doubt that he was her son.
After she paid for the ice cream and milkshake, they returned to the car. Henry, sitting in the back, seemed to be focused on something. J.J put the music on and concentrated on the road. Even if she were careful and focused on her task, she couldn’t help thinking of her son’s words. She never allowed herself to see Emily, other than just a friend. Not only because she was a woman but because of their job and her children. Since her divorce from Will, she always thought about her children’s happiness first. But Henry was right; Emily had this superpower to calm her and make her feel safe with her presence. She had this power to make her smile and bring back happiness in her heart whenever the darkness engulfed her life. And more than once, the brunette had risked her life to protect hers.
J.J was smiling every time she was thinking of her best friend. Emily was more than just a great profiler and linguist; she was a fantastic friend and guardian angel for her chosen family.
“And what about Memily? Or Mamily?” Henry said out of the blue.
“What did you say?” J.J asked while parking in front of her house.
“For Emily? She is the only one to not have a nickname. Mamily is a good idea. I’m sure Michael will agree with me.”
“Mamily?” J.J continued, getting her son’s belongings from the trunk.
“Yes, mama and Emily. Ok, it might be too soon. Can I go and play with Carla and Michael? I did all my homework and I…”
“Go, but no fight with your brother, clear? I’ll go check something at work, and I’ll be back for dinner, ok?”
“Yeah, mum. Say hello to Emily for me.” Henry said, kissing his mum on the cheek before entering their neighbours’ garden.
J.J smiled and dropped her son’s bag in the hallway before closing the door again and leaving for her mission. Henry was right; it was time for her to take a chance and dive into the unknown ocean of her feelings. She knew that Emily would be back at home from her sports session with Derek at that time of the day. J.J parked a few feet from Emily’s building and decided to take the stairs, unable to wait for the elevator. She took a deep breath and knocked on Emily’s door.
“I’ll get it.” J.J could hear coming from the inside of the apartment. “Hey.”
“Who is it?” Emily said from the inside of the apartment.
“Hot blond girl with dashing blue eyes, probably that sexy work friend of yours. What is her name again? A.J, T.J no wait… J.J.” A tall and athletic brunette said, smiling at J.J, proud of her little introduction.
“Lena! Get out of that door! Essay, pizza in your room!” Emily said, pushing the young woman away from the door before getting out in the corridor with J.J. “I’m so sorry, my goddaughter Lena came tonight so I could help her with one of her essays for her linguistic class. Is everything ok?”
“I needed to talk to you about something, but it can wait tomorrow. You seem busy.”
“No, way. You’ve driven all the way down here. I’m listening. Are the kids ok? Is it Will?” Emily asked, pushing her friend softly away from the door.
“No, in fact, it’s about me. I… I had this discussion with Henry, and he might be right. Will is happy with Helen. Reid has his girlfriend. Derek, his fiancée. Even Pen is happy with Kevin, and I think it’s time for me to take my chance and be happy again.”
“So, you want me to help you go back on the horse?”
“No, I mean, in a way, yes.”
“You are losing me here,” Emily said calmly, taking J.J’s hands in hers. “J.J, you know you can tell me anything. I’m here for you.”
“I’ll probably pour my heart out in a second, so please don’t interrupt me, ok? Or I might lose all my courage.”
“I’m quiet. I’m listening.”
“Ok. As we finished earlier today, I surprised Henry at his baseball practice. We went for ice cream because he wanted to talk. At first, it was fine because he said he wanted to spend some time with me because his Uncle Reid told him it was important for his happiness or something like that. I was happy that my little man wanted to spend some time with me. But then, he talked to me about his new friend from school. And how the little girl has two dads. He found it could and literally asked me if the love I had with one of my friends, a friend who is a girl, was the same. I was surprised because I never ever talked about anything like this with him. But he said that she was the only one to not have a personal nickname, yet she was always around us. He even said that she was making me smile like I used to on the pictures with his dad and that she has superpowers. He said many true things, and then I realised he might be right. That I might be in love with this friend for so long. I was simply scared of the world or my own self to say anything. Did I say that he said that she was pretty and already had found a nickname for her if I could find the courage to talk to her?” J.J blurted out without taking a real breath.
“You should tell your friend. She would be terribly lucky to have someone like you in her life.” Emily said with sadness in her voice.
“That’s why I dropped Henry at my neighbour’s house and drove here. I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to tell her. Wow. I just did it.” J.J added, crossing her arms around her chest. “I just did it.”
“Are you saying that you love me?”
“No, I’m saying that I’m in love with you and that I’m not afraid anymore to be in love with you. I’m just completely terrified to lose you right now. So, please, say something.”
“I owe Derek five bucks,” Emily whispered before resting her forehead against J.J’s. “I’ve dreamt that moment for so long. Can I kiss you, now?”
J.J didn’t even answer and just kissed Emily. It was shy and soft at first, but her feelings and emotions exploded in her mind and veins when her friend kissed her back. She had dreamt of kissing the brunette so many times, but it was nothing compared to that exact moment. She let her hands and body take control and appreciate every second of this dream.
“I love you, my love,” Emily whispered against J.J’s ear.
“I love you, Memily…” J.J answered, hugging her new lover as if there were no tomorrow.
“Memily?”
“Henry’s ideas. There is also Mamily. Between Mama and Emily. You are already adopted.”
“Wow, no pressure at all. And I didn’t even have the chance to invite you on a first date.” Emily said, playing with the blonde’s hair. “What about Saturday?”
“Henry will probably play up-classed with the under 12.”
“Wow, we can’t miss that. I mean, if I can come?” Emily said with pride in her eyes.
“He would be thrilled to have all his family. But Will had to say “yes”. It’s supposed to be his weekend.”
Emily hugged J.J with love and relief. If J.J had kept it locked down in her heart for a few years, it was a long story for Emily, who had to fight and suffer in silence for years, hoping for her friend to acknowledge her in the crowd. They stayed silent for a few minutes in the corridor before Emily invited J.J inside just for a drink to celebrate the new step in their relationship.
“So… Hot blond girl with dashing blue eyes from work?”
“You forgot sexy… I’m so going to kill her when you leave.”
“I’ll bring you books and chocolate when you’ll be behind bars,” J.J whispered, kissing her lover on the cheek.
It was the beginning of a new adventure full of love and happiness. It was time for the two women to put their happiness before the others. It was time for them to listen to their heart and enjoy the beautiful gift life was offering them.
Emily promised herself to thank Henry every day for his help. And she also made sure to always cherish and protect them with all her heart and soul because her life would be dull and insipid without the Jareau-LaMontagne clan in it.
Cherish the gifts that life offers you.