Memories Forever

Chapter 7 - Old and New Flames

Jason played with baby Karen's hand a while as he smiled and contemplated many things. ‘She is beautiful…looks like you Emma’ he said.

‘Yeah she does. That is why she is my sweet darling’ Emma replied proudly, while setting out the plated meals for everyone to eat.

‘She is sweet indeed, Archer would have a playmate when we are all together in the family hangout.’ Jason said

‘Archer?’ Martin asked with a quirked eyebrow

‘Yeah, that’s my son's name’ Jason explained

‘Oh okay…. Cool.’ Emma and Martin replied in unison

They settled in to eat their dinner, making light conversation and trying to catch up on the last ten years. The trio reminisced on their campus life and life in general and then after dinner, they moved to the den to watch TV and chat some more

Karen was playing with her kiddie’s game tab as the grown-ups chatted, until she slept off and Claire carried her up to her room

‘That is a beautiful missy you’ve got there, take good care of her’ Jason remarked

‘Oh we will, she is a God-sent to us and we will cherish her forever, giving her the best we can’ Martin said firmly

‘Yeah we will’ Emma replied, going up after Claire to tuck Karen in bed, then returned downstairs

By 1 am the guys were still up talking and Emma was tired and sleepy, she bade them goodnight and went up to the bedroom to sleep.

She checked on Karen first and saw her sleeping sweetly before heading up to her room to take her much needed rest

Meanwhile, downstairs the guys were also wrapping it up for the night. It had been an interesting length of hours reminiscing on their past and planning the next steps on how to network their present day aspirations

‘So… guy we should call it a night’ Martin said, eager to go meet Emma before she fell asleep. It had been a busy week and they had not had any quiet moments to themselves, this night was meant to tidy that up but then Jason happened. 

‘Yeah we will talk more in the morning. I have to head out very early but will keep in touch from now on’ Jason said

‘Oh okay. It is really nice reconnecting with you, don’t be a stranger’ Martin replied

‘Yeah’ Jason said as they hugged and went up to their rooms to sleep

Martin entered his room and met Emma just coming out of the bathroom. Great he thought.

‘Guys done talking already?’ She smirked ‘I thought you guys would continue till dawn.’

‘Nah, he had to turn in, he is leaving before 8 am in the morning’. Martin said, chuckling and coming towards her

‘Okay…so we also have to be up early to make breakfast for him and what not?’ Emma asked

‘Yeah’ Martin replied hugging her and slowly leading her back into the bathroom

‘What is it? I have had my own bath’ Emma protested, laughing

‘I want to take a bath too you know’ Martin said with a knowing look at her

‘So?’ Emma replied, acting as though she was oblivious to his non-verbal communications

‘Well…’ Martin replied with half a smirk, already starting to remove his clothes

‘Ah.. you want company?’ Emma teased

Martin kissed her softly. ‘Mmhmm yes, your company baby’ Martin said in between kisses. Emma giggled as he carried her into the bath and they had their shower together. A long and eventful shower

The next day, Emma was in the kitchen before 7 am, rustling up a quick meal for Jason. She had barely slept for five hours before having to wake up to get breakfast ready. She didn’t want to wake up the house staff so early so decided to do the cooking herself.

She smiled, Martin was still cocooned in bed and will come downstairs as soon as he notices she isn’t in bed.

As she hummed a song to herself and prepared the meal, she heard footsteps approaching the kitchen and a sleepy-eyed Jason called out ‘Emma that you?’ dropping his bag at the door and coming into the kitchen.

‘Yes Jase’. Emma responded setting out a plate for him on the kitchen island

‘Thanks babe’ Jason said, kissing her cheek ‘Good morning….sorry to wake you up so early for this’

‘Nonsense, it is no problem at all’ Emma said, serving his meal

‘Hmm always the perfect hostess. Thanks again sweetie’ Jason said, sitting down to eat the bowl of cereal and omelette she had prepared

‘This is lovely. I see you haven’t lost your touch’ Jason said as he ate

‘Never. Still the best chef there is’ Emma said in an uppity voice, laughing

‘mmm…’ Jason mumbled with a mouthful of food, clearly enjoying the meal

Looking at Jason, Emma could tell he had lived a rough life and he didn’t look like he had found any respite. ‘How are you really doing Jase? Are you good?’ she asked, leaning over the counter to look at him

Jason looked up from his plate, swallowed and took a long drink of water. ‘Things are getting better for me now. Wasn’t always peachy, but I can’t complain right?’ He replied with a hint of sadness or bitterness, Emma couldn’t tell.

‘Your son and ….what is her name?’ Emma asked

‘Regina...Gina’ Jason answered

‘Okay…how are they doing?’ Emma asked

‘Well Gina isn’t an Emma that’s for sure’. Jason smirked in reply ‘No one can be quite like you babe’

‘Jase...’ Emma began but Jason cut in-

‘-No it is cool, I am not still hung up on you babe, just making an observation’ Jason said hurriedly, but with a longing in his eyes

Mouthing an ‘okay’ Emma turned her back to him, getting busy and washing up the crockery used.

‘Thanks for the meal babe’ Jason said, bringing his plate over to the sink to add to the pile she was washing.

He lingered close to her for a moment and Emma turned round to face him… ‘Jase?’ she asked slowly, uncomfortable with his closeness

‘Yeah…’ Jason put his arms around her waist and brought her closer to him. ‘And how about you Emma...How are you doing?’ His face inches away from hers…

Emma shook her head at him and lifted her hands to push him slightly away. ‘I am a married woman Jase… be careful…you don’t want Martin to come downstairs to see you like this do you?’

Jason tightened his hold on her. ‘I should never have broken up with you’ he said kissing her neck.

‘We were not meant to be Jason’ Emma said, pulling away from him and going to sit on the chair. She was used to Jason and his ways. He would always regret their break up when his current love life wasn’t going too well but nothing can be done now, she loved Martin and was comfortable with her life with him.

‘Jason, you have Gina now’ Emma chided, she felt Jason just had to find his own path and stop making excuses for not loving the woman in his house, the mother of his kid.

‘Yeah but I don’t think I love her. I love my kid though, I think’ Jason blurted out, his face contorted with confusion. The man was clearly frustrated but she could do nothing but give him some advice.

‘Jason, love is not merely a feeling. It is a deliberate action towards another. We choose to love the one we are married to. You do not have to wait to feel a certain way. Love is responsibility and right now you are responsible for the kid and his mother because the kid needs his mother’ Emma counselled

‘Yeah yeah, don’t go all churchy on me now babe’. Jason replied with an eye roll and sitting back down 

‘Who said church... Jason?’ Martin said walking into the kitchen

Emma glanced at Jason and gave him a stern look, glad that she had pulled away from his body ambush way before her husband came downstairs

‘Yeah, me’ Jason chuckled. ‘Hey man, thanks for the hospitality and it was great to reconnect with you both again’. He hugged them both and picked up his bag to leave

‘Gerald is waiting for you out front and he will drive you to your house’ Martin told Jason

‘Oh great, thanks man. Can’t wait to get home to release some hormonal tension’. Jason said, giving Emma a teasing smile over Martin’s shoulder.

Emma rolled her eyes. ‘Goodbye Jase, hugs to Archer and our love to Gina’

The two men walked out of the house, Martin wanting to see him off to the car.

Emma went back upstairs and headed straight to their bedroom to continue her much needed sleep. She offered a prayer for Jason Hopefully he will get his act together and love his family as he should.

Emma felt little hands and feet wrap round her body as she was about sleeping off, she turned and saw Karen had climbed the bed and snuggled into her.

‘Hey baby’ Emma cooed. Karen yawned and closed her eyes, still sleepy. Emma smiled and hugged her close, placing a kiss on her head

Martin came in a few moments later and mouthed to her that Jason had gone, she nodded and they both nestled around Karen, all three of them nodding off to sleep.

-----Present Day ------

Emma smiled, content at the life that they had given their daughter so far. Martin and Emma gave Karen the best of everything growing up and she was turning out to be a strong opinionated little girl with a good head on her shoulders. The praise of her kindergarten and high school teachers through the years

Emma could only wish and pray that her baby would find the right path in life starting from now as she turns 16. She began thinking of the kind of celebration to host as she went to check on dinner while she waited for the girls to come downstairs to discuss their own version of the birthday plans

Emma knew her ears would be full with their stories and requests to throw a lavish party like their neighbors the Grahams did for their twins, she laughed quietly. She was sure Martin would have a fit, he didn't want their baby growing up so fast, but who were they kidding, she is growing up ...fast, will start dating too Martin, so watch out...