by Bloodthirstybutcher » Thu Dec 03, 2020 10:26 pm
Part 26-"A Little Bit Naughty, A Little Bit Wholesome"
You've got heaven
Heaven in your hand
You've got heaven
Running through your land
-Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians
Emma and I made love again the following morning. She was more confident this time. The things she did to me... well, I'll just say, if you ever have a chance to make love to a human skyscraper, I fully recommend it. Nothing can compare. I can only hope I was as generous to her.
Emma finally dragged herself out of bed. She went into the bathroom for a minute or so and returned. She held her hands out for me and carried me into the restroom with her. She had a bubbly bath ready for me in the sink.
"I wish this place had a bath tub instead of just a small shower so we could bathe together," Emma said.
I couldn't agree more, though it would be like swimming in a lake for me. She tilted her hand into the sink and I slid into the warm, soapy water. I cleaned myself while I watched Emma's silhouette behind the curtain, like I've done so many times before. Even the familiar felt so much more... special that morning.
Emma stepped out of the shower. Her body glistened as rivers flowed down the front of her. Her green, wet hair like the canopy of a rainforest. Her...
"Enjoying the show, perv?" She cracked what seemed to have become her favorite inside joke, interrupting my train of thought.
I just smiled and nodded. It was strange... even though I could talk to her now, I was so used to having to pantomime things. I still caught myself doing it from time to time.
She toweled herself off and then wrapped herself up. She lifted me out of the sink and set me down on the counter. She began to towel me off and... I felt myself getting randy again. I grabbed her pinky finger with both hands and mounted it. I slowly began rubbing against it, just like I'd tried to before.
"You're insatiable, aren't you?" Emma joked.
I looked up to her and smiled, riding the digit harder. Emma worked her finger back and forth until I came, falling off the finger in a state of pure joy.
"Are you quite finished, m'lady?" Emma said in a British accent.
I shook my head at her and climbed up on my hands and knees. I crawled towards the edge of the counter. I looked over the edge to see Emma's feet far below me, then back up to her face.
"Come closer... as close to the counter as you can get," I asked.
Emma complied, closing the gap to the floor.
"Now... drop the towel."
The towel fell revealing her enormous vagina, her lips longer than I was tall.
"Closer."
It now hovered over the counter and I threw myself towards it. I rubbed my body along the insides of her lips, teasing her clit with my hands above my head. My body slid easier as I became covered in her wetness. It was quite a workout, but a lobor of love. The threat of falling somehow making it even more intense.
Emma's hands gripped the counter's edge with an earthshaking force as she orgasmed. I slowed my movements and fell backwards... exhausted, but happy. Emma leaned down and kissed me, enveloping my entire head. Without warning she pinched me under the arms and dropped me back in the sink. I struggled back to the surface to see her panting... yet laughing.
"Alright, let's try this again, shall we?" She said, giggling.
She pulled me out and began drying me off again. I felt my body flush again... I looked up to her with desire in my face.
"Uh-uh, Squirt. I really need to get dressed. I'm supposed to meet my parents for lunch before they fly back today. We could keep going in circles like this all day." She joked.
"Fine," I said with a fake pout and folded my arms over my chest.
I sat on the counter while Emma got dressed. A pair of cut off jean shorts, black flip flops and the same Bikini Kill shirt she was wearing when we first met. The thought of being apart from her, even for a few hours, was killing me.
"So, what exactly is your stance on clothes, Laure?" Emma asked.
I was caught a little off guard by the question, "w-what do ya mean?"
"What'd YOU mean what do I mean? The only time I ever tried to dress you you completely freaked out on me. I thought I was trying to dress a cat or something." She cracked.
I blushed, "oh yeah... that. Something about the oversized doll dress hanging off me triggered some part of my brain into thinking I was shrinking again. I knew I wasn't, but I still had a panic attack for some reason. Sorry about that." I explained.
Emma's face went from slyly happy to concerned in a split second. "Oh, fuck, I'm sorry... I... I didn't mean to make fun."
"No no no, it's totally cool, Emma. There's no possible way you could have known. I didn't have any control over it anyway and it hasn't happened since." I assured her.
Emma's face lightened again, "well that's because you've been walking around naked as a porn star this whole time." She chuckled lightly to herself. "How 'bout I figure something out for you before we go meet my parents?"
"W-we? You're taking me with you!?" I was genuinely surprised.
"Of course, weirdo! You already know mom, but dad hasn't met my new girlfriend." She smiled at me and winked.
Girlfriend. I was pleasantly surprised to hear the words... but they sounded so inadequate to describe what we were. I'll admit it, I got a little misty eyed. Emma started digging through the third drawer of her dresser.
"Let's try this!" She exclaimed as she pulled out a long, slightly sheer green scarf.
"Sure, if you want me to parachute off this countertop with it." I joked.
"Smart ass," she shot back.
She pulled a piece of paper out of her desk and laid it down next to me. "Here, lay down on this for me, will ya?"
I did as instructed. She pulled out a ruler and laid it down next to me. She took a pen out and used it to trace around my body onto the paper.
"Hey Emma... I'm a little afraid to ask... but how tall am I?" I had a general idea of how small I was, but a part of me was curious to know just how small.
"Uh, yeah... that's weird, I can't believe I never tried measuring you before."
"That's because, as far as you were concerned, I was the exact height I was supposed to be," I replied.
"Looks like you're a couple of marks over three and a half inches."
"I guess four inches was too much to ask for." I joked.
"You can go ahead and hop off the paper now." She instructed.
She measured the outline of my torso in several different directions, writing them down as she went. She added a few more lines and then started cutting out the template. She set the green fabric down on the counter and stretched it out. Placing the template on the fabric, she started tracing around the outside of it. Then she started cutting the fabric. She retrieved a needle and thread from the desk and added a few stitches. When done, she turned it outside in and presented it to me. I was amazed at how fast she managed to complete it.
"Put your arms up," she instructed.
I raised my arms and she pulled the dress down over the top of me. It was actually more of a tunic. The bottom came to just above my knees. The sides were clasped together at the waist with a single black cross stitch on either side. The shoulders were narrowed at the top with another pair of stitches. The 'V' of the neck extended down past my breasts, nearly to my naval, only held together by another cross stitch on the back. The material felt light and soft. It was just sheer enough to reveal my shape underneath, but none of the details. I loved it.
"Emma!? I can't believe you just threw this together... it's... it's beautiful." I exclaimed.
Emma lowered herself down to rest her head on her hand. She lifted my chin with a curved finger, "my talents are many, Squirt. It certainly does bring out your pretty green eyes."
I felt myself beginning to blush as she leaned over to kiss me. I threw myself enthusiastically into her lips, reveling in their warmth. She stood up and held out her hand, palm up.
"Your coach awaits, m'lady," she said in a terrible cockney accent.
"If you keep calling me "m'lady" you're gonna have to start wear fedoras and grow a neckbeard," I joked. We both had a laugh as I climbed onto her palm.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I assumed my usual spot on the dash as Emma drove to the cafe, finding it harder to stay in one spot when my bare skin was sticking to it. I'd gotten so used to being nude all the time it felt strange to wear anything, even as thin as the material was. Emma just giggled as I slid around the dash, jumping occasionally if she thought I might go over the edge to catch me.
"We may need to figure something else out for you," she chuckled as she plucked me off the dash and set me on her shoulder. "I should have just worn a polo."
"No worries, babe. I'm good right here." I replied.
"Babe, huh? That's original." She cracked, laughing to herself.
"Would you prefer Gargantua?" I cracked back.
She laughed harder than I thought she would, feeling it rumble through her neck. "No no, babe is fine... Squirt." She said, messing my hair up with her finger.
Emma had to park a ways down the street from the cafe. She clutched me in her palm against her chest as she walked.
"I really should have worn a polo," she complained, "how the fuck am I supposed to hide you?" Her voice was slightly muffled by her surgical mask.
I hadn't thought about it myself really. It had been so long since I'd seen anyone, other than Emma and Madelyn, that I'd forgotten how intimidating this world of giants could be. The apartment may have been enormous to me, but it was also my entire world, completely separate from everything else... a sort of sanctuary. All I could do is bury myself in her palm like a frightened puppy as the anxiety took hold.
Emma finally reached the door to the cafe and pushed through. Almost immediately she raised the hand that wasn't holding me to wave. She must have spotted her parents. My view was mostly obscured, which was fine by me. Emma walked towards a corner booth and slid in.
"Mornin," she greeted.
"Morning sweetheart, how are you feeling today?" The familiar voice of her mother asked.
"Much better... just a little tired," Emma looked down at me and winked as she said this.
My cheeks felt warm as I began to blush.
"Whatcha got there, sweetheart?" A male voice asked. I recognized it as her father's.
Emma looked down at me again, "you ready?" I nodded and smiled. She set her hand down on the table and I stepped off.
"Dad, this is Laureline... Laureline, this is my father."
I found myself on a dark lacquered wood surface, pitted from years of use. The typical cafe adornments... silverware wrapped in napkins, salt and pepper, sugar packets, tall glasses of water with sweat beading down their sides. All of it familiar, just blown up and spread out. The place wasn't busy at all, which was a relief. Just a hipster couple wearing ridiculous wide brimmed hats, completely engrossed in their phones. Two giant faces leaned down in front of me, one very familiar, the other I've only seen briefly. Emma's mom was wearing a white short sleeved top and her dad was wearing a dark blue collared shirt.
"Well, hello again, Laureline... I trust you're taking care of my baby here?" Emma's mom said with a smile. She lowered a finger over my head and gently scratched my head.
Her father just stared, his jaw nearly hitting the table.
"That's a lovely dress you have there. Did Emma make that for you? It's very cute." She asked like I was a toddler. It used to annoy me, but I just found it kind of funny at that moment.
I opened my mouth to answer, but she cut me off, "don't you think it's a little risky to bring her here, Emma? I told you I didn't know if it was legal to own her."
Emma lifted a trifold display card for pecan pie and placed it between me and the open end of the table. "Just hide behind this when the waitress comes by, ok?"
"She-she understands you?" Her father asked. It dawned on me then that Emma's parents still only saw me as some kind of exotic animal.
"Of course she does," Emma said, "just talk to her like a normal person."
Her father's gaze returned to me. I didn't know what else to do but wave.
"Wow! Did you teach her that, Emma?" He exclaimed.
"What? No, dad... she's just like us. She's... she's my..."
"EMMA WAIT!" I screamed.
Emma froze mid sentence. I realized that she had no idea she was the only one who could see me as a person. She couldn't tell them about... us.
"What's wrong?" Emma seemed nervous. I'm sure she was. Her mom knew about her sexuality, but who knew if her dad did. She could not only be coming out to him, but also introducing him to the woman she loved. I could see her hands shaking.
"Don't say anything about us, Emma. Trust me on this," I continued.
I looked back to her parents who both looked confused as to what was going on. Her mom finally cut in, "she really does make the cutest sounds, doesn't she?"
Emma's attention left me and focused on her mother.
"See! They don't see me like you do. They can't. I'm still just some strange creature to them. If you tell them about us it... it could be bad, Emma. They might think there's something wrong. They might... they might take me away from you."
For once, I was the one protecting her.
"It's crazy, dear... I'd swear Emma can understand it," her father said, perplexed.
Emma's gaze didn't leave me. The look of disappointment painted all over her face.
"Emma, I love you more than I ever knew I could love another person. I want to scream it from the mountain tops... but no one will understand. The fog won't let them." I had to fight back the tears as I could see she was as well.
Emma understood. She sort of half smiled and gave me a single nod. She looked back towards her father, "yeah, you could say we understand each other. She's my best friend." She began stroking my hair with the back of her index finger.
"Well, you certainly are a cute little thing, Laureline," her father said as he wiggled an index finger at my face. "I suppose this is where that dent in the checking account came from, dearie?" I heard him slap his wife's knee under the table and then slyly grinned at her. "Does she know any other tricks?"
I was feeling a little put on the spot, but Emma stepped in to my rescue, "all kinds, dad, but she's not here to perform for us. She just wants to eat like the rest of us." Emma gave the slightest of nods and a tiny grin. I flashed her a thumbs up, hidden close to my chest.
"Alright, alright...," her dad said, giving up with his hands.
The waitress finally approached the table and I hustled inside the cardboard standee for some Christmas themed desert like it was a tent. I could see Emma's face trying to hold back her laughter as her eyes darted from me to the waitress and back again. She ordered a salad, her mom... French dip, and her dad... a bacon double cheeseburger. Her mom scolded him about his cholesterol.
"I'm on vacation, it's fine," he joked.
I watched the three of them and enjoyed the family dynamic. They joked and reminisced. They asked her about school and Emma asked how things were back home. Her dad told her about his latest business trips.
It's strange, but I felt kind of jealous. I couldn't remember my family. I couldn't remember whether we were like this or if we didn't get along. I guess it doesn't matter. Emma is my family now.
The food arrived, two enormous steaming plates and a pool sized bowl of salad for Emma.
"You want one of these little tomatoes, Squirt?" Emma asked.
"Actually, can you ask your mom if I can have some roast beef. It smells really good," I replied.
"Hey, mom... the little one here is eyeballing your sandwich." Emma cracked.
"Aaaahhh... would you wike some wost beef, cutie?" Emma's mom asked in the most over the top baby voice possible.
I nodded, having to cover my mouth to keep from bursting out laughing. I looked up to see Emma was doing the same, not helping the situation. Her mom pinched off a piece of beef and set it on a sugar packet, then placed it at my feet. I looked her in the eye and collected myself enough to give her a 'thank you' sign.
"That's amazing!" Her dad blurted out. You have any idea where we could get more of these things? We could make a fortune!"
That was it, I couldn't hold back the laughter anymore. It was contagious, cause Emma snorted and about spit her mouthful of leafy greens out. Her parents were extremely confused.
"What? What did I say?" His question only made us laugh harder. Her mom just shrugged and caught the bug herself. "I tell ya, if I live to be a hundred I'll never understand you women," he said before taking an enormous bite of his burger.
"Alright, let's tone the misogyny down a hair, pop," Emma said as she tried to regain her composure.
"I'm not a misogynist, I'm just outnumbered," he said through a full mouth.
Emma wagged her fork at him, "and don't you forget it."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was a nice to enjoy something as mundane as a lunch with Emma's parents. They're sweet people, extremely humble for being wealthy. Maybe that comes with their religion, I don't know. Emma's lucky to have them as parents, and I think she knows it.
They stood outside the cafe afterwards and chatted some more. Her mom worried she was getting too skinny, her dad offering her more money if she needed it. Emma got weepy when it came time to say goodbye. Her father took her aside while her mother retrieved the rental car.
"Emma, something's been weighing on me... and I really need to talk to you abut it," I could see him getting visually nervous.
"Sure dad, what is it?" She replied.
"I'm not... I'm not really sure how to say this...". He wiped sweat dripping from his brow.
"Well spitting it out would be a good start," she sassed.
"Well... your mom... she told me about... you know."
"Oh," her head slunk down, her face becoming red. I tapped on her palm to let her know I was there for her.
"I gotta tell ya, Emma... I struggled with it. I didn't want to accept it. You know how the church sees these things." His head slumped down as well. "I didn't know what to make of it. I wondered if I did something wrong. I prayed about it nightly. When we decided to come out to visit I had it in my head that I was going to 'fix' it... even now I don't know how I planned on doing it."
Emma was physically shaking at this point.
"The thing is... when we arrived and you weren't at the airport, I got worried. And then we found out you were in the hospital. Emma, all that other stuff faded away. It doesn't matter. All that matters is that you're my daughter and I love you. I just want you to be happy. I feel like my prayer was answered. Can you forgive your old man for being so close minded?"
I found myself behind her father's back as she wrapped both arms around him.
"There's nothing to forgive dad. Thank you for talking to me about it. I know it isn't easy for you. It hasn't been easy for me. But as I told mom, I'm still the same person."
Emma's mother pulled up in the grey rental SUV as Emma and her father wiped the tears out of their eyes.
"Did I miss something?" She asked from the window.
"No mom, I'm just going to miss you guys."
Her mom jumped out of the car for one last hug.
"Are you sure you're good on money?" Her father asked again.
Emma looked down to me and grinned a little, "actually I could use a little help..." She whispered something in his ear, but I couldn't hear it, amazingly enough. He reached into his wallet, pulled out a wad of cash and slapped it into Emma's hand. They both looked down at me and smiled.
What the hell had just transpired?!
"It was nice meeting you, Laureline. You take care of my daughter now, ok." He reached down and scratched me on the head like her mother had.
"Yes, sir... more than you'll ever want to know, sir," I said saluting him. Emma pulled a spit take, covering her mouth in disbelief at what I'd just said.
"Incredible...," he said scratching his head, "if I didn't know better I'd think the two of YOU were dating." He walked around to the passenger side of the vehicle and hopped in. They waved goodbye one last time as they pulled away.
Almost as if scripted, Emma and I met each other's gazes and began laughing all the way back to the car.
End Part 26
Part 26-"A Little Bit Naughty, A Little Bit Wholesome"
You've got heaven
Heaven in your hand
You've got heaven
Running through your land
-Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians
Emma and I made love again the following morning. She was more confident this time. The things she did to me... well, I'll just say, if you ever have a chance to make love to a human skyscraper, I fully recommend it. Nothing can compare. I can only hope I was as generous to her.
Emma finally dragged herself out of bed. She went into the bathroom for a minute or so and returned. She held her hands out for me and carried me into the restroom with her. She had a bubbly bath ready for me in the sink.
"I wish this place had a bath tub instead of just a small shower so we could bathe together," Emma said.
I couldn't agree more, though it would be like swimming in a lake for me. She tilted her hand into the sink and I slid into the warm, soapy water. I cleaned myself while I watched Emma's silhouette behind the curtain, like I've done so many times before. Even the familiar felt so much more... special that morning.
Emma stepped out of the shower. Her body glistened as rivers flowed down the front of her. Her green, wet hair like the canopy of a rainforest. Her...
"Enjoying the show, perv?" She cracked what seemed to have become her favorite inside joke, interrupting my train of thought.
I just smiled and nodded. It was strange... even though I could talk to her now, I was so used to having to pantomime things. I still caught myself doing it from time to time.
She toweled herself off and then wrapped herself up. She lifted me out of the sink and set me down on the counter. She began to towel me off and... I felt myself getting randy again. I grabbed her pinky finger with both hands and mounted it. I slowly began rubbing against it, just like I'd tried to before.
"You're insatiable, aren't you?" Emma joked.
I looked up to her and smiled, riding the digit harder. Emma worked her finger back and forth until I came, falling off the finger in a state of pure joy.
"Are you quite finished, m'lady?" Emma said in a British accent.
I shook my head at her and climbed up on my hands and knees. I crawled towards the edge of the counter. I looked over the edge to see Emma's feet far below me, then back up to her face.
"Come closer... as close to the counter as you can get," I asked.
Emma complied, closing the gap to the floor.
"Now... drop the towel."
The towel fell revealing her enormous vagina, her lips longer than I was tall.
"Closer."
It now hovered over the counter and I threw myself towards it. I rubbed my body along the insides of her lips, teasing her clit with my hands above my head. My body slid easier as I became covered in her wetness. It was quite a workout, but a lobor of love. The threat of falling somehow making it even more intense.
Emma's hands gripped the counter's edge with an earthshaking force as she orgasmed. I slowed my movements and fell backwards... exhausted, but happy. Emma leaned down and kissed me, enveloping my entire head. Without warning she pinched me under the arms and dropped me back in the sink. I struggled back to the surface to see her panting... yet laughing.
"Alright, let's try this again, shall we?" She said, giggling.
She pulled me out and began drying me off again. I felt my body flush again... I looked up to her with desire in my face.
"Uh-uh, Squirt. I really need to get dressed. I'm supposed to meet my parents for lunch before they fly back today. We could keep going in circles like this all day." She joked.
"Fine," I said with a fake pout and folded my arms over my chest.
I sat on the counter while Emma got dressed. A pair of cut off jean shorts, black flip flops and the same Bikini Kill shirt she was wearing when we first met. The thought of being apart from her, even for a few hours, was killing me.
"So, what exactly is your stance on clothes, Laure?" Emma asked.
I was caught a little off guard by the question, "w-what do ya mean?"
"What'd YOU mean what do I mean? The only time I ever tried to dress you you completely freaked out on me. I thought I was trying to dress a cat or something." She cracked.
I blushed, "oh yeah... that. Something about the oversized doll dress hanging off me triggered some part of my brain into thinking I was shrinking again. I knew I wasn't, but I still had a panic attack for some reason. Sorry about that." I explained.
Emma's face went from slyly happy to concerned in a split second. "Oh, fuck, I'm sorry... I... I didn't mean to make fun."
"No no no, it's totally cool, Emma. There's no possible way you could have known. I didn't have any control over it anyway and it hasn't happened since." I assured her.
Emma's face lightened again, "well that's because you've been walking around naked as a porn star this whole time." She chuckled lightly to herself. "How 'bout I figure something out for you before we go meet my parents?"
"W-we? You're taking me with you!?" I was genuinely surprised.
"Of course, weirdo! You already know mom, but dad hasn't met my new girlfriend." She smiled at me and winked.
Girlfriend. I was pleasantly surprised to hear the words... but they sounded so inadequate to describe what we were. I'll admit it, I got a little misty eyed. Emma started digging through the third drawer of her dresser.
"Let's try this!" She exclaimed as she pulled out a long, slightly sheer green scarf.
"Sure, if you want me to parachute off this countertop with it." I joked.
"Smart ass," she shot back.
She pulled a piece of paper out of her desk and laid it down next to me. "Here, lay down on this for me, will ya?"
I did as instructed. She pulled out a ruler and laid it down next to me. She took a pen out and used it to trace around my body onto the paper.
"Hey Emma... I'm a little afraid to ask... but how tall am I?" I had a general idea of how small I was, but a part of me was curious to know just how small.
"Uh, yeah... that's weird, I can't believe I never tried measuring you before."
"That's because, as far as you were concerned, I was the exact height I was supposed to be," I replied.
"Looks like you're a couple of marks over three and a half inches."
"I guess four inches was too much to ask for." I joked.
"You can go ahead and hop off the paper now." She instructed.
She measured the outline of my torso in several different directions, writing them down as she went. She added a few more lines and then started cutting out the template. She set the green fabric down on the counter and stretched it out. Placing the template on the fabric, she started tracing around the outside of it. Then she started cutting the fabric. She retrieved a needle and thread from the desk and added a few stitches. When done, she turned it outside in and presented it to me. I was amazed at how fast she managed to complete it.
"Put your arms up," she instructed.
I raised my arms and she pulled the dress down over the top of me. It was actually more of a tunic. The bottom came to just above my knees. The sides were clasped together at the waist with a single black cross stitch on either side. The shoulders were narrowed at the top with another pair of stitches. The 'V' of the neck extended down past my breasts, nearly to my naval, only held together by another cross stitch on the back. The material felt light and soft. It was just sheer enough to reveal my shape underneath, but none of the details. I loved it.
"Emma!? I can't believe you just threw this together... it's... it's beautiful." I exclaimed.
Emma lowered herself down to rest her head on her hand. She lifted my chin with a curved finger, "my talents are many, Squirt. It certainly does bring out your pretty green eyes."
I felt myself beginning to blush as she leaned over to kiss me. I threw myself enthusiastically into her lips, reveling in their warmth. She stood up and held out her hand, palm up.
"Your coach awaits, m'lady," she said in a terrible cockney accent.
"If you keep calling me "m'lady" you're gonna have to start wear fedoras and grow a neckbeard," I joked. We both had a laugh as I climbed onto her palm.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I assumed my usual spot on the dash as Emma drove to the cafe, finding it harder to stay in one spot when my bare skin was sticking to it. I'd gotten so used to being nude all the time it felt strange to wear anything, even as thin as the material was. Emma just giggled as I slid around the dash, jumping occasionally if she thought I might go over the edge to catch me.
"We may need to figure something else out for you," she chuckled as she plucked me off the dash and set me on her shoulder. "I should have just worn a polo."
"No worries, babe. I'm good right here." I replied.
"Babe, huh? That's original." She cracked, laughing to herself.
"Would you prefer Gargantua?" I cracked back.
She laughed harder than I thought she would, feeling it rumble through her neck. "No no, babe is fine... Squirt." She said, messing my hair up with her finger.
Emma had to park a ways down the street from the cafe. She clutched me in her palm against her chest as she walked.
"I really should have worn a polo," she complained, "how the fuck am I supposed to hide you?" Her voice was slightly muffled by her surgical mask.
I hadn't thought about it myself really. It had been so long since I'd seen anyone, other than Emma and Madelyn, that I'd forgotten how intimidating this world of giants could be. The apartment may have been enormous to me, but it was also my entire world, completely separate from everything else... a sort of sanctuary. All I could do is bury myself in her palm like a frightened puppy as the anxiety took hold.
Emma finally reached the door to the cafe and pushed through. Almost immediately she raised the hand that wasn't holding me to wave. She must have spotted her parents. My view was mostly obscured, which was fine by me. Emma walked towards a corner booth and slid in.
"Mornin," she greeted.
"Morning sweetheart, how are you feeling today?" The familiar voice of her mother asked.
"Much better... just a little tired," Emma looked down at me and winked as she said this.
My cheeks felt warm as I began to blush.
"Whatcha got there, sweetheart?" A male voice asked. I recognized it as her father's.
Emma looked down at me again, "you ready?" I nodded and smiled. She set her hand down on the table and I stepped off.
"Dad, this is Laureline... Laureline, this is my father."
I found myself on a dark lacquered wood surface, pitted from years of use. The typical cafe adornments... silverware wrapped in napkins, salt and pepper, sugar packets, tall glasses of water with sweat beading down their sides. All of it familiar, just blown up and spread out. The place wasn't busy at all, which was a relief. Just a hipster couple wearing ridiculous wide brimmed hats, completely engrossed in their phones. Two giant faces leaned down in front of me, one very familiar, the other I've only seen briefly. Emma's mom was wearing a white short sleeved top and her dad was wearing a dark blue collared shirt.
"Well, hello again, Laureline... I trust you're taking care of my baby here?" Emma's mom said with a smile. She lowered a finger over my head and gently scratched my head.
Her father just stared, his jaw nearly hitting the table.
"That's a lovely dress you have there. Did Emma make that for you? It's very cute." She asked like I was a toddler. It used to annoy me, but I just found it kind of funny at that moment.
I opened my mouth to answer, but she cut me off, "don't you think it's a little risky to bring her here, Emma? I told you I didn't know if it was legal to own her."
Emma lifted a trifold display card for pecan pie and placed it between me and the open end of the table. "Just hide behind this when the waitress comes by, ok?"
"She-she understands you?" Her father asked. It dawned on me then that Emma's parents still only saw me as some kind of exotic animal.
"Of course she does," Emma said, "just talk to her like a normal person."
Her father's gaze returned to me. I didn't know what else to do but wave.
"Wow! Did you teach her that, Emma?" He exclaimed.
"What? No, dad... she's just like us. She's... she's my..."
"EMMA WAIT!" I screamed.
Emma froze mid sentence. I realized that she had no idea she was the only one who could see me as a person. She couldn't tell them about... us.
"What's wrong?" Emma seemed nervous. I'm sure she was. Her mom knew about her sexuality, but who knew if her dad did. She could not only be coming out to him, but also introducing him to the woman she loved. I could see her hands shaking.
"Don't say anything about us, Emma. Trust me on this," I continued.
I looked back to her parents who both looked confused as to what was going on. Her mom finally cut in, "she really does make the cutest sounds, doesn't she?"
Emma's attention left me and focused on her mother.
"See! They don't see me like you do. They can't. I'm still just some strange creature to them. If you tell them about us it... it could be bad, Emma. They might think there's something wrong. They might... they might take me away from you."
For once, I was the one protecting her.
"It's crazy, dear... I'd swear Emma can understand it," her father said, perplexed.
Emma's gaze didn't leave me. The look of disappointment painted all over her face.
"Emma, I love you more than I ever knew I could love another person. I want to scream it from the mountain tops... but no one will understand. The fog won't let them." I had to fight back the tears as I could see she was as well.
Emma understood. She sort of half smiled and gave me a single nod. She looked back towards her father, "yeah, you could say we understand each other. She's my best friend." She began stroking my hair with the back of her index finger.
"Well, you certainly are a cute little thing, Laureline," her father said as he wiggled an index finger at my face. "I suppose this is where that dent in the checking account came from, dearie?" I heard him slap his wife's knee under the table and then slyly grinned at her. "Does she know any other tricks?"
I was feeling a little put on the spot, but Emma stepped in to my rescue, "all kinds, dad, but she's not here to perform for us. She just wants to eat like the rest of us." Emma gave the slightest of nods and a tiny grin. I flashed her a thumbs up, hidden close to my chest.
"Alright, alright...," her dad said, giving up with his hands.
The waitress finally approached the table and I hustled inside the cardboard standee for some Christmas themed desert like it was a tent. I could see Emma's face trying to hold back her laughter as her eyes darted from me to the waitress and back again. She ordered a salad, her mom... French dip, and her dad... a bacon double cheeseburger. Her mom scolded him about his cholesterol.
"I'm on vacation, it's fine," he joked.
I watched the three of them and enjoyed the family dynamic. They joked and reminisced. They asked her about school and Emma asked how things were back home. Her dad told her about his latest business trips.
It's strange, but I felt kind of jealous. I couldn't remember my family. I couldn't remember whether we were like this or if we didn't get along. I guess it doesn't matter. Emma is my family now.
The food arrived, two enormous steaming plates and a pool sized bowl of salad for Emma.
"You want one of these little tomatoes, Squirt?" Emma asked.
"Actually, can you ask your mom if I can have some roast beef. It smells really good," I replied.
"Hey, mom... the little one here is eyeballing your sandwich." Emma cracked.
"Aaaahhh... would you wike some wost beef, cutie?" Emma's mom asked in the most over the top baby voice possible.
I nodded, having to cover my mouth to keep from bursting out laughing. I looked up to see Emma was doing the same, not helping the situation. Her mom pinched off a piece of beef and set it on a sugar packet, then placed it at my feet. I looked her in the eye and collected myself enough to give her a 'thank you' sign.
"That's amazing!" Her dad blurted out. You have any idea where we could get more of these things? We could make a fortune!"
That was it, I couldn't hold back the laughter anymore. It was contagious, cause Emma snorted and about spit her mouthful of leafy greens out. Her parents were extremely confused.
"What? What did I say?" His question only made us laugh harder. Her mom just shrugged and caught the bug herself. "I tell ya, if I live to be a hundred I'll never understand you women," he said before taking an enormous bite of his burger.
"Alright, let's tone the misogyny down a hair, pop," Emma said as she tried to regain her composure.
"I'm not a misogynist, I'm just outnumbered," he said through a full mouth.
Emma wagged her fork at him, "and don't you forget it."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was a nice to enjoy something as mundane as a lunch with Emma's parents. They're sweet people, extremely humble for being wealthy. Maybe that comes with their religion, I don't know. Emma's lucky to have them as parents, and I think she knows it.
They stood outside the cafe afterwards and chatted some more. Her mom worried she was getting too skinny, her dad offering her more money if she needed it. Emma got weepy when it came time to say goodbye. Her father took her aside while her mother retrieved the rental car.
"Emma, something's been weighing on me... and I really need to talk to you abut it," I could see him getting visually nervous.
"Sure dad, what is it?" She replied.
"I'm not... I'm not really sure how to say this...". He wiped sweat dripping from his brow.
"Well spitting it out would be a good start," she sassed.
"Well... your mom... she told me about... you know."
"Oh," her head slunk down, her face becoming red. I tapped on her palm to let her know I was there for her.
"I gotta tell ya, Emma... I struggled with it. I didn't want to accept it. You know how the church sees these things." His head slumped down as well. "I didn't know what to make of it. I wondered if I did something wrong. I prayed about it nightly. When we decided to come out to visit I had it in my head that I was going to 'fix' it... even now I don't know how I planned on doing it."
Emma was physically shaking at this point.
"The thing is... when we arrived and you weren't at the airport, I got worried. And then we found out you were in the hospital. Emma, all that other stuff faded away. It doesn't matter. All that matters is that you're my daughter and I love you. I just want you to be happy. I feel like my prayer was answered. Can you forgive your old man for being so close minded?"
I found myself behind her father's back as she wrapped both arms around him.
"There's nothing to forgive dad. Thank you for talking to me about it. I know it isn't easy for you. It hasn't been easy for me. But as I told mom, I'm still the same person."
Emma's mother pulled up in the grey rental SUV as Emma and her father wiped the tears out of their eyes.
"Did I miss something?" She asked from the window.
"No mom, I'm just going to miss you guys."
Her mom jumped out of the car for one last hug.
"Are you sure you're good on money?" Her father asked again.
Emma looked down to me and grinned a little, "actually I could use a little help..." She whispered something in his ear, but I couldn't hear it, amazingly enough. He reached into his wallet, pulled out a wad of cash and slapped it into Emma's hand. They both looked down at me and smiled.
What the hell had just transpired?!
"It was nice meeting you, Laureline. You take care of my daughter now, ok." He reached down and scratched me on the head like her mother had.
"Yes, sir... more than you'll ever want to know, sir," I said saluting him. Emma pulled a spit take, covering her mouth in disbelief at what I'd just said.
"Incredible...," he said scratching his head, "if I didn't know better I'd think the two of YOU were dating." He walked around to the passenger side of the vehicle and hopped in. They waved goodbye one last time as they pulled away.
Almost as if scripted, Emma and I met each other's gazes and began laughing all the way back to the car.
End Part 26