When Anne Richardson arrived a week later, it was a breath of fresh air. They were at the end of their second week of hiatus and things were still quite tense around the Richardson household. Kevin was keeping his distance and Emma was fighting to shorten the distance. Consequently, it just made matters worse and the more Emma fought, the farther Kevin went.
Having Anne show up was exactly what the doctor ordered.
Kevin seemed to relax a little once his mother stepped foot into their house and for the first couple nights, he and Anne talked for hours on end about what was happening with Backstreet and AJ. He felt good about finally getting his feelings out in the open, even if it was just with his mom.
“Where’d Emma go so early this morning?” Anne questioned her son when he finally stumbled into the kitchen for breakfast.
“She had her road test this morning.”
Her mouth flew open at Kevin’s response, pushing her plate of toast away from her. “And you let her take a cab there?”
Kevin shrugged while opening the refrigerator. “Yeah…why?”
Anne’s face dropped. “And you didn’t take her?”
He frowned knowing that he was about to get a lecture on how he was failing as a loving husband. Grabbing the cream cheese, he let out a long breath, shutting the door and turning to face his mom. “No, I’m still here aren’t I?”
“Don’t you use that tone with me young man,” his mother warned. She cocked her head to the side and stared at him intently.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Kevin…what’s wrong with you son?” Anne huffed, “This is a big day for her and you didn’t want to be with her?”
“I’m tired mom, that’s all,” he said while grabbing a coffee mug from the cupboard.
She stood up from her seat and grabbed the coffee mug from Kevin’s hand, placing it down on the table, hard. “I don’t care if you’re tired or not. Your wife needs you. Can’t you see how much you’re hurting her?”
Kevin looked at her questionably. “Huh?”
“Last night, she confided in me about how you’re distancing yourself from her. She’s hurt Kevin. She knows that you’re opening up to me and wondering why you’re not doing the same with her.”
Instead of explaining himself, Kevin grabbed his mug again and poured himself a cup of coffee. Leaning back against the kitchen counter, he ran his free hand over his head. “It’s complicated.”
Anne shrugged her shoulders while frowning at him. “So…uncomplicate it then.”
Turning his back, he grabbed the bagels from the counter and pried it apart. Making sure he took his time, he slowly moved the toaster to the edge of the counter and put the bagel in. Instead of using this time to explain things to his mom, he just stood there and watched the toaster.
“Kevin…sit down,” his mother ordered.
He sat down and sighed. Grabbing his mug, he took a swig and placed it down. “I can’t help it, I’ve tried to open up to her…but she just won’t understand. She hasn’t been there from the start mom and she doesn’t know what the guys and I have been through for the past decade.”
“Have you even given her a chance to understand?”
Kevin shook his head. “Not really.”
Anne placed her hand on his. “Well, how do you know that she won’t understand then?”
“I don’t.”
“My point exactly. Now, go get dressed. We’re gonna go meet her at the bureau and surprise her.” When she noticed Kevin just standing there, she raised her voice, “I said go get dressed NOW!”
**********
When they pulled into the parking lot at the bureau, Emma was standing outside the doors and staring at something in her hand. When she glanced up, she noticed them slowly driving by. Smiling, she walked over to them and leaned in the passenger side window. “What’re you guys doing here?”
“Kevin wanted to come darling. He was very upset when he woke up this morning and noticed that you’d already left, right dear?”
Anne turned to him and he smiled at her. “She’s right Emma…you should’ve gotten me up this morning to take you.”
“Oh, I didn’t think you wanted too.” She smiled at them both and started to do a little happy dance. “Well, do you want to know what happened or not?”
Anne exclaimed, “Of course we do!”
“I’m now an official licensed driver.” She pulled out the temporary piece of paper and raised it above her head. “I’m legal!”
Kevin had to laugh. Her excitement over getting a driver’s license was adorable. He could tell how proud she was and it warmed his heart. “Get in wife, we’re gonna go get you a car.”
She opened the door in the back and climbed in. “What’d you just say?”
“I said we’re gonna go get you a car.” Kevin turned to his mom, smiling. “Could you take this thing home for us once we get there…Emma could use the practice.”
Anne smiled back at him, obviously approving of his sudden interest. “Absolutely.”
They all rode to the dealership in silence. Emma relaxed and smiled at the sight before her. Kevin and Anne, side-by-side, mother and son. It was obvious how much he enjoyed having his mother around, he finally started to relax the minute she stepped foot through the door. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to do that herself and it hurt. Sighing, she rested her head back and listened as Kevin and Anne started talking about the rest of the family.
“Tim had mentioned that you never returned any of his phone calls,” Anne said while turning her head towards Kevin. “Did you forget?”
“No,” Kevin replied. “Things have been so hectic around the house lately and honestly, I just didn’t feel like rehashing the whole AJ scenario over again.” He ran a hand through his hair, sighing deeply. “I’ll call him this week.”
“Emma honey?”
She smiled at hearing Anne refer to her as “honey.” “Yeah?”
“Will you please make sure that you remind your husband to call his brother this week?”
“Absolutely.” Pulling into the parking lot at the dealership, Emma was in awe of all the cars surrounding her. She’d never seen so many cars in her life. “Um…Kevin?”
His head flew back. “Yeah?”
Deciding not to rock the boat by claiming that she didn’t really want a car just yet, Emma smiled at him and shook her head. “Never mind.”
Kevin parked the car and handed his mother the keys, while Emma got out of the car. “Thanks mom,” he said quietly, waiting for Emma to shut the door behind her. When she did and was out of earshot range, he leaned into the car and smiled. “Thanks for everything.”
“You’re welcome,” she replied back, smiling. Anne slid over to the drivers seat once they got out and waived. “I’ll see you two back at the house.”
Kevin walked over to Emma and placed his arm around her neck. “So…what’d you say we go in and buy you a car.”
Enjoying the closeness, she didn’t say anything for a few moments as they walked to the door. Once Kevin opened it, she stepped back. “Can we afford it?”
He shook his head slightly, smiling and laughing. “Are you serious? Yes, we can afford it…now come on.”
Once they were inside, a salesman approached them almost instantly. “Can I help you?”
Kevin smiled and held his hand out. “Yes, we’re looking for a car for my wife.”
“Do you have anything in particular in mind?”
Kevin turned to Emma; “I don’t know…do you have something in mind?”
She smiled at them both, turning to her husband. “I don’t know the first thing about cars. Why don’t you tell him what I should get.”
He shook his head slightly and raised his eyebrows. He dropped his arm and grabbed her hand. Pulling her in close, he started to walk around the showroom. “I’m not gonna pick out a car for you…you pick it out…it’s your car.”
For over two hours, Kevin and Emma, along with Rafael the salesman, searched the parking lot, glanced through pamphlets and talked about each aspect of each car she was considering. And when they finally sat down, Emma was mentally drained. She didn’t care if this one had power windows or if that one had power seats and passenger side heat…she just wanted something with a steering wheel.
“Well, what’d you think wife?”
Rafael got up from his seat, heading towards the door in his office. “I’ll let you two talk about it in private. Flag me down when you’re ready.”
Kevin nodded while leaning over to his side. “So, what’s it gonna be?”
Emma gasped looking at the list of prices Rafael had jotted down. “Oh my God…these are all so expensive, maybe we should look at a used one.”
He grabbed the list from her hands and placed it on the desk. “Get out of here, your first car is going to new…period. Pick one out and let’s go…I don’t feel like sitting around here all day.”
Slowly, she lifted her head up and looked at Kevin. “I really liked that 300M out there…” she hesitated.
His eyes widened. “But….”
“But, it’s really expensive-”
“The 300M it is then.” Kevin stood up and waived the salesman back. When Rafael walked back in to the office, Kevin cleared his throat. “Okay, she wants the black, 300M there.” He pointed to the one in the showroom.
“Okay, we can order one and have it here in just a few weeks.” Rafael took a seat behind his desk, pulling out the order form.
“Why can’t we just take that one?” Kevin asked.
The salesman looked up. “Well, you can sir…but because it’s a showroom car, it has a lot of unneeded extra’s that add up.”
Kevin shook his head. “She wants that one.”
Rafael looked to Emma, who just shrugged her shoulders. Honestly, she could’ve cared a less if she had to wait a few weeks. “Okay then…that one it is.” He grabbed a pen and looked at Kevin. “Okay, whose name is it going in?”
Kevin answered quickly. “Hers. I’ll let you two fill out the paper work.” He grabbed his wallet from his back pocket and handed the salesman his insurance card. “Here’s the insurance company, just call them and tell them to add her car on, I’ll call them tomorrow for the premium.” Pointing to the showroom, he smiled. “I’ll be out there.” He quickly walked out before Emma had a chance to say anything. Taking a seat on the couch in the showroom, he sat down and watched them through the glass barrier. He wanted her to do this on her own, totally. This was her car.
Glancing around the showroom, he took his time looking at each and every person there. Couples…singles…families…and not one person even bothered to look his way. It was nice when he could go somewhere and not be recognized…there was something to say about being just an average joe…something he totally wasn’t…and something he wished sometimes he was.
Looking to the far corner of the room, he noticed a saleslady looking right back at him. It took him by surprise, seeing her staring at him and when he smiled back at her, she immediately dropped her head and looked away. Kevin laughed under his breath when he realized that she was probably staring at him because she recognized him. He had to face facts…there probably wasn’t a single place in the entire world where he could go and not be recognized by at least one person…as surreal as it was.
Kevin’s gaze traveled back to the office where his wife sat. He smiled watching her laugh. He was proud of her, damn proud.
And for the past two weeks, he’d been treating her like shit…and yet not once, did she say anything about it. She just accepted it and kept her distance…something he surely wouldn’t have been able to do had the tables been reversed.
It took Emma and salesman about forty-five minutes to fill all the paperwork out and contact the insurance company. She signed where she was told and then shrugged her shoulders when it came to him asking how they were going to pay for it. Looking over her shoulder, she mouthed “come here” to Kevin from across the room.
Kevin jumped up from his seat and walked over to the office, where he leaned up against the wall. “We all set?”
Emma patted the chair next to her. “Not yet, he wants to know how we’re gonna pay for this…and whether or not we need a car loan.”
Walking towards her, he smiled at her naivety. As much as she had grown, there were still a few things she needed to work on. “We don’t need a car loan honey. Do you have the checkbook with you?”
“Um…sir…we don’t accept personal checks for that amount.” Rafael got up from his seat. “Why don’t I have Brandon come in and go over some financing options with you.”
There was no way Kevin was going to let that happen. He knew that could take another hour or longer listening to the financial guru. “Rafael…why don’t I call the bank and just have the money wired here?”
Rafael stopped halfway out the door. “I’ll be right back Mr. Richardson.”
Emma looked over at Kevin with a perplexed look. “What’s the problem?”
He shrugged, slumping back in his seat. “Just technicalities…he’s probably going to get the manager in here.”
“Why? Is something wrong?”
Kevin placed his hand on her thigh. “No, nothing’s wrong…”
Rafael walked back into the room within two minutes; the dealership manager in tow. “Mr. Richardson…if you could just follow me…we’ll get everything all set up for you.”
Kevin got up from his seat and motioned for Emma to stay put. “I’ll be right back.”
For nearly twenty minutes, Emma sat motionless in the office. She didn’t know what was going on and nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard a female voice behind her. “They should be back in a few minutes.”
“Oh, okay…where’d they go?” Emma asked while glancing over her shoulder.
“To the cashier’s office.”
Before Emma had anytime to reply, Kevin was standing at the door. “Excuse me,” he said to the woman by the door, walking past her. “Okay honey…we’re all set. Their gonna get the car ready and then we’re good to go.” Holding out his hand, he helped her up from her seat. “So, you excited?”
“Yeah, thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me.”
Emma smiled and watched as the woman turned to leave. Lowering her voice, she leaned in. “What’s going on?”
Kevin scrunched up his nose and then smiled. “Ah nothing…they just wanted to check with the bank and make sure I had enough funds to cover it.”
“Did you?”
He laughed while shaking his head. “No…but after I persuaded him that my autographed underwear could sell on E-bay for quite a bit of money, he accepted when I had and took me up on my offer.”
Emma’s head lunged forward. “What? You gave them your underwear?”
“Thank God I put on a clean pair this morning, huh?”
She smacked him in the back, hard. “You didn’t really give them your underwear did you?”
Kevin put his arm around her shoulder and walked her out of the office. “No Emma…I didn’t really give them my underwear.” Leaning in close, he whispered in her ear. “But I am missing one of my socks come to think of it.”
