Chapter 45 October contract
Chapter 45 October contract
October started with contracts and colds.
Liam brought home a runny nose from school on Monday. By Wednesday the whole apartment sounded like a tissue commercial. Emily was running Emi’s and sitting on the board. Ethan was running board meetings and doing school pickups. No one was sleeping.
The first board meeting of the month was Tuesday at 8am. Emily walked in with coffee in one hand and Liam’s dinosaur water bottle in the other because she’d forgotten to drop it off.
Three people stared. Ethan didn’t. He just pushed a second coffee toward her seat.
“New accessory?” he murmured.
“Don’t,” Emily said, but she was smiling.
They voted on two budgets. They argued about marketing spend. They did not look at each other once.
After, in the hallway, Ethan fell into step beside her.
“You good?” he asked.
“Tired,” Emily said. “Liam’s sick. I have a fitting at noon. And Paris wants the spring numbers by Friday.”
Ethan nodded. “I’ll pick him up. I’ll take him to the pediatrician. You go to the fitting.”
Emily stopped. “You have the investor call.”
“I can move it,” Ethan said. “Go.”
Emily looked at him. “Thank you.”
“Rule 4,” Ethan said. “If one of us is drowning, the other shows up. No questions.”
That night Liam was feverish and clingy. He wanted stories and water and to sleep between them.
At 2am Emily woke to Ethan’s arm over her waist and Liam’s small foot in her ribs.
She didn’t move. She listened to them breathe.
In the morning the fever broke.
Diane came over with soup and took Liam for the day so Emily could work.
“Go build something,” Diane said. “I’ve got him.”
Emily kissed Liam’s forehead. “Be good for Grandma Di.”
“I’m always good,” Liam said.
By Friday the spring numbers were sent. Paris signed off. The factory in Portugal confirmed the silk order.
Ethan texted at 6pm: Dinner at 7:30. My place. I’m cooking.
Emily replied: You burn water.
Ethan: I’ve been practicing.
His apartment was cleaner than she remembered. There was pasta. There was garlic bread. There was one burnt piece that he ate himself before she could see it.
“Okay, it’s not terrible,” Emily said after the first bite.
“High praise,” Ethan said.
They ate at the table. No phones. Rule 1.
After, they did dishes. Side by side.
“I got another offer,” Emily said, drying a plate.
Ethan stilled. “From who?”
“Not Paris. Smaller. A retailer in Tokyo. They want an exclusive for Asia.”
“That’s good,” Ethan said.
“I know,” Emily said. “I’m just tired of saying yes to everything.”
“Then say no,” Ethan said. “Or say yes later. You’re allowed.”
Emily looked at him. “When did you get so good at this?”
“When I realized I almost lost you by trying to control everything,” Ethan said. “I’m trying not to do that again.”
Emily set the plate down. “Come here.”
Ethan came. She hugged him. Hard.
He hugged back.
Later they ended up on his couch. No TV. Just quiet.
“I’m proud of us,” Emily said.
“Me too,” Ethan said. “This is messy. But it’s real.”
Emily rested her head on his shoulder. “Rule 7?”
“What’s rule 7?” Ethan asked.
“We check in. Every Sunday. About us. Not work. Not Liam. Us.”
Ethan took her hand. “Deal.”
On Sunday they did it.
They sat on the floor of Emily’s apartment with coffee and a list.
“Good: We’re showing up,” Emily said.
“Good: Liam’s happy,” Ethan said.
“Hard: Board is stressful,” Emily said.
“Hard: I’m scared I’ll mess this up again,” Ethan said.
Emily reached over and squeezed his hand. “You won’t. Because you’re here.”
Ethan nodded. “One day at a time.”
“One day at a time,” Emily agreed.
Liam burst in then with a drawing. “Look! It’s us! And Grandma Di! And the bear!”
Emily took it and put it on the fridge.
Outside October was cooling. Inside it was warm.
Messy. Tired. Real.
And for the first time, Emily didn’t feel like she was holding it all alone.