Authors: MJ Fields
“Yes it is way more appropriate for kids,” she said and sat on the barstool at the massive kitchen island.
“Hmm,” he said setting it down.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Hmm,” she said mockingly.
“No Brody Hines music,” Brody said astutely.
“Oh I guess not, I did enjoy your music,” Emma said trying to save face.
“Apparently not enough to listen to it again,” he laughed. “But Maroon 5 hu?”
“Alright do you want honesty?” Emma asked genuinely.
“Yes please do go on,” Brody said as he sat next to her.
“Okay I like music that doesn’t make me feel like your music does,” As soon as the words escaped her mouth she felt her face get red.
“Interesting Emma, how is it that my music makes you feel?” Brody asked sincerely.
“Well I had never heard your music before, I guess Kids Bop is not your thing,” she laughed. “I like music I can sing and dance to, fun music.”
“Yes I saw that earlier,” he laughed.
Emma scowled at him.
“Okay that doesn’t answer my question,” he asked immediately expunging the humor from his voice.
“When Lila and I came to your show the other night,” Emma said looking down. “It was like watching someone tell a story, a very personal story. When you came on stage you looked over the crowd, not at them. The entire time you sang you didn’t make eye contact with the audience. The way you held your guitar was different. You cradled it, like you were holding a child or something that you held precious. It was like you wanted to share it but not like someone would share their cookies,” Emma smiled and looked up. “More like an artist displaying their greatest piece of art for the world to see but with the red rope embodying it so no one could get close. I felt like you were saying look, hear, and feel from a distance, but don’t come close. You close your eyes a lot when you sing. Which made me feel like it hurt you to share it,” She smiled and looked down. “I personally felt like I was watching you through a window during a very personal moment and you were allowing it. Your music is very intense. Beautiful but intense, and honestly it makes me uncomfortable,” Emma took a deep breath and looked up at him.
He looked deeply in her eyes, “Thank you.”
Her eyes widened, “Okay what does that mean?”
“Well that’s very true. I am a very private person,” Brody said.
She laughed and went to stand up.
“Don’t leave yet, please. Tell me what made you laugh.”
“Well you’re a celebrity, your job is to perform for people. How can you be a private person and do what you do?” Emma asked sitting back down.
“I love music, and I am very good at what I do,” he laughed. “Well most people think so anyways.”
“I think your music is great,” Emma said and raised her eyebrow, “I just said it seems very personal and private for you,” her face softened. “Is it because you feel insecure about what is going on in your personal life?”
“Wow,” he said and laughed.
“Sorry, I just know that after my husband and I split up I felt like I had failed. Every time I turned around someone would ask me how I was or wanted to know what happened. People at the grocery store would look at me differently. They even started asking in front of my daughter,” she shook her head and smiled sadly looking down. “I stopped going to the store in our town when London was with me. I took her out of our local dance school and took her half an hour away, just so I didn’t have to deal with the chit chat or the looks. So for someone like you, it must be just like that, except everyone knows who you are. Not just the people in your little town. And the way you were when you sang made me want to hug you or help you, knowing you’re going through what you are going through. So your fans must feel so much pain for you. Which I am certain that makes you uncomfortable, embarrassed, and pissed off,” she laughed. “on a much grander scale of course.”
Brody looked at her thoughtfully, “I see, but add to that the letters, e-mails, and screaming fans who feel like they may actually be able to fix it for you. Or those who say they would like to take your mind off of it,” he grinned seductively which made Emma laugh.
“I don’t get those,” she said jokingly.
“You are lucky then Emma,” Brody said with a smile. “They are kind of freaky.”
“Do you get unsolicited advice from everyone like I do?” Emma asked.
“Hordes of it,” he smiled.
“Everyone else knows what you need, and how to fix it. When sometimes all you want to do is vent or just enjoy life and not think about it,” Emma grinned.
“Exactly, and I am not sure how it is for you but in my case I feel like everyone needs something from me. Often I feel if I went on a sexual binge people may back off. That is deranged thinking isn’t it?” Brody snickered.
“Maybe after your divorce you could come out,” Emma laughed.
“Do you think I am gay Emma?” he asked seriously.
Emma smiled and tried to mask her amusement, “No, I just think that way the screaming fans would realize they had no chance.”
“Or they would try to fix me
,” he said looking horrified.
They both laughed.
“What is going on in here?” Lila asked playfully.
“Divorce chatter,” Emma said and smiled.
“So did you fix it all Lila dear?” Brody asked standing up.
“I think you will be just fine,” Lila said shaking her head and walking out of the room.
“See even Lila is trying to fix both of us,” Brody said as he winked at Emma.
“I kind of gathered that, sorry,” Emma said as if she was annoyed.
“Best of luck tomorrow,” Brody said extending his hand.
Emma shook it, “You too.”
“Would it be awkward if I texted you to tell you how things went with me and you could let me know how things went for you?” Brody asked earnestly.
“Not at all, it is kind of nice having someone who understands what I am going through. I hope you feel the same way,” Emma smiled.
“I do,” he said.
Emma and Brody walked out into the living room and she said goodnight to Lila. She walked into the room and checked her emails. She had several responses from the companies she had submitted her resume to. Many asked for her to come in and interview. Emma was happy but knew from previous attempts at finding a job an interview meant that they may be interested.
“Hey Mom, how is my girl?” Emma asked.
“She went to bed after she talked to you. She is very tired,” Caroline reported.
“It always takes her a few weeks to get use
d to the school schedule,” Emma said softly. “So dependent on how court goes tomorrow, I may need to stay a few days for some job interviews. Would you be willing to bring London back home with you and I will meet you there?”
“Emma, you said home. Are you considering my proposal?” Caroline said with a smile in her voice.
“Dependent on court Mom,” Emma said with reserve in her voice knowing if she said yes her mother would be pushing her to do it now.
“Well of course,” Caroline said happily.
Emma skipped out in her pajamas to tell Lila the news.
“That is amazing Emma,” Lila said hugging her.
“Celebratory dance party,” Emma said and jumped on the couch and shook her fanny at Lila as she made a loud whoop whoop noise as if she were at a sporting event cheering on her favorite team.
Lila looked towards the bathroom and Emma followed her eyes. Again Brody stood witness to her goofy ways.
“Listening to your iPod happy music again Miss Emma?” he joked.
She jumped off the couch and laughed. “No, Emma just got some good news. She put in a bunch of resumes and has to schedule interviews tomorrow,” Lila said smiling. “I will be seeing much more of you if you accept an offer.”
“What kind of work are you looking for?” Brody asked earnestly.
“Editor positions, entry level of course. It seems companies don’t want to hire people like me who have been out of the workforce for seven years. Sorry again about the show. Goodnight,” Emma smiled as she shook her head walking to her room.
Brody woke in his hotel room. He showered and shaved and grabbed the suit Lila had picked out for him. He was n
ot looking forward to his pending court appearance. He had changed hotels again and it seemed no one knew where he was. No slew of fans outside in the streets screaming for him. No packages delivered wishing him good luck today, or letters offering to take his mind off of this train wreck of a day. Brody was grateful to his new friend Lila and for her friend that seemed to be occupying his thoughts lately.
Emma was wonderful, kind, sweet, and funny. Even though she didn’t seem to have to try to be, he thought and laughed to himself remembering the two incidents last night in which he caught her dancing
.
Brody step
ped out of the black town car wearing a gray suit and woven tie. He had on sunglasses and he plastered his signature smile across his face. There were about a hundred women standing behind the police barricades screaming and yelling to him. Lila, his lawyer, and his manager followed him in the courthouse. He waved and walked past the masses trying to grab him.
They may all mean well but he certainly never asked for this, he wished his personal moments could be his own. Like Emma, he wished they could feel his discomfort and just sit back and watch, if that’s what they felt they needed to do, he thought.
He sat in the large court room behind a wooden desk next to his lawyer when she walked in with hers. He glanced up and immediately looked away. He expected to be angry when he saw her or disgusted like he was when he saw her in print with another man.
From the day he left after the affair came to light he had not been alone with her. Brody avoided all the calls and only answered text messages that concerned the divorce. Ariel was beautiful. She was almost six foot tall and very thin. Her long black hair was in a ponytail today. She wore a tan skirt and jacket, making her brown skin look even darker.
The judge looked over the paper work and asked if any c
hanges had been made since the previous hearing. There had been none. His decision was that Brody would pay spousal support for the same number of years they had been married at fifty thousand dollars a month. Ariel would get the New York home and he would keep the one in Liverpool. No future earnings would be taken into consideration because the marriage had only lasted three years. Brody was to pay a three million dollar settlement. All parties accepted the decision and Brody and Ariel signed the paperwork. Brody was relieved that he would not have to sell the home in England near his family. He was not happy with spousal support, three million dollars and their shared home should have been enough. When they left the courtroom Ariel looked at him and smiled sadly as she walked into the arms of the man she was now shacked up with.
Brody walked out of the courtroom and looked down. He did not want to even acknowledge the swarms of fans and press
. He and his lawyer sat in the car as Lila worked her magic.
“It has been a rough few months for Mr. Hines. Although he adores all of you he needs his privacy, time to reflect, heal, and move on from this chapte
r of his life. Both he and Ariel came to an agreement today. Brody is currently working on a new album.” Lila smiled as the crowd cheered. “Its release should be within the next few months. We will definitely keep you all informed, thank you for your show of support today.”
Lila got in the car and looked at Brody, “Are you alright?”
“Sure, I just don’t look forward to sitting in that damn hotel room. I am considering going home for a few months to finish the album instead of just a month,” Brody said looking out the window.