We Should Talk [Monologue?]

[Essence Newman]

Family Meeting

Leaning against the doorway between the hall and the bedroom, Essence gave a sigh. She had been staring at the phone for the past hour and a half. Ryder was at the studio; it was just her and Bradbury. Well; and the baby. Her and Bradbury and the baby. She sighed softly and leaned her head back.

It was time she did this. Got it over with. Swallowing, she dialed decisively; her fingers moved to through the phone number without thought. The first ring sounded and Essence panicked, almost hanging-up. But then, after two more rings, the other line connected. And just at the sound of her father's familiar voice asking a cheery, "Hello?" she almost burst into tears.

"Daddy?" she asked, voice cracking.

There was a loaded pause before her father was shouting, "Essence!? Essence 'llegra, is that you?!"

Essence nodded before realizing her father couldn't see her. "Yeah, Daddy, it's me."

"Yikes stripes, kiddo! It's great to hear from you! Where are you? How are you doing? Where have you been? Oh, crap, you're mother. Hang on." There was the muffled sound of a hand covering the mouthpiece, but Essence could still hear her father call, "Stella! Stella, get on the other line right now! It's Essence, Stella!"

A second later there was the click of another line coming in. "What the fuck? Essence? Holy shit!"

That was her mother with the sailor-mouth. Essence found herself crying completely then, laughing at the same time. "Oh shit, Momster! Hi." She inhaled and then really let go on the crying. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I left. I left 'cause I thought I had killed Benji and I couldn't... How could you want..." She let a few gasping sobs go, squeezing her eyes shut.

[Essence Newman]

Her parents spent the next few minutes calming her down, assuring her that Benji was calm. That he missed his big sister. That they all had missed her.

Finally quelling her tears, Essence shook her head to clear it. "I'm in New York City, actually," she said in response to her father's repeated question of where she was. "I'm good; really good actually."

"Oh?" her father asked, clearly requesting more information.

"Yeah. I'm... Well, I've got some news for you." She hesitated a moment before admitting, "I'm engaged."

"Holy fucking shit!"
"What? To who?!"

Essence grinned at her parents' responses. "Yeah. Um. His name is Ryder. I've know him for a few years now and we've been together for... Almost two years now... Holy shit." She hadn't really realized it had been that long. "Yeah. And he's a great guy, really fantastic."

Her mother went on muttering curses but her father spoke. "That's great, Essence 'llegra; really great. But why do I sense that you've got something else to tell?"

Essence blushed and rolled her eyes. She should've known. Her father could always tell when she had been lying. "I do. Actually. Um. I'm...pregnant."

Silence. Shock. And then another explosion. More curses from her mother (louder, this time) and even a few from her father. If she didn't know her parents, she would've been worried by their reactions. But that was just them releasing their initial shock, she knew. Finally, her mother said something other than expletives. "That's... Is that why you're getting married, Ess?"

"No. He proposed and then a few months later I realized I was pregnant. We're actually postponing the wedding until after the baby is born; so no one thinks it's shotgun. Plus, so we can properly prepare for the baby without worrying about a wedding too."

"That's very...consciencious of you, honey," her father commented. "I'm so proud of you. And as long as you're happy, I'm happy."

"I am, really." Essence assured her father, smiling as Bradbury licked at her toes. "Everything is going so great. I mean it was kinda crazy for a little bit and things were bad in the very beginning. But everything's good now."

"I'm glad to hear that, Ess," her mother said. "So, will we get to meet the little thing? And your... What was his name? River?"

"Ryder," Essence corrected with a roll of her eyes. "And yes. I think that would be nice." Poor Ryder. "I missed you guys," she added softly.

"We missed you too," her father told her.
"A whole fucking lot."

[Essence Newman]

She spent over another two hours talking to her parents. She told them everything they had missed out on; everything. She had forgotten how much she loved her parents. Her father's plethora of affectionate nicknames for her. Her mothers abundant swearing... God, it made her a little homesick.

Her father was half-way through the revelation that he was going to be a grandfather when a door slammed in the background. "Ma! Dad! I'm home!"

Essence's chest seized. Benjamin. Holy shit, holy shit. "Daddy!" she interrupted, voice a rasp. "Daddy... Benji? Please, Daddy, can I...? Benji!"

Her father chuckled and she heard the click of her mother closing the attached line. Her father called "Banjamin! Phone!" She heard her brother (alive!) ask who was on the line and then laugh at his father's response of "Some chick."

"'Lo? S'up?"
His voice had matured; it was a man's voice know. Or, at least, a teenagers. Oh crap, she couldn't believe it.

"Benji?" she asked, voice small.

There was a pause before Benjamin's voice erupted through the phone. "Essence? Fuck; Essence! Dad! It's... Oh, you knew. Fuck. Hi, Essie!" And suddenly he was an excited little ten year old again. "Ohmygosh, I've missed you so much! Why'd you leave? Where'd you go? How are you? Are you coming back? Is everything okay? ...Ess? Why're you crying Essence? Shit! It's good to hear you!"

It was hours later until she finally said her goodbyes to Benjamin. She promised to call again, soon, possibly even the next day. She told him she loved him lots and he told her the same thing back. After another goodbye and more "I love you"s for her parents, Essence finally, finally, hung up.

Essence walked the few paces to the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed, face first. That had been...exhausting. But good. Really good. She sighed happily, content, as Bradbury leapt to curl up next to her. She turned onto her side to face her pet, stroking his soft side. "I'm glad I did that, Brad," she told him. He told her that he had said earlier there would be nothing to worry about. (Her fox was so braggy.) Rolling onto her back, Essence dropped her hands to her abdomen. "D'you hear that, you little thing? Your grandma and grandpa and Uncle Benji can't wait to meet you."

She giggled at that, curling back onto her side, eyes closing softly. She wasn't sleeping; just reliving the conversation. An easy, soft smile curved over her face as she rested her hand on her fox's head.