Chapter 10 Jeff’s mind was racing a mile a minute as he drove the thirty minutes to his house.  As he stepped through his front door into his empty house, he suddenly felt alone.  How odd it seemed to him to be someone loved by so many, yet to be so lonely.  He flipped on the light and threw his keys on the coffee table as he plopped down onto the couch with a sigh.  What should he do?  On one hand, he thought about his career.  How could he be a good father to Joey when he is on the road five out of seven days a week.  But on the other hand, he didn’t love what he did anymore.  It was a paycheck to him now.  He loved the adrenaline, and the excitement, but he didn’t love the pain.  At twenty four years old, he felt more like fifty four.  He had gotten his wild days out of his system early.  All he wanted at this point was to settle down and be "normal".  But how could he choose?  Either way, Joey was his responsibility and he had decided that he would support him financially no matter what.  But otherwise, he wasn’t sure.  He needed to talk to someone.  He knew that if he talked to his brother, Matt would tell him that his career comes first. "Dad.", he said out loud to himself.  Before he realized what time of night it was, he picked up the phone and dialed his father’s phone number. The phone rang about eight times and Jeff was about to hang up when a groggy voice answered on the other end, "It better be important." "It is.", Jeff said meekly.  "What’s wrong son?", Gilbert asked a little more awake as he heard the sadness in his youngest son’s voice. "Can I come over?", Jeff asked like a little child. "Of course son." "K", Jeff said as he hung up the phone. He didn’t bother driving as Gilbert lived just around the corner.  The squeaking sound from his father’s front door comforted Jeff in a strange way.  "I need to oil that.", Gilbert said as he opened the wooden door. "Naa.  It’s neat.", Jeff said as he walked passed his father. "Go sit in the kitchen.  I made a pot of coffee.  By the sound of your voice, I figured we’d be up a while."   "Yeah.", Jeff said cracking his neck as he sat down at the kitchen table. The two Hardy men sat and drank that whole pot of coffee while they discussed Jeff’s situation.   "So….what do you think?"   "I think you have a son.", Gilbert said, "You have a responsibility.  That boy needs a Dad.  He needs you."   Jeff smiled at his father, "You’re right.  If you could do it by yourself, then I can do it."  They hugged and said goodbye.  As Jeff was walking down the front steps of his father’s porch, he turned to Gilbert, "Thanks Dad.  For everything."  "Everything will work out, son.  Just don’t give up.", Gilbert said as he waved goodbye to Jeff and shut the door.   As Jeff walked home, he looked up at the stars.  A smile crept across his face.  He was someone’s Dad and he couldn’t wait to start the job.         Last Chapter ..*.. Next Chapter ..*.. Chapter Index ..*.. Home