The                                                  Chapter 2 Jeff could hear the phone ringing inside the house as he stepped out of his brother’s car.  Hoping that it was his wife, he left the door open and ran inside. "Well, good-bye to you too!", Matt called after Jeff as he reached over and shut the passenger side door of his car before pulling out onto the street.   Jeff dropped his bags on the front porch and fumbled with his keys in the door before finally getting into his house.   "Hello!", he said breathlessly into the phone but all that he heard on the other end was the emptiness of a dial tone.  "Damnit!", he said slamming the receiver down. His cell phone had gone dead and Matt had left his at home, so Jeff hadn’t talked to Kari all day.  He caught his breath before picking up the cordless phone and dialing Kari’s hotel room in Spain.  As he waited for her to answer, he picked up his things off of the porch and closed the front door.  "Please be there.", he said to himself. "Hello?", Jeff’s face lit up with a smile as he heard his wife’s voice on the other end of the line.   "Hey baby.  Did you just call?"   "Yeah.  We had some down time for a while and I wanted to talk to you     before we had to be back on the set."   "I’m sorry.  I caught the phone just as you hung up."   "I’ve tried to call your cell all day and Matt’s too."   "Mine’s dead and he left his at home.  Baby, I miss you."   "I miss you, too.  I get a two week break three weeks from now.  So I’ll     be home then."   "Really?  How come?"   "I don’t know.  Something about the director’s daughter getting married.      I'm not real sure.  I’ll just be glad to come home."   "Me too.  I can’t wait to see you."   "Well, sweetie, I hate to cut you off, but they’re calling me back to the              shoot."   "Okay.  I love you, Kari."   "I love you, too.  Do you want me to try to call you later, when we’re                  through?  I mean, it will be pretty early in the morning your time."   "I don’t care what time it is.  Just call me."   "I will.  Bye."   "Bye baby." Jeff sighed.  He missed her more than he could have ever imagined, but he was glad to at least hear her voice.  The rumble in his stomach pulled him out of his head.  He rummaged around through the pantry, but it was empty.  Since Kari was gone and he was on the road five days a week, there hadn’t been any groceries bought in a while.  Deciding that his father always had food, he got in his car and headed down the street.  He was surprised to find that his father wasn’t home.  He turned his gaze to the house that sat about a quarter of a mile away, and saw that his father was at Matt’s.  He jumped back into his car and drove the short distance, parking in his brother’s driveway.  As he let himself in the front door, he instantly smelled food.  "Got enough for one more?", Jeff asked as he walked into the kitchen.  "As a matter of fact, I just tried to call you to see if you wanted to eat.", Shea said putting her cheek out for him to kiss. He did and sat down next to his father at the table.  The Hardy family, minus one, enjoyed their dinner and spent the rest of the evening visiting.  As Jeff was leaving, Matt handed him his part of the fan mail.  Jeff tucked it under his arm and went out to his car.  He tossed the mail into the passenger seat and drove home.               Last Chapter ..*.. Next Chapter ..*..Chapter Index ..*.. Home