Chapter 40

The door flew open and there stood Jerry. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. I began to get really tense under his stare, but I continued to stare deep into his eyes. It took him a few seconds to recognize me. Once he did he gave me a deadly glare. I stood there frozen. I was afraid to speak.

Then he spoke.

"What the hell do you want?" he asked coldly.

I just stared at him. Kevin bent down and whispered in my ear. "I'm here for you," he said.

I nodded my head and then took a deep breath.

"I came here to see Mom," I stated.

"She's not here right now," Jerry said as he began to close the door.

Both Kevin and I stopped him from closing the door. I pushed my way through along with Kevin. I headed to the other room looking for my mom.

"Mom!" I called out.

Jerry slammed the door behind us. Then he ran up to me and grabbed me by the wrist. I whirled around to face him. I was terrified that he was going to smack me.

"Let go of her," Kevin said angrily.

Kevin came up and removed Jerry's hand from my wrist.

"Get out of here. You don't belong in this house," Jerry said forcefully.

"What's going on out here?" Joy asked as she walked into the room.

I kept my eyes on Jerry. He was furious that I had come back. I could tell that he was afraid I was going to tell my mom about what had happened.

"Oh hi Kevin. What a nice surprise," Joy said. "And who is this young lady?"

"My girlfriend," Kevin said.

I slowly turned around to face my mom. She looked so beautiful. I immediately began to cry. I could tell she was sick because her coloring wasn't right, but she still looked beautiful to me. Then she also began to cry.

"Daughter, is that you?" she asked as she came over to me.

"Yes Mom, it is," I said through tears.

Then she threw her arms around me. I hugged her tightly. Both of us were bawling like babies. Kevin stood by me, while Jerry sat in his chair. After we had cried for a while my mom let go.

"Please, sit down," she said while wiping away her tears.

Both Kevin and I sat down on the couch. Then she sat next to me. She took her hands and held my face.

"I can't believe it's you," she said as she began to cry again. "My prayers have finally been answered. I get to see my baby girl again. But you're not a baby anymore. You're a woman."

I smiled and then hugged her again.

"I've missed you so much," I said as I began to cry again.

"I"ve missed you too. I've prayed every night that you would come back home," she said.

I sat up and wiped my tears away. Then Kevin began to rub my back.

"I'm sorry for leaving," I said. "I can't imagine how much pain I've put you through."

"Ssh, it's okay. I'm just glad your home and with Kevin," she said.

Both Kevin and I smiled.

"Jerry aren't you going to give your daughter a hug?" my mom asked.

"No," he said flatly.

"Jerry," my mom said shocked.

"No, it's okay Mom. If he doesn't want to, then that's fine," I said while looking at him.

He stared at me. Then he mouthed, "Don't tell her."

I just turned away from him like I didn't understand.

"So where have you been?" my mom asked.

"New York," I said.

"With who?" she asked.

"A friend of Candice's," I said.

"Your cousin, Candice?" she asked.

"Yep," I said.

Then she just stared at me for a long time. I could tell she was thinking. I just sat there and let her continued when she wanted.

"Why did you leave us?" she asked sadly.

Jerry sat up in his chair. Then he leaned forward waiting for my answer. I took a deep breath and let it out.

"I have my reasons," I said.

"What reasons?" she asked.

I had decided not to tell her. She already had enough to deal with and she didn't need this. It wouldn't have done any good to tell her. It would have only caused more pain and that's the last thing I wanted to do to her.

"Mom. Can we just leave that in the past? I know I didn't make the right decision by leaving. But that's the only choice I saw at the time," I said.

"But I want to know why. Was it me?" she asked.

"No, it wasn't you. I never wanted to leave you," I said as I hugged her. "Can we just start over again?"

"I guess. As long as I know that you're okay," she said.

"I am Mom. See I'm happy now. I've started a new life with Kevin," I said.

"You were always happy with Kevin," she said.

"Yeah, I know. Right now I'm on tour with him," I said.

"Oh, that's good. When do you leave?" she asked.

"Tonight at 11 p.m.," I said.

"Oh," she said sadly.

"But we have the rest of the day," I said trying to be optimistic.

"Yeah, you're right," she said.

"So what's been going on with you and Jerry?" I asked.

"Nothing really. Just the usual work," she said.

"Mom. Ann told me about your health," I said as I began to cry.

My mom sighed.

"I was hoping you didn't know," my mom said.

"But why? I love you," I said.

"I just didn't want to worry you," she said.

We sat there and continued to talk. She told me what she had been through the last few years. She said there was nothing more the doctors could do for her.

Then we talked about me. She wanted to know everything that I had done since I left. I told her about Lauren and Stacey. I also told her about my job and Rick. When I told her that Rick and I were a couple once, Kevin was shocked. But he didn't say anything.

Jerry sat in his chair the entire time never saying a word. He listened to everything we talked about. Then he would stare at Kevin. Kevin just ignored him by paying attention to me and my mom. Before I knew it, it was already 5 o'clock.

"Well, I'm getting kind of hungry. So would you guys like to go out to dinner with Kevin and me?" I asked.

"Yes, I'd love to," my mom said happily.

"Jerry?" I asked.

"Of course," he said.

I knew he was going to go anywhere that my mom went. He didn't want her to be alone with me. He figured that as soon as I got the chance I would tell my mom what happened, so he had to come.

"Okay. Let me just go get my purse and we'll be back," I said.

My mom got up and walked Kevin and I to the door. I gave her a hug.

"We'll be back in a few minutes," I said.

"Okay, see you then," she said.

"I love you," I said.

"I love you too," she said.

Then I took Kevin's hand and we walked across the street.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, I think so. I have so many emotions I'm feeling right now. I'm not sure exactly what I'm feeling," I said. "Thank you for being with me. I could have never gone over there without you. I love you Kevin."

"I love you too Pumpkin," Kevin said.

We walked into the house. Kevin stood by the front door while I ran upstairs to get my purse. Then I came back down. Kevin got his keys and we left. We got in the truck and drove across the street. I got down and knocked on the door.

Once again Jerry was standing there. Then my mom came up next to him. She walked out and he locked the door. I helped her in the truck. Then I got in and sat next to Kevin. Jerry got in and closed the door and we left.

We drove to a small restaurant. We got in and the waiter sat us at a table. We sat down and ordered our food. Then we continued to talk.

"Excuse me, I have to use the rest room," I said as I stood up.

"Okay," my mom said.

I walked back to the front of the restaurant where the rest rooms were.

"I'll be right back. I also have to use the rest room," Jerry said.

Kevin looked at him. Jerry got up and headed towards the rest rooms. Kevin stared at him the entire time. He wondered what Jerry was going to do. If he wasn't back in a couple of minutes, Kevin was going to check on Janel.

Just as I was about to enter the ladies room someone grabbed my arm. I immediately turned around knowing it was Jerry. I knew his touch anywhere. I jerked my arm away from him. My heart was racing because I was terrified, but I stood my ground.

"What do you want?" I asked.

He came closer to me putting his face in mine.

"If you tell your mom, you'll be sorry," he said.

I pushed him away from me.

"You can't threaten me. You have no control over me. I'm not a little child anymore," I said.

"Yes, I do have control," he said as he went to grab me.

I hit his hand away.

"No. You don't. It's my decision whether or not to tell Mom about the pig that you are," I said.

He just stared at me blankly. He was afraid that I was going to say something to my mom. I looked at him and then walked into the bathroom.

He walked back out to the tables. As Kevin saw him he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's go Joy," Jerry said angrily.

"What?" Joy asked confused. "I'm sitting here talking to Kevin and my daughter, that I haven't seen in years."

"I said let's go home," Jerry said as he remained standing.

"What's the matter Jerry? Afraid that Kevin and I will bite," I said as I went to sit down.

He just turned and glared at me.

"I'm pretty sure Mom wants to stay, right?" I asked as I sat next to Kevin.

"Yes, I do. I have some catching up to do with my daughter," she said. "Why the urgency to leave?"

"Because," Jerry said as he gritted his teeth.

"Because isn't an answer," I said to annoy him.

"Fine. We'll stay," he said frustrated, as he sat back down.

Kevin took my hand. I turned to him and smiled. Then he leaned forward and kissed me. I gave him a kiss back.

"Aww! How cute!" my mom exclaimed.

I turned to look at her and blushed.

"That's disgusting," Jerry said quietly.

"Excuse me," Kevin said.

"I said that's disgusting," Jerry repeated.

"Yeah, well you never did approve of Kevin," I said.

"There's no reason to," he said.

"What?!" I exclaimed. "He has always taken care of me and loved me," I said beginning to yell.

"Don't raise your voice to me!" he exclaimed.

"I can do what I want! I'm an adult. I don't live under your roof anymore," I said angrily.

"But you're still my daughter," he said.

"I was never your daughter," I said furiously. "Papa was the one who treated me like his daughter. You never did."

"Please stop fighting," my mom said as she tried to quiet us.

"I will always be your father," he said.

"Never," I said. "A father loves his child."

"You're the reason she's acting like this!" Jerry said as he pointed to Kevin.

"You bastard! Don't even put the blame on him!" I exclaimed.

"Daughter," my mom said shocked.

Kevin grabbed my hand and we got up.

"We'll be back," Kevin said.

We walked out to the front of the restaurant. Kevin sat me down on the curb.

I was shaking because I was so furious with him. I wanted to rip his fucking head off.

"Look at me Pumpkin," Kevin said as he took my hands.

Tears were beginning to form in my eyes as I looked up at Kevin.

"I just want to go back in there and cuss him out," I said.

"I know you do," Kevin said. "But think about your mom."

I sighed as a tear began to roll down my cheek. Kevin wiped it away and then kissed me.

"We can leave now and take them home or go back in there and finish our dinner with your mom," he said.

"I want to go back in there. Just give me a second," I said.

"Okay," he said. He got up and walked back inside to our table.

"She'll be back in a couple of minutes," he said.

"Is she okay? Should I go talk to her? Does she need me?" Joy asked worriedly.

"She's fine. She's just needs a few seconds to herself," Kevin said.

"What happened to make my daughter act that way?" Joy asked as she looked at Kevin and Jerry.

Neither of them said a word. They just stared at each other.

"Well. . .someone say something," Joy said.

"Mom," I said as I sat down. "I'm terribly sorry for my behavior, but I'm not going to apologize for what I said."

"Why did you act like that? What caused that reaction?" my mom asked. "Please tell me."

I shook my head no. "I don't want to talk about it anymore. I can't talk about it," I said.

"Please. I want to know what's wrong," she said.

"Mom. I'd just like to spend the rest of this even without fighting," I said. "Don't worry though. I'm okay," I said as I hugged her.

"Okay," she said reluctantly.

We were silent until the food came. Then my mom decided to break the awkward silence at the table.

"So are you enjoying touring, Kevin?" my mom asked.

"Oh yeah. I love putting on a show. It's so much fun," he said.

"I could tell. Last night I went to your concert. It was wonderful, and believe me there wasn't a dry eye in the house," my mom said.

"Oh thanks," he said. "Last night's concert was very special to me because my family was there."

We continued to talk and eat. Once we were through Kevin and I ordered a bowl of ice cream that we shared. After we finished I looked at Kevin's watch. It was already 7:30 pm.