Chapter 41

"Mom, I hate to say this, but I think it's time for us to leave. We have our flight tonight and we still have to pack," I said.

"Oh, okay. Let's go," she said.

We paid the waitress and then left. Kevin pulled up into his driveway and we got out.

"Bye Joy. Take care," Kevin said as he hugged my mom.

"Bye Kevin. You take care too and watch over my daughter," she said.

"I will," he said.

"I'll be back soon. I'm just going to walk my mom home," I said.

"Okay," he said.

I took my mom's hand as we walked home along with Jerry.

Kevin watched Janel, then he went up to the porch. He sat down on the swing while continuing to watch Janel.

Jerry unlocked the door and walked in.

"Joy," he said.

"I'll be in soon," she said.

"Fine," he said. Then he closed the door.

I grabbed my mom and hugged her. We both began to cry.

"I love you so much Mom," I said.

"I love you too baby," she said.

I let go of her. Then I stared into her eyes.

"I never should have left," I said as I continued to cry.

"Ssh, you're here now," she said. "Now I want you to call me as soon as you land. Okay?"

"Yes," I said. "Here let me give you my phone number and Kevin's," I said as I pulled out a piece of paper and wrote the numbers down. "I want you to call me if you need anything. And I mean anything at all."

"I will. I'll be okay though. Now go. Kevin's waiting for you," she said.

I wrapped my arms around her once again. We both cried our hearts out.

Then she said, "Go sweetie. I'll be okay."

I hugged her tightly and then let go. I placed my hands on her cheeks. Then I kissed her forehead.

"I love you Mommy," I said.

"I love you too sweetie," she said.

Then she turned to our door. She opened it and went in.

I walked back across the street to Kevin. I walked up to Kevin on the swing. Then I sat next to him while I continued to cry. I laid my head down on his lap while resting my feet on the end of the swing. He didn't say a word. He just comforted me by playing with my hair.

I laid there for a while thinking as Kevin rocked back and forth on the swing. I stared at my house. I missed it, but yet I didn't. I missed the smell of my mom's perfume as she left for work. The smell of breakfast on the weekends. Her touch as she would do my hair. Her kisses that she would give me before she left to work. Her voice as she would tell me that she loved me. Everything of her in that house I missed.

"Janel," Kevin said.

"Yeah," I said.

"I think we better go in. It's getting late," he said.

"Yeah, you're right," I said as I sat up.

I looked him in the eyes. Then I kissed him.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"For being you and for loving me," I said.

Then we both got up and went inside. Ann was in the living room where the t.v. was on, but she was on the phone. I peeked my head in and waved hi. Then we went to Kevin's room. Ann followed us with the phone in her ear.

"Okay love you too, good bye," Ann said.

Then she handed the phone to Kevin. "It's Jerald," she said.

He took it from her and sat on his chair. "Hey bro., what's up?" Kevin asked.

"So how did it go? I can tell there was a lot of crying," Ann said.

I laughed and then replied, "It went good, well. . .most of the time."

"How did she handle it?" Ann asked.

"Well. . .I didn't tell her," I said as I walked around the room gathering clothes.

"What do you mean?" Ann asked as she sat down on Kevin's bed.

"I saw no point in telling her," I said.

"But I don't understand," Ann said.

Then I continued to explain my reasons to Ann. She listened to me while I folded clothes. By the time I finished explaining and telling her what happened, I was through packing. Then Kevin got off the phone.

"That was Jerald," he said.

"And?" I questioned.

"He wanted to know if we'd stop by his house before our flight. Tim's also down there," he said.

"Why not? I'd love to see them again," I said.

"Okay. We'll be leaving soon," Kevin said.

Kevin packed his clothes and things. Then we took them out to his truck. Afterwards we went back inside to sit with his mom. We stayed with her as long as we could.

"It's time to go," I said.

"Yeah, it is," Kevin said sadly.

"Come on. I'll walk you two out," Ann said.

We got up and walked out to the truck. I went up to Ann and gave her a hug.

"Thanks for a wonderful Thanksgiving. You take care of yourself," I said.

"You too. If you need anything and I mean anything at all, just call. If not, call anyways," she said.

"I will. Bye Mama, love you," I said.

"Love you too Pumpkin," she said.

Then I got into the truck and buckled myself. I waited for Kevin to tell his mom good bye.

"Don't cry," Kevin said as he hugged his mom.

"Sorry, it's just that I'm going to miss my son," he said.

"I know. I'm going to miss you too," he said as he began to cry.

He hugged her tightly then let go.

"Call me when your plane lands. No matter what time it is," she said.

"I will," he said.

She kissed him on the cheek. Then she backed away.

"I love you," she said.

"I love you too Mom," he said.

Then he got into the truck. He started the truck and backed out. We waved good bye until we couldn't see her anymore. The ride to his brother's house was silent. We pulled up to Jerald's house and got out. As soon as Kevin stepped out his nephews and niece came running out.

"Uncle Kevin!" they shouted.

I laughed as they all attacked him. Then Tim and Jerald came out. I went up to them and hugged them. Then Kevin came over to us. He had Madison in his arms and his two nephews were sitting on his feet as he walked.

"Okay. Ride's over," Kevin said as he reached his brother's and me.

They all got down and took off running into the house. Then we walked in.

"No running!" yelled their moms from the living room.

We walked in and said hi to them. Then we sat down and talked with them for a while. But we didn't stay too long.

"Okay. Uncle Kevin's leaving!" shouted Kevin.

The kids came flying to him. He picked each one up giving them a hug and kiss.

"Okay, now I want you guys to be good to your dads. They're getting kind of old," Kevin said.

"Yeah, Daddy's slow," Matthew said.

"Yep, my daddy's old," Madison said.

We all laughed.

"Oh yeah," said Tim.

Then he began to run after Matthew. Jerald picked up Madison and bean to tickle her.

"Your daddy's not old, is he?" he questioned.

"No, he's not," she said as she laughed.

"Okay, well we have to leave now," Kevin said. "But not before we give you your presents."

"Whoopee!" yelled the children.

"Presents already?" Lisa, Jerald's wife, questioned.

"Yeah, isn't it a little early?" Heather, Tim's wife, asked.

"Never," the children said happily.

"Well I don't know if I'm going to make it back down here before Christmas. So I'll give you the presents now," Kevin said.

Kevin went around to the back of the truck. He opened a bag up and took out presents. He handed one to eveyone. They all ripped open their presents. Kevin and I stood there watching the children's faces light up.

"You like your presents?" Kevin asked.

"Yes!" the children squealed.

"They're wonderful, Kevin," Lisa said.

"Thank you," Heather said.

"It's great bro.," Jerald said.

"Thanks little bro.," Tim said.

"You're welcome," he said. "Okay, so who's driving Janel and I to the airport?"

"I will," Jerald said.

"Okay, let's go," Kevin said.

We told eveyone good bye again. Then we got into the truck. The children waved good bye until we turned the corner.

"Ready to go back on tour?" Jerald asked.

"Yeah, I guess," Kevin said.

"Only about a week and a half left," I said.

"Yep, and then I'm off," Kevin said.

"That's good. You'll finally have a break," Jerald said.

We arrived at the airprot. Kevin and I grabbed our luggage. Kevin told Jerald good bye one more time. Then we went in to wait for eveyone else. All the guys arrived with their girlfriends. Lauren and Stacey told us good bye first. They had to go back to New York. I hugged them both and then A.J. and Howie walked them to their terminal. Then Tina was next to leave. She had to go back to work until the week before Christmas. Then she would be back with Nick for Christmas. After that our flight was called. Ashley told us all good bye. Then she and Brian said good bye. He kissed her and then got on. We all sat down in our seats. All the guys closed their eyes trying to go to sleep. I just stared out the window into the dark sky sprinkled with little stars.

"What are you doing?" Kevin asked.

"Just staring at the stars," I said.

"Are you okay?" Kevin asked. "I mean so much has happened lately. If something's wrong I want you to tell me."

I turned to look at Kevin. I loved him so much. I leaned forward kissed him on the lips.

"I'm think I'm okay. I've survived this whole thing with the help of your love," I said as I held his hand. "I think I've made peace with everything. I know that Jerry's not going to jail for what he did to me. But he's terrified that I'm going to tell my mom. And boy was he pissed when he found out we were together."

"Yeah. His face was hilarious," Kevin said, chuckling.

"And now I have both of my moms back and I got to say good bye to my dad," I said.

"But what about your mom's death?" Kevin questioned.

"Oh yeah," I said. "Well I'm not quite sure about that. I know there's nothing anyone can do for her. So I guess I just have to cherish what little time I have left with her," I said as tears began to fill my eyes.

Kevin lifted up the arm rest and then pulled me into his arms.

"Ssh, it's okay," Kevin said.

I closed my eyes and held onto him. He kissed the top of my head and went to sleep.