Thank You for Loving Me

Ellie just sat there and stared into space. She didn’t know how to react. She just looked at her parents in shock.  It took her a few moments before she could say anything. “When do we have to leave?” she asked them still staring into space.

“Well we needed to sign some papers with the clinic and they want to talk to you to make sure that this is what you want also but as your parents because you’re underage you still have to do what we want. So we need to go back tomorrow.” Cecelia told her.

Putting her hand to her forehead and rubbing, “Yeah ok. I need to go for a walk.” She said standing up.

“But it’s getting dark out Sweetie.” Her Mom told her.

“It’s ok I just need to get out of here.” She said as she went for the door.

“But you don’t have a coat Ellie!” her Mom yelled. But she just left fast.

“I know where she’s going. She’s just going next door.” Marsha told them.

“To see that boy right?” Cecelia said. Marsha and Michael just looked at each other and nodded.

Ellie really didn’t seem to know where she was going. She was just looking around and walked down to the end of the driveway. Then she had seen John’s car in his driveway and decided to walk up it. When she got up to the porch she didn’t know what to do. Should she knock, ring the doorbell? She really had never been over his house before. She thought that was funny and strange all at the same time. She stood there for a few minutes and decided against it. She was too upset to bring down their mood so she just sat in one of the chairs and curled up in a ball.

The family had just eaten and Carol was cleaning up in the kitchen. John Sr. was in the living room and was watching the six O’clock news. Tony and Matty were doing their homework as John was upstairs listening to music and trying to figure out what his next step was going to be in the group because he was writing some songs. He thought he would try them out on Ellie and see what she thought of them when he heard the phone ring. He heard his Dad yell that he would get it.

 The next thing was his Dad yelled up to him. “John could you please come down here for a minute?”

“COMING!” John yelled.  He wondered what his Dad could want. Jogging down the stairs, “Yeah Dad what’s up?” he asked him.

Looking up the stairs as John thought was strange, “By any chance is Ellie up there with you?” he asked his son.

John looked at his Dad liked he lost his mind. Carol who was in the kitchen heard this and of course came out and walked over to them. “Um no why?” he asked then looking at his Dad asked, “Ok why is there something wrong? Is she ok? What the Hell Dad?” he started getting nervous. 

“Ok calm down that was Michael apparently she left the house about an hour ago and she hasn’t come back yet and she didn’t bring a coat with her. Now get this she left because her parents are here and I guess they had a little tiff. Michael didn’t go into it but she just left upset. So he thought maybe she might have come over here to talk to you.” John Sr. explained to them.

That was all John needed to hear. “I’ll be back in a little while.” He said as he went to grab his coat.

“And where do you think you’re going” Carol asked him.

Huffing, “I’m going to look for her Mom what do you think I’m going to do?” John said rather loudly.

“Well then I think you would do better if you took your father with you. You can do better with the two of you looking.” She said. They both looked at her like she had two heads. “Well don’t be so surprised will you?” She told them as she made a puckered face at them.

Just then Matty walked over to them and said, “Mom there’s someone sleeping on the porch?”

“What honey?” Carol asked her son.

“There’s someone sleeping on the porch? I just went to turn on the porch light for Dad and John and I saw out the window that there is someone sleeping on the porch.” Matty told them.

John flew to the front door and opened it and as he went out there on the chair in the corner of the porch was Ellie curled up on the chair. He sighed and went over to her as she felt cold as ice. So he picked her up and brought her in the house. “Mom, Mom she’s freezing, please do something.” He begged his mother.

“Put her over on the couch Johnny. John Honey get the blankets out of the closet in the den I think I have one of the heated ones in there. I’m going to get the hot water going for some tea. Then I’m going to call Marsha and let them know that we found her.” Carol told John.

“But Mom there’s a reason she ran off couldn’t we just wait a while at least until she tells me why?” John asked his Mom.

“I’m sorry John but if her parents are here then they are scared to death wondering where the hell she is and if she’s ok? If this was you I would be besides myself. And the way you talk about her and her family she is very close to them. I have to call ok?” Carol explained to him.

“Fine but I don’t have to like it.” He told her back.

John Sr. came back with the heated blanket and John wrapped her up in it. He started it off on low and sat by her and held her very cold hand and kissed the top off her head.

Carol got the water going and then went to the telephone. John Sr. then asked her, “Telephoning the Levine’s?”

“Yes it must be what I think it is don’t you?” she asked her husband.

“Well let’s see her parents are here and she took off. They’re taking her home. I think we’re going to be going thru the same thing don’t you think Honey?” John asked his wife.

“Well to be honest at least we don’t have to worry so much we have the boy he’s street smart not as naive as she is.” She told John Sr.”

“Don't tell me you’re going soft on me Dear?” John wanted to know?

“Who Me?” she asked him as she put her hands to her chest and smiled.

Carol called next door and Marsha answered the phone and was relieved that Ellie was safe. She told them that they would be right over to get her. Carol asked them if they could at least wait a while seeing that she did come by to talk to John and that maybe she should get that chance to do so. Marsha put her on hold for a moment so she could ask her Uncle and Aunt. A few minutes later she came back on and told her that would be fine but by eleven they would come and get her. Carol told her that would be fine. Carol hung up the phone and relayed the info to her son and husband.

John was getting antsy and wanted her to wake up. He was getting worried now that she wasn’t waking up. So he decided to take her arms and rub them down to get the flow of blood going and hope to warm her up this way also. He also tried talking to her asking her to wake up anything he could think of. After a few minutes of this she started to come around.

“MOM! MOM! I THINKS SHE’S STARTING TO WAKE UP!” he screamed to his mother.

“John I don’t think the whole neighborhood heard you.” She told him as she carried in the tea. “Here give her this as she starts to waken a little more alright?” she told him as she put the tea on the table. “I’m going back in the den with your father if you need anything else come and get me DO NOT YELL alright.” She told her eldest.

Her son promised not to yell again unless something drastic happens. When he was sure his mother was out of the room he leaned into her and kissed her on her soft lips hoping that she would wake up a little faster. When he pulled away he was disappointed that it only worked in fairy tales. So he continued to rub her arms and within the next few minutes he heard some moaning and when he looked up she was starting to move her head. So he grabbed her face and gently rubbed her cheeks and it didn’t take long for her to start to open her eyes.

“That’s it baby open your eyes come on open your eyes I know you can do it.” He was cheering her on. It didn’t take her long only because she swore she could hear his voice and wasn’t sure if it was a dream or not. She was finally able to open them and in front of her as a fuzzy but gorgeous John she thought. She was shaking all over as John asked her, “Ellie Baby can you hear me?”

“J…John?” was all she could get out as her teeth were chattering she was so cold.

“Hey baby that’s it just take your time I’m here.” He told her as he pulled up the heated blanket so she would be covered a little bit more.

“Wh…where am I?” she asked him as she was a little discombobbled.

“You’re at my house Ellie, do you remember coming over here?” John asked her.

“N…n…no. Why am I s…so cold?” she asked him.

“Because we found you sleeping out on the porch. Why didn’t you knock to come in Baby?” he asked her concerned.

“D…don’t kn…know.” she told him.

“Ok, ok maybe when you warm up you’ll remember, here Mom made some tea for you I want you to try and drink some.” He said as he lifted her head and then put the tea cup to her mouth as she sipped the tea. She took a few sips and then John put it back down on the table.  “How does that feel Ellie any better?” he asked her hoping at least it was starting to warm her up just a little. She shooked her head yes. “Ellie what the hell were you thinking? You could have froze to death out there.” He told her angrily at her even thou he tried hard not to. 

Ellie just turned her head so she didn’t have to look at him as the tears started to flow. John saw this and now felt like a heel. “Ellie please don’t cry. I didn’t mean to make you cry Baby. I’m sorry you just scared the hell out of me that’s all.” He told her as he lifted her and held her in his arms. “Now sh sh, it’s going to be ok I’ve got you you’re safe now I promise.” He told her as he held her tighter than he ever did.

“John I have to tell you something.” She said into his chest.

“Ok are you remembering why you came over Sweetie?” he asked her looking down at her.

“Yeah I guess.” she said as the tears just kept coming.

“Ok then do you remember why you didn’t knock to come in?’ he wanted to know.

“Y…yes I didn’t want to b…burden you with this.” she told him as the tears were now running down her face.

“Ok Ellie I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s going on. Why were you out on the porch? If fact why did you run away in the first place?” Jon needed to know.

“My parents are here.” She told him still crying.

“And?” he asked getting frustrated.

“They want to take me home John! They want to take me home.” She told him again putting her face into his chest as he just looked straight ahead. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He knew this day would be coming he just didn’t know that it would be this soon. So he just held her tighter so he could remember everything about her. The way she felt, the way she smelled, the way she fitted into his arms, the way her hair felt, every little thing was going thru his mind. 

Finally he asked her, “When, when are they going to take you away from me?”

“I don’t know I just took off when they told me. I couldn’t handle it and I needed to get some air. So I just walked out the door.” She told him.

“They let you walk out without a coat?” he wanted to know.

“I don’t think they had a choice. Plus I think Marsha thought I’d be coming over here anyway so?” she said numb too.

“They didn’t think that you weren’t going to come and get me thou. “ he said as she jumped in.

“I told you I didn’t want to bother you and plus I didn’t know how to tell you ok! Can we just leave it at that please? I made a mistake I was trying to figure out how to tell you and apparently I fell asleep. I’m sorry what more do you want me to say John.” She was saying to him as he jumped in.

“No I’m sorry ok? I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just that you scared the hell out of me that’s all. It’s just that I love you so damn much and the thought of anything happening to you well…” he told her while hugging her tight. “Look I’m going to go tell my folks that your awake and what’s happening you know why you were coming over here and everything. Are you going to be ok for just a little bit?’ he asked her. She told him that she would and he left to go talk to his parents as she finished her tea.

John found his parents in the den watching t.v. “Hey can I talk to you guys for a minute?” he asked them sounding upset.

Carol looking at her son knew something was wrong. “John what’s wrong? There was a reason she came over here wasn’t there?” she asked him having a feeling that she knew what it was.

“Yeah her parents are here for a reason. I guess they didn’t like the results that they were getting from the clinic so they asked for a few things and I don’t know anyway they came here and told her that they were taking her home.” They could hear a hitch in his voice.

“Oh Sweetheart I’m sorry but you knew this was coming. You both did.” Carol told him as she got up from her chair to walk over to him.

“Mom I don’t need to hear I told you so’s right now ok I just need my parents.” He told her as he really tried not to cry because he was a guy and guys don’t cry.

John Sr. also got up and walked over to the two of them. “Well John you have us and we’ll do what we can alright? First thing how’s Ellie taking this other than taking off?” he wanted to know. 

“About like I am she’s upset and needed to talk but then she didn’t want to burden any of us so she decided to sit down for a minute and think it thru then fell asleep. You know the rest, man she could have froze to death if Matty did see her lying there.” John said upset.

“Well she’s one lucky girl.” John Sr. said. “Why don’t we take her back and then we can at least meet her folks how does that sound?” John Sr. asked.

“Can’t she just stay here for a little while Dad?” John asked him as if almost pleading.

“John she’s going to have to go back some time so we might as well go now and go with her.” His father told him. “So why don’t you go out and tell her while your mother and I grab our coats and tell your brothers.” John Sr. said.

John went back in the living room and explained to her that he and his parents were going to take her back next door. She really didn’t want to go but she understood. John went and got his coat and one for her. But before his parents came into the room he snuck a quick kiss in just in case they weren’t able to when he leaves her.

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Back at the Levine’s Paul was wearing the carpet thin as Michael was trying to calm him down and the women where in the kitchen getting the coffee. Cecelia thought it was best that neither of them should be drinking at a time like this. They brought the coffee into the living room and they all sat trying to make conversation when the front door bell rang. Marsha was the first one up to get it. Opening the door there stood Ellie and the Bongiovi’s.

“Ellie oh my God Honey are you ok?” she asked her cousin.

“Yeah I’m fine.” She told her as they walked in.

“John, Carol thank you for bringing her back. Oh let me introduce you to my Aunt and Uncle, Paul and Cecelia Anderson this is Carol and John Bongiovi and their son John.” Marsha told them as Ellie and John were hand in hand. They all shook hands and then Paul came to John and John gave him a good handshake.

“I’m sorry our daughter bothered you in any way but she received some unwanted news and decided to just take off instead of talking to us about it.” Cecelia told them.

“She didn’t bother us did she Mom?” John interjected upset.

“No Dear she didn’t you see, Cecelia correct? My son and your daughter have been seeing each other about a month since she arrived. So we know her very well she’s a very nice girl and my son is very taken with her. Anyway we just thought that we would bring her back and introduce ourselves.” Carol explained to them.

“Well I’m glad you did only because we knew of your son but not to the extent of their friendship. She only told us the he was a friend of hers not a boyfriend.” Cecelia told them giving her daughter the eye.

John just squeezed her hand as he listened to all this as she just looked at him with an apologetic smile. He gave her a wink that told her that it was alright. Finally they all took a seat as Ellie’s parents explained to them what brought them there and why. What the doctors said and how they thought they wanted to do more exams on her to see if they could pin point the exact location to trigger that was causing her pain, but as they thought about it more they realized they were just using her as a guinea pig and they thought that she was being put through enough.  Cecelia could see as they were talking that Ellie and John were holding hands the entire time. She realized that this was going to be very difficult for her daughter to leave here. But if this was meant to be they would find a way to be together some way in the future but not right now.

“Look we’ll be leaving tomorrow afternoon because your Dad needs to get back to work on Monday Ellie and we have a lot to do over the weekend. I can see that you and John are very fond of each other and if you two want to continue having Oh My a relationship well if it’s meant to be you two will find a way. But right now you need to come home with us. Do you understand?” he mother asked her.

With her heart sinking she looked at John then at her parents. “Yeah I understand. I don’t have to like it but I do understand.” She told them sadly. “Can I say goodbye to John at least?” she asked.

“Oh course you can.” Her father told her.

They walked into the kitchen and when they were out of everyone’s eye sight they just grabbed each other tight.

“John what are we going to do?” she asked as the tears started all over again.

“I don’t know Baby we’ll just do what we can ok? We’ll call each other and write and when I turn eighteen I can come to Massachusetts and visit you. Then once you turn eighteen then we can figure out what we want to do. It will go by fast I promise.” He told her as he kissed the top of her head.

“No it won’t and you know that. John I’ll die without you.” She told him holding him tight.

“No you won’t ok, just think of the time when I turn eighteen ok. That will help and I’ll save up so I’ll have my own room and we can be together just you and me. I promise it will work out, we will be together. Look I’ll call in sick tomorrow that way we can spend all morning together before you leave. I love you Ellie we’ll get thru this.” he told her and gave her such a kiss that it curled her toes. Next thing they heard was Carol calling his name so they went back into the living room. Carol and John Sr. told him and Ellie that they had to get back to the boys so they should be leaving. They all made they’re goodbye’s and John told her he’d see her tomorrow. Carol looked at her son and he just gave her the eye.

Once home Carol asked John what was all that about seeing Ellie in the morning and John told her not to freak out about it but he was going to call in sick tomorrow so he could spend his last day with her. Carol was about to argue with him but John Sr. stop her. He told his son to go to bed so the morning would get here faster. Once John went upstairs he said to his wife, “What was all that about?”

“What?” she asked him.

“You know damn well. You were going to argue with him about taking the day off tomorrow to say goodbye to her. I mean really Carol it’s one day.” John Sr. told her pissed.

“Well I didn’t and you were right to shh me. Tonight wasn’t the night just a bad habit. Let’s just go to bed also it’s been a long day.” She told her husband trying very hard to hold her grin in.

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Ellie wasn’t talking to anyone as the Bongiovi’s left. She just went to her room in a huff.

“She’ll get over it Aunt Cecelia just give her time.” Marsha told as she was trying to comfort her.

“She in love so she’s not going to get over it for a while. But she can’t stay here forever and after a while they will forget they’re young. Marsha I need to get Paul out of here before he blows. We’ll be back here early just take care of my baby and don’t let her run off with him please?” Cecelia asked her niece.

“I won’t Aunt Cecelia she’ll be fine here and with Michael watching them believe me she won’t be going anywhere.” She promised her.

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Morning came and Marsha was helping Ellie pack her things. Ellie wasn’t saying much as there really wasn’t much to say. Then Michael came in to tell them John was here to see her. She asked if it was ok to see him. They told her of course it was and she left to go into the living room as Marsha stay to pack up the rest of her things.

Entering, John was standing there wringing his hands and just looking his gorgeous self. Her heart jumped and she tried to keep the tears from flowing. John turned around and saw her standing there staring at him. “Ellie? Hey. You look absolutely beautiful.” He told her as he held out his hand to her. Walking to him she wrapped her arms around him as he did her and they kissed each other passionately and didn’t care who was in the house. They had lasted about a minute when they finally parted, “Well maybe I should walk in and we can do that again?” he said to her as he squeezes her tight.

“I wouldn’t mind that.” She told him smiling.

“So are you’re um parents here?” he wanted to know.

“No not yet but they called and are on their way. God John I so don’t want to go home but I don’t have a chance in hell to stay here. I love you so much John.” Ellie told him with all of her heart.

“I know Baby and I love you too believe me and we’ll find a way believe me we will. Like I said when I turn eighteen I can come and visit you then we can figure something out alright? We can do this.” he told her.

They talked about what was going to happen when she got home and she gave him her home number and address as he did the same. It wasn’t long when her parents got there and she had brought John with her into her room to carry her bags to the rental. When the car was all packed it was hard to say goodbye. Katie and Tommy didn’t understand either why she had to leave and were crying as they were saying their goodbyes. They were clinging on to their parents as she was trying to say thank you to them for letting her stay with them and everything they did for her. But the hardest was John. Even thou they had already said goodbye just seeing each other and knowing that this was the last time that this was going to be the last time that they were going to see each other for a long while was killing both of them. They held each other’s hands and finally John could have cared less and went in for a kiss. Just a sweet kiss but a kiss. He then walked her to the car and opened the door for her and then closed it as he felt his heart closed also.  Paul started the car and as he drove out he honked the horn as it went thru John’s heart as he saw them drive away. He just stood there for a while looking at nothing until Marsha finally walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder. He just smiled weakly, turned and walked home.

Until the next installment  year 1985