Coming Home Again?

It was around ten a.m. and Cecelia was getting ready to go pick up her daughter from the hospital when there was a knock on the door. ‘Oh great she thought.’ She didn’t have time for company and would just have to tell them that. But when she opened the door she was surprised at who was standing there.

“Hi Mom.” Jon said as he walked in solemnly.

She knew this couldn’t be good. “Jon Honey what’s the matter? I was just on my way up to get Ellie.” she told him as he sat down.

“I know but I couldn’t stay there. I think things have changed between us.” He told her as he looked down at his hands as he twirled them.

Sitting down herself now, “What makes you think that?”

Finally looking up at her he told her of their conversation this morning and how it hit him right in his stomach. “I really thought that she was ok with moving to New Jersey because before I left to go on this tour she was all gun ho about looking for a house. What changed?” he asked her Mother.

“I don’t know Jon with Ellie it could be anything. It could have been a conversation anyone of us had with her and all of a sudden reality set in for her. You know that the only time that she was away from us was that summer in seventy-eight and boy did her Father and I have to talk to her about that and my the crying that went with it. Oh not to mention the temper tantrum that went with it.” Cecelia explained to him smiling.

“Really that bad huh? Yeah she wasn’t that forth coming to anyone at first. Especially me.” Jon gave a soft laugh.

“Yes she told me. But then at least she had her cousins now she won’t really have anyone once you leave will she? And that scares her.” She explained a little more in-depth to him.

Listening he told her, “But she’ll have Richie’s parents and Dave’s and I’m going to install a security system in so they’ll be safe. Plus she knows she can call you anytime she wants or go see you anytime she wants.” He said as he sat up excitable in a good way.

“She knows that Jon but it’s the loneliness and not having us there constantly like here that’s bothering her. You just need to give her time but I take it you want to leave soon?” Cecelia asked him.

“Yeah I was hoping when I got here that we could pack up some of their stuff and go this week so we could start looking for a house but I didn’t expect this when I arrived. She did suggest for me to take Jimmy so we could spend some time together and then she’ll come later but she also said that if my Mother got wind of it and dropped in on me that she would make my life a living hell.” He told her making that duck face and eyes wide expression.

“Well that could be some of the pain meds there giving her Honey. They’re supposed to be taking her off as of today so hopefully she’ll be back to herself by tomorrow.” She told him.

“But Mom do you think she’ll come with me you know back to New Jersey?” he asked his future Mother-in-law.

“I get it you want her to go with you and Jimmy right?” she asked him.

Smiling, “Yeah I do. It’s not that I don’t want to be alone with Jimmy it’s just that well…I just want my family all three of us together you know?” he said.

“You can say it Jon it’s alright you know. You also love her. Because she loves you more than anything in this world. Now come let’s go get our girl shall we?” Cecelia said as they got up and they headed off to the hospital.

*************************************************************************

Ellie was sound asleep when her Mother and Jon walked into her room with her walking papers.

“She still looks like a little girl when she sleeps.” Cecelia told him. Jon smiled as he walked up to her and as he gently shooked her she started to mumble something as she was smiling.

“Baby come on wake up were taking you home.” He told her close to her ear.

“hmm Jonny please (giggling) Jimmy might come in.” she said as Jon just stood there not knowing what to do. So he shook her some more.

“Baby come on Me and your MOM are here we’re taking you home wake up Please.” He begged her now.

“Oh yeah Jonny right there right…” and then Jon kissed her hard as her eyes went wide!

Pushing him off as she was startled. “What The Hell!” she asked shocked.

“It’s ok it’s just me Ellie.” Jon told her calming her down.

“Oh ok but why, how, why?” she asked him confused.

“Well you were waking up and talking in your sleep Babe so I had too um…” Jon was trying to explain the best he could when Cecelia interrupted.

“Oh Honey what Jon is trying to say politely is you were talking in your sleep and you must have been having a sex dream of him so to shut you up in front of me he kissed you.”  She told her as her mouth just hung open.

“K” was all she could say as Jon just stood there trying not to laugh.

They had gotten Ellie dressed and signed out and back home in no time. Cecelia had set her up in the living couch for now so Jon could be with her then she asked them what they wanted for lunch. But Jon wouldn’t have it. Ellie just watched the two of them go at it on who was going to do lunch. So finally Ellie interceded. “Ok that’s enough! Mom could you please make me a cup of tea and Jon there’s the Town Pizza just down the street you know where it is right? Good so why don’t you go and get some sandwiches from there say two meatball sub’s for me and Mom and whatever you want and then bring home a menu then we can all relax how’s that?” Ellie asked them. They seemed to agree and off Jon went.

When her Mom brought her her tea she asked Ellie what that was all about and she just told her that Jon doesn’t want her to be waiting on him or me for that matter seeing that she has a family on top of everything else. Well Cecelia felt flattered but she’s been taking care of her family for twenty-five years now and she’ll be doing it for another twenty-five years. Cecelia also told her of the talk she had with him and how nervous he is of losing her because she’s afraid of going to New Jersey with him. Ellie just looked at her Mom and couldn’t believe Jon actually talked to her mother about that. Her heart nearly jumped right out of her chest. Cecelia could tell that meant a lot to her daughter and told her that if she wanted to discuss it further they could.

Jon came back with lunch and they got Ellie comfortable at the kitchen table. They had a wonderful lunch as they talked and Jon explained what was going to happen when he would go to Vancouver to start recording their third album. After they finished he got Ellie set back up in the living room when Cecelia heard a knock on the door. When she answered it, it was the nurse from the agency that they had contacted for Jon so Ellie could leave the hospital. She was a woman in the forty’s and wasn’t bad looking. Dark hair and she wore it up.

“Mrs. Anderson Hello I’m Sara Downey. I’m here to check on your daughter. The hospital sent me to check on her today and tomorrow.” She told her stepping in.

“Oh yes well she’s in the living room with her fiance so won’t you come with me.” Sara followed Cecelia in and as they entered they caught them making out on the couch. Cecelia smiled as she let out an “Um hum” as the kids stopped and quickly looked as they saw them standing there watching as they wanted to crawl under the couch. Well at least Ellie did Jon could of cared less. She was his and felt he wasn’t doing anything wrong.

“Hi Mom what’s up?” she asked as she wanted to die.

“Jon, Ellie this is Sara Downey and she’s the nurse that the Hospital wanted to have you looked at.” She told them still trying not to laugh at them. As they all shooked hands and such Sara explained what she needed to do and if it was alright to have some privacy. Jon looked at Cecelia and she just took him by the arm as she guided him out of the room so they could have it.

Entering the kitchen he asked her, “Mom you do know that I’m her fiance right?”

Looking at him with a smile on her face she told him, “Why yes Dear I do. Is there any reason why you’re telling me this?”

Pacing the floor, “Well yeah I’m her fiance so why can’t I be in there with her? If there is something wrong shouldn’t I know about it?” he asked.

“Well the same reason she asked me to leave. Ellie is of age and it’s her right not to have anyone there while she’s being examined. It’s all the privileged stuff you know?” she smiled at him.

“This is stupid.” He said still pacing.

Just then Paul walked into the house. “Hey whose car is that in the driveway?” he asked as he saw Jon walking the floor. “What’s wrong with him?” he asked him wife.

“Oh that’s the nurse’s car that is looking after Ellie and she asked the two of to leave so he’s annoyed.” She told him smiling at her husband.

“Well damn right Jon you two aren’t married yet so in my house you can stay here.” He told him straight out.

Jon just looked at him and was about to say something to him when Cecelia walked by him and shooked her head no and also mouthed the word No with her facial expressions adamantly. Jon knew if she did that then not to say anything to him because he wasn’t her husband, Yet. So he sat down at the table and just waited until Sara was done to find out if Ellie was ok or not. But another thought occurred to him if this was Jimmy no one but no one could keep him out of there if that was his son.

It didn’t take long for Sara to look Ellie over. Once she was finished she walked into the kitchen and told Jon and her parents that her blood pressure was low but everything else seemed good. Jon asked her if that was bad on her blood pressure and he heard a voice from behind him say that it wasn’t because she does have low blood pressure and would someone please tell her that.

Cecelia stepped in. “Yes she does so I wouldn’t worry about it just for your information. Our doctor knows all about it and so does her Gyno. But I’ll get it back up there all she needs is some salt in her food and she’ll be fine.” Cecelia explained to her.

“Fine but I still need to report it. But like I said she looks fine her incision looks good so just change the bandage again tonight and if there are any changes here is my number please call me or just get her to the E/R as soon as possible. I’ll be here tomorrow around this time to check on her again and I’ll check in with the doctor also and if he gives me the all clear I’ll sign her off.” She told them.

Jon was just glad she left and brought Ellie back into the living room after Ellie said Hi to her Dad. “Well she was something right?”

“She was a snob. She had made up her mind before she had gotten her alright. I swear I thought she was going to explode my arm off while taking my blood pressure.” She told him.

“What! Why didn’t you yell for me I would have taken care of that El I’m paying her for crying out loud?” Jon said angrily.

“Then call the agency but I didn’t want you to confront her I know how you get.” She told him as she leaned in to him and gave him a kiss.

“You keep doing that and…” he said as she cut him off.

“I keep doing that and my Dad will kill both of us.” She said smiling.

“Oh about that yeah he kind of read the riot act to me as your Mom quietly silenced me to get quiet.” He told her.

“What happened?” she asked him curiously.

“Ooh I was pacing the kitchen floor and your Dad asked your Mom what was wrong and she told him that I was uptight about being asked to leave you while Sara was examining you. So your Dad said of course I should have been asked to leave were not married and that this is his house blah blah blah so I was about to say something and your Mom walked by me and basically shooked her head not to say anything so I took her advice. I didn’t want to start anything with him But if that was Jimmy you bet your ass I would have or if we were married I would have.” Jon informed her.

“Oh I’m sure you would have Honey and I know it’s hard for you to assert your rights as you’re my fiance when my Dad still sees us as his kids. So Thank You.” She thanked him as she cuddled into him and hoped she pacified his manhood a little. It was tough having two very strong headed men around.

“You’re welcome Baby. You know I love your parents. They’ve accepted me into your family even after the whole debacle. They could have hated me for getting you pregnant and my Mom doing what she did and never letting me see you or my son. But instead they accepted me into their family and even call me Son and want me to call them Mom and Dad. I don’t think they know how much that means to me.” He told her.

Smiling she told him, “Oh I think they do. Mom and I have talked about it. They love you because I love you and they see how much you love me and Jimmy. They’re not stupid Jon. And well they know what we do when were together they just don’t want us doing it under their roof that’s all. Which I can see where there coming from. You know Beth and Sean. Which I hate to tell them but they know more than they think. They know more than I did at they’re age. But I didn’t have any older siblings to explain anything to me.” She said smiling.

“Hey you had me Baby told her nuzzling her ear.” He.

Pushing him away, “Yeah and look where that got me Mister!”

“Oh yeah right. Do you regret it?” he asked her smiling.

“Stop. You know I don’t. Well not now. We already talked about this.” she told him.

“OK then how about this what about going back to New Jersey with me we haven’t finished talking about that. So are you coming back with me or not? Because I think you’re using this as an excuse not to come back with me. And I’m not going back by myself or with Jimmy without you. The three of us are going together. I get that you’re scared El but I want to make a home with the three of us, our family don’t you get it?” he asked her as she could see it in his deep blue eyes.

Thinking for a second then looking up at him she said, “Yeah I get it Jon. I’m sorry, I’m sorry about being a baby about this.” she told him.

“Hey I get it I really do. You’re used to being here with your family and having them help you out. But now I’m here and I want to be here for you. But I know I won’t be here all the time and you’re scared that you’ll be lonely and who will help you out. But Baby that’s the best part of me being in a successful band. We can hire help for you. So that won’t be a problem and as for you being lonely you and Jimmy can visit me anytime or family anytime. So please let me do this for you ok? I feel I need to make up for so much and I can. I love you so much let me do this Please?” he told her.

“Jon you don’t need to make up for anything I’ve told you this. We’ve worked everything out that we had to so I need you to stop feeling guilty please. I love you too Jon. Here I am telling you to grow up at times and I can’t seem to do it. I’m just being silly I guess. Once we get our house and settled in I’ll be fine. It’s just that I don’t like change that’s all.” She told him with a half-smile.

“You don’t like change? But you went thru the biggest change of all Babe. Jimmy and look what you accomplished with him. Look let me call the Realtor and have her set some bookings and get them ready for next week ok? That way we can at least start looking and get some ideas what we like in houses alright.” He said to her hopeful.

“That would be wonderful Jon.” She told him.

That afternoon Jimmy came home and was thrilled that not only was his Mommy home from the hospital but his Daddy was home too. Jon was in his glory that he had his little family together as Paul and Cecelia watch from afar. They were delighted to see them together as Jon doted on both of them so Ellie could rest and Cecelia could take care of the rest of the family. That impressed Paul because no one asked him to do it.

The next couple of days were quite as Jon made a few phone calls to the realtor as she was setting up some homes for them to look at when they get back to New Jersey next week. Ellie was trying to tell him that she had to start getting things ready for them to pack but she needed more suitcases for their things. So Jon told her that he would go out and get them which Cecelia told him it wouldn’t be a good idea for him to do that. She told them that she and Paul would go and get them so he wouldn’t be recognized but he told her that he would put on his hat and sunglasses and that’s when Ellie burst out laughing.

Turning to face her, “So what’s so funny Babe?” he asked her seriously.

“You. Do you really think that your fans don’t recognize you when you put that damn baseball hat and sunglasses on?” she asked him still laughing.

“What? You can’t see me underneath it? Can you?” he asked her a bit hurt.

“Oh Sweetie don’t give me that. Look You’re on MTV now and they’re playing you’re videos all the time and telling everyone that you guys are going to be putting out you’re third album soon. At least within the next year. Plus you’re cute as a bug Jon how can they not know it’s you?” she teased him.

“If your mother wasn’t standing here oh would you get it.” He told her making a face at her as she giggled.

“Jon really we don’t mind going to get them. So why don’t both of you start getting things ready here with what you have while you’re waiting ok?” She told them smiling as she went back into the kitchen.

Looking at Ellie he said, “You do know your Mom is a very wise woman.”  

“Yeah I know she approves of you doesn’t she?” she told him and he leaned in and kissed her.

Only moving about an inch from her he said, “Yeah I know.” And continued kissing her. He helped her upstairs and they started sorting out Jimmy’s clothes first and then his toys. As Jon pulled out the first box to start putting his toys in Ellie then remember that she hadn’t call the school for his transcripts or if she needed anything since he was only in preschool. Plus she needed to call the doctor’s office also. Jon told her to calm down and to go do it while he would continue to box up most of his toys. She kissed him and went downstairs and started to make the phone calls.

As he was putting the toys away he found a photo book that Ellie had kept on her bureau. He had never seen this one before and wondered why she hadn’t shown him this one. He opened it and on the first page was a picture of him when he was sixteen years old and it must have been taken during the Fourth of July party that his parents had thrown. But he didn’t know who took it. It was a close up of him and it was pretty good if he thought so himself. It had to have been Michael or Marsha who took the picture of him. But thing was she kept it all these years. He kept going thru the album and there were more photos of the two of them during that summer. She never threw them away. She kept them. His heart was banging thru his chest as he was going thru the book when he turned the page and came across an ultrasound picture which had to be of Jimmy. He almost stopped breathing. Every emotion was now going thru him and anger seemed to be the number one feeling right now. Now he knew how Ellie felt right at his moment about his mother. Keeping him from her and everything to do with missing the most life changing experience of his life that he can never get back. He kept flipping thru the book and saw Jimmy go thru his infant stages to where he is today. Missing his Christening to all his firsts. Then there were more photos of the three of them since they have been together. This book really threw him for a loop as tears had formed in his eyes so when she finally walked into her room she found him sitting on her bed with it as she just stopped dead in her tracks.

Looking up from the photo book all Jon could say was, “Hey.”

“Hi whatcha got there?” she asked him like she didn’t know.

“I um found this sitting on your bureau. I’m sorry if I um wasn’t supposed to look at it. But I thought…well I got nosy.” He told her as she could now see the tears in his eyes as she got closer.

“No it’s fine I just…I was going to show you that but I was waiting for a quieter time for us. I thought now with us finally going back to New Jersey that I’d take that with me I would show it to you there you know just the two of us. So what did you think of it?” she asked him sitting beside him.

Turning so he could look at her, “It’s beautiful Baby. I thought you had gotten ridden all of our pictures together from our time together?” he said to her.

“Well I was thinking about it but I couldn’t because our time together was wonderful and we were in love and I just couldn’t destroy them. I did put them in a box for the longest time thou but then after Jimmy was born I bought this photo book and started it. I wanted Jimmy to have something of us when he got older and that I’d just add to it. Take special events from his life or just special things that happen and add them. Did you like the ones with you and the band?” she asked him smiling.

“Yeah I did and thank you for putting those in.” he told her smiling back at her with love.

“Why wouldn’t I? His Daddy is going to be a big Rock Star well bigger than he is now that’s for sure. And besides I want him to see the funny clothes you guys are wearing when he’s older because he’s never going to believe when I tell him he’s going to need proof.” She told him laughing.

“Oh really well I’m going to give you proof right there Brat!” he told her and started to tickle her. They both were laughing like crazy when Jon finally stopped and got serious. “Babe no really thank you for this. This is wonderful because well…you never stopped thinking about me did you?” he asked her.

“Well it was kind of hard since I was carrying your baby. And I always had this dream that you would come for the two of us some day but as the years went you never showed. Then when I did see you at the store a part of me wanted to run into your arms. And the other part of me wanted to punch you right in the face. Did I think you were going to stick around? To tell you the truth no, I had hoped but no I didn’t. But you certainly surprised me and you reminded me why I fell in love with you in the first place.” She told him as she leaned on his shoulder.

“I don’t blame you Baby. But I swear to you right now nothing is going to tear us up ever again.”