Chapter 47

Melissa wasn’t quite sure how she got there or how long it took, but she found herself driving down Jon’s road. Her vision was significantly blurred from crying and she tried to read the numbers on the gates to ensure that she didn’t miss his house, no easy feat in the dark. She made out 734 as the road curved and then saw the familiar gates of his house. Relieved to see they were open, she pulled down in front of the front doors, oblivious to the other cars in the driveway. She tried to wipe the tears away and compose herself a little before exiting the car and ringing the doorbell. She must’ve rang it four times before Steph opened the door.

“I need your dad, please tell me he’s home,” Melissa said.

“Melissa are you ok? Do you want to come in,” Steph asked.

“I just need to talk to your dad,” Melissa said.

“He’s not here right now-“

“Damn it,” Melissa said. I just broke how many laws getting down here and he’s not even here.

“I mean he’s not in the house. I haven’t seen him since he picked me up from school a couple hours ago, they didn’t even come back for dinner. I think they went back up to the studio, if not they may be over at the Shoe Inn, all of their cars are still here,” Steph said pointing up the driveway to first the studio then the other way to the pub.

“Thanks,” Melissa said running for the studio.

Melissa ran up the seemingly eternal driveway and entered the studio. The main level was empty but she could hear voices from upstairs and took them two at a time. She stood in the doorway a minute just looking at Jon. Her Jon, she hoped. Jon turned expecting to see Steph or Amalia bringing them out food and was shocked to see Melissa standing there.

“Melissa,” he asked in shock.

She didn’t move from the doorway unaware of the other two men in the studio with him. Richie watched concerned for the distressed woman and also curious to see how Jon would react. If there was one thing he hated it was being disturbed while in the studio, but this was different, right? This was the woman that he had been wallowing over for weeks.

As fresh tears ran down her face, she spoke. “Please tell me that I’m not too late. Tell me that I didn’t blow everything to hell. Because I’ve had a day from hell and all I could think of was how much I wanted to just be with my boyfriend. How I needed to be with him, with you. Because I need you, but I was afraid to admit it. I was stupid to push you away when what I should’ve done is be honest with you and tell you that I was falling in love with you too. Because I love you, and right now I need you.”

Jon stared at her not knowing what to say. She loves me? Did she really say that? “Oh my god, I’m too late aren’t I,” she said in disbelief.

“No, you’re not too late,” Jon said walking over to her pulling her into a strong hug. He could feel her body tremble as his shirt become wet with her sobs. “Its gonna be ok, shh,” he said stroking her hair trying to comfort her.

After a minute she pulled back from him, and became aware of her surroundings seeing the other men in the studio. “I’m sorry,” she started.

“You really have to stop saying that,” Jon said.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt you while you were working,” she said quietly.

“No trouble at all darlin’. I think we were just leaving anyway, right,” Richie said.

“Yup, just leaving,” the other man said as he gathered his belongings and headed for the door. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow Jon.”

“Thanks,” Jon said as the man left the studio.

“Why don’t you go turn the boards off,” Richie said to Jon. When he didn’t move Richie prodded a little more. “Last think we need is dead equipment when we come back because it was left on.”

“Fine,” Jon said. “I’ll be right back,” he told Melissa as he reluctantly left her to turn off the machines.

“I didn’t tell him anything, though I was getting pretty damn close to,” Richie told Melissa. “He’s been absolutely miserable without you, I haven’t seen him this bad in a long while. He put on a good face though; I’m the only one that knows. He’s been lying to everyone else.”

“Thank you,” Melissa said realizing the sacrifice that he had made staying true to his word.

“You have to tell him though if your serious, or I will. It’s not fair to him, to either one of you really. He’s a good guy, you just have to trust him,” Richie said firmly.

“I know,” she said quietly as Jon walked back over to them.

“Now can we go,” Jon asked Richie.

“She’s all yours,” Richie said to Jon. “I’ll call Angela and tell her where you are. Five bucks says she’s a nervous wreck and is picturing you in a ditch somewhere.”

Once they were alone Jon sat her down on one of the couches and took her hands. “Melissa are you ok?”

“I am now,” she said looking into the familiar eyes that she missed.

“I missed you so much,” he said.

“I missed you too, I really did,” she said quietly.

“Baby what happened today,” he asked.

“Lindsay died, and I know it’s something that I’ve dealt with so many times before. But she was different, I thought she was gonna make it. And all I could think of when Angela told me was you. I don’t know if its because of how great you were with her, or just that you are the person that I need to be with, or it took this to be a wake up call not to let the people in my life slip away,” she said letting her voice trail off.

“I’m so sorry,” he said squeezing her hand. “I know you were close.”

“Thanks, I know she was quite fond of you too,” Melissa said trying to control her tears.

Jon gave her a sympathetic smile as he wiped the tears from her face not really knowing what to feel. She can’t really be gone, I just saw her yesterday. She had her whole life ahead of her. But Melissa, she’s here and she needs me. She’s letting herself need me. That’s what I need to be right now, I’ve gotta be a rock for her to lean on. “Can I ask you something,” he asked.

“Of course.”

“Did you mean what you said,” he asked.

“What part of it,” she asked.

“The part where you said you loved me,” he said.

She nodded. “I did. I mean I do. I love you,” she said staring into his eyes.

He smiled, “Say it again.”

“I love you,” she said a little more securely.

Jon searched her eyes and took her face in his hands and kissed her. The way he dreamed of kissing her for almost a month. The contours of her mouth came flooding back to him, the taste of her lips, the softness of her hair, everything. When they pulled away, they stared into each other’s eyes for a minute, neither knowing what exactly to say or do next.

Melissa was first to break the silence. “I know I have a lot I need to tell you, and I have a hell of a lot of apologizing to do, but can it wait one more day. I just can’t do it tonight, not with everything that happened.”

She did owe him an explanation, something, but right now he knew it was best not to push his luck; she came back, for now that’s all that matters. “Under one condition, stay here tonight with me. Steph is going over a friend’s house so we’ll have the place to ourselves. Stay tonight and tomorrow we can figure out what happened, and what went wrong.”

“I’d like that very much,” she said.

“Ok, but for now lets get back up to the house,” Jon said leading her down the stairs.

She walked back to the house in a kind of numb state. She felt him pull her close to him, but she was too emotionally exhausted to be able to process much else. Why was I so stupid to wait so long to come back to him? I could’ve lost him, she scolded herself. She was brought back to reality when she felt Jon leading her onto a barstool in the kitchen.

“I bet you haven’t eaten anything in a while, can I get you something,” he asked her.

“No, I’m not really hungry,” Melissa said.

“Hey, Dad, did you find Melissa she went up to look for yo-“ Steph said as she entered the kitchen with an overnight bag in her hand.

“I found him, thanks Steph,” Melissa said turning to look at her.

“Sorry, I should probably look before I open my mouth. Is everything ok,” Steph asked her.

Melissa looked at her trying to form a coherent answer that didn’t have the word ‘no’ in it. “She just had a long day at work. One of her patient’s died, one that was very special to both of us,” Jon answered for her.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Melissa,” she said.

“Thank you,” Melissa said trying to muster a smile.

“What’s up Steph,” Jon asked.

“I just wanted to let you know that Michelle’s mom will be here any minute, so I’m leaving. I’ll have her drop me off sometime tomorrow, we may be going to the mall or catching up with some friend’s at the movies,” Steph answered.

“What kind of friends at the movies,” Jon asked.

“Oh just Tiffany, and Catherine, and Mary, and Nichole, and maybe some other kids” Steph said quickly.

“You should tell him about the boys you’re meeting up with too, he’s gonna find out eventually, and it’ll only get you in trouble,” Melissa said quietly.

Jon’s eyes nearly doubled in size, “Boys?”

“Well I was gonna tell you, umm, only if they were going for sure. Just a couple of guys that are on the basketball team, depending on how the game goes,” Steph said.

“Ok, fine. I just need to know who you’re with,” Jon said.

“I will Dad, thanks. I’ll text you tomorrow. I’m glad you came back Melissa, it was nice having you around,” Steph said.

“What are you talking about Steph,” Jon asked.

“Well, I know you didn’t say anything but I knew something was up. I’m not a little kid; I can pick up on these things. Besides I knew it was something big because I’ve never heard you yell at Uncle Richie like that or kick him out,” Steph said.

“You kicked Richie out,” Melissa asked.

“You knew we were having problems,” Jon asked nearly simultaneously.

“You’ve been quite a grouch for a couple weeks, and a little jumpy. It wasn’t hard to put two and two together,” Steph said looking at her phone. “Oh that’s Michelle, I’ve gotta go. I love you, Dad,” she said giving Jon a hug and kiss goodbye.

“I love you too, Steph. Let me know what you’re doing tomorrow,” Jon said as she left the kitchen.

“You didn’t answer my question, you kicked Richie out,” Melissa said.

“We kinda got into a fight,” Jon said looking a little ashamed.

“I don’t wanna know now, can we just go to bed,” Melissa asked.

“Absolutely,” he said helping her off of her stool and leading her to the stairs. “How did you know there were boys at the movies? Did she tell you something?”

“She didn’t have to, I was a 15 year old girl once. I know these things,” Melissa said.

“Looks like I’ve still got a thing or two to learn, huh,” Jon asked.

“It was an easy miss, you’re doing great. She loves you, that’s what counts right,” Melissa asked as they reached his bedroom. She lingered in the doorway a couple of seconds before she entered remembering the last time she was there and what almost happened.

“Yeah, that’s what counts,” Jon said leading her in.

“Do you mind if I take a quick shower,” Melissa asked.

“Not at all, my house is your house,” he said.

“Thank you,” she said leaning in to kiss him. God this feels so right, why was I stupid enough to leave?

When he pulled away, he looked into the eyes that he missed for so long. “Let me get you a clean towel,” he said walking to the bathroom. He searched through the closet and came out with a fluffy green towel. “Will this do?”

“Looks perfect,” she said.

“Lemme know if you need anything else,” he said shutting the door behind him.

It took her a minute to figure out the shower and the room quickly filled with steam. Donning a towel she walked to the door and opened it slowly to see Jon watching Sports Center.

“Do you mind if I leave the door open a little so I don’t suffocate from the steam,” she asked.

“Whatever you want, there’s also an exhaust fan. The switch is by the door,” he said.

She left the door open a crack, a symbol for the step she was taking in the right direction. She wasn’t going to shut him out of her life any longer; she’d keep the door open and let it open more as her trust built. She welcomed the hot water when she stepped into the shower. It was soothing and a great source of her emotional release. Once she had taken care of her necessary grooming needs, she let her emotions flow. She wound up on the floor of the shower crying allowing the water to pour over her.

Her thoughts flooded of Lindsay and how short life was, not that she hadn’t had that reminder so many times before. She thought of how lucky she was to have found Jon. To find someone who loved her and was proving that everyday. He loved her so much he waited for her when she ran away, again.

Once she was convinced she had no more tears left to cry she turned the water off and got out of the shower. She dried herself a little before she fastened her towel around her chest and put another towel around her hair. Once she was sufficiently dry she went back into the bedroom where Jon was still watching tv in his pajamas.

“You got somethin’ for me to wear,” she asked.

“Help yourself to whatever you want, even though I think I’m missing a pair of pants and a tee shirt,” he said teasing.

“Are you talking about me? I gave those to Richie a couple of weeks ago because I assumed that he was staying here,” she said quietly.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said gently, “Now I know who to hound for them.”

“Do you really own these, or are my eyes playing tricks on me,” she asked taking a pair of Slippery When Wet pajama bottoms from the drawer.

“When there’s a lot of something they send them to us,” Jon said.

“You never stop surprising me,” she said taking a shirt from the drawer.

“I’ve gotta keep you on your toes,” Jon said as she took the clothes back in the bathroom.

She changed into his clothes and gave her hair a thorough towel drying before leaving the bathroom. She stood in front of him at the end of the bed. “Do you mind if I just call it a night, I’m so exhausted?”

“An early night sounds good to me,” Jon said getting off the end of the bed and pulling down the comforter.

“If you wanted to watch something don’t let me stop you,” she said getting into bed.

“Nope, it’s been a long time since I was in bed before 10:30, and I intend on getting a good night’s sleep,” he said getting in the bed next to her.

She laid down and looked at the man next to her almost at a loss for words. “Thank you,” she said quietly.

“For what?”

“For not giving up on me, on us,” she answered.

“No chance of that happening,” he said giving her a kiss goodnight. “Night, baby.”

“Night,” she said rolling over to go to sleep.

Instinctively he moved closer to her, putting his arm around her and across her stomach. He waited a minute to see what she would do, and was relieved when she squeezed his hand back before falling asleep. This is why I waited, for this right here, he thought before he too fell asleep.