Mommie Dearest

“Shit it’s my Dad.” John said as he jumped up and brushed himself off. Ellie sat up and made sure everything was in order and not out of place. “Ok is it alright to let him in?” he asked her. Ellie just shooked her head yes and grabbed her drink. John went over to the door and opened it. “Hey Dad what’s up?” he asked with a nervous smile on his face.

“Nothing much son we were just wondering if you two have eaten anything yet?” John asked smiling from ear to ear.

John looked at his Dad, “If we’ve eaten? Really Dad? We’re adults we’ll get something when we’re hungry.” John told his Dad.

“I know son but between your mother, Marsha and Mike they’re worried about Ellie not eating and getting sick so they wanted to know if you both have had something. So I volunteered to go ask if you did. I thought it would be easier if I did if you know what I mean.” He told his son as he winked at him as Ellie wanted to die when she heard that Marsha and Mike were checking up on her.

“Thanks Dad tell them we’ll be out in a few ok.” John told his Dad as John Sr. left and John closed the door. He went back to sit next to her as she was playing with her rings. He finally took her hand in his and asked her, “Ellie are we ok? I mean you froze on me. Did I do something wrong?” he wanted to know.

She didn’t know what to say to him. She was really confused and didn’t know whether it was because of the party or that she just wasn’t ready yet. All she did know was she was falling for him and falling hard. “John you didn’t do anything wrong ok. I just don’t feel comfortable here right now while the party is going on that’s all.” She told him nervous as a jitter bug.

Smiling and glad that she wasn’t angry at him he said to her, “I get that really I do. Why don’t we go out there and try and get you to at least eat something and then we’ll come back in here and talk how’s that?” he asked her as he kissed her hand.

Smiling back at him, “Ok maybe that will shut them up huh? I just wish they would give me the benefit of the doubt that I can take care of myself you know. I’m just tired of everybody looking after me like I’m a baby.” She told him.

                John took her by the hand and they walked out to the back yard and each grabbed something to eat. Everybody was saying hello to John and what a cute girl he had with him and he would introduce her. Things were going good and the guys even got a small football team together. Even thou John wanted to spend the time with Ellie he loved football and this way his father thought he could watch the two of them easier this way. Ellie went over to sit with Marsha and rolled her eyes as Marsha laughed.

“So I take it you’re not a fan of football.” She asked her cousin.

“Nope. You grow up with your Dad, brothers and Uncles all screaming at the t.v. all year round and think they’re killing something in the kitchen nah you’re not a fan of sports.” She answered her back blaise. Marsha chuckled but knew that there was something else bothering her.

“Honey are you ok? You want to go home and lay down?” she asked her concerned.

“What? Oh no I fine really it’s just this bores the hell out of me and well I really just wanted to spend my time with John. Michael didn’t arrange this did he?” she asked wondering if he thought that out of site out of mind kind of thing.

“Actually no it was John Sr. he put it together why?” she asked her.

“Oh no reason I just thought because we disappeared and all that’s all. John had told me that they’re a big football family which I said to him peachy then I got this lecture but I couldn’t get up and run seeing I was in my bed dying and all. So I made a face at him and he told me when I got better I had better watch it.” She told Marsha smiling.

“You know he really likes you honey.” She told Ellie.

“Yeah I know and the thing is I really like him too.” She told her back taking a deep breath.

The game took a little over an hour with John’s team winning. And Marsha and Ellie were laughing as those guys were strutting around for their females. John went over and picked her up twirling her around as not only Marsha and Michael saw but his parents. Marsha looked at Michael as he just looked more defeated and threw his hands up in defeat as he gave his wife a kiss. John Sr. looked at his wife and couldn’t tell if she was happy or not. “Carol I thought you wanted them together what’s with the look?” John asked her.

Carol just looked back at her husband, “I just wanted them to be friends not get THAT close. You know show her around town and make some friends. I mean I knew he liked her but I really thought that he was still crazy about Dorothea. And her showing up everywhere they…I mean…” but John had already caught on to Carol’s little slip.

 “Carol what the hell did you do! You sent Dorothea after them? Why? What did that accomplish!” he asked her angrily.

“John keep it down I don’t want anyone to hear you! Can we please talk about this later.” She asked him as she walked away over to one of the other couples so she didn’t have to discuss it any longer. John Sr. wasn’t happy at all and Carol knew all too well that her husband was going to have this out with her when everyone went home later.

John meanwhile put Ellie down and told her that he was going to jump in the shower real quick and that then they would leave to meet up with a few of his friends. Ellie hung with her cousins as she waited for John to finish and told them that they were going to go out with a few of his friends to watch the fireworks. It didn’t take John long and as he came downstairs he met his Dad in the kitchen.

“Hey son where are you going? I thought you two were staying here?” he asked his son.

“No we’re going to meet up with some of the guys and watch some fireworks.” he told his Dad.

John Sr. just looked at his son as he grabbed a couple of sweatshirts in case it got cold. “John could we talk before you leave?” he asked him. John looked at his dad and rolled his eyes at him.

“Sure what’s up?” as if he didn’t know.

“Ok don’t give me that look. I’ll just tell you this once all right. Ellie seems like a good girl and your Mom has told me a few things and I’m sure you know too so with you not answering the door quite that fast this afternoon I could only guess what was going on…” John was explaining when John who was very uncomfortable blurted out.

“DAD! Come on huh? We were just making out ok? That’s it God!” he told him almost blushing from ear to ear.

“Look all I’m saying is what if your mother went to go get you? She wouldn’t of knocked get my drift? And like I said Ellie is a nice girl treat her like that I didn’t raise you any other way.” He told his son.

“Dad I will honest I…I love her. But please don’t tell Mom yet you how she gets. Ellie and I are just taking things day by day. I mean she kinda knows but then she kind of made a comment when I came back when Ellie was having a migraine several days ago and couldn’t understand why I was over there two days in a row when I should have been getting a new band together. I told her most of the guys are with their families right now because of the holiday I won’t see any of them until Ellie is back in Massachusetts which works out actually. Hey Dad I gotta go.” He told his Dad.

John Sr. wanted to tell his son what his mother did with his ex but he didn’t want to make a scene at the party. So John rejoined Ellie and they made their goodbyes as Carol didn’t want them to leave. She gave John a hard time about going as he explained to her that he had made these arrangements with his friends about a week ago to go see the fireworks with them as Tony and Matty begged him to take them along. So Carol told John he could go only if he could take his brothers also. John almost flipped out on his mother when Papa B. intervened. He told John to get going and he would explain to Mom. Taking off Carol came flying out calling after him. John came out, “Carol be quiet or the whole party will hear you!” John yelled back to her.

“Why did you let him leave I told him he had to take the boys too.” Carol said angrily.

“Because he’s going to meet up with his friends and they’re not taking their siblings with them. Lay off of him. Plus you want him to introduce her around maybe one of his friends will also like her right? How else is she going to meet anyone if he doesn’t take her around? (plus they want to be alone from you) now let’s get back to our party shall we?” he said to his wife.

In his car John was still visibly upset. Ellie asked him, “John are you still upset at what happened back at the house?”

Looking at her he replied, “Yes I can’t believe my Mom asked me to take my brothers with us. Of all people she knows I don’t take them around to places like this. She knows these guys don’t want kids hanging around.” He said as he seemed to be driving a little too fast now.

Ellie finally said something to him. “John could you please slow down a little?” as she was holding on a little tight.

John looking at her a little annoyed looked at the speedometer and realized he was going over the speed limit fifteen miles over so he did slow down. “Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.” He apologized.

“It’s ok, are you going to be ok?” she asked him.

Smiling “Yeah let’s just get to the beach and I should be fine.” He told her.

It didn’t take long for them to get there and John found a parking space. He took Ellie by the hand who was very nervous only because she didn’t know what she was walking into because John had mention that the guys they were going to hang out with or place’s seemed a little harsh. What was she getting herself into she thought? They came up on some group around a fire and John waving to them. John had his guitar in hand and was making his hellos and introductions for Ellie. Apparently these were his friends from the bars that he hangs out with and some that he had played with. Most of them were older than he was so when they passed him a beer he accepted like it was nothing. Ellie on the other hand didn’t. John had noticed so he asked if there was any diet sodas and one of the girls got up and gave John a diet coke who then gave it to Ellie. They played a few songs and after about the sixth song John walked over to one of the guys and asked him something. Once John got his answer he walked back to Ellie and asked her to go for a walk with him.

“Hey beautiful what do you say we go for a walk?” he asked her smiling.

“Sure” she said as they held hands walking down the beach.

“You’re not having a good time are you?” he asked her.

Smiling at him, “Well I wouldn’t say that exactly I loved hearing you play but I don’t know anyone there so it’s fifty, fifty.” She told him.

Stopping he turned her to face him. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to just leave you there like that. I work with those guys and I’m trying to get another band together so…I can’t just ignore them that’s why I came down here tonight I knew they were going to be here and played a little you know keep my name out there with them. Are you mad?” he asked her concerned.

Smiling, “I thought you said you were going to wait til I was at home before you started another band what changed?” she asked him.

“I’m going to but I still need to keep myself out there Babe. That’s what Dot never understood. She was always suffocating me and telling me it was either her or my music. You’re ok with this aren’t you?” he asked her hoping that she was.

“Of course I am. I know how much this means to you John. I would never take this from you.” She told him putting her hand on his cheek. “Should we start back now?” she asked him.

“Hum no if you don’t mind walking a little ways more there’s something I want to show you ok?” he asked her nervously.  They walked about another half mile down the beach when they came upon this beach house. He still was holding her hand so he directed her towards the beach house.

She looked at the house and then him as they approached and asked him what they were doing there. “John why are we stopping here? It doesn’t look like there’s anyone home.” she asked him confused as she was looking around.

“There isn’t anyone home come on.” he told her as he started up the stairs and took out the keys to the house. Looking down she just stood there staring up at him like he was crazy. “Well are you coming?” he asked her.

“Why and get arrested for breaking and entering?” she asked him as she had her hands on her hips.

Shaking his head and laughing, “No silly they can’t arrest you if you have the keys to the house, now come on.” He shouted as he went inside to make sure that the security code worked liked his friend gave him. She walked up the stairs and looked into the house. It was certainly a single guy’s house alright. Once John turned off the security alarm he turned around and saw her only in the door frame looking in.  He was curious. “Hey Babe are you coming in or are you going to stay there the whole time we’re here?” he asked her totally confused at what she was doing.

“Well I was thinking of it.” She told him still only peeking her head in.                                                                

“Ok I’ll bite what’s the matter?” he asked her actually dying to know.

“Well…it smells, and it’s messy. I mean really, really messy. More than my brothers room but their room doesn’t smell, this bad.” She told him shaking her head and making a face.

John wanted to really laugh out loud. “Babe it’s really not that bad believe me it isn’t. It’s just a guy’s place. Please come in for me.” He asked her making a pouty face.

“Oh don’t do that, just because you make that face doesn’t mean you’re gonna always get your way you know.” She told smiling.

Walking over to her and putting his arms around her waist he lifted her up as she squealed as he said, “You wanna make a bet.” As he kissed her nose.

“You know this isn’t fair I can’t lift you.” She told him with her pouty face. He put her down in the middle of the room and went back to shut the door. “Who’s place if this anyway?” she asked him.

“It’s a buddy of mine he went out of town with his girlfriend for the week and said I could use it especially if my parents got too much or any of my gigs got too late that I could crash here. So I thought that we could spend some time alone here since you were getting uptight back at the house. I hope that’s ok we can either watch some t.v. or listen to some music and go for a walk later.” He told her walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist again and kissing her neck.

Wiggling out of his grip, “John stop come on you didn’t bring me here to watch t.v. or listen to music.” She told him staring down at the floor.

John stood there too knowing that she was right but needed to explain it to her properly. “Can we sit down?” he asked her as he gestured towards the couch. She walked over and sat down; he sat down next to her and held her hand. “Ellie what’s wrong? I thought you wanted to be alone with me. Has that changed?” he asked her concern.

Looking into his deep blue eyes, “No, no it hasn’t. It was just; there were too many people at your house John anyone could have walked in. I was scared.” She told him half of it she was scared and still was and still needed to tell him.

“Ok but I know that much Ellie what’s still bothering you?” he wanted to know.

Looking down at their hands and whispering, “I guess I’m still scared.” She told him but he had a hard time hearing her.

“Babe I can’t hear you. What did you say, you need to speak up Honey.” He said lovingly while reaching out to stroke her face.

“I said I guess I’m still scared. I mean you were you know touching me.” She told him blushing from ear to ear.

John just smiled lovingly at her and went to sit closer to her and put his arm over her shoulder as she cuddled into him. “Is that why you stiffen up on me while we were making out?” he asked her.

“Hum um” she mumbled still wrapped up into his chest.

“That’s what I thought. Ellie you know we won’t do anything that you don’t want to do or ready for right?” he told her.

“I…I guess.” She said not even sure herself.

“Hey I wouldn’t do anything to you unless you said it was ok. I promise. I Love You and I hope you love me too.” He said to her.

Picking her head up and again looking him in his deep blue eyes, “John I thought I was in love before but now I know it was only a crush. Then I met you. My parents met and they married six months later so I now know you can fall in love fast and I get it now and Yes I Love You too so very, very much. But I have all this crap going thru my head you know.” She told him.

“Ok first thing’s first. We love each other that’s all that counts so relax. I don’t want you to make yourself sick. Now I just want you to think about today and maybe tomorrow but no further than that. Any further you freak out on me so only two days ahead ok. We’ll worry about anything bigger coming up when it comes up. But let’s not worry about the future yet I’ll handle what comes up and you just worry about yourself now what do you say we cuddle up and see what’s on the tube ok?” he asked her hugging her tight.

Shaking her head yes John got up and turned on the t.v. and they watched t.v. for about a half hour when he got up to get another beer. Suddenly when he was in the kitchen there was a crack from outside and the loudest noise of thunder that made Ellie jump as it made her squeal. John grabbed his beer and ran back into the living room as he saw Ellie with the pillow over her head. He didn’t want to laugh at her so he had to gather himself together before he walked over to her. When he did he knelt down and started to rub her back but at first she jumped because he startled the hell out of her. “Whoa Babe I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just that I heard you scream when I was in the kitchen.” He told her smiling.

With the pillow still over her head, “I didn’t scream I just squealed that’s all it took me by surprised no big deal!” she told him still not moving the pillow.

Still grinning John said to her, “No big deal huh, is that way you still have this pillow over head?” now he was chuckling and she finally peeked out from behind the pillow to stick out her tongue at him. “Keep doing that and I’ll show you what you can really do with that tongue Babe.” He told her as he rolled his at her. All she did was make a noise and went back underneath her pillow. So John grabbed it and tossed it aside.

“HEY! That was mine!” she yelled at him.

“Look that won’t help you.” He said as another thunder clap came and this time she grabbed onto him for dear life. “I take it you don’t like thunderstorms.” He asked her chuckling.

“First of all it’s not funny and second what gave it away?” she asked him still clinging on for dear life.

“I don’t know my blood circulation being cut off to my head.” He said to her giggling.

Loosing her grip around his neck she looked at him and said, “Yes I hate thunderstorms. Between the lightning and the thunder I can’t stand them and my Mom even thou she tried to play it cool never did and ran around until she found her picture of Jesus and put it in the window for protection then we’d be good. And sometimes in the middle of the night if a storm hit my parents would have four kids in their bed. Joe wouldn’t because he thought he was too big to join us but my parents always would laugh and wait to see how long it would take us to climb in with them. They’re really cool you’d like them.” She told him.

“Sounds like I would. How would they like you seeing a guy who plays in a band and has long hair?” he asked and wanted to really know.

“Well Mom I think would love you right off and Daddy he’d put you thru the ringer only because you’d be seeing his Princess. His sick Princess. He’d want to make sure that you would treat me right so once he got to know you he like you but probably tease the living hell out of you about your hair.” She told him laughing. Then came another clap of thunder and John put his arms around her again as she was shaking.

“Wow you really don’t like this. Ok um well as long as your Dad wouldn’t judge me right off then we wouldn’t have a problem I guess.” John told her.

“No I’d talk to both of them before you’d meet them so there wouldn’t be any worries. Did you know that.   there was going to be a storm?” she asked worried.

“I thought maybe it was going to rain that’s all but no storm not like this. And we might have a problem too.” He said not happy.

“What’s that?” she asked holding her breath.

“We might be stuck here over night because the roads get flooded when it rains.” He told her making an oh shit face to her. All she could think was Grounded for the rest of the time that she’s here.