Chapter Sixteen

Jon pulled the Corvette up the driveway of his parents house and cut the engine. They still lived in the house he’d grown up in and he loved coming home to see them. Out of all the places he’d been in his life and all the houses he’d lived in, this one was the closest to his heart; the one place he always felt safe and loved. Every room held a good memory and one room in particular, his old bedroom, held some great memories, some of them so great he was still glad his mom didn’t know what he’d gotten up to in the dead of the night. He turned to look at Abby.

Abby sat looking at the slightly weather worn, but well loved and cared for, two storey house. It had a double garage attached to it and a huge, sloping front lawn. It was a big but welcoming house that just screamed of home. She was feeling so nervous she could scream. Even with her patchwork memory she knew it a big deal to ‘meet the parents’. She’d been quiet on the journey over, feeling…well she wasn’t really sure what it was that she was feeling. Anxious, nervous, excited, happy, sad. Take your pick.

“Ok babe, we’re here,” Jon said as he opened his door, indicating that she should do the same, “I hope to God they’re in.” he added as an after thought as he locked the car up and they made their way over to the front door.

A huge evergreen wreath hung on the door, covered in red holly berries and mistletoe. A sign hung further below it proclaiming A Merry Xmas to all who read it.

Jon knocked the door and pulled Abby closer to him. He was, all of a sudden, really nervous. What if his mom didn’t like her? Or worse, what if she saw straight through him and into the lie he had created a world around.

The door opened and he smiled. A real smile, not the fake megawatt smile used all around the world, but a real, genuine happy smile.

“Hey mom, surprise!” he said, sounding quite lame, as he and Abby moved passed his mom and into the hallway.

The house was cosy and warm inside and spoke of love and affection. Honey coloured wood gleamed all around them with fairy lights sparkling from every available nook and cranny. Jon led the way into the elegant but homely living room.

“Jon! What are you doing here? I wish you‘d called.” his mom said, sounding completely surprised.

Abby could hear a car pulling up outside and glanced through the front windows to see a humvee parked next to Jon’s corvette.

“Since when do I need an appointment mom? Where‘s dad?” he asked, his smile beginning to slip.

A car door slammed.

“Oh Jon, Dot’s here, with the kids. She called yesterday and asked if they could come visit. I didn’t know you’d turn up as well, your dad‘s just gone to the shops to get some more milk…” his mom trailed off as the door banged open and three boys ran in.

“Granma!”

A brown haired boy came barrelling in only to stop dead in his tracks.

“Dad?” he said, disbelief in his voice.

“Hey Romie.” Jon replied his manner stiff at first, which then melted completely as his son ran to him and wrapped his arms around Jon’s legs.

Jon sank to the floor to embrace him fully, feeling a tear fall down his face.

“I’ve missed you so much Romie.” he whispered as the young boy sniffled, his face buried in Jon’s chest.

Jon looked up to see two sets of equally surprised yet wary eyes staring back at him. He smiled and held his free arm out to them.

His middle son cam over straight away but his eldest held back. Jon looked at him sadly.

“Dad, what are you doing here? Does Mom know you’re here?” Jake

“I came to visit your Granma, Jake. I didn‘t know you guys were going to be here but I‘m so glad you are.” He could feel a part of his heart starting to thaw as he breathed in the familiar scent of his youngest children, Romeo and Jake. His eldest son, Jesse, just stood back in the doorway of the room, either unable or unwilling to go near his dad.

“Jesse, what are you doing standing in the doorway? Go on, go in, I’ve got my hands full of presents and need to put them…”

Jon looked up into the face of his ex wife as her voice trailed off.

“Jon.” she said, looking for a place to put the brightly wrapped parcels.

“Dot.” he replied, feeling lost for words.

Abby looked at the beautiful elegant woman standing, looking at Jon with disdain and wanted to disappear. She could feel the waves of animosity flowing across the room and wanted nothing more than to not be there.

“Boys can you come here please?” Dot asked, the tone pleasant enough. Her eyes and demeanour were hard.

Jake and Romeo pulled back from their dad reluctantly and made their way over to where Dot stood, her spine tense.

“Did you do this Carol? Did you ask him over here knowing we would be here?” Dot turned and asked her ex mother-in-law, harshly.

“No…” Carol faltered.

“Hey Dot leave my mom alone ok? She didn’t know we were coming over today and I had no idea you were gonna show up, so let’s just drop it ok and see if we can’t play Happy Families, just for one day?” Jon said, hoping to god she’d agree and he’d get to spend a couple of hours with his boys.

Dot looked from him to her two youngest and after what seemed like an eternity, she relaxed somewhat and nodded her agreement.

Abby could feel the tension flowing out of the room as both Jon and Dot silently agreed to be on their best behaviour, if only for a few hours.

Dot shucked her coat off and laid it across the back of a chair. She looked around the once familiar room and her eyes settled on Abby.

“So, Jon, you gonna introduce us?” Dot asked.