Chapter 29

The last several days before graduation found me spending more and more time at Jonathan’s place. After my father pulled his latest stunt, I had gone over to Jonathan’s and did exactly what my mother had told me to do. I had replayed the entire episode between my father, my mother, and I. I had told him that all of the information had been gathered by Mark and Kevin and given to my father to use against Jonathan.

After I’d explained everything to him, Jonathan had agreed that Mark and Kevin were up to no good and that they couldn’t be trusted. He agreed with me when I said I thought they were probably still going to try something else since this had failed to work.

But when I’d tried to include my father in with them, Jonathan still insisted that he was just being a father. Jonathan believed my father was still trying to watch out for me since I was his daughter. He couldn’t believe that my father didn’t care about me and only saw me as a thing to be used. While I thought it was really sweet that Jonathan wanted to believe my father could be redeemed, I knew better.

I told Jonathan that I didn’t think he would still be defending my father if he’d been there. If he’d seen the way my father had been determined to undermine him in my eyes. It was the only thing we didn’t agree on. And for a while there, all the disagreement had succeeded in doing was making me more agitated.

The moment I realized we’d started to shout at each other, I’d taken a step back and told him I didn’t want to fight about my father. If we let that come between us, then my father would have won. It was at that point that we both decided to agree to disagree.

I knew Jonathan didn’t want me to lose my father, I knew what it meant to him because of what he’d gone through with his own. For that, I was willing to let go of my anger at my father and concentrate on other things that were more important. Things like graduating, getting ready to go to college, my family, and Jonathan.

While I spent more time at Jonathan’s, I still continued to live at home. The day of the confrontation with my father, I had spent the night at Jonathan’s but had returned home the next day. It hadn’t been surprising to walk into a cold, silent house.

I had found out that mom didn’t just have words with my father, she’d also had words with Kevin and had grounded him for a month. When my father had tried to argue that he was the one who made the rules, my mother had told him that since he was so close to his son, he could share his room with him because he wasn’t allowed into hers.

She had then taken everything out of Kevin’s room that would have violated his grounding like his video games, his stereo, phone, and television. She took his keys and forbade him from using his car. In essence, she grounded him as harshly as my father had grounded me the last time. Then she had tossed my father’s clothes and any necessities he’d needed into Kevin’s room.

If Kevin wasn’t in school, he was in his room, sulking. Mom had threatened hell if he didn’t come straight home from school and obeyed her rules of his being grounded. Not even dad could get him out of it.

While Kevin was banished to his room, my father avoided the house as much as he could. He rarely ever came home anymore, spending most of his time at the restaurant. Since mom had banished him from their bedroom, he was forced to bunk with Kevin. Still, he was often found stretched out on the couch when it got too uncomfortable to share with Kevin.

Samantha was confused about why mom and dad weren’t on speaking terms anymore, even after mom had tried to explain it to her. She didn’t seem that upset with it since both of my parents didn’t treat her any differently than they had before. In her eyes, that was the only difference since Kevin had always been a jerk to her, me, and my mother. Plus, she also knew that my father and I had not been on the best of terms for months now.

Despite the changes, mom, Samantha, and I continued to live our lives the way we always had. Sarah continued to take Samantha and I to school and Jonathan continued to pick us up. I continued to cherish the time I had to spend with my family, my best friend, and my boyfriend.

The graduation ceremony was going to take place on a Saturday afternoon and my last day of school was that Tuesday. So, I was pleasantly surprised on Wednesday when the doorbell rang and I answered it to find a delivery man standing there with a bouquet of roses for me.

I took the roses to my room and read the note, “Alex, see if you can borrow your mother’s car and meet me at my place at seven. I have a surprise planned for you for graduation. Love, Jonathan.”

I smiled as I went to find a vase to put the roses in wondering what the surprise was that Jonathan would have waiting for me. In the kitchen, I found a vase in one of the cabinets under the sink and filled it with water and the roses. I took the roses to my room and set them on my dresser, arranging them to my satisfaction. Standing back, I grinned trying to contain my excitement.

Once I’d arranged the roses on my dresser, I made my way to my mother’s room and knocked on the door. When I heard her say that it was open, I walked in.

My mother was sitting at her desk reading some papers, but she looked up and smiled at me. “Hi, honey, thought you were at work today?”

I shook my head as I went to sit on the edge of her bed, “Nope. I asked off until Monday for graduation.”

She nodded, “Oh, well that’s good. That gives you time to relax and enjoy it.” At my nod she asked, “So, how’s the college search going?”

“Good. I think I’m close to deciding now. I’ve narrowed it down to two choices, I’ll make my decision by next week, early enough to beat the deadlines.”

“That’s great honey.” She put down the papers she’d still been holding and turned her full attention on me. “So, what’s the real reason you came in here?”

I grinned, “What? Can’t I just come say hi to my mom?”

She laughed, “Yes, of course you can, but you already did that earlier today. That’s why I’d thought you’d gone to work. So? What can I do for you, baby?”

I looked at her sheepishly as I asked, “Would you let me borrow your car this evening?”

She nodded, “Of course. Can I ask why?”

“Jonathan just sent me a bouquet of roses with a note asking me to ask you if I could borrow your car. He wants me to meet him at seven at his place because he’s got a surprise for me.”

“A surprise! Really?” She chuckled, “He’s such a sweet man!”

As I blushed, she got up and moved to sit next to me. She gave me a hug as she said, “Of course you can borrow my car, on one condition.”

I looked up at her, “Okay?”

She grinned, “When you get home you have to tell me all about this surprise.”

I laughed at that. “It’s a deal.”

I stepped out of my mother’s car and straightened out my dress before leaning over to check myself in the mirror. I had no idea what Jonathan’s surprise entailed, so I hoped I was dressed for the occasion. I had chosen to wear something that would fit in with a casual or a Sunday best occasion.

Once I was ready, I made my way to Jonathan’s apartment. I walked up to the door and knocked before waiting for him to answer. It was a few minutes before the door finally opened to reveal Jonathan. I grinned up at him, the shocked look on his face not registering since I was too excited to see his surprise.

“Alex?” he asked, “What are you doing here beautiful?”

It was then that the look on his face registered. But before I had a chance to say anything, I heard another voice, “Jon?” I turned to see a woman exiting Jonathan’s bedroom buttoning up a shirt which looked suspiciously like one of Jonathan’s.

As I stood there staring in shock, she continued, “Honey, why don’t we go out for dinner? Just like old times, then we can come…” She stopped when she saw me. “Oh! I’m sorry. Jonathan, you didn’t tell me we were having company.”

My eyes snapped to Jonathan’s as I whispered, “Surprise.”

“Alex, it’s…” Jonathan started to say, but the woman had walked up to his side and slid her hand over his shoulder.

Leaning in, she spoke in a husky voice, “Jon, don’t be rude, introduce me to your little friend.”

My eyes narrowed at her. “Excuse me?” I snapped.

She turned a sickeningly sweet smile on me as she said, “I’m Cassandra Freeman a very close friend of Jonathan’s. And you are?”

I bristled at the way she’d said the word close. It sounded way to intimate to me. Now, I was glaring at Jonathan. He turned to look at Cassandra and said, “Would you mind waiting in the kitchen for a moment Cassandra?”

When he turned back to say something to me, she pouted and said, “But Jonny Boy, we’re going to be late for dinner and I still want to come back here so you can help me with my dress.”

“Her dress?” I growled.

“I can explain.” he said to me before turning to Cassandra, “Go wait in the kitchen.”

She shook her head, “No! I’m not going to be brushed aside like that again, Jon! I think I deserve more attention from you!” She gave him a sultry grin, “After all, I am wearing your clothes.”

I’d heard enough, turning to glare at Jonathan again, I said, “Later, Jonathan.” Then I turned and stalked off.

“Alex, wait!” I heard him call before I heard her interrupt once more.

“Oh, let her go, baby. You and I have much more fun things to do together.” I froze and turned just in time to see her wrap her arms around his shoulders as she purred, “What do you say we skip dinner and go right to dessert? Hm? I know how much you like that.”

Tears welled up in my eyes as soon as those words left her mouth. She’d said them loud enough for me to hear them, I knew that. I knew she’d wanted me to hurt. As I watched Jonathan untangle her arms from around his shoulders, my lips began to tremble and I was beginning to find it hard to breathe.

I was vaguely aware of Jonathan saying something to Cassandra in a clipped voice before he made his way to me. I snapped out of my pain for a moment when I heard him calling my name. Looking up through my teary gaze, I saw him striding briskly towards me, worry written all over his face.

“Beautiful, I swear, it’s not what you think.”

I shook my head as the tears began to fall down my cheeks, “No, it’s exactly what I think, Jonathan.” Without another word, I turned and ran to my mother’s car as I fished the keys out of my purse.

I managed to unlock and open the door when Jonathan caught up with me. He grabbed my arm and swung me around to face him, “Please, you have to listen to me, Beautiful.”

I looked down at the ground as I whispered, “Let go of me.”

“Alex, you have to let me explain, I think…”

I pushed him away as I cried, “I don’t care what you think, Jonathan! Just stay away from me!”

“Alex…” he reached out for me again.

“Just stay away!” I scrambled into the car, slamming the door shut and locking it. Ignoring Jonathan who was still trying to get me to listen to his explanation, I started the car, put it in reverse, and backed out of the parking space.

Jonathan tried to run around to my side again, but I threw the car into drive and stepped on the gas, peeling out of the lot before he had a chance to do anything else. As I turned the car into the street, I glanced up to see Jonathan standing in the middle of the lot looking as heartbroken as I felt.

How I managed to get home in one piece I will never know. All I really remember was the pain I felt as I replayed everything I’d seen and heard at Jonathan’s place. I had driven all the way home with tears freely falling down my cheeks and trembling lips, trying to hold in the sobs. When I’d finally made it home, I ran into the house straight for my room.

Samantha was in the living room with my dad when I rushed by. All I heard her say was “Alex, what did Jon…” then I’d slammed my door shut and threw myself down on my bed. I lay there with my face in my arms when I heard the knock on my door. Samantha’s voice was muted as she asked, “Alex? Are you okay? Did Jonathan give you his surprise?”

At the mention of that word, I burst into fresh tears as I began sobbing into the comforter. Samantha didn’t say another word, but a few moments later there was another knock at my door.

“Alex?” asked my father, “what’s wrong?”

“Nothing! Just leave me alone!” I shouted at the door through my tears.

I heard my father’s voice growing fainter as he asked, “Sam, what exactly was Jonathan’s surprise supposed to be?”

As it got quiet again, I stayed on my bed and let my tears run their course. I rolled onto my side and instantly caught sight of the roses on my dresser. Staring at them, I thought again of what I’d seen and heard at Jonathan’s. I knew he had been trying to tell me there was an explanation for what I saw.

He’d told me it wasn’t what I thought it was. My heart knew Jonathan would never do something like that to me, but my eyes saw what they saw and I’d heard what I’d heard. My heart believed in Jonathan, my mind was going with the hard evidence that was right there in front of me.

I sat up slowly and brushed the tears away with my hands. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I got up to go wash my face. As I made my way to the bathroom, I could hear voices coming from the front of the house.

Frowning, I walked over to my door and cracked it open.

“…to see you! Haven’t you hurt her enough?” That was my father’s angry voice.

“Mr. McCain, you don’t understand, I just need to explain…” came Jonathan’s calmer voice before he was cut off again.

“I don’t need to understand anything! All that matters is that she’s here and you’re not! I don’t care what it is you did, but my daughter doesn’t want to see you, so I suggest you leave right now!”

“Mr. McCain…”

“Mr. Parker! I’m not going to ask you again! You cannot come in. You need to leave and don’t ever come back! Do you hear me? If you ever set foot on my property again, so help me but I will call the authorities!”

“Alex!” yelled Jonathan.

“That’s enough!”

“Alex! I know you can hear me, please…”

“Mr. Parker if you don’t…”

“I swear I can explain…”

“That’s it, I’m calling the cops…”

“Beautiful, just give me a chance…”

“Not another word from you! Get off of my property or I will have you arrested!”

Silence followed those words for a few minutes before I heard my father yell, “Don’t you ever come near my daughter again, you hear me!”

I jumped when I heard the front door slam shut and quickly closed my door. Leaning back against it I closed my eyes with a sigh. Seconds later I felt the tears pricking the back of my eyelids and slowly slid down to the floor. Sobbing once more, I drew my knees up, hugged them, and buried my face in my arms.

It was just after ten that night when there was another knock on my door. I had moved back to my bed, lying down on my back and staring up at the ceiling. As I got up to answer it, thinking it was my mother having returned from taking Kevin to his awards banquet, I was pleasantly surprised to find Sarah on the other side.

She gave me a little smile as she said, “Hi, girlfriend, can I come in?”

I nodded and held the door open for her. She watched me close the door and return to my bed, sitting in the middle of it. With a sigh, she sat down next to me and gave me a worried look.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

I nodded, “Yeah, I’m fine now.”

She moved closer and wrapped an arm around my shoulders as she asked, “Want to talk about it?”

I sighed and looked up at her, “How did you know?”

She gave me a gentle smile, “Jonathan called Darryl.”

I nodded and closed my eyes. “What do you know?” I asked.

She ran her fingers through my hair as she answered me. “I know that Jonathan loves you and I know that whatever it is you think he did isn’t true.”

I swallowed, “You weren’t there Sarah. You didn’t see what I saw.”

“I know, girlfriend, but Jonathan swears there’s a good explanation.”

My lips trembled as I felt the tears threatening to spill again. “I know there is! I know! It still doesn’t change what I saw!” I sobbed.

As she pulled me into a hug she whispered, “What did you see, Alex?”

“I got there…” I began, before stopping to clear my throat. I tried once more as I continued, “I knocked and he answered. He looked surprised to see me and when he asked what I was doing there, this woman comes out of…she comes out of his bedroom wearing one of his shirts! And she’s buttoning it up and telling him she wants to go out to dinner and then go back to his place just like old times!” I turned to look at my best friend as I squeaked, “Like old times! God, Sarah they were…they were…”

Sarah frowned as she pulled me into another hug, “Shh, girlfriend, it’s okay.” I sniffled as she said, “Maybe they were just old modeling friends.”

I shook my head and proceeded to tell her everything else I’d seen and heard. I told her how Cassandra had used the word ‘we’ and how she’d emphasized the word ‘close’. I even described how she’d been practically hanging all over Jonathan. “When he tried to tell me to wait, she told him to let me go because they had better things to do together and how she knew he liked to skip dinner and go straight to dessert! Dessert Sarah! God you should have heard the way she was literally purring when she said that!”

Sarah was staring at me, speechless as I finished my spiel. It took her a few moments before she spoke again, “Um, well, like I said, I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation for all of that.”

I rolled my eyes, “Sarah!”

She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment before looking at me again. “Alex, I don’t really know what to tell you. You’re right, I wasn’t there. But you weren’t there either when they were alone. What if there is a good reason for what you saw?”

“Sarah, the look on his face. The look he had when he opened his door and saw me there.”

She slid her hand into mine, “Alex, I don’t know what went on, but there is one thing I do know.” As I looked up into her eyes, she continued, “I know Jonathan didn’t cheat on you. If he had, he wouldn’t have come here, trying to get past your father to try to talk to you. He wouldn’t have called Darryl in tears to say that your father wasn’t letting him anywhere near you. He said he was afraid he’d never have the chance to explain what had really happened. He’s terrified that you won’t listen to him and he’ll lose you. Alex, Jonathan is with Darryl right now. Darryl said he’s never seen Jonathan this upset before.”

I closed my eyes and swallowed, “I know, Sarah. I heard him when he came over. I heard him arguing with my father.”

“So, why didn’t you talk to him?”

“I was still too upset. I knew if I tried to talk to him then, I’d just get more upset.”

Sarah nodded, “Will you talk to him now?”

I sat there for a few moments staring at the comforter. Finally, I lifted my eyes to hers and said, “I need some time, Sarah. I just need some time to think.”