Chapter 18 - The Truth Revealed

Back To Jude

Jude walked to a motel she had seen near a deserted road. With all her strength, she flung the door open noticing how small the motel really was. It had a small lobby to her right, a simple staircase to her left and the front desk straight ahead. She looked around for a minute, realizing the walls, carpet and even the furniture were all red, and finally walked over to the receptionist. He was young and handsome man. His sandy blond hair was cut short and neatly brushed. When Jude walked closer to him she noticed his big, brown eyes which were in deep concentration, in front of a computer. He was build although she couldn't tell his height because he was sitting down. He was probably in his early or mid-twenties. Jude stopped in front of him but he didn't budge. His fingers were dancing across the keyboard as if his life dependent on it. She noticed how empty but clean everything was. The lobby didn't have too much furniture crammed up in it. The oak desk was freshly polished, no dust anywhere.

Receptionist: "What can I do for you?" he asked in a serious tone still looking at the computer screen. Jude finally turned back to the young man.

Jude: "I need a room." she declared exhausted.

Receptionist: "For how long?" he typed in some data.

Jude: "I'm not sure."

The receptionist finally took a good look at her for the first time. Jude felt uncomfortable and scared at the same time. Scared of being recognized.

Receptionist: "You look familiar." he declared and narrowed his eyes as if trying to picture her somewhere else.

Jude replied nervously: "Impossible. I am not from around here." she rambled on.

Receptionist: "Yeah? Where are you from?" he asked becoming interested.

Jude: "I am from……uh."

Receptionist: "What? You don't know where you're from?" he asked and smirked. She hated when guys smirked. Tommy always used to do it. She hated everything that reminded her of him. It hurt too much.

Jude: "From Ohio." it was the first thing that popped in her head. It was her way out.

He finally reached out behind him for a key and handed it to her.

Receptionist: "Room number 112. How will you be paying for this?"

Jude noticed a bracelet he was wearing. It was silver and had an inscription on the inside. The man saw her looking at it and said: "It was my mom's." he said fingering the jewelry. Jude smiled and took the key : "Thanks. Uh……cash."

Receptionist: "Sorry. I don't know why I said that. Ok. $59.00 for the night." there was an uncomfortable silence.

Jude took out her wallet and paid the man. He typed on some words on the keyboard and gave her change.

Receptionist: "It's up those stairs" he pointed to her left "3rd door to your left. You can't miss it."

Jude nodded and turned to leave but she was stopped when he talked again.

Receptionist: "By the way, I am Jordan. If you need anything I'll be down here." Jude turned to face him again. She smiled and responded

Jude: "Thanks. I am Ju…..Jade." she hesitated but turned around and walked up the staircase.

When she entered the room it was small but cozy. There was a single bed in the center, a little desk and chair in the corner, a window looking out at the street, a small bathroom to her left, a cordless phone and a small TV. Jude threw her little bag on the ground and collapsed on the bed, exhausted. She hadn't taken too many things with her knowing people would wonder where all her stuff had gone. She only packed a few pieces of clothing and her wallet. After a few minutes she drifted off to sleep.

A couple of hours later she was woken up by a knock at her door. She blinked until she realized where the noise was coming from and that someone was knocking. Lifting her body weight she dragged herself to the door and opened it slowly.

Back In Canada At The Memorial Service

The door closed. Everyone was finally able to make out who was standing there. It was Tommy. Not the Tommy everyone knew and loved but a completely different Tommy. The Tommy that only drank lately. The Tommy that tried to suppress his feelings and pain with alcohol. He stood there facing the room, beer bottle in hand. He slowly scammed the crowd, raised his beer bottle and took a sip. He looked like he had been run over by a bus. Kwest shook his head not believing Tommy just showed up to Jude's memorial service drunk. The room exploded in whispers.

A couple of minutes later, Tommy made his way down to the front, all eyes were on him. He couldn't even walk a straight line and almost fell more than twice. Each time giving out a laugh and saying he was Ok. He walked up to Victoria and Stuart and stood in front of them. Stuart rose and tried to help Tommy outside but Tommy pushed him away, causing himself almost to fall over.

Stuart: "Tommy, this is not the place or the time." he said calmly not wanting to cause a scene at his daughter's memorial.

Tommy smiled, his eyes bloodshot: "Oh but this is the time." he responded and than went on "I think there is something you should know." he whispered and made a face. Stuart turned away when the stanch of alcohol reached him. Tommy got his attention again when he yelled: "SOMETHING EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW" he said as he swung his bottle in the air and took another sip. Shay rose to his feet and paced quickly towards Tommy before he caused a bigger scene.

Kwest saw Shay getting up, rushed over to him and threw his arm over Tommy's shoulder: "Come on, man! Let's get you home." he said but Tommy shook his arm off and faced Stuart again "You want to know why Jude left?" Victoria's gaze finally met Tommy's. He got her attention.

Kwest: "Tommy, don't do this. It's not the right time." he tried to reason. Georgia walked over and stepped in front of Tommy. The people started to clear out seeing something was about to happen. One by one the hall soon was almost empty.

Georgia: "Tommy, you're drunk. Go home!" she commanded angry. Tommy looked at her, kissed Georgia's cheek and said: "Sweet Georgia always looking out for me. Thanks… but they……….deserve to know." he said his tone barely even.

Victoria: "What is he talking about?" she asked terrified.

Tommy looked at the pale woman, turned to Stuart again and added "Jude left because of me!" he stopped. There was silence. Stuart stepped in front of Tommy, his eyes in fury: "What do you mean because of you? What have you done this time?"

Kwest: "Don't do this, Tommy. Jude wouldn't want you to." he stepped between Tommy and Stuart. Tommy's face went pale at that name. He looked like he saw a ghost. Finally snapping out of it, he took another sip, looked over Kwest's shoulder and broke the ice by adding "I killed our son."

Stuart's gaze intensified: "What are you talking about?" he interrogated stepping closer and closer, his eyes narrowed. Kwest quickly jumped in front of him. Georgia tried to reason with him but he wouldn't hear it. She finally explained everything about Jude's pregnancy and miscarriage. Victoria cried even more. Nick launched himself after Tommy but Stuart was faster: "You son of a-" his fist met with Tommy's cheek. He fell to the ground. The bottle flew out of his hand and shattered on the ground. EJ ran over to him and tried to help him up while Kwest tried holding back Stuart and Nick. Just than Sadie and Jason ran inside after they heard all the commotion. Jason ran to help Kwest and took a hold of Nick while Kwest tried to restrain Stuart.

Sadie: "What the hell is going on? Don't any of you have any respect for Jude?" she yelled looking around at the guilty faces.

Victoria: "Did you know, Sadie?" she asked through sobs knowing how close Jude and Sadie had gotten over the past couple of years. Sadie looked at her puzzled.

Sadie: "Did I know what, mom?" she asked worn out.

Fabricio stepped closer: "No, she didn't know." he said. Everyone turned to face him.

Victoria: "How do you know?" she asked confused.

Fabricio: "Jude told me." he let out after a short deliberation in his head.

Victoria: "You knew all this time? How? Why?" she asked shocked that her daughter had kept something this big from her but told strangers.

Sadie: "Knew what? What is going on here?" she asked worried.

Fabricio: "Yes, we knew. Jude told us on tour. She became like a daughter to me."

Victoria: "We? Who is we?"

Fabricio: "Just Nina, Jeff, Maury, Shay and I."

Victoria: "Just? Did anyone else know before me? Shay, you knew?"

Shay lowered his head in shame, he didn't want to see Victoria hurting any more: "I'm sorry, I promised Jude I'd keep quiet."

Tommy: "Of course, she told Shay Shay before me. You and Jude always did have that little bond, right?" he asked angry and wiped his lip that had started to bleed from the punch.

Victoria: "Wait! How do Kwest, Georgia and Tommy know?"

Everyone turned to them. Georgia exhaled loudly.

Georgia: "Jude left a letter for Tommy before she left. She explained everything in it."

Sadie: "STOP. What is going on?"

Tommy: "I got your sister pregnant." he blurted out.

Sadie just turned to him. She looked at him in disgust: "You what?" she barely managed to ask.

Tommy: "Jude was pregnant………with my son."

Sadie: "She…….? What is he talking about? He is lying. Right? Dad……..tell me he's lying." she pleaded.

Georgia walked over to her and placed her arm on Sadie's shoulder.

Georgia: "Sadie, Jude was pregnant. She had a miscarriage after she saw the pictures of Chris and Tommy in the magazines."

Sadie fell to the floor. Her knees just gave out on her. She looked at Tommy trough blurred vision: "You murderer. I hate you." she yelled.

Tommy looked at Sadie and added in disgust: "Yeah? Not as much as I hate myself." he said underneath his breath.