The house she was sitting in her car looking at was small and secluded. That's what she loved about Tommy's father, her "ex father in law". He was one of the sweetest men she'd ever met. His devotion and pride that he had for his only son was amazing. He truly cared for Tommy and his well being. There was a time when Jude did to.
She sighed and took the keys out of the ignition. It was now or never. Once she was at the front door, it took 3 knocks before someone came to the door.
"Jude, what are you doing here sweetie?" Tommy's mother, Claire, asked her. "Hello Mrs.Quincy...I was just stopping by to see if I could possibly talk with Mr.Quincy" Jude replied hopefully.
Since she was technically no longer a part of the Quincy family, Jude didn't know what to call them. Mom...Dad...John...Claire...so she just settled for Mr. and Mrs. Quincy.
"Oh honey, John's not here right now. Was it something important?" Claire asked, as she motioned for Jude to come in. Jude obeyed and walked into the living room.
"Uhh...nothing to serious" Jude lied. "Take a seat and how about tellin me what's on your mind" Tommy's mother insinuated.
Jude knew she shouldn't put up a fight and try to lie about why she came. It wouldn't work. Claire Quincy was a very intelligent woman!
"It's nothing to big...so how are you?" Jude tried to pull a quick subject change. "I'm fine...Tom's not doing to bad either..." Claire said, eyeing Jude.
Jude inahled, "Oh...thats good to hear" she said, trying to hide the sadness and disappointment in her voice. Here she was at her ex husbands parents house talking with her ex mother in law when Tommy was probably out living la vida loco.
"He misses you terribly" Claire said, patting Jude's knee. "Now, would you like something to drink?" she asked, standing up and heading for the kitchen.
"Uhh..water please" Jude said slowly. Claire came back into the room minutes later with a glass of ice water and a huge photo album in her left arm.
Jude looked at her confused, which must have shown a little to much because the next thing out of Claire's mouth was, "This is a family album. It has pictures of everything and anything from Tom's childhood up to his adult years".
Jude found this quite funny. It's every man's worst fear of having there mother show embaressing pictures of them to people they most likely didn't want to see them.
Claire sat on the right side of Jude on the couch and opened up the album so it layed across both there laps.
The first picture that Jude saw was of a 9 year old, brown haired, blue eyed little boy on a scooter. It was one of the cutest pictures of Tommy Jude had ever seen, even if he wasn't "all growed up".
"Oh boy...John was teaching Tom how to ride his scooter without falling to the side every time he tried to balance. John said it was because Tommy hadn't mastered the effect of gravity. But I think Tom's head was just so damn big it weighed him down!" Claire exclaimed.
That comment had Jude laughing for about 15 minutes. Tommy did have a big, old stubborn head!
"What about this one?" Jude asked, pointing to a picture of what looked like a 12-13 year old boy holding a rabbit in his hands.
"That was Tom's first pet. We told him we'd get him a dog but he had to have a rabbit. Out of all animals! A rabbit! And it didn't help much that he named the thingSugar Lips..." Claire stated, shaking her head.
It took about a half an hour to get through a good portion of the pictures. From Tommy's first loose tooth to his prom night, they never missed a moment. This was the pride and devotion she had been applauding earlier.
When Claire turned to the very last page, Jude almost broke down. The last page was filled with pictures of Tommy's most recent "special event". There wedding.
Jude admired a certain one inpeticular. They were standing in front of the church, holding hands and looking up. Jude couldn't quite remember what they were looking at. She thought it was either the beautiful, glass cross that was on the front church window or the birds that were flying away into the sunset behind the church. That day was such a long time ago.
"Why are you sharing this with me?" Jude asked bitterly. She slightly came off as rude and disgusted.
Claire didn't have the intentions of causing Jude anymore pain. So she let Jude's unproper tone slide.
"Because, honey, you needed to see them for yourself" Claire said.
What the hell was that supposed to mean? Jude thought. She hated it when elders messed with her mind. They were older and wiser so they said stuff that made absolutely no sense. It sucked.
"Was he happy as a child?" Jude questioned, picking another topic to discuss.
"To my knowledge he had a happy childhood...we tried our best" Claire said, as she closed the album and stood up. "I'll be right back, let me put this away" she finished.
While she was gone Jude took it upon herself to let everything she had just seen and heard soke in.
There was so much that she had never known about him! So much he didn't tell her. This made her question another prospect. When they said "I Do" at the alter did she even really know the man she was marrying...
"Well, what else did you want to talk about sweetie?" Claire exclaimed, walking into the living room and catching Jude off gaurd.
"Oh..uh..I don't really have anything else left to say" Jude said truthfully.
"Nonsense! For the 2 1/2 years I have know you Jude you have never had nothing to say!" Claire said sarcastically.
"Well, then this would be a first" Jude replied, with a smile.
"How about you stay for dinner huh? I'm making spaghetti and John should be home anytime. He had to go pick up some friend somewhere..." she proposed.
At first it didn't sound like such a good idea. But after all, she hadn't had a nice hotmeal in a while. So, shedecided to take Claire up on her offer.
"That would be great" Jude said as enthusiastically as possible.
"Splendid! You just make yourself comfortable while I go get that dinner ready!" Claire said excitedley.
Jude sighed and slumped lower into the couch. It was unlikely that she could be "comfortable" but she could try.
It turned out to be alot easier than she expected to get comfortable on Mrs. Quincy's outdated, old couch. She was out in about 5 minutes tops once she laid her head down.
"Jude...sweetheart, are you ok?" Claire shook her lightly.
Jude jumped up and was in attack mode instantly. Once she saw who it was that woke her, she settled back down.
"Oh...hi..." Jude said, rubbing her eyes and yawning.
"You were a tired little thing weren't you!" Claire exclaimed.
Jude rubbed her forhead with the heel of her palm. Her head hurt as is, and Claire's yelling wasn't helping.
"Do you want an asp--" Claire started but never got to finish.
"Jude! Welcome! How've you been?" John Quincy's voice boomed through the walkway.
"Hello Mr.Quincy...I've been good. How about you?" Jude asked, trying to shake off her drowsiness.
"Fine! Just fine" he replied. "Now how about some food? You hungry?" he asked.
Truthfully she wasn't hungry at all. Her appetite was far from being ready to eat. But she couldn't decline.
"It smells wonderful" Jude said happily, standing up and wobbling a bit but finally gaining her balance.
"It's my famous recipe. Now come on into the kitchen. It's all wating for you..." Claire stated slyly.
As Jude made her way into the dining room she noticed there were four places set at the table. Odd...she thought. Theres only three of us.
She rid her mind of the confusion and sat down on the left side of the dining table. Claire and John sat opposite of her.
For a moment she felt very awkward. Her sitting all alone on one side of the table as they stared at her intently wasn't very pleasant. But niether was what happened next.
Tommy came walking through the swinging kitchen door as if he owned the place.
Jude dropped her fork and literally started choking on her ceaser salad. What in god's name was he doing here! He wasn't supposed to be here!
Tommy's reflexes kicked into overdrive. He immediately started to do the hiemlic manuver on her.Uh hello! If airs still coming out of my mouth then I'm obviousy getting oxygen which means I'm not chocking! Jude thought.
Once she regained her composure she smacked his hands away.
She wasn't just surprised but angry. Sure this was his parents house but he shouldn't be here when she was! That's a bad combination right now.
"Can we talk?" he asked, with pleading eyes.
Judes breathing had become staggered and her chest was going up and down rapidly.
"Was this the friend you were bringing home with you Mr.Quincy?" Jude asked angerly.
"You two need to talk, so if you'll excuse us..."Claire said, as she stood and motioned for her husband to fallow.
Once they left, Jude started in. "What the hell Tommy!" she exclaimed.
"Listen, I know what you must be thinking now but just hear me out" he said.
"Hear you out...hear you out! I don't wanna hear anything!" she replied.
"You may not want to but your gonna" he stated sternly, taking hold of her arm.
"Why are you here?" she asked.
"I should be asking you the same thing" he replied defensively.
"Just answer me Tom" she demanded.
Tommy raised an eyebrow. "Well, it is my parents house...I'm pretty sure I'm welcome" he said sarcastically.
Jude laughed and it mixed with a snort of disgust. "Still the same...arrogant bastard" she said.
His face hardened and his jaw tightened. He didn't like to be insulted right to his face. Even if he did deserve it.
"Look, I came here to see about possibly getting my old producing job back with the label" he said, attempting to calm himself down along with Jude.
"Oh hell no!" she sxclaimed. "I'm not working with you again! No way! Nu uh!" she finished. She shook her head vigerously as if trying to prove a point.
"And why the hell not?" he asked, his voice suddenly getting louder as he glared at her through his perfect crystal blue eyes.
Jude gave him the same mock glare. "Now do you really want me to answer that?" she questioned seriously.
"Forget it, I just put the down payment on this apartment downtown. I should be officialy moved in by next week. Heres the address...just in case" he said, as he took out a pen and scribbled on a near by napkin.
"Just in case what?" she asked.
Tommy smiled and barely shook his head back and forth. "In case you can't live without me" he replied.
What an asshole! she thought. He held out the napkin to her. She just stared at it. "Well, I don't need you now, nor will I ever in the future so you can shove it!" she exclaimed, taking the napkin and crumpling it up before throwing it on the floor.
He just laughed and walked past her, purposely brushing her shoulder on his way. He knew what it did to her when he touched her. She knew what it did to her when he touched her. A simple brush against the shoulder caused her to shiver and tingle. Almost as if a thousand bolts of electricity were being shot throughout her body, only it wasn't painful but exilerating.
Jude watched him walk through the living room and up the stairs. Then, before thanking Mr. and Mrs. Quincy and leaving, she bent down, picked up the crumpled napkin, smoothed it out and placed it in her back pocket.