Hi - I'm really sorry, I know I said that I would post yesterday, but I stupidly forgot to send myself the chapter to post so I couldn't access it while I was away. But I'm back home now, using my computer, so here it is. This is basically just a continuation of their "plan," which is unraveled a little more. Thanks again for your reviews--you guys all seriously rock. And just as a side note, I think I was hungry when I wrote this chapter because it includes some of my favorite foods...you'll see...hope you enjoy :-)
Jude successfully survived the transport from the hospital to her house without being harassed by too many reporters. She politely declined questions as the paparazzi interrogated her from the short walk to their car.
A few days later, Jude was lounging on the couch with the TV on while her mom was in the kitchen fixing her lunch. All around the living room were cards, flowers, and fruit baskets from nearly everyone she had ever met in her life. Taking time off from the studio and school wasn't so bad. She was starting to get used to sleeping in and spending the day in her pajamas.
Her mom had arranged for a tutor, Melanie, to come by the house every afternoon. Melanie was a year older than Jude and was quiet, studious, and had no interest in music beyond the classical numbers she performed with the school band. Jude was scheduled to work with her for a few hours each day, and once she got her energy back, she would be going to school when she could and study with Melanie for the rest of the time.
"Shouldn't you be finishing your math homework?" Victoria asked, peeking around the couch at Jude.
"I thought I was supposed to relax," Jude complained, flipping through the channels.
"You are, but you can't let your schoolwork go," Victoria responded.
"I'm not. That's what Melanie is for, right?" Jude questioned, putting the magazine down.
"You can't expect Melanie to do all of the work, Jude. You have to do your homework like normal."
"I will, don't worry," Jude said, watching her mom emerge from the kitchen with a plate, which she placed in front of her daughter.
"Grilled cheese!" she exclaimed, looking at the perfectly crisp sandwich. "You got me. I'll do my math homework after lunch."
Victoria placed a kiss on her head before walking back towards the kitchen. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Victoria stopped in her path and backtracked towards the door.
"Probably more flowers," she said, approaching the door.
"It's nice to feel loved," Jude muttered, taking a bite of the grilled cheese.
She heard some movement behind her but kept her eyes focused on the TV, until she heard her name.
"Jude? You've got a visitor."
"A visitor?" Jude questioned, turning to face the doorway as Tommy walked in.
"Hi," he said, taking off his sunglasses.
"Hi," she replied with a grin.
"I hope you don't mind me just showing up but I had some time in between recording," he said, more to Victoria than to Jude.
"No, it's fine, Tommy. You know you're always welcomed here," Victoria said.
"Thanks," he replied. He looked over at Jude and smiled a little. Victoria noticed them staring at each other and felt the need to make a quick exit.
"Well, I'll be in the kitchen if anyone needs me," she said, walking back towards the kitchen. As she left, he approached the couch.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, taking off his jacket.
"Better. My mom took off this week to help me, which has been nice," she replied. "And I'm getting grilled cheese out of it, which is even nicer."
"That does look good, but I hope you have room for dessert," he said, handing her a white paper bag.
Her eyes lit up in anticipation as she looked inside. "Ooo! A black and white cookie! Thanks!"
"You're welcome," he replied, amused by her reaction.
"I really should collapse more often," she muttered between bites.
"Not funny," he uttered, watching her inhale the cookie.
"So, how's the studio? Are you enjoying the Jude-free week?" she asked, turning down the TV.
"It's a little strange," he replied. "But much, much calmer."
"Hey," she replied, hitting his arm. "I don't require that much effort, do I?"
"You can be a challenge," he said with a grin. "But I kind of like all the work you take."
She smiled at his response and took another bite of her cookie.
"So I wanted to ask you," he started, "have you given any thought to what we talked about? You know, about Georgia?"
She set the cookie down on her plate. "I did think about it."
"And? What do you think?"
She sighed and looked at him hesitantly. "I'm still afraid that it may go the wrong way," she said quietly. "Why are you so convinced that this is the right thing to do?"
"It's just a hunch," he said confidently. "I know Georgia and I know us. We both have good relationships with her. At a minimum, she won't say anything to anyone, even if she doesn't approve."
"I don't know Tommy…what happens if she doesn't approve?"
"Well, we just need a backup plan."
"A backup plan?" she questioned.
"Yeah. In the off-case scenario that she doesn't support us, then we'll have a backup plan to deal with whatever she throws at us."
"I really don't want to lose my contract…" she muttered.
"You wouldn't have to. I'd leave before you ever had to do that."
"What? No!" she said, a little too loudly, to which he shushed her. "You can't leave, Tommy. I don't want to work with anyone else."
"This is just a backup plan, Jude. We'd still write together—it would just be replacing me as your producer. Would you rather keep working together but not be together? That would be worse."
She thought seriously for a few moments. "This sucks. I want both."
"So do I. Trust me, this is far from ideal for me too but we need to have another option, in case it doesn't go well. And you losing your contract will not happen."
She looked at him closely, scrutinizing his hopeful expression. "You don't see this whole idea as being totally nuts?"
He laughed a little. "Maybe it is nuts. But we have to come clean eventually and I want to make sure we're protecting ourselves as much as possible."
"I guess…" she said timidly. "I trust you. If you really feel that this is the right thing to do, then so do I."
"Really?" he asked, studying her reaction carefully and searching for the hesitation in her eyes.
"Really," she answered, more confidently. "You're right—the worst that could happen is that we can't work together anymore. But if we're smart about it, we can convince Georgia that that wouldn't be the best thing for any of us."
"Exactly," he said, a smile creeping up on his face. "You're positive about this? I don't want to convince you to do this if you don't want to."
"No, I think you're right. In the end, it might help us. If it doesn't, then I guess we'll just have to deal with it," she replied. "We've been through worse."
"Yes, we have," he agreed, sliding over and pulling her into a hug. "We'll be fine. Georgia, on the other hand, may have a heart attack."
She laughed a little, nervously, thinking about what was ahead for them.
"So how do we do this?" she said, pulling out of the embrace.
He sighed. "Well, I was thinking that I could tell her."
"Just you?" she asked in shock.
"Just me," he repeated.
"But it's both of us," she replied confusedly. "We should both take the heat for this."
"Jude, I'm the one who's been lying to her…at least, to her face. And if there's heat to be had, it should be mine. This was my idea and my responsibility if it goes badly."
"Tommy…no…." she said pleadingly. "We're in this together."
"We are, which is why I need to do this by myself. For both of us," he muttered quietly, not being able to explain all of the reasons circulating through his head.
"Will you wait until I'm back in the studio next week? I want to be there, even if I won't be in her office with you."
"Sure, I can do that," he agreed.
"And you'll let me know everything? Every word she says, every eyebrow raised?"
"Everything. I promise."
She sighed, looking at him hesitantly. "I hope you know what you're doing."
He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I do. Or at least, I hope I do."
"So do I," she replied vaguely. "So do I."