I couldn't answer him—just peering up at him with an expression that spoke volumes. He smiled as if he understood before pulling a small notebook from behind his back in a ceremonious gesture.
"I think I've found our next hit." He replied quietly as I just gaped up at him in both shock and horror. Really, I had had enough surprises for one day. What was he doing with that? I grabbed at it, but he only held it away from me before grabbing my chin firmly between his fingers.
"It's got potential, Jude." He remarked with a wave of his hand as I lifted my eyebrows up at him warily.
"It's not even finished. At least I don't think it is. Damn, it's a really rough draft." I said softly before finally gripping the spine of the book only to jerk it away from him a little too roughly. He quirked a brow knowingly.
"It's powerful." He stated so quietly I almost didn't hear him. There was a lot of insinuation in those two words, and I stared up at him whimsically as a voice behind us caused us both to turn around simultaneously.
"I guess congratulations are in order." The voice said cheerfully, and I felt my mouth fall open as my face turned red with indignation. It couldn't be. I just stared at her a moment numbly before glancing at the floor at my feet to disguise the pain I know reflected in my eyes.
"Victoria." I stated simply as mom sighed heavily in front of me.
"Jude…" She began as I shook my head vehemently.
"No mom, don't." I said firmly before smiling tightly up into her face. "I appreciate the show of support, and I don't hate you, I…uh… I just need time okay?" I said simply as I watched her face fall in an expression filled with hurt, but it was no more painful than what dad, Sades, and I had been through recently. No more so at all. My breath caught painfully in the middle of my throat as I looked over at her one final time.
"Mom it may be best if you left." I said as gently as I could, ignoring the gasp that emanated from Tommy behind me. But I needed them both to understand why.
"Dad and Sadie have not taken what happened well, mom. It may cause problems you might want to avoid. Please, if you have any compassion left, don't do this to them right now. They're still trying to get used to the idea of you being married, mom. Not to mention that you sold the house and started over without us. Please understand that and give them more time." I practically begged as I felt Tom's hands edge onto my shoulders in silent support. Mom just stared at me a moment sorrowfully before nodding in understanding.
"Just please don't hate me, Jude." She murmured before leaning over to give me a quick hug. I felt tears burn the edges of my eyes as I patted her back gently.
"I wouldn't know how to hate you, mom." I replied in a whisper as she nodded before turning away with tears in her eyes. I watched as she disappeared into the crowd—helplessly keeping an eye on her destination while holding my breath until she finally reached the door. She glanced back at me only once with uncertainty before turning the handle and walking away. Again. Only this time, it was for the best. At least I knew she still thought about us. That was enough for now. I heard Tom sigh from behind me as one of his arms edged around my waist, and I leaned into the comfort he was offering as his lips brushed slightly against my ear.
"One step forward and then two steps back huh, Harrison?" He asked as I shivered slightly, feeling the hairs on the back of my neck stand up at attention as my back pressed into his chest. I knew he was talking about our constant ups and downs, but at this point, I wasn't going to let the 'downs' get in our way. Placing my hand over the hand he had at my waist, I looked up at him with a wry quirk of my brow.
"We're going to the Grammy's, Tommy. Together." I said with a small smile as he smiled back at me gently.
"Well, if this isn't cozy." A voice said sarcastically in front of us, and I groaned as I glanced up in trepidation to find Tom's absolutely aggravating wife standing in front of us. Where was David Copperfield when you needed him? I could really use lessons on how to master his incredible disappearing act. Tom just sighed from behind me. His arms fell to his side as he balanced on the balls of his feet impatiently.
"It was getting there." He remarked vaguely as Justine threw him a haughty glare before smiling prettily at us both while handing a stack of worn looking papers over to Tom with a grimace.
"What's this?" Tom asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes at the written script before looking up at her in stunned disbelief.
"What the hell?" He suddenly roared, lowering his voice as he realized he was drawing a crowd. Justine just grinned.
"It's amazing what persistence will get you." She said with a defiant tilt to her chin as I looked over Tommy's shoulder curiously, feeling my body go cold as I deciphered the delicate script.
"I'm not reconciling with you, Justine. There's no chance in hell." Tommy spat as she just looked up at him sweetly.
"If you'll read over that again, Tom, you'll notice that you don't have to. You just have to appear as if you're trying." She replied shortly. Tom narrowed his eyes perceptibly.
"You're not living with me, Justine." He stated matter-of-factly as Justine shrugged.
"Yeah, I couldn't seem to get the judge to agree to that part either, but since the separation was your idea and not mine, he did agree that I should be allowed a chance to, I don't know, win you back per say, so he pulled a couple of strings and got me a very interesting job as your personal assistant." Justine remarked primly as Tom's jaw dropped open ceremoniously.
"I don't even rate an assistant, Justine. It's not a part of my job description." Tom countered as Justine looked over her shoulder at a sour looking Darius.
"You do now." She replied with a small smile before turning around and fading into the crowd.
"Some higher power really hates me." Tom muttered as I looked over at him sympathetically.
"You really believe that?" I asked as Spied suddenly materialized in the place that Justine had just vacated.
"Oh yeah." Tom answered me sarcastically before raising a brow at my ex-boyfriend. Spied just smiled as winsomely as he could manage being faced with the man he would forever seem to loathe.
"I've got a proposition for you, Quincy. Why don't we talk mano y mano?" Spied asked as I raised my brow dubiously. Oh, this ought to be interesting.
Author's footnote: Hey guys! Hope you are still reading. Wow things are really rolling. I just noticed the amount of chapters I now have, and I think it's mainly because my chapters are so much shorter than they were in my other fan fics. If condensed it wouldn't be so long. Really thought about spinning it off so that it wouldn't be so thick, per say, but, at this point, I haven't found a stopping point to do that at. Let me know if you guys mind the accumulating chapters. If so, I'll find a way to spin it because I still have the Spied and Tommy venture, the Grammy's, and a few other poignant moments dealing with Kwest and etc. Please R&R and throw in your two cents. Will be holding my breath in anticipation of your replies. Oh and let me know what you think of the story too! I live for the reviews since I found this site! You guys are so great! Smiles. Angel.