AN: Now don't get too turned off from the title, there must be an ending for a even better beginning.
Chapter 23: The Divorce Party
Kimberly was working in private on her solo album. She had songs; she had done many recordings at Tim's Studio. Michael however thought it would be best to change up Kim's old style, not that it was bad, but Stuart Sound Company had a certain standard and knew with Kimberly he could turn her from the indigo hippy guitar playing pretty girl into the soulful wonderful beautiful woman that the music she sings deserves. Kimberly was in the Studio when she realized the time. She had to cut several hours of her recording short because she had to go. As much as Kimberly loved the performing and recording of a new album, she had a family and that came first. Kimberly picked up Adela and Chuck and rushed to the baseball diamond.
Kimberly was deck out with her white 'Wildcats Mom' tank top with her Wildcats navy pants. On the back, the tank top had 'My Kid Can Out Homerun Your Kid' as a joke because though Zeke was one of the youngest on the team, he had the second highest homeruns during the season. Kimberly had Adela in a t-shirt that had 'Zeke's cousin' on it and her navy Wildcats cheerleader skirt, and 'I love my brother, Zeke, #1 brother on the back t-shirt was on Charles's shirt and his navy pinstripe pants like what the Wildcats little league baseball team wears.
It was a great late September day, though it felt like mid-Summer. It was at least 85 degrees and the sun was high in the sky over the baseball field. It was the 6th inning. Zeke was at the plate. There was a runner on second base with 1 out. His team, the Wildcats were down 5-3. Zeke was only player left, because he was a great shortstop and coach knew his bat might come into play later in the game. Zeke was up, 2 balls to 1 strike. He looked up at the stands for the third time. He saw his mother, holding Adela in her lap with Chuck standing and way 2 flags, though he was mostly waving the flags for his own amusement not really with the crowd to help the team. Zeke swung and missed the next pitch. Kimberly saw Zeke searching the crowd. He looked at his mother, confused. Kimberly shrugged, but clapped her hands to cheer on her baby. Adela clapped as well, holding the camera for her auntie.
"Let's go Zeke! Let's go Zeke!" Kimberly yelled. Zeke ended up striking out, getting a loud groan from the crowd.
Zeke walked slowly back to the dugout after striking out. The crowd on the Wildcats side starting clapping again for the next batter. Kimberly put Adela to sit down as she took the camera and asked another mother to watch the 2 kids and keep filming for her. Kimberly went down to the dugout; she was separate from Zeke by the gate. Zeke came over to his mother.
"Honey, it's okay. It's just one at bat you got plenty of game left to play."
"Where is he Mommy?"
"I don't know baby."
"He promised! It's already the 6th inning!"
"Honey, you can't worry about when your father will get here. Just play the game and your father will be here." Zeke's teammate grounded out to second baseman. It was time for the start of the 7th inning. Wildcats were still down 5-3.
Tommy ran from the taxicab across the street toward the field. He raced up the small hill only to find the baseball diamond empty. There was a lot of confetti and paper. He knew he missed the major celebrations. On the scoreboard it read, Wildcats Win! The final score was still up since with the Wildcats winning on the score 10-7. Tommy had missed the game.
Kimberly and Tommy argued once Tommy talked with Zeke. Tommy arrived home after stopping by the field in hopes the game was still going on. Tommy had promised, had promise to Zeke he would see him his final baseball game of the season, but of course he didn't arrive from the Island until after the game was over and the field was clear.
"You promised!"
"I'm sorry! Zeke understood, why can't you?" Tommy immediately apologized for being late to Kimberly, but he couldn't help it. It was air traffic, not his fault the plane was delayed for safety.
"Because you didn't see his face when he hit that homerun and you weren't there to cheer him on!"
"I said I was sorry!" Tommy wanted to go upstairs and apologize again to Zeke, knowing his son was more upset he missed the final game than he lead on. Zeke was going up the stairs when Tommy arrived, only stopped to tell his father 'it was okay' before heading upstairs.
"Sorry doesn't change the fact that you missed Zeke's biggest homerun in the last game of the season. He wanted you there for the final game of the season! You promised him!" Kimberly could still see Zeke's face. He was so happy, so excited as soon as his bat hit the ball and it soared through the air. Zeke knew the ball was gone. He knew he had won the game with a homerun. The team had come all the way back and took the lead in the bottom of the 8th inning. It was 6-5 when the top of the 9th came around. The Wildcats were 3 outs away from the victory, but the Rams scored 2 more runs, taking the lead 7-6. They had a chance to win, but when a botched double play happened, and 2 walks to load the bases, Zeke was up at the bat and he hit the grandest homerun in his young baseball career, a grand slam that won the championship for the Wildcats. But as Zeke rounded the baseballs to cheers from the crowd he searched and searched for his father, only to see his father was not there, not there like he promised.
"I can't change it now, you think you are mad, I feel worst!"
"Right."
"Where is Zeke anyways?" Tommy asked.
"He's on punishment."
"What?"
"He got into a fight because some boys teased him about you not being there like you promised. Zeke told everyone you would, and you made him look like a liar. He beat up 2 boys and the coach asked, more like demanded he not be on the team next year."
"What?"
"Exactly. Not only does he not get to show his father a great homerun that won the game, he won't be playing baseball next year either."
"Kim… I'm sorry, I should have…" Kimberly shook her head walking away. Tommy passed by coffee table in the living room and found piles of music and even a makeshift CD with Kim's name on it. There was a lot papers with the headline of Stuart Sound Company. The only name he knew that was from when Tim was complaining about something Stuart not picking up his band, now Kimberly had all this paperwork. Tommy also picked up a schedule over the next week about recording and times to do it.
"What's this?" Kimberly looked back. Kimberly gasped. She quickly started cleaning up the papers and snatched the CD from Tommy's hand.
"Nothing." Kimberly was in a hurry to change and see Zeke's game; she left all her recording and album work out for all to see.
"It doesn't look like nothing, Kim."
"It's nothing, just a CD."
"CD? You're doing an album?"
"Maybe."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"It wasn't a big deal!"
"It's a record deal! Of course it's a big deal! How could you not tell me?!"
"It's not like you are here anyways to talk about things!"
"Why do you always throw that in my face? I have a job to do!"
"You have a family that should be your most important duty and job!"
"Of course my family is most important!"
"Then how could you miss today?!"
"The plane was delayed, there was a storm, and then there was some security problem. I couldn't help it!"
"You knew there was a storm coming, you could have… you should have left earlier!"
"I couldn't!"
"Of course not! Because your job means more!" Zeke was upstairs still in his baseball outfit, having refused to listen to his mother's demand and change. Zeke threw the baseball up in the air and caught it with his mat. Zeke could still hear his parents downstairs. He knew it would be long for Chuck and Adela to wake up from their shouting. Zeke sneaked down to the backyard. He couldn't listen anymore to his parent's screaming.
After their shouting and screaming had reach it's peak, Kimberly had enough and slapped Tommy. The slap rang through the house. Zeke had heard a slight pop and looked back to the house as he stood staring into the pool. Tommy kept his face turned with Kim's handprint burned into his cheek. Tommy's hand slowly came up and touched the tender spot. Tommy and Kimberly looked at each other. Both in shock. Kimberly was breathing hard on the verge of tears. Tommy just looked at her holding his cheek.
"I'm…" Kimberly turned her eyes from Tommy's look of shock. "I didn't…sorry…" Kimberly was in so much pain. Kimberly went to run upstairs when Tommy grabbed her hand. He pulled her back to him and hugged her. Kimberly cried against Tommy's chest. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"
"Shhh…I deserved that."
"Yes, you do deserve it, and that's what so hard." Kimberly pulled away and rushed upstairs. Kimberly went to check on the children, knowing Zeke heard them. "Zeke?" Kimberly opened his door. "Honey…Zeke?" Kimberly found his room bare. "Zeke!" Kimberly screamed when she pulled back the covers and found it bare.
"What's wrong?"
"Where is he?"
"Zeke!" Kimberly screamed again. Zeke was walking along the edge of the pool with his baseball cleats carefully, when he heard his mother's scream. Zeke looked back, knowing his mother would be mad to find he left his room after she told him to stay there until she returned. Zeke slightly turn and slipped on the edge of the pool. Hitting his head hard against the edge, Zeke slipped into the water with a big splash.
"Zeke!"
"Zeke!" Tommy and Kimberly yelled searching the house. "He's not…he's…" Kimberly looked toward the backyard. Tommy caught her expression. He got an eerie shiver up his back.
"No." Tommy rushed to the back door. Kimberly not far behind him in a mad rush outside.
"Zeke!" Kimberly screamed. They had found Zeke's body floating on top of the water. Tommy dived into the water. Kimberly covered her mouth of her screams. Tommy pulled Zeke's body and performed a little mouth-to-mouth CPR before dragging Zeke to the edge of the pool. Kimberly pulled on Zeke out of the pool as Tommy quickly lifted himself out. Kimberly checked his pulse. "He's not breathing Tommy!" Tommy immediately started CPR. After a few breaths and pushes on Zeke's chest, he coughed up water. Kimberly gasped and pulled Zeke to her chest.
"Oh baby!" Zeke was still coughing.
"He's fine."
"No thanks to you!" Kimberly yelled.
"You weren't watching him as well!"
"Because of you! I can't keep doing this! I can't Tommy! I won't!"
"What?"
"I won't keep fighting with you. I promised, I promised myself if I ever had a child, I would never bring him or her up in the household my parents did. Always fighting and…"
"We can fix this if we just…."
"We can't…it's over Tommy. I want a divorce." Kimberly picked up Zeke and walked away from Tommy. Tommy collapsed to the ground.
"A divorce?"
Despite Zeke's protest, Kimberly took him to the hospital. She just wanted to make sure the bump on his head was okay even though Tommy had revived him with CPR, she knew he needed to see a doctor.
"Mommy, I'm fine. I'm sorry I fell into the pool, I shouldn't have been walking on the edge, you always told me not to." Kimberly laid in bed after helping Zeke change. She wrapped him tightly in a blanket.
"Yes, that is true and now you know why." The doctors gave Zeke a clean bill of health though warned Kimberly to watch for headache and nausea thanks to the bump on the head.
"You scared us son," Tommy said bringing in another blanket.
"I didn't mean to. I just… I couldn't stay in here with… everything." Kimberly looked at Tommy.
"You get some sleep, I'll check on you later." Kimberly kissed Zeke's forehead and got up. She wiped away a few tears after closing his door. Kimberly covered her face with her hands as she cried. Tommy tried to pull her to him, but she refused any contact from him.
"Don't…pull away from me, Beautiful." Kimberly raised her arms as Tommy touched him. She wiped her face and walked into the nursery to check on the others. She had made Tommy stay home while she took Zeke to the hospital, not wanting to expose Adela and Chuck the hospital. Kimberly found them sleeping with fresh bottles. Kimberly kissed both of them before restarting the musical mobile.
The phone went off. It was Dr. Mercer wanting Tommy to return home sooner than expected.
"I'm sorry Dr. Mercer, I can't come back. Zeke almost drowned and I just… I can't leave my family, I can't leave Kim right now."
"I understand Tommy. You take care of your family, they are most important. Return when you can."
"Thank you sir." Tommy hung up the phone. Kimberly was standing there.
"You should go." Tommy looked up.
"I am not leaving."
"If nothing happened you'd…"
"But it did and it's my fault. I'm not leaving here until things… until we are…"
"There is no we, Tommy."
"Of course there is! I love you!" Tommy yelled.
"I'm done with this speech of 'I love you and that's enough'! It's not enough Tommy! I need you here!"
"Then I'm here! You want me to quit. I'm done. It's over. I quit."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that for you, I would do anything."
"Even if you were miserable?" Kimberly asked.
"Being with you, being with our children, that does not make me miserable. Seeing you, how upset you are, how mad, that makes me miserable because it's my fault."
"You would give it up, all of it, for me?"
"For our family. To fix our family, I'll quit." Kimberly wrapped her arms around Tommy's neck. "Is it what you want?" Tommy asked Kimberly.
"Yes! Yes, yes, it is what I want, what this family needs. We need you here."
"Then I'm here."
Tommy stayed true to his word. He called Dr. Mercer and gave him his notice that he wanted to quit. He had to stay home, stay with his wife and kids or risk losing them. Kimberly for the first time could actually breath again. Tommy created one of the best birthday celebrations for Kimberly to make up for ever missing one. Things were back to being great for the first time in a long while. Kimberly's album was coming along nicely. Aisha's shop was great, business as big as ever. Tim would call and send emails making sure Adela didn't forget her father's voice. Things were great.
Tommy was cleaning up the house. He had somewhat became the houseparent, since he was now having to look for another job from what he had learned. The phone rang. It was Dr. Mercer. After a few hours, Kimberly returned home with the babies on her hips and a few bags.
"Hi honey, I'm home," Kimberly shouted. Tommy kissed her on the cheek taking the bags.
"Hey Beautiful…"
"I got a few more bags in the car."
"Okay." Tommy kissed both toddlers and went to the car. Tommy returned with the 4 more bags. "I took out some chicken for dinner."
"Thanks, that sounds great." Kimberly put the toddlers down to go run. Tommy had started cooking thanks to the Food Network and though he wasn't Chef Emeril, he wasn't that far off either. "So, how was your day?"
"Uh, boring." Tommy had been taking care of Chuck and Adela, helping Zeke with his homework when he got home, had dinner ready with Kimberly at the shop, studio or Gallery. He was the perfect husband and now stay at home Dad.
"Well, I can promise to make things a big more exciting."
"Are we moving some furniture tomorrow?" Kimberly laughed.
"Not exactly, tiger. I was thinking more tonight." Kimberly kissed him quickly on the lips. Tommy smiled.
After dinner, Tommy was putting the kids to bed with Kimberly in their bedroom. Kimberly had wanted to thank Tommy for all the things he had been doing the past week since he quit working. She knew it wasn't easy since Tommy loved working with dinosaurs. Tommy came into bedroom and found candles all around. It was like their honeymoon all over again.
"Oh, wow… this is…wow, Beautiful." Kimberly turned slowly in her black pleated mesh babydoll with lace bust and black ruched-front hipster panties.
"I'm glad you like it."
"It's like Maui."
"I know. That's how I wanted it to be." Tommy held his hand for her. Kimberly reached out and took it. Kimberly slowly worked on removing his clothes. Tommy would only slip kisses onto her shoulder, neck and lips to pass the time. Once Tommy was naked, he slowly pulled her to his lap. When their lips met, they were both in heaven. When Kimberly's hands roamed down his chest, he groaned. One kiss turned into 3, then 5, so many times, neither knew who would stop it. Tommy kissed her chest, as Kimberly arched her back. The straps of the babydoll pulled down and bunched at her waist. Kimberly moaned as his hands softly cupped her breasts, toying, caressing every inch of them. Tommy picked her up and laid her on the bed, tearing the sheer lingerie off her body. Tommy slid her panties down her legs.
"Are you ok?" Tommy asked after he saw her shake.
"I...I have dreamed of this for months, everything back to normal and… here it is and…."
"Do you want this?"
"I have never wanted something so much until now tiger. Tommy, make love to me." He kissed her and slowly slid into her. Kimberly groaned and arched her back. She felt no pain, just complete and utter love for how he felt. Tommy kissed her deeply, enjoying how their tongues battled against one another. One hand went beneath her left thigh, bringing it up around his waist. Kimberly moaned loudly. He continued a neutral pace; slow, but soon, both eagerly to move faster. Kimberly's arms went up, beneath his armpits to hold on, as Tommy's grunts combined with her moans, filled the room due to the pace being picked up. Their moves consumed both of them, setting their love from then on. Kimberly came so hard on him, all Tommy could do was come deep inside. Their cries mixed in the room. He collapsed on her. Both gasping for air.
Next Morning
"I have to tell you something."
"Okay." Kimberly was laying her head on his chest. She was toying around his chest.
"You can't get mad."
"Oh, I don't like that."
"Why?"
"Because, immediately, when someone says you can't get mad, that's the first emotion you feel when they say whatever it is they want to say."
"Well, will you at least wait for me to explain?"
"Of course."
"Okay." Tommy kissed Kimberly on the lips. "I love you."
"I know Tommy. Now, tell me."
"Okay… I have to go... back to the island."
"Wha… why?"
"I have to finish some things, some things I left open with the studies and tests that…"
"Did Dr. Mercer call?"
"Why?"
"Did he call you?"
"Yes." Kimberly sat up shaking her head. "What is it? What are you thinking?" Tommy held her arms.
"That nothing has changed." Kimberly stood up pulling away. "That however much I want, however much I dream, nothing has changed!"
"I'm just going to finish up, I'm not staying, I have an obligation to finish what I can before I leave for good."
"Of course! Of course! Forget that you promised me…"
"I am keeping my promise!"
"If you go back there you won't!"
"I know things haven't been easy the past year, but we are really close to something amazing there Kimberly. I need you to understand and be understanding when I say my work, the work that I am doing is gonna change the world and...it's my duty to help and not leave everything in a mess."
"I don't care about the damn world! I care about my family! Our family!"
"Please understand the family, our family is still first!"
"Only when Dr. Mercer doesn't call or doesn't need your help! Gosh, I can't believe you! You lead me on, you lead the family on thinking we had you back and nothing, nothing! Nothing has changed!"
"Nothing is more important than my family!"
"Then stay!"
"It's not that simple!"
"It has always been that simple! If you leave again, if you leave me, and your sons, if you leave this family again, I won't be here when you come back."
"Don't do this Kimberly!"
"Then stay! Stay for your family, stay for your wife! Stay and save our family!"
"You are being selfish! If you quit a job, you can't just quit and that's it, there are things you have to do, you are required to do before can leave for good! You know that!"
"You can't go back there!"
"I have to go back!"
"Then go Tommy. Go away again. Leave us again." Kimberly went into the bathroom and slammed the door.
A Week Later
Tommy returned after a week of trying to finish what Dr. Mercer requested he do before he could leave the Industry and found the house basically empty. It was dark. Tommy had tried calling and calling but could never get a hold of Kim. The house was missing so much stuff, as if there was a sale and Kimberly took everything she loved keeping anything Tommy left behind. Tommy saw a brown package sitting on the couch in the living room.
"Kimberly? Zeke? Kim!" Tommy rushed to search the house. It was just as empty as the downstairs. "Kimberly!" Kimberly had taken all her stuff and the babies' stuff with her. Tommy called everyone to find his wife. Aisha clammed up saying she had sworn not to tell. She asked Tommy open whatever Kimberly had Aisha delivered to the house. Tommy sighed as he was holding the package. Tommy tore through the box and found a larger yellow envelope. Tommy pulled out the stack, booklet and found that Kimberly had left behind a divorce package for Tommy to sign. She had signed her part, leaving Tommy to do the rest. In anger, Tommy throws the papers across the bare living room. A small pink letter fell at his feet. Tommy picked up the letter and sniffed it. It was from Kim's stack of personal letters.
Dear Tommy
I know you love me, that was never a doubt and you should know that I will always love to you too. You have worked hard to get the job of your dreams and I was, am happy for you. That's why I'm leaving you. The boys, Adela and I will not stand in your way for what you hope to accomplish. I am sorry. But I need something more. I need a husband who will be there for his family, and I feel that is not you right now. Please don't be mad, but I cannot live my life like this. I have a family to think about and take care of. A family that is more important to me than anything else in the world. Take care of yourself handsome. And don't be too mad. I love you.
Your Beautiful, Kimberly
Tommy slid down the wall and cried as he held the letter to his chest. She had left him again.
Aisha called for reinforcements knowing Tommy would be taking the divorce papers Kimberly confessed to her she was leaving for Tommy. Aisha called Jason who was at the house and found Tommy just sitting on the floor staring ahead. Jason worried Tommy was broken.
"Bro…" Tommy just stared ahead.
Kimberly knew leaving the way she did was possibly the hardest thing she had ever had to do in her life. Zeke was upset, crying a lot at night asking for his father. Kimberly just couldn't explain enough to her son that it just wasn't going to work out with Tommy and herself. Much like her 'Dear John letter' was a cry to fix things wrong with their relationship, those divorce papers were the same. She had hoped this time apart would allow some healing. Kimberly left to live with her grandparents in Ireland. Tommy came to see them after settling down for a week. Kimberly was fixing lunch when Tommy arrived. He called saying he would be in town in a few days, Kimberly didn't realize a few days meant the next day.
"Hey."
"Hey…"
"Daddy!" Zeke shouted running to the door. Tommy picked up his son in a big hug.
"Dada!" Chuck yelled as well.
"Unkey Tommy!" Adela yelled. Tommy hugged both Chuck and Adela together.
Tommy and Kimberly spent some time walking around the hilly fields of Ireland behind her grandparent's house.
"You can't honestly be thinking about to move here for good."
"I love Ireland, and Zeke will learn to love it as well. Chuck and Adela, they can't get enough of the ducks and… besides, Tim is closer this way."
"And what about me?"
"You haven't cared for Zeke, or Chuck or even Adela, hell, not even me since you took that job."
"Auntie!" Adela had her arms out. Kimberly lifted Adela up to her hip. She was dressed in this cute white dress.
"You are being unfair."
"Maybe I am Tommy. And maybe you are unfair. You can't have both. You can't have your dream job and a family hundreds of miles away."
"I had quit, I just… I just had some things to clear up before I…"
"You think that going back to fix a few favors for Dr. Mercer would be enough?"
"Yes!"
"Then you are delusional. He would have called…"
"I would have said no."
"He would have still called and eventually, the temptation, the calling would return and we would be back to where we were." Kimberly put Adela down. "And I couldn't, wouldn't let that happen to my babies again. They don't need a part-time Dad."
"But I need you." Tommy took Kimberly by the arms. "I need you and our family back in the States, we can fix this! I haven't sign those papers, I won't! I know we can fix this, Beautiful… we did, we were almost there…"
"Almost, doesn't matter now. Look, right now, we're staying here. I still have a few things to do with the album. I have only been working for like 2 months. Michael feels I have another month maybe 3 before it's ready for marketing. We should use that time apart."
"Is that what you want?"
"That's what I truly need Tommy."
"Fine." Tommy agreed to Kim's demands, though it nearly killed him to do so.
The start of the New Year seemed to just come too quickly. It was lucky and somewhat somber to be 2005, since so much happened in '04. Tommy had welcomed Kimberly and the children back home for Christmas, though it was brief with Kim's return back to her grandparents. Tommy did what Kimberly requested and took that time apart, but he knew it was over. Their marriage had suffered too much to fix. Tommy sat down at his empty dining room table and signed the divorce papers and signed them off. With Tommy back in the States, he gave Kimberly the space she needed and called for. He didn't want to force any custody issues until she was back in the States. He went back to work at the Island at Dr. Mercer's Industry, throwing himself into his work to help get over the pain, and the lost the woman he loves breaking his heart for the second time in his life.
Tommy was back on the island working with Dr. Mercer. It was a slow evening, but Tommy wanted to keep working, going back to his suite made no sense with no wife to call and talk to about the day.
"Nice work on the dinosaur DNA recombinant I asked for."
"Thanks Dr. Mercer."
"Very impressive work. So how is the family? How are the wife, boys and Adela?"
"I don't know, fine I guess."
"Did something happen?"
"No, I mean, yeah. Kimberly divorced me about 3 months ago now sir."
"Wow, Tommy, I'm sorry." Dr. Mercer put his hand on Tommy's shoulder. Tommy hadn't really revealed his personal life since he took back up his job with Dr. Mercer. Tommy kept to himself mostly, doing his job.
"It happens."
"I hope it wasn't because of the job." Tommy shook his head.
"I don't know, maybe the job will be a reason, but it's not the reason."
"Well, if you need some time to…"
"I'm fine Dr. Mercer. Thanks, but I really should get back to work."
"Of course, I'll leave you to it."
Tommy refused to sell the house. And though it was too much for a recently divorced man, Tommy just felt it was their home, his home with Kimberly, and their children. Right now, they may be divorced, but in time, things could change. Tommy was sitting outside by the pool. It was glistening in the late afternoon with the sun about the set in the west. Tommy didn't feel like much company tonight, not at all when he was home in the empty house. Kimberly had still not given him a day of return. Tommy was happy though how civil they were during the holiday stay. He knew Kimberly wasn't like that. As much as she wished she could be angry with Tommy, for the children she wouldn't let them suffer about their failed marriage. Tommy turned to his small radio and turned the knob on the volume up.
I listen to your album
And I watched your favorite film
Hey hey hey I missed you today
I let those early letters that I fulfilled with early dreams
Some of them materialized
Others never seen
We used to watch the world walkin by
The truth is you're not here, here I am
I'm screwed up again
No matter what which way I turn
How my feelings slowly bleeding here for you
I'm spending time with hope
And I don't know why it is
It's just the way it is
Chorus:
What am I to say?
What am I to do?
What am I alone without you!!
What am I to say?
What am I to do?
What am I alone without you!!
I made your favorite dinner
And I wore the shirt you love
Hey hey hey just in case you came
Friends still ask about you
When I say you're just fine
And have you seen the world walking by?
The truth is you're not here, here I am
I'm screwed up again
No matter what which way I turn
How my feelings slowly bleeding here for you
I'm spending time with hope
And I don't know why it is
It's just the way it is
Chorus
The truth is you're not here
And I'm screwed up again
And I don't know the reason why
I don't know why it is
And will I ever say...I just need your love
I want you back again
I want you back again!!
You said that this isn't yet a time
So give me time
To get you back again
Chorus
For you when I fall outta bed in the mornin
Still checkin the mirror as I'm leavin
Sit in the car without drivin
I want you back again!!
Chorus Fades
Tommy turns the radio dial volume off at the finish of the song when he sees Jason standing at the backyard gate. Adam and Jason came by Tommy's house and found him in the backyard drinking beer. Adam was surprised though Jason had warned him. Jason had found Tommy sulking in the dark house whenever he was home these days. Jason had been trying and trying, but Tommy just seemed to never get better. Jason hated to see Tommy like this so asked for help. He knew Adam had been there for the first break-up. Tommy already had 2 bottles empty on the table, working on his third. Adam settled his 12 pack of beer on the ground next to the empty chair.
"I see you started the party without us." Tommy put the photo of his family face down on the small table. Jason took the seat on the other side of the table where the radio and case of beer were sitting on. Tommy had been caressing Kim's smiling face for the past 5 minutes. The photo was taken in Ireland, Kimberly sent it. The mountains so beautiful in the background. Kimberly was holding Chuck and Adela in her lap with Zeke standing beside her, his head against his mother's hand. As Kimberly held up the babies, the smile on her face was real and loving. Tommy took the photo. It was one of the good days in Ireland he actually had. Kimberly and him didn't fight one time.
"How could she do that Jase, how could she leave me again?"
"Bro, it's been 5 months. You gotta let it go."
"Jason's right, Tommy. This is not like you." Adam took a seat on the other side of Tommy.
"She's moving back next week."
"With the children for good?"
"Yeah."
"Well, that's great," Adam said. "Right?"
"She says she has a surprise. I think it's another man."
"No, Kimberly wouldn't, not that soon."
"She moved to Ireland guys to get as far away from me as she possibly could during the divorce for almost 6 months. And Zeke said there was some guy coming around often."
"That doesn't mean..."
"Enough about me. How is Katherine, Jason?"
"She's good. She hopes to be in San Francisco for a show by the end of next month."
"Great. And Tanya, Adam? You two doing well?"
"As well as can be."
"Great, I'm happy you two are still together." Jason smiled. "And I'm happy you and Katherine are still going strong too."
"You can thank your ex wife for that."
"How so?"
"She made me open my eyes," Jason said.
"Are you ok?" Adam asked. Tommy smiled.
"Just thinking about my ex."
"Katherine or Kim?" Jason smiled. Tommy glared at him. "Sorry bro."
"It's just. I worked my whole damn college life, taking all this courses to get this job with Dr. Mercer, knowing it would open doors to the career I would love and just as things seem perfect, then my marriage has to go and fall apart."
"You have to know Kimberly never wanted to..."
"She packed up her stuff, my boys' stuff, and Adela's stuff, leaving me nothing but a pink letter and divorce papers."
"You left her," Adam added.
"I had a job to finish!"
"And what about your family?" Jason asked.
"What about them? I love them even though I couldn't see them as much, why couldn't she understand that."
"But you were gone from them."
"A few weeks at the time guys!"
"Weeks bro? Try months sometimes and that was just too much. You have to know that. Plus Kimberly was pregnant for a lot of that as well, you know how those hormones can mess up a woman. She probably just never got over that."
"So she divorced me because of her hormones from her pregnancy!"
"She divorced you because you were never there for her the way she wanted you to be." Tommy looked at Jason and Adam. "And that's why you have to let it go bro. We all owe you so much, I owe you so much." Tommy smiled.
"No! I owe you! Remember that time when Zedd's putties almost got me, you found out their weak spot, and remember that time that monster... I was lucky you were quicker that it."
"I did save you plenty of times." They all laughed.
"You both have save me and the other rangers plenty of time. To Jason Lee Scott and Adam Park! Great men."
"And don't forget the legendary Tommy Oliver, the man that has seen almost ever ranger color except black and blue." Jason laughed and clicked his beer to the others.
"Let's just hope yellow is not in the future."
"Ha ha, guys." They all cheered each other and drank.
"I don't want to lose my best friend," Jason said.
"What are you talking about?"
"Because he knows how you can get. I mean, I was around then. I saw when you went into a shell for months after Kim first left. We can't let that happen again."
"It won't."
"Seriously bro, you gotta let it go. You gotta move on. You'll find someone perfect for you."
"No, Kimberly is perfect, but, but you're right." Tommy slid off his gold band. "I gotta move on." Tommy put the ring on the table. "Though I know I will never love someone else like I love Kim."
"Well, until you do, you got me."
"Wow, Jason, way to really bring the man down." They all laughed out loud. Tommy looked at his ring.
Since Kimberly and Tommy had made it through the crude of a divorce, Rocky pulls out a huge surprise. As a joke, Rocky throws Tommy a party with their divorce finalized after 6 months now. He had stupid cards, and balloons to boot. With all the negations settled, Rocky had the divorce party a cake that even said 'Happy Divorce Party Tommy, Better Luck Next Marriage'. At first Tommy was not happy, but Rocky was right. The divorce was over, what else, but a natural thing to do would be to throw a party.
Rocky knew Tommy would not be in the best mood to party, he knew the divorce was hard enough, now to promote that the great Tommy Oliver actually failed at something would be another blow. And Rocky didn't go overboard with something like a banner saying "It's Over, Be Happy!" crap. Rocky wanted to invite as many women he knew and could find to help out as well. He plan was to get Tommy and drunk and possibly just for one evening forget about his ex wife, as much as he loved Kimberly, Rocky felt just one night to try to have fun and try something new wouldn't kill the man. There was a reasonable large, amount of alcohol consumption going on. Eventually faded out to just the men. So, they spent the night with everyone sharing lots of stories and laughter.
Song lyrics used: Mark Owens – Alone Without You
AN: Thanks for the reviews my loyal, great peeps, appreciate it much...but I would love to hear from more of you guys, feedback is much appreciated to make things better. Next Chapter: The New Guy, as one relationship comes to an end, a new one begins. Kimberly finds herself falling in love all over again.