Chapter Two
Tom's POV:
Seated inside of Portia's house in Montana, I was staring at an odd
painting on the wall. It was of two vaces with a plain background. The colors really hit
you though so it qualified as a pretty good painting.
I"d been sitting in the same position for hours, thinking and observing, and
( to my embarressment) crying. It'd been three months since I'd left for Montana.
Since I'd broken Jude's heart. Since I'd broken my own heart. But I had to go. She
needs me. AMBER needs me. But Jude does too. The same battle has been goin on in
my head for the past few months. The woman I love or my daughter? The only
conclussion I've come up with is," Who has to choose these kind of things"
Oh yeah. Me.
At last, at 3:30 AM, I finally couldn't take it anymore. I picked up my cell
phone and dialed the number of the womanthat no matter how hard and how long I tried
I could never forget...Jude Harrison.
On the fourth ring, I heard her pick up the phone and draw a deep breath as if
preparing for a long conversation. When I couldnt take the awfully long silence for
much longer, she whispered, "Hello"
I inhaled sharply, thrown off key by the rush of feelings that hit me at the
sound of her angelic voice. Once again, icy tears dripped down Tom's handsome face.
"Jude"
Now it was her turn to inhale a harsh breath. Two thousand miles apart I could
see her fighting her emotions away with her guitar. I just waited for the beginning
and for the verbal attack I knew was awaiting me. All she said though was in a
tone hinged with a note of relief. " Tommy."
Jude's POV:
" Jude...I...How are you?" he finally spit out with some difficulty. He was nervous.
I could tell.
"Hmmm...let me think...I'm just peachy, Tom. And you?" I told him with a trace
of sarcasmin my voice.
"I'm not doing to good to be honest, Jude. I...think of you way to often." He admitted,
his tears evident form his tone of voice and how shaky it was. I felt a little compassion
for him. But more anger.
"Oh yeah. Dont feel bad. Thats what usually happens to people who ALMOST have something
to each other. Who ALMOST date each other. But we didnt even get that far. So dont worry.
It's normal. But you can enlighten me on why you havent even bothered to call me in three
months, Mr. Quincy." I growled, grinding my teeth to keep from screaming at him.
" Jude, do you really want to know why I never called you? How it felt to drive away with
you standing only feet behind me crying in the rain? It was the hardest thing I've ever had to
do, Jude. Can't you see that?" He said into the phone.
" Not really but thats a different story. Back to why you didnt even like me enough to call
me?" I told him tears finally starting to fall down from eyes.
" Is that really what you think? That I dont like you?" He told me almost chuckling.
" Yes, but I want to know why you didnt call me. I needed you, Tom. I still do." I told him
choking back a sob.
" I never called you before tonight, Jude, because I wasnt ready to admit any of it was real."