Chapter 17: a week away

Aleera dropped her bags at the front door, amazed at the beautiful home Jeff lived at. Everything matched perfectly with designer furnishing. The front hall way was filled with mirrors, two coat hangers, and a small side table covered with mail. A few landscape photographs filled the empty spaces on the white walls.

Jeff cleared his throat as he walked towards the giant staircase leading a few feet away from the front hall way. The golden rails shined in the light as did the marble stairs. Aleera started walking up, her bag swung around her shoulder.

"This is such an amazing home, Jeff," Aleera said looking around.

"Thanks, my mom used to live here before I put her into a new smaller home. She designed it all besides my half. You get to stay on her side," Jeff said stopping at a double door room.

"Really? I'm going to have to see your side,"

He smiled. "Nope!"

The doors flung open to reveal the nicest bedroom Aleera has ever seen. The golden walls matched the red comforter on the king sized bed, and the red curtains around the windows and porch door. The ceiling held down a medium sized gold chandelier with clear jewels around the light bulbs. The cream colored carpet was vacuumed clean next to all the dusted furniture.

On the other half of the room was a brand new entertainment system, a white sofa and two matching chairs. A coffee table seperated the TV with the furniture, a red shaggy rug under the coffee table. Also in the near left corner was a mini bar stacked with full bottles of different vodkas.

"This was your mothers bedroom?" Aleera set her bag down by the oak dresser.

"Yeah, she is a bit strange with the room huh? Too fancy for me," Jeff said grabbing a beer from the mini fridge.

"No, its perfect,"

Jeff rolled his eyes. "I thought you would like it, your best friends with Trish,"

"What's that mean?" her head snapped in his direction.

"Nothing, its just I know what you would like. I dated Trish, if you ever knew that,"

Aleera nodded. "She may have mentioned you,"

Jeff headed towards the hall way. "I'm tired and need some sleep. See you tomorrow,"

"Goodnight,"

He nodded and closed her door, heading to his own room for the night.

Aleera looked around the room and walked straight to the bed. She pushed back the sheets, jumping into the cold bed. The blankets wrapped around her body creating warmth. As soon as her head hit the pillows she was off into dreamland, not even a single noise would disturb her rest.

John tossed and turned in his bed. He looked at the cieling, his hands behind his head, thinking about the only woman he has ever loved. Her face kept popping into his vision and it was hard to erase it away.

Jack slowly walked out of his bedroom into his fathers. His blue security blanket held in his hands as he climbed on the bed. His father sat up, leaning against the bed frame. Jack copied his father.

"Hey son," John greeted and patted Jack's head.

"Hi daddy," his voice was a little rough from dehydration.

"Sleep good?"

He shook his head yes. "Mhmm." with a quick pause he continued. "Whens mommy coming home?"

John let out a sigh, scrubbing his face before answering his son's question. "In a week Jack. Your mom needs some time for herself. Too much stress,"

He looked up innocently. "She said it was because of you and the marriage,"

Cena was completely stunned. He didn't know Aleera would tell their son everything. To him it wasn't a good choice.

"Jack," he breathed in and out. "Your mom is afraid of marriage when I'm not. I want to be married, she's scared. We didn't fight, she needed to think about her future, our future,"

"So you two are getting married!?" he looked ecstatic.

John smiled, ruffling his son's hair. "We don't know yet. But don't worry, your mom is fine and she still loves you, and me,"

Jack smiled with satisfaction. "Good, now I'm hungry."

"Me to,"

Both father and son headed into the kitchen to prepare what ever they could find for breakfast. Since Aleera was gone and couldn't cook for the two, they had a difficult time trying to find a bite to eat.

Aaliyah was the only other woman in the hotel room. She had some cooking experience and could help the men out but she was too confused in her own thoughts to even leave her bedroom.

The faint talk of the men outside the room circled around the silent room Aaliyah lay in. She groaned as her phone rang once again. The same person calling again.

With her annoyance getting enough as it could in one hour, she turned her phone off, chucking it to the other side of the room. She fixed herself up before joining the rest of the group in the hotel room.

John poured he and his son a bowl of cereal. It was quick and easy to make. Aaliyah sat down next to Jack, begging John with her eyes for a bowl.

"Can't you get it?" John asked sitting down to his meal.

"But you were up," Aaliyah replied.

"Fine, but I'm not doing this every morning," John stood up, grabbing another bowl and the cereal.

Aaliyah chuckled. "Now you know how Aleera feels when making all of us breakfast and that's usually eggs and bacon,"

"She likes to do it," he sat back down. "Eat, I'm not getting you more if it spoils,"

"Aye, Aye sir!"

Since Aleera left her family on Saturday, it seemed like time was passing too quickly. It was now Thursday and she had a day to really think about her answer.

A part of her was all for marrying John, but the other half disagreed. Anything could happen when two people marry. They either stay together and always love each other or they go into divorce hating each other more than before.

Aleera didn't want to lose John again or have Jack be forced into picking a parent. She wanted to get married but was afraid if they did, everything would get worse even if it started to get better as they spent more time together.

Her feet were getting sore from pacing back and forth so much so she decided to sit down and think. The thoughts ambushed her and she felt a headache come on.

Jeff had just gotten in the door when she went looking around for any sort of Advil in the house. He watched curiously as she opened random drawers around the house.

"You need some help?" he asked sneaking up on her.

Aleera whimpered at the sound of his voice, instantly calming down as her head throbbed in pain. "Yes, I need Advil. Stat,"

"I'll be right back,"

It took him two minutes before he handed her a glass of water and two pills.

"Thank you so much," she swallowed the pills.

"You okay?" Jeff asked.

"No,"

He nodded his head and brought Aleera into the living room. It was known as the colorful room as all sorts of colorful furniture and walls were scattered in the room.

Jeff looked serious before breaking the silence. "What's up Aleera?"

Aleera sighed. "It's John,"

"And?" he pursued.

"He wants to get married but I'm too scared,"

She told Jeff, her new good friend, everything. Aleera even cried in front of him as everything she wanted to say was released. A weight was lifted from her shoulders as she explained her problem.

Jeff listened, not interrutping for a second. He seemed to understand a little bit of what she was talking about.

"To me Aleera," Jeff said several minutes later. "Just marry him. If you love him as much as you say you do then it would work out completely. I know John from wrestling with him a bit and he seems fully committed to you. Just take the chance and say yes. You'll regret it if you don't,"

Aleera nodded. "Your right, thank you so much Jeff,"

"No problem,"

She rushed to her room and began packing immediately. She had to arrange an early flight tomorrow.