Chapter 32

Jude found Sadie at the front desk. "Hey Sis. How are you today?"

"Hey birthday girl. I'm good. How are you on your big day?"

"Fabulous! I can't wait to show you the necklace Tommy gave me this morning. I'm wearing it tonight."

"Sounds fancy."

"It's beautiful, but I'll tell you more about it later. You have a dress to try on for tonight."

"I already have my dress at home."

"No dear sister. Come on I'll show you."

They went to find Portia. Jude was so excited. She couldn't wait to see Sadie in the dress she picked for her.

"I'm in love." Sadie said looking into the mirror.

"It looks great on you." Portia stated.

"Thank you Jude. I can't believe you bought me this dress, and on your birthday."

"It's my way of saying I appreciate you. I'm really glad you stayed and didn't go to New York."

"I'm glad I stayed too." She said and turned back to the mirror.

Jude thought back to just a few weeks before when Sadie almost moved to New York for work.

Jude was going crazy planning the benefit in Patsy's name. She knew Patsy never really had a home except her car. She found a shelter that reached out to homeless teens and thought it was the perfect place to get the proceeds. She felt confident when she held a press conference that she was doing the right thing. With Tommy on one side of her and Sadie on the other, this was a sure thing.

When it came down to the real planning, Jude became overwhelmed. Jamie was still not talking to her, and she was clueless on how to order the specifics she needed.

"Hey St Jude." Sadie said approaching her. "Shouldn't you be basking in your benevolent glory?"

"This benefit is proving a little tricky."

"Well tricky is my middle name. Come on, how can I help?"

She knew everything would be okay with Sadie helping her. Sadie knew how to order the sound system and the other stuff Jude was completely lost on.

"Awesome. Thank you so much Sadie." She said before Tommy whisked her away.

They were supposed to be rehearsing for the benefit, but Jude couldn't pull herself away from his lips. "We should be practicing." She said between kisses.

"We've got time." He said kissing down the side of her neck and tickling her sides a bit.

She couldn't help but laugh. "Oh. Ah. Crap."

"What now?" Tommy asked pulling back.

"I keep having these cramps when ever I have fun because Patsy never will again."

"I know you're trying to fix what happened, but pulling this concert off by Saturday; its tough, girl."

"Yeah, I know but I have a secret weapon, and she can plan this in her sleep."

"Well then we have nothing to worry about." Tommy said before she was lost yet again in the feeling of his lips.

When they arrived at the mall later to make sure everything was being set up, nothing seemed to be going right. Her stage was being taken apart, and the mall manager said the concert was being canceled. Jude was furious at Sadie.

"Oh my god! You want me to fail. Do you think that's going to make you feel any better about your crappy life?"

"My crappy life, huh? Well, thank goodness I'm officially kissing it goodbye." Sadie responded pulling a letter out of her pocket. "Letter of acceptance to the UN in New York, and I'm going." With that she walked away.

Jude didn't know what to think. Her benefit was ruined and her sister was leaving her. All she wanted to do was something good. "I have to try to find another venue." She sighed.

"That's gonna be tough."

"I don't need your negativity right now." She said and walked away from him.

She went back to the rehearsal space. She was determined to not give up. The benefit was for a good cause. It wasn't something she could just move on from. She'd do it all by herself if she had to.

Nowhere she called had an opening for the upcoming weekend. "Okay, so, Patterson Concert Hall is also booked. You think we can fit a few thousand people in here?" She asked when she saw Tommy at the door.

"Want to talk about it?"

"How Sadie wrecked everything?"

"How she just announced she's moving to New York City. I guess even the great Sadie Harrison can feel overwhelmed."

"She told me she could do it."

"Maybe she just couldn't say no because you are her sister. Now that you are famous people are going to tell you what they think you want to hear. So, it's good, but when the chips are down Sadie still calls you on your crap."

"Okay. Well I'm certainly full of it. I couldn't help Patsy. Jamie won't talk to me. And now Sadie is leaving. I can't do any of this with out her."

"So what are you telling me for?"

When Jude got home Sadie was just getting there too. They witnessed their dad selling one of his favorite records. It was so Sadie would have money when she moved to New York. Stuart was so proud of her. Jude apologized for the way she acted, and the two girls put their heads together to save the show.

"So, everything's good?" Tommy asked that night at dinner.

"Yep. Everything should be smooth on Saturday."

"And how do you feel about Sadie leaving now?"

"I don't know what I'm going to do without her, but I'm so proud of her. She's meant to do great things."

The show went exactly as planned. Jude was glad she could help kids have a place to go. She hoped Patsy would have liked it.

On Monday morning to show Sadie that she'd be okay, Jude got up early and made her lunch for her. "What's this?" Sadie asked walking down the stairs.

"I cooked for you." Jude said smiling. "It's PB&J."

"Sweet." Sadie said laughing.

"No, it's baby steps. So I can start taking care of things when you're in New York. And maybe when I come visit you can make me one of your breakfast burritos."

"I don't think I'm going."

"It's perfect for you."

"No timing is wrong. You know dad can't pay his bills."

"That's not a reason to stay. Plus I have money. Not that he'd take it"

"It's not just that. I met Pagen Smith this week. I planned a charity concert. And Darius just offered me a raise."

"Really? That's awesome. Still you'd take New York by storm."

"Yeah. I'd rather take over G Major. And then there's Kwest. I don't want to leave him."

"Wow. You're life sounds pretty amazing. I'm jealous."

"Well, if you're lucky maybe I'll let you keep hanging with me." Sadie said before they hugged.

Jude knew she wasn't the reason Sadie stayed, but she was so glad she did.

"By the way Portia, that's a great suit. Who's that for?" Jude noticed a white suit.

"Uh! Who else is vain enough to try to pull off white and pleats?"

For a few seconds Jude felt smug. Tommy told her he wasn't getting a suit. Then a bad feeling set in. "Tommy's a forty regular. It won't fit."

"Huh? I could have sworn I ordered the right size." Portia mumbled to her self.

Jude's brain was screaming. She wanted this night to be perfect. One thing being wrong could only set off a domino effect. Her gut was telling her the whole party was going to be ruined. It was going to be the usual Jude Harrison birthday.

After Tommy finished with his business with Darius, he decided to go looking for Jamie. He wanted everyone Jude cared about to be at her party. He found him out back. "It's your best friend's birthday. She really wants you there. I know you got things going on."

"Things going one. Funny how no one says Patsy's name anymore."

"I would just hate to see Jude hurt on her birthday."

"She's got you, what's she need me for?"

"Jamie, I've been where you are. I know what you are going through. The only thing worse than feeling like you can't move on, is the moment you realize you can." He said his peace and left Jamie to think it over.

"Oh god, Tommy." Jude rushed at him when he walked in the door.

"Jude, what's wrong?" She seemed frantic.

"Everything is going to go wrong. I just feel it."

"What made you figure this? Jude everything is going to be fine."

"I saw your suit."

Tommy couldn't help but smile. "What did you think?"

"That it's the wrong size, and that one thing after another is going to start going wrong."

"Babe, calm down. So Portia ordered the wrong size. I will check to see if she has anything else. And if not, I have plenty suits at home."

She wasn't convinced. "I haven't had a birthday since I won Instant Star that has gone as planned."

"Well, I plan to dance with you tonight, and I don't think anything can change that." He said pulling her to him and kissing her forehead.

I know everyone can't wait until the party. It's coming I promise. Is Jude's bad feeling right? Is something going to throw the whole party off? Stay tuned…

The good news is the next chapter is already written. It just has to be typed. Keep letting me know what you think.