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Chapter 37
She just stared out the window when Jamie was driving. "What's going on, Jude? Why did you want to leave the party?"
"Tommy never showed. He sent me a text telling me something came up."
"That's weird since he was telling me today he didn't want anything to upset you tonight."
"Of course not. He wanted to do it himself. Jamie have I wasted the last two years of my life?"
Before he could respond, Jude's cell rang. "What's up, Kwest?"
"Where are you?" He sounded worried.
"I left. I couldn't be there anymore without…" She let her voice fade out before saying his name.
"Jude, look he had a good reason for not coming. I just spoke with him and he's at home. Maybe you should go talk to him. He got worried when I told him I couldn't find you."
"Why should I Kwest? This was supposed to be…"
"I know, but are you going to throw everything away before he has a chance to explain the whole situation?"
"You tell me what's going on and maybe I will."
"It's not my place. This is something he has to tell you."
"There wasn't supposed to be anymore secrets." She couldn't just let this go.
"Jude, some things aren't brought up until they have to be."
She knew he was right. She needed to let Tommy speak for himself. "Okay."
"Good. Now Happy Birthday."
"Thanks Kwest." She ended the call and sighed. "Can you take me to Tommy's? My car is there anyway."
"Are you sure? Jude, this is not the first time he has done this to you. It's your birthday, do you really want to be even more heart broken?"
Jamie never understood her relationship and she knew that. "Yeah. I'm going to see what he has to say, then just go home." She sent Tommy a text letting him know she was on her way.
Tommy heard his phone go off, and ran to find it. There was a text from Jude. 'I'm on my way.' He flipped his phone shut. His moment of truth was coming. Everything was set. The closet was half cleaned out, and so was his dresser. One drawer was completely empty except for the black velvet box that held the engagement ring and her pajamas. He hoped he got the chance to ask her and she would say yes.
He thought about the conversation he had with her dad while he was in Montreal.
"So, Tom, you wanted to talk?" Stuart said after they sat down in the hotel room.
"You know I love your daughter, and I would do anything to make sure she was happy."
"Jude feels the same way about you. I've never seen her happier."
"I've done a lot of things in my life that I'm not proud of, but since I met Jude, I've become a totally different person. Music used to be the only thing that meant anything to me. But now Jude is the reason I get up in the morning. I know she's young."
Stuart just nodded, but didn't interrupt.
"But I've always felt like she was more mature than any other woman my own age. I can't imagine my life with anyone else. So what I'm asking you is would it be okay when she turns eighteen…" He stopped to swallow. Stuart's stare was making him more and more nervous. He was trying to find the right words. "Um. I love Jude, and I would like your permission to ask her to merry me." There he said it.
"Marriage?" Stuart asked.
"Yes, Sir."
"Wow, that's a big step."
"I know. And I know she's young, and in my first marriage I was young. I got married back then for all the wrong reasons. I want to do it right this time. I look at my life years from now, and I see Jude right beside me."
"Like I said earlier, I've never seen Jude happier. You bring a light into her eyes that I never saw before. When you were gone, she was a mess. I can't think of a better person to call son-in-law."
Tommy felt faint. Stuart just said yes. "Thank you. I promise to always be there for her."
"I know you will, son."
He hoped he'd get a chance to keep his promise to Stuart. He knew not going to the party was breaking it, but he wanted to keep it in the long run.
He went back to his room to wait on her. He'd been working on a new song. His fear of loosing her had inspired him musically.
When she got to Tommy's, she walked in and the apartment was dark. There were a few empty beer bottles on the coffee table. She walked up to his room. "Tommy?"
"In here." He said from inside the room. He was nervous to see her.
Jude pushed the door open and found him sitting in the floor with his guitar in his lap. She was furious. He was acting like nothing was wrong. "Is this what came up? You needed to stay home to drink alone and work on music? Tommy tonight was important to me. You knew how important. I thought it was to you, too. Kwest said I should let you explain, but right now I am questioning his sanity."
He still wasn't completely sure what he was going to say. He was just happy she was there. "When I want to think I like to sit with my guitar. Sometimes I play and sometimes I don't."
"So what are you thinking about? Because if you don't start talking, I'm leaving and never coming back." She was ready to get this over with.
"Did you meet an old friend of mine today?" He asked finally looking up at her. She was a vision. Her dress fit her curves perfectly. His MaMere's necklace looked like it should have always been around her neck.
"Yeah. What's that got to do with you not coming?"
"He's Angie's brother, and he's trouble. Jude, he wants me to suffer and loose everything I love. He blames me for his sister's death. I thought if I wasn't at the party, you'd be safe."
"You think he's going to come after me?" She remembered the creepy feeling she had when he showed up in her dressing room at the hotel.
"You are my life, and the only person that I couldn't stand to loose."
"So, why has he come now? Where has he been over the last two years we've been together?"
"Jail. He went to prison not too long after Angie died. He sort of lost it and got into a lot of trouble that sent him away for the last five years." He studied Jude's face wondering what she was thinking.
"Why didn't you tell me this before the party?" She could feel her anger fading.
"I didn't want to ruin your party. I still wanted you to go and have fun."
"There was no way to have fun without you there. I was miserable. All I could think about was you broke your promise that we'd dance no matter what tonight." She told him as tears glistened in her eyes.
Tommy stood up and turned the stereo on. "I would never break that promise." He said holding out his hand for her to take.
She needed him to do a lot more explaining, but her need to be in his arms was too great. As he pulled her to him, she listened to the lyrics coming from the song.
(Keep Holding On by Avril Lavigne)
You're not alone
Together we stand
I'll be by your side, you know I'll take your hand
When it gets cold
And it feels like the end
There's no place to go
You know I won't give in
No I won't give in
Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
So far away
I wish you were here
Before it's too late, this could all disappear
Before the doors close
And it comes to an end
With you by my side I will fight and defend,
I'll fight and defend
Yeah, yeah!
Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Hear me when I say, when I say I believe
Nothing's gonna change, nothing's gonna change destiny
Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
La da da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da da
Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Keep holding on...
Keep holding on
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
"Jude, I can't loose you." Tommy said when the song faded out.
"I just need you to be honest with me, Tommy. That's all I ever needed. If you say he's a danger, I believe you. What do we do?"
"I'll have to talk to Darius. But one thing we have to do is bump up security. He could make his move at anytime. How did you get here anyway?"
"Jamie brought me."
"You weren't followed were you?"
"Not that I know of. I didn't see Hunter at the party after I told him you wouldn't be there. You know I had a strange feeling about him this afternoon, but figured I was still just being paranoid."
"I won't let him hurt you. If I have to sell a couple of my cars to pay him off, I will."
Jude realized how sincere he was being. "Why did you think you not being there would keep him from doing something?"
"He said something about my girlfriend and her party. I thought he'd think he was wrong about you being my girlfriend if I wasn't there. It was dumb; since I'm sure tabloids are even in jails. He's not stupid. That's why we have to do whatever we can to keep you safe."
"Then we will." She said nodding.
Tommy just pulled her in a tight hug. "I love you, Jude."
"I love you, too." She closed her eyes and enjoyed being in his arms. "So when do I get the next part of my birthday gift?" She wanted to forget Hunter and the party and get the night back on track with Tommy.
He smiled because this was what he'd been waiting for. "Why don't you get changed into something more comfortable and meet me in the living room."
"Okay." She said and kissed him quickly.
The moment you have been waiting for is coming. How will he ask? What will Jude say?
Wow. I know this is like a miracle having another update tonight, but I had the extra time to type. I am not quite finished with the final chapter, but I will get it up as soon as it is done. For all of you who are sad it is coming to an end don't forget I have a sequel in the works. Don't you want to know what happens after her birthday? Well, there will be a preview at the end of the final chapter. I am really excited about it because I am going to try to spice it up some. It will be in the same format as this one with flashbacks.
Please Review!!!!!