Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Coyote Ugly just the ones I make up in the story.

Chapter 3: A Talk with Dad and Grandma's Secret

11:00pm May 6th

I got out of the car and went up to Dad's front door and let myself in.

"Judy? Are you home?" I asked but no one answered so I went over to the couch, laid down and went to sleep. Fifteen minutes later the door opened and I heard my Dad and Judy laughing.

"What the? Who's in here?" Dad said noticing the light on in the living room.

"It's just me Dad."

"Violet, what are you doing here?"

"Me and Kevin had a disagreement. He wouldn't let me in the spare room. I had a nightmare and I needed to be in there!" I said as I started to cry. Dad held me close until I calmed down.

"Violet, I'm going to tell you something. You need to understand it okay?"

"Okay."

"Kevin's a sensitive guy. He loves you more than anything else on this planet and doesn't want to see you sad or upset. He wants you to be happy. That time at the hospital after Josiah was stillborn he had to leave the room when you cried into my shoulder. He hated seeing you like that. He's just trying to protect you from heartache. That's the truth."

"You're right. I was too hard on him. But I'm trying to grieve here. I just lost my baby and I want to just feel what I'm feeling right now."

"When's the funeral?"

"May 9th."

"You can grieve then. But as long as you're under my roof there is to be no crying got that? I hate people crying anyways."

"I got it. Thanks Dad. In the morning I'll go talk to Kevin."

"Before you talk to Kevin maybe you should talk to your Grandma first. I never told you this, but your Grandma lost a child before so she knows what it's like."

"Really? I didn't know."

"She's always kept that secret from you, Keith and Howie but it's about time you get to know the uncle you never had."

May 7th

I woke up and my phone was ringing. I went to answer it but was too late. I checked my voice messages and noticed one was from Kevin. He was telling me that he decided to go to Chicago for a week to take time for himself so he could think things through. I was so upset that I threw the phone at the wall. It didn't break.

"What's all the commotion? Did Kevin call you?" Dad asked me.

"He left me a voice mail saying that he was going to Chicago for a week to think things through. This is all my fault I shouldn't have left."

"Maybe he needs time to be alone, just like you."

"Yeah maybe we do need some time apart, to think. But what about the funeral? Kevin won't be back in time."

"I'll call the funeral home and the church and tell them to postpone the funeral."

"Okay well I better go and see Grandma."

"Oh Violet Gloria just called here again. She's sorry about the baby and wants to see you too so you might as well swing by her and Danny's place in Newark."

"All right I'll do that." I said as I left the house.

10:00am May 7th

I walked up to the retirement home that my Grandma lives at and saw her waiting for me. She broke her hip a few weeks ago and was sitting in a wheelchair.

"Hello Violet. I was just starting to think you wouldn't show." Grandma said.

"Sorry I'm late. Got stuck in traffic." I said.

"Well, how about you give me a ride back to my room so we can talk."

I agreed with her and wheeled her back to her room and parked her in front of the couch and I sat down eager to hear about my late uncle.

"Can you get me those three photo albums that are sitting on the table please?"

I went to get the albums and set them down on her lap.

"Thank you. Now let's see here…Oh here we go. Here is a picture of your Dad, your Uncle John and your Uncle Joey. They were a set of triplets. Your Grandpa and I didn't know I was pregnant with triplets until the doctor kept on saying "there's another head, and another head" during the delivery. We only had one of everything and your Grandpa had to go out and get two more of everything."

"So who was the youngest?"

"Your Uncle Joey was the youngest and smallest. Your Dad was the oldest and Uncle John was the middle child."

"So what happened to Uncle Joey?"

"We went swimming at the Jersey Shore. The boys were three at the time and Joey was in the shallow water when a tide came in and swept him 50 ft. offshore. The lifeguard went after him but couldn't get to him because of the tide and the waves. He drowned 5 minutes later. I kept on screaming no, no not my baby. I was so upset your Grandpa had to carry me to the car and a neighbor helped get your Dad and Uncle John in the car so we could go home. That was the worst day of my life. I was so lost, helpless and depressed that your Grandpa had me committed to a psych ward at a local hospital. I spent three months there before I was released."

"Did you ever have nightmares or dreaming that he is still alive?"

"Yes I did for a few months but the doctors and nurses told me that I had to face my fears and face the fact that he was gone and remember the good times I had with him and to honor his memory and that's what you need to do Violet. You need to cherish the time that you got to spend with your baby even if it was short but it's what you have and if I were you I would take a look at that keepsake book you got from the hospital. It will help you to heal and move forward. You can still grieve but don't push the people that love you away. I almost lost your Grandpa by doing that."

"Wow, you are so right Grandma. I think I need to go to Chicago, to explain things to Kevin but first I have to apologize to Gloria. I've been ignoring her phone calls so I better go see her." I said as I gave my Grandma a hug and a kiss on the cheek, thanked her and left.

12:00pm May 7th

I pulled up to Gloria and Danny's apartment building and saw Gloria sitting on a park bench watching a neighbor's kids playing on the playground. I went to sit down next to her. I kind of scared her.

"Violet don't scare me like that. Why didn't you return my phone calls?" Gloria asked.

"I haven't been dealing well with Josiah's death these past few days and you're about to have a baby and Cammie just had her little girl and I couldn't be around babies and pregnant women after what happened. My Grandma told me today that I shouldn't push people away and that's what I've been doing. I pushed you and Kevin away and I might not have Kevin after this so I'm really sorry and I hope that you can forgive me." I said.

"So you found out the truth about your Grandma's little boy huh?"

"How did you know about him?"

"My Grandma and your Grandma were neighbors, remember? She was there when your Grandma's little boy drowned and helped your Grandpa get your Pop and Uncle in the car."

"Oh yeah they're also close friends and were in the police force together. Sorry my brain is so fried I can't even think straight."

"That's okay you've been through a lot these past few days. Your pop called a few minutes ago and said that Kevin went to Chicago. You need to go after him Violet. You love him and he loves you. You can't afford to lose him. I used to not like him but I see how he treats you and now I believe that he's the right man for you."

"Gloria do you really mean that?"

"With all my heart. Now go get your man back."

I gave Gloria a huge hug, thanked her, got in my car and drove off toward the airport. I caught the next flight out to Chicago hoping that Kevin will want to see me.