John Francis - Chapter 46

Monday, April 28, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Unknown to both, Amanda had seen the kids about to enter the house and she had dashed to Jon’s office to give the family some time together. A closet there had been converted into a large filing room and when she had heard voices approaching, she had quickly ducked inside. This kept her out of view, but not out of earshot and she heard every word the two had said to each other.

Silent tears fell and her emotions whirled from one extreme to the other. She had heard the pain in his ex-wife’s voice at Jon’s infidelities and also the pain in his that he was left alone so much. She honestly didn’t know what to do, but this was all so new to her that there was no way she could sit down to dinner with them all. She had to think. She wished she had someone to talk to…and then she realized she did.

Keeping Amanda in the back of his mind at all times, Jon’s attention was a little diverted as one after the other of the kids regaled him with some story involving friends, school, after school activities, and other things he had not been around for. He caught the looks Linda was throwing him and he tried to motion with his eyes, asking her to go find Amanda. After fifteen minutes or so, she returned to the room with a note for him that had been half hidden by the front door. He opened it as the kids were distracted with the desert Linda had prepared.

Jon – I know you need some time with your family and I need some time to think. I can’t tell you how sorry I am that I was in the office when you talked to Dot, but I was and I heard everything. I’ll get in touch with you soon. Amanda

From the file room, Amanda had used her cell phone to call the only other person she knew in New Jersey.

“Richie? It’s Amanda.”

“Hey darlin’! What’s goin’ on? He actually let you outta his bed long enough to make a phone call?”

Her voice was heavy with emotion when she asked again, “Richie – I can’t tell you why, but I’m leaving. I don’t know anyone here but you. If I take a cab, will you come get me?”

Immediately concerned, he responded, “Of course! Does Jon know?”

“No and I don’t want him to. I’ll leave a note. I’m leaving now. I’ll call you,” and she quickly hung up the phone. Hearing voices in the kitchen, she grabbed her coat and purse and walked to the end of the driveway. The security system allowed exit without a code and she left, moving towards the direction where she had seen stores and where she could find a phone book to call a cab.

Richie in the meantime almost broke every speeding law to get to Jon’s house a half hour away. He had not yet heard from Amanda to tell him where she was and he debated most of the way about calling Jon or waiting to hear what Amanda had to tell him.

Amanda reached a coffee shop where she stopped to get something warm to drink. It was a lot colder than she imagined it would be when she started walking and at this moment all she wanted was some coffee and a few minutes to feel warm again.


After reading Amanda’s note, Jon’s face went nearly white. He quickly excused himself from the table and went to the front door. He saw her coat and purse were gone. He ran upstairs, but all her clothes were still there. Okay, he had to think. She didn’t know anyone here. Where the fuck could she have gone? At that moment his cell began to vibrate and he saw it was Richie calling.

He growled into the phone, “What?”

“What the fuck happened, man?” he heard the return growl of his friend.

“Did she call you? Do you know where she is? Talk to me, dammit!”

“If you’ll shut up enough to let me answer, I will!”

Jon paced and ran his hands through his hair as Richie explained the call and that he was almost to Jon’s house.

“Wait…you mean that was the last you heard from her? She hasn’t called you again to tell you where to meet her?”

“No. I was waiting to hear, but then called you. Where could she have gone?” The confusion was clear in Richie’s voice.

“I don’t know. Listen, Dot and the kids are here…” He heard Richie’s ‘oh fuck’ in the background. “Yeah, no shit. Let me get them on their way and then we’ll find her. Come in when you get here, okay.”

“Got it. Five minutes.” Richie snapped his phone shut and then checked to make sure there weren’t any missed calls. Dammit! Why hadn’t she called?


Dot was just getting Romeo cleaned up when Jon walked back into the kitchen. She knew from his face there was something wrong, but with the kids there it just wasn’t the time. Gathering the four together, they moved to get coats and hats and then outside where Jon helped load everyone in the car. With the kids in the car and the doors closed, Dot paused before she got in.

“Jon?”

He looked at her with a rather wild expression in his eyes. She knew then in her bones that whatever they had had between them really was completely over.

“Jon!”

Turning distractedly he just ground out, “She heard us and she’s gone.”

Knowing there was nothing she could do at this point, Dot just nodded. “Let me know…please?”

He nodded back and waved at his kids as in the distance the gate opened for Richie’s car. Horns honked as the two passed each other, Jon pacing even faster as Richie approached. Slamming on the brakes, he shot out of the car, but one look at Jon and he knew. Jon also knew Richie had not heard from her. He could see it in his face.

They moved into the house, Jon giving Richie much more detail about the conversation with Dot and the anger she had still felt.

“Fuck! Amanda heard all that? What Dot said about you being unfaithful and not liking to be alone?”

Jon nodded his head miserably. “Yeah, she heard all that…but why wouldn’t she give me a chance to explain, to talk to her?”

He continued, feeling more and more angry and sorry for himself. “Fuck, Rich, for the second time in my life I tell a woman I love her and just like the first she ends up throwing it in my face! The bitch wouldn’t even give me a chance…”

Jon didn’t have the ability to continue his rant as Richie’s fist solidly struck his jaw. He stood there in shock, rubbing his chin, gaping at Richie in astonishment.

“What the fuck did you do that for?”

“Because you were acting like a baby and I’m fuckin’ tired of that shit!”

Richie continued berating Jon. “Let’s look at some of the facts here, okay? You do one of the shittiest things you’ve ever done to a woman, on the day one year after her husband’s death. You were so deep in self-pity and booze you didn’t even know her name or if she was with someone else. No, you just fucked her. Then, BECAUSE of the woman she is, you actually get someone truly great to fall in love with you. She leaves her home, comes to a strange city, to a house she knows you shared with your family, and then your family shows up.”

Jon was strangely silent hearing Richie bring the truth home with a vengeance.

“Now, trying to be sensitive to YOUR needs, she let’s you have time with your family. Then she, a woman who was faithful for 24 fucking years, you asshole, hears from your ex-wife that you never have been. She’s been thrown into your life and she needs a little time to process it. Shit! She hasn’t been on tour with us or at shows or really even seen how the public reacts to you. She’s just been thrown into the deep end and you’re having a freakin’ hissy fit because she wants a little time to adjust?”

Jon still had no words, but he was listening intently.

“And just so you know, bro’, you call that amazing woman a bitch again and the next time I’ll knock your ass to the floor!”

Jon actually started to laugh softly. “You’ve been pissed for a while, haven’t you?”

“Goddam right I have, I…” His cell phone rang.

“Amanda? Honey, where are you? Okay, I know that place…I’m at Jon’s…Manda…okay, I’ll come by myself, but…no, he’s standing right here…Manda, please, talk to…”

“Fuck! She hung up!”

Grabbing his shoulder, Jon asked harshly, “Where is she?”

“Dave’s coffee shop. Said she got cold and she just wanted to sit somewhere warm and think.”

Jon moved to grab his coat, but Richie stopped him.

“Let me talk to her first, okay?”

Shoulders slumping, Jon nodded his assent. “You better fuckin’ call me quick or I’m heading over there!”

“I got it.”

6 comments

  1. Rommie Says:

    Oh. My. God.
    I think I can't sleep tonight! Please don't keep us waiting too long for the next chapters. My heart was pounding like crazy the whole time while I read your last chapters! Can't wait...
    I really love your story!

  2. I don't know where to start! Love how Amanda won over Linda and Mrs. S., and WTF is up with bipolar Dot? Could she run more hot and cold? Kudos to Richie for telling Jon to get his thumb out of his butt, and I'm glad Jon's letting him go to Amanda on his own.

    I hope he can make Amanda see reason...

  3. Anonymous Says:

    "freakin' hissy fit"

    ROTFLMAO!!! I can just imagine Richie saying that!

    I love how you make the other band members integral parts of this story.

    If anyone can make Amanda see reason, it will be Richie.

  4. Sunstreaked Says:

    Thank you all so much for your wonderful comments! I have been trying so hard to write a STORY and it's so great to hear what people like and don't like, so many, many thanks! More to come!

  5. Opester Says:

    Oh wow, I'm just holding my breath and waiting. This isn't even Jon's fault and I hope Richie can help Amanda process all that she heard and see it in context. It's a lot to digest and she will need to see that Jon is capable of changing, but I hope she gives him a chance to prove himself.....and Jon needs to give her some space to think this through. Please Jon, don't blow it by rushing out there and demanding she listen to you right now!

  6. jovikitn65 Says:

    I have nothing to say except Next chapter here I come!

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