That next morning, at 3am, the door to the house opened. Naomi opened her door and saw Elaine. "What in the world are you doing back for? You've only been gone a day." Naomi asked.
"It's a long story. I just want to rest." Elaine said.
"Where's Micky?" Naomi asked.
"He's still in the Bahamas with my parents. I'm the one that came back early." Elaine said as she walked into her room and closed the door.
Naomi walked over to Elaine's door and opened it. "You want to talk about it?" Naomi asked with concern.
"No, just leave me be okay?" Elaine asked.
"Okay sweetie. I'm here if you need me. We're all here if you need us, ok?" Naomi replied.
"Okay thanks," Elaine replied as she crawled into her own bed and curled up with her body pillow and started to cry.
Naomi closed the door and then went into Sam's room. "Sam, you awake?" Naomi asked quietly.
"Kind of, why? Who just arrived?" Sam asked.
"It's Elaine. She left Micky and her parents in the Bahamas and came home early." Naomi replied.
"I just had a feeling she would." Sam replied.
"But why?" asked Naomi concerned. "I don't understand."
"It's not important Naomi. Elaine has stuff she needs to deal with right now and I think the whole stressing about the trip and about her vacation time has really finally set in. She had to fight for that vacation time and they told her her last week would be unpaid." Samantha replied.
"They did? That's not right Sam. Elaine works hard and deserves that time." Naomi replied.
Mike rolled over and asked, "Anything I can do?"
"Yeah, go back to sleep." Sam replied.
Mike rolled over onto his other side and closed his eyes.
"She'll be fine Naomi. Just leave her be and she'll eventually come around." Sam replied.
Naomi left Sam's bedroom and went back into her own room. "What's wrong?" Peter asked.
"Nothing. Elaine just came home early and left Micky there." Naomi said.
~~~~~
Meanwhile, back in the Bahamas, Micky packed away the ring into his suitcase and decided he would hold off on asking Elaine. It was obvious that they still had things to work out.
Elaine's parents, though, made Micky feel very welcomed in their anniversary celebration and they went out to dinner and dancing almost every night and really enjoyed themselves. Micky even kicked back a couple nights and had one too many drinks and was feeling no pain along with her parents. He certainly wasn't going to let Elaine's departure ruin his time. After all, he did end up flipping for half of the bill of the entire trip. So he was definitely going to live it up.
That three weeks was the best three weeks of Micky's life. It had been so long since he had really cut loose and just let what would happen, happen. And he didn't have Elaine nagging him about cutting loose. As he was packing up the hotel room, Micky looked at everything in the bathroom to make sure that he had every thing. He saw a piece of paper sitting on the countertop that he had never seen before. He opened it up and read it.
"Hey Micky baby. We had a great time Friday night after your show. Thanks for showing me and my girlfriends such a great time. Love ya, Coco." Micky blinked in the mirror and said, "Oh my gosh, she thinks I cheated on her. That's why she flew out of here. Micky's heart started to race like crazy. "It must have fell out of my pocket or something." he said over and over again. "Coco's my sister, Elaine."
After Micky arrived back to Massachusetts with her parents, he went back to get their other suitcases and tried to call Elaine from her bedroom. "Pickup Elaine. Please God let her pick up. Please, please."
When no one answered and he didn't get voicemail, he said, "Please Elaine. Don't shut me out." Her parents drove him back to the airport after he got both their suitcases and then gave him a hug and kiss and said, "Thank you for making our anniversary the best ever Micky."
Micky smiled and said, "It was all Elaine. I will tell her though."
"Welcome to the family my future son-in-law. We already love you." Harold said smacking Micky on the back.
"Thanks Harold," Micky said as he gave him and Agnes a hug and then walked on the plane.
Micky sat in the seat by the window and stared out into space. "Oh Elaine. It's so not what you think. I would never do that to you, ever. I love you so much."
The moment he arrived back in California, Micky wheeled the luggage to the car and got inside and drove back to the house. He banged on the door.
Sam came to the door in her nightgown and said, "Yes Micky. It's only 6am. Do you know that?"
"Sorry Sam. I need to see Elaine." Micky said.
"She's not here Micky. She left yesterday to go up to her girlfriend Sharon's house in Van Nuys. She won't be back until Thursday."
"Thursday? Today's only Sunday. Where is this Sharon's house? I've never heard of her being mentioned before." Micky asked adamantly.
"We've never met her Micky. She's some gal from work that only Elaine knows." Sam replied.
"Give me the address then. I will drive up there. I need to see her." Micky demanded.
"I'm sorry Micky. We don't have it. You'll just have to wait until Thursday I guess." Sam replied.
"I can't wait till Thursday Sam. I need to see her today. What is Sharon's last name?" Micky asked.
"We don't know Micky. I'm sorry, I wish I did so I can tell you. All she said when she left was she'll be at Sharon's house and not to worry. And that she would be home on Thursday." Sam said rubbing her eyes.
"You're lying to me. Get Naomi." Micky demanded as he pushed his way into the house. Micky walked to Elaine's room and said, "Elaine, this is not funny." There was no one in the room. Micky turned around and said, "Get me Naomi darnit before I throw a fit."
Sam went into Naomi's room and woke her up. "Micky's back and he's wanting Elaine and I don't know Sharon's address."
Naomi replied, "Good grief." Naomi got out of bed and put on her sweats and walked out into the living room. "Micky, we don't know this Sharon. Sam would not lie to you."
"How can you not know one of her friends? I can't believe that. I thought you all knew everything about each other." Micky asked furiously.
"We normally do; however, work friends no, we don't know very well. They are our own private business." Naomi said. "So just go back to the pad, cool off, and I'll try to get ahold of her for you."
"I've already tried and the phone is shut off." Micky said.
"Well you'll just have to wait until Thursday then Micky when she returns. I will keep trying to get ahold of her for you, but I make no guarantees," Naomi said.
"Well what is her last name then?" Micky asked.
"I'm sorry we don't know that either Micky." Naomi tried to explain. "We've never met the woman. I know you find that hard to believe, but it's the utmost truth. I swear to you on the Holy Bible Micky. It's the truth."
"Darnit!" he screamed slamming the door so hard.
Naomi looked at Sam and said, "I have no idea what Sharon's last name is and neither do you. I wonder if Louise does?"
"I doubt it," Sam said. "But we can wake her to ask her. However, I'm not calling Micky back to let him know if she does."
"I'll call him," Naomi replied. "Something's up between those two and I don't know what it is." The two friends walked into Louise's room and asked, "Louise, do you know Elaine's friend Sharon from work?"
Louise yawned and asked, "Yeah, why? Who wants to know?"
"Micky. He's really needing to talk to Elaine. He just arrived home today." Naomi replied.
"She's in the book under Spencer. Sharon Spencer in Van Nuys, I believe the phone number is (555) 654-8270. But you should verify it first before giving it to him." Louise replied.
"Thank you Louise. Go back to sleep now." Naomi replied.
Naomi went to their phone book and got the phone number and wrote it down. It was exactly what Louise had said. She called Micky who picked up the phone, "Yeah, what is it?"
"I've got that number for you. Apparently Louise knew it. Sorry we didn't ask her before you left."
"I'm ready," he snapped.
"It's (555) 654-8270. Sharon Spencer is the woman's name in Van Nuys. She's in the book." Naomi replied.
"Thanks Naomi. You're a true pal." Micky replied and then hung up the phone.
Micky called the number and a woman answered, "Hello."
"Is Elaine there please? This is her boyfriend Micky."
"Um hang on, we're sleeping. But I will get her for you." the voice said.
Pretty soon a groggy voice came to the phone, "Micky, what on earth are you doing calling me this early for?"
"I just got in Elaine. And I know why you left. I need to meet with you to explain." Micky said.
"Explain what? And how do you know you know what I left for?" Elaine asked.
"I found the letter Elaine. And that letter was from my sister." Micky replied.
"Yeah I know Micky. I remembered Coco's name. I left it on the counter for you because it fell out of your pants pocket."
"You mean you didn't leave because of the note?" Micky asked confused.
"No Micky. I told you it had nothing to do with you. It was all me. I will be home on Thursday and we can talk about this more, ok?" Elaine asked.
"Yeah, but why are you up there in Van Nuys?" Micky asked.
"Sharon called and invited me up since she knew I arrived back early and was feeling down. She's a good friend Micky. You're upsetting our sleep time though and I must go. Talk with you on Thursday. Bye."
Micky hung up the phone and said, "Thursday? I can't wait till Thursday." Micky laid back against his pillow and took a deep breath in and slowly released it. Then he closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
The week seemed to drag profusely for Micky. He sat in the house and just stared at the ceiling. "You wanna go out to a movie?" Mike asked Micky.
"No." Micky replied.
"The video arcade?" Peter asked cheerfully.
"No." Micky replied.
"To dinner?" Davy asked.
"No." Micky replied.
"To sleep?" Peter asked.
"Yeah that sounds good." Micky stood up off the couch and walked to his room. "Goodnight everyone." He went inside his room and closed the door. "Nice one Pete. He's been sleeping all morning and now you want him to go back to sleep." Mike snapped.
"Well it's better than watching him stare at the ceiling for three days. He hasn't even eaten." Peter snapped back. "I miss his sense of humor."
"Hopefully when she gets back tomorrow they can settle this before he goes insane." Davy replied.
"I hope so Davy. I hope so." Mike replied.
That following morning Davy woke up to pounding on the door. He walked over and opened it. "Good morning Elaine." Davy said.
"Hey, is Micky here? I told him I'd come and see him when I got back into town." Elaine replied.
"Yeah he's here. Maybe you can get him to eat. He hasn't eaten in three days." Davy replied as he walked Elaine to Micky's room.
Elaine walked in the door and saw Micky staring at the ceiling. "Hey baby, I'm back." Elaine told him cheerfully.
"Yeah and what of it?" Micky asked.
Elaine walked over to his bed, sat down, and said, "Let's go out and get breakfast and talk, ok?"
"Nah, I'm just going to lie here and stare at the ceiling. But hey thanks for thinking of me." he snapped at her. "Oh and by the way your suitcase is back at the house. I did bring it from your mothers."
"Thanks Micky. I appreciate that." Elaine said trying to smile at him.
"Oh yeah and your engagement ring is sitting on your dresser as well. You left before I could propose to you." Micky snapped.
"Engagement ring? For me?" Elaine asked surprised.
"Yeah, sell it or do whatever you want with it. I don't want it or need it anymore." Micky snapped.
She took in a deep breath and then grabbed his arm and said, "We're going to breakfast young man and I'm going to drag you all the way there if you don't move." She pulled Micky by the arm out of his room and told the guys, "We'll be back later. Don't wait up."
"Okay." Davy told Elaine.
Elaine opened up the passenger side of her car and pushed him into the seat. Micky did not fight her.
Elaine walked around the car and got inside, sat down, and started the car. She drove them to the Purple Palace for breakfast. She pulled him by the arm and dragged him into the restaurant and said, "Sit here and don't move."
Elaine ran to the bathroom and then came back to the booth and sat down. The waitress came over and asked, "What would you both like today?"
Elaine replied, "Yes, we're both going to have your build-your-own-omelette with both cheddar and mozzerella cheese with three pancakes each with strawberries, and then we'll both have two X-Large Cokes."
"Anything else?" the waitress asked.
"No, not right now." Elaine said.
Micky kept his head back staring at the ceiling. "Okay look at me Micky. I want you to look at me when I'm talking with you." Elaine demanded. Micky turned his head towards her and stared at her.
"Thank you" she said. "Now why I left early was this...that night at the bar when my father and mother were acting like teenagers reminded me of something my father did to my mother a very, very, very long time ago when he was drunk at a bowling meeting. He came home from the bowling meeting that one night and he smacked my mother all the way across the room. She fell and bruised her arm and leg. I witnessed it Micky. And him getting all weird like that with her again, brought back all those old, angry feelings that I just couldn't handle. And that's why I had to leave. It had absolutely nothing to do with you at all. Nothing. Do I make myself clear?"
"I can't believe your father would ever do that to your mother Elaine. They were the perfect couple on that vacation and made me feel very, very welcomed, even after you left." Micky said to her.
"It was a long time ago Micky" she said. "And my mother has forgiven him and he has never, never touched her like that again because I told him a few years ago that I would personally put him in jail if he ever did a thing like that to my mother again. I know they were good together on vacation and I am so happy about that. However, from my standpoint as a daughter, I could not watch him boozing it up again for fear that it could happen again. Like I said sweetie, this had absolutely nothing to do with you at all. Nothing."
Their food came to the table and Elaine said, "Thank you." to the waitress.
"You're welcome" she replied.
"It's still hard to believe Elaine that he would do that to her." Micky replied.
"I know it is, but this is something that I have dealt with for a very, very long time Micky. And not even the girls know about it. The only person that does is my girlfriend Sharon in Van Nuys; and, the only reason she knows is because Sharon is not only my friend, but my counselor."
"She is?" Micky asked.
"Yeah she is. I know we work together, but her part-time job is a counselor and she's giving me a huge discounted price to see her. And when I'm sad, lonely, or depressed, I can call her and make a trip to Van Nuys for the weekend. It's how I maintain my sanity Micky." Elaine told him as she was cutting her omelette.
"You can talk to me too, you know, right?" Micky asked.
"I know that Micky, and I appreciate that so very much. It's just I feel comfortable with Sharon because I have known her for so long. And that's why I needed to get away this past week Micky, and I'm so sorry that I hurt you and hurt our plans. But I needed to get away. I hope one day you can forgive me Micky. I really do." Elaine said smiling at him.
Elaine took a bite of her omelette and said, "Mmmm, this is so wonderful; isn't it Micky?"
"Yeah it is." he said biting into his. "Very tasty. Good choice on ordering Elaine."
"I know you like what I like, so it wasn't very hard at all." Elaine replied.
The two friends ate breakfast together and slowly Micky was warming up to Elaine again after he realized that her leaving was not intentional towards him. He loved Elaine with all of his heart and soul.
"So tell me how the rest of the weeks went in the Bahamas Micky. What exactly did I miss?" Elaine asked.
"Well let's just say I kind of had a really, really good time with your parents." Micky replied.
"You didn't?" she asked him.
"I did." Micky replied.
"How many times?" Elaine laughed.
"Um I think about three or four. They were all pretty much back to back and I don't remember them very well." he replied.
"So then my parents were the same way?" Elaine asked.
"Um pretty much. But your dad was so cool and I know that nothing bad happened because your mother just gave me such a huge hug and kiss and thanked us for everything and for making them the best anniversary of their lives." Micky replied.
"Aww, that's good. I'm glad they enjoyed it. And I'm glad you enjoyed it as well." Elaine replied.
"Yes, but I didn't get to propose to my beautiful girlfriend yet. And now the surprise is ruined." Micky said.
"Surprise? What surprise?" Elaine looked at him and said. "I know nothing of an engagement or a surprise Micky."
"You're the best Elaine Nelson. Do you know that?" he asked.
"Yes I do know that and you always remember that, ok?" she told him.
"Okay." he replied.
"Now eat your breakfast so you can propose in front of my friends and yours." Elaine demanded.
Micky laughed as he flung a pancake across the table and hit her in the face with strawberries.
"You're going to get it Micky." Elaine laughed as she moved the strawberries off of her face.
After the two friends had their breakfast, they went back to Elaine's house and all the guys were over there.
Micky said, "Hey everyone, don't go anywhere." Micky walked into Elaine's bedroom and got the ring. Elaine was in the kitchen taking her vitamins.
"How was Van Nuys, Elaine?" Naomi asked.
"Absolutely wonderful. Sharon is the sweetest gal in the world." Elaine replied.
"You feeling better?" Samantha asked.
"Yes tons. Thank you so much for asking Sam." Elaine replied.
Elaine put her orange juice away when she saw Micky walking out of the bedroom. She turned towards the wall so she could pretend she didn't know what was happening.
Micky walked out of the bedroom in a Tuxedo and all eyes went to Micky. He grabbed a bouquet of flowers that were hid in a vase in Elaine's doorway and walked over to Elaine.
"Excuse me Elaine," he asked.
"Yes Micky, what is it?" she asked turning around.
She saw him in his tux and started to cry. "Would you like to become my wife Elaine Grace Nelson?" Micky said as he knelt down on one knee.
Peter, Davy, and Mike all looked at each other in shock; same with Sam, Louise, and Naomi.
Elaine looked into his eyes and said, "Yes I would love to become your wife Micky Dolenz." Micky put the ring onto her finger and then kissed her on the lips and hugged her so tight.
Everyone in the room was crying hysterically, including Elaine and Micky.
"I love you Elaine." Micky said with a smile.
"I love you too Micky," Elaine said as she brushed her hair out of her eyes and looked at him. "Thank you for making my life complete."
"And you too my darling, you too." Micky said smiling so brightly at her.
Everyone in the room applauded and Micky picked Elaine up and carried her into her room and kicked the door closed.
Samantha asked, "Is our baby girl getting married?"
"I believe she is," Naomi cried out and then hugged Peter.
Micky laid Elaine down on the bed and she meowed at him for a minute.
"I love you Elaine." he said over and over again to her.
"I love you too Micky," Elaine replied.
He laid down on the bed next to her and the two covered up with the covers and kissed and hugged each other for what seemed like eternity.
"Praise God and thank you Jesus." they both said to each other as they lifted their hands in praise.
Elaine rolled over on top of him and said, "Forgive me father for I have sinned." He covered them both up with the comforter and shared a very peaceful and private time with each other as the future Mr. and Mrs. Micky Dolenz.
~The End~
Chapter 6
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