The Sequel to Platinum Rings, Picture Frames and Red Duvet Covers
Ch. 7 Home Sweet Home My AssThey were all sitting in the Mest bus again and Julie looked at Joel. “Can I ask you something in the other room?” Joel nodded and followed her to the back of the bus. “I think I'm gonna leave tonight.”
Joel frowned, “You don’t have to.” Ashley came back to the room and half smiled at Julie.
Julie nodded, “I can’t be on a bus with him for two days.”
Joel sighed, “Well I don’t want you going home all by yourself.”
Ashley put in, “I’ll go back with you.”
Julie shook her head, “No, you just got here. You need time with Billy.”
Joel interjected, “Billy can go with you back. He really doesn’t need to ride all the way home with us all. We could have flown back but we have all our luggage and crap on the bus.” Joel went to the door and called for Billy to come back there. “How do you feel about flying home with them tonight?” he asked Billy.
Billy shrugged, “Sure. I'm tired of this cramped bus anyways.”
Joel smiled, “Okay, so are you gonna leave after the show? I’ll drive you guys.”
“During our show you can go get all your stuff and then we’ll just change. I don’t need my luggage if we’re going home. I’ll fly empty handed,” Billy agreed.
Julie sighed, “One more thing. I live there. How am I going to face him?”
Joel shrugged, “I didn’t think of that. How much longer do you have work?”
“A month. Then I'm off for the summer,” Julie replied.
“So you need to stick around.” Joel said thinking.
“Oh- you could stay in the guesthouse,” Billy suggested.
“Yeah- it’s not as big but at least you’ll be near us and work,” Joel nodded.
“You don’t mind?” Julie asked.
Joel frowned, “No- its just as much your house as it is ours. You’re his wife- we’re not going to just send you out.” Julie agreed and Billy agreed to help her move some of her stuff into the guesthouse before Benji got home. The time came for them to play and Julie watched from the side of the stage out of Benji’s view. He only played well enough to get by, missing his timing to sing. Joel drove them to the airport and they flew home. Julie couldn’t even sleep in their bedroom that night. The next day they moved her clothes and valuables to the guesthouse and anything else she needed.
Ch. 8 Disastrous Talk
The next month was agony for everyone in the house. Julie only came in the house when Joel called her and told her Benji was gone. Benji never went in the backyard when she was home from work afraid that they would meet. Julie was just starting to show her pregnancy at the beginning of the month. Joel tried to keep Benji from Julie.
At the end of the month, her job was out for the summer. She was sitting on the back porch with Ashley, Paul and Joel on her last day after work. Benji was out with Billy somewhere. Julie sighed, “I think I want to talk to Benji tonight.” Joel looked up, “What? Why?” Julie shrugged, “I’m off for the summer. I have nothing to do. The baby’s showing, I'm going to need to go to the doctor’s soon more. I need Benji.” Joel nodded, “Okay- but I’m going to stay right near the door.” Julie nodded and they waited for Benji to get home.
They were all sitting in the television room when Benji came walking in the door. He looked right at Julie and stopped. He looked around at the others and Julie stood up. She wore a heavy sweatshirt not to bring too much attention to the baby. She stepped towards him. He just stared at her. She spoke softly and quietly, “I want to talk with you.” He just nodded and followed her into the adjacent office area. She pulled out a chair and sat down. He sat across from her and just looked at her. She couldn’t tell how he felt. She didn’t know that just under the surface of this tough looking punk was a scared, confused man. She looked away from his face and started, “Benji, I know you don’t believe me that this is your child but it is. I don’t know how I can convince you. But I need you. I’m not trying to be strong anymore. I need you. This baby is due in four months. Like it or not- I want you to be there.” Benji stood up and began to pace around the office. “How do you expect me to just forgive you and take care of this child that isn’t even mine?” His voice started to rise just like it had that day in the bus. “I still can’t believe you would do this to me. After all I had to do to get you to take me back.” Julie stood up to Benji, “You cannot even say that! You don’t know how much pain I was in.” Benji just shook his head. “Who was there when you were sitting in that hospital room? I was and I had good reason to not even be there!” Julie yelled in his face. Just outside the room everyone was listening to the two of them yelling. Joel was on the edge of his seat. He loved his brother but sometimes he could be so stupid.
Benji shook his head, “I should have ended my life right then and there. But I'm going to be strong and move on-“ he began to trail off. Julie felt an awful pain in her stomach. She sat down not even listening to him go off on her. “Benji?” she said. He didn’t hear her and continued with his rant. “Benji,” she said again a little louder. He paused but continued. “Benji,” she said doubling over with pain. He stopped and yelled at her, “What?” She looked up at Benji and saw him cower back. He knew she was in pain. “Benji something’s wrong.” Benji just stood there staring down at his wife sitting on the floor crying and holding her stomach. “Benji! Do something!” she cried tears streaming down her face. Benji yelled, “Joel, Paul somebody come here.” Joel was at the door as soon as he heard his name. He grabbed Julie off the floor. “What the hell did you do to her?” he yelled at Benji. Benji cowered back down and looked at Julie. Paul and Billy ran in with Ashley trailing. Paul and Joel tried to get Julie to calm down long enough to tell them what happened as Billy called the ambulance. She was screaming in pain and fear. “Something’s wrong,” she said clutching her stomach. Paul carefully picked her up. He set her on the couch and they all crowded around her as she screamed. Benji stood behind them- a scared look on his face. He was so confused. He hated seeing his only love in pain, but he was still so angry with her. He was about to pull his hair out as he saw her getting put in the ambulance still screaming in pain and Joel get in beside her. Paul came up to Benji and yelled at him, “Get in the car.” He, Billy, Benji and Ashley all followed after the ambulance to the hospital.