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| The Homecoming |
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Just as Marlo opened her mouth to give him directions, there was a knock at the door. "Sean," squealed Lisa grabbing the door nob and swinging the door wide. "Come meet my daddy." [added by Sissy]
Sean entered the room and picked lisa up in a big bear hug. He extended a hand to James and said "Well it's finally good to meet you at last! I'm Lisa's........... [added by Laura Goldsmith]
"He's my chopper!" said Lisa in a haughty voice. "Your what?" James asked bewilderedly. "He's her chauffeur" Marlo clarified. "That's right, Daddy. Sean is my cho..cha...chowfer, isn't that so, Sean?" "Of course Miss Lisa. I am your chauffeur and at your service always" replied Sean with a bow causing the little to laugh. "Are you all set to go to school today, Miss Lisa?"
"Oh, but Daddy is driving me to school today, Sean, but you can still drive Mommy to work" Marlo could see James was burning with curiosity regarding Sean's role in their lives. "Honey, why don't you let Sean drive you to school like always while your Daddy and I talk for a while?" "But I wanted Daddy to see my school and my classroom, and my drawings and my painting!" How about he picks you up after school instead? You can still show him your school stuff then?" That's right, Lisa" said James. I'll be waiting for you when school finishes and you can show me your drawings then." "You promise?" asked Lisa in a small voice. "I promise" replied James solemnly. "Well, Miss Lisa, are you ready for school now? Your carriage awaits you, my lady" Sean said with an exaggerated accent and swinging Lisa in his arms, he proceeded to go to his car. "Bye Mommy, bye Daddy! See you later!" "I'll see you at the office, Marlo. Nice meeting you, James. I'm sure we'll be meeting again soon." "Likewise" replied James. The front door closed and silence descended upon the room again. "Sean seems to be a nice guy" James said tentatively. "He is. He's a genuinely nice guy who's been very supportive of me. And I'm not saying that to take a potshot at you" she continued upon seeing James wince. "Look if you want to talk we better do it in the kitchen. I've still got tons of things to do there before I go to work. Its almost 8.00 and I have to be there at half past" Marlo said while walking towards the kitchen. "Don't go" said James. Marlo stopped and turned around, "What did you say?" "I said, don't go. Please, Marlo, don't go to work today. We've got so much to talk about and half an hour just isn't enough" James pleaded. "I can't, James. I've taken so many days off work already that I just can't afford to take another one." "Please Marlo, don't you think we owe it to ourselves and to our daughter most espcially to try to resolve these issues? At least give me the morning, give us this time, Marlo. It would be in Lisa's best interest if we sort out our differences before I go pick her up after school. I don't want her to witness another shouting match between us like this morning and neither do you if you're honest about it." "Of course I don't want her to see us fighting but...I don't know, James" Indecision was clearly written on Marlo's face. [added by marie84] "Ok James...Let's say we both take today to think about the way things are and where we both want to go from here. Tomorrow I don't have to work so how about we take Lisa to school and then go somewhere for coffee and then we can talk." "No Marlo, I want to talk now--today." "James, I really don't think this is a good idea. We both need some time to think about things. You need time to adjust to the idea of having a daughter and I need time to think about how to keep Lisa from being torn apart between the two of us." "Marlo, be reasonable about this. How can you expect me to just go home and do nothing?" Marlo stood staring at him with concern written all over her face. "James, you absolutely cannot have thought this through in the short time you've known about Lisa. Please, for her sake, give us both a little time." As he started pacing around the kitchen Marlo watched to see how he would react to what she had said. He never had been the patient sort nor was he one to be indecisive and he definitely was not accustomed to being thwarted. Although she could tell he was trying to see her point of view his continued pacing was starting to get on her nerves. "Come on James, think of Lisa. What will it hurt to wait a few hours? Look at it this way; 1) you now know Lisa exists, 2) you know she is your daughter, 3) you know we are not going to disappear into thin air. So, calm down and really, really think about this. What part do you want to play in Lisa's life? How far are you willing to commit to her? I'm not talking about money here James. I'm talking about deep, deep commitment, bone deep, here for the duration. Are you going to be here for her when she gets sick? When she needs help with her homework? When she suffers her first disappointment in love? Just how far are you willing to go James? I'm not talking about you moving in here James, but I'm talking about exactly how much of Lisa's life from this point forward do you want to be involved in? These are the things you need to think about before we talk again James. Are you really willing to commit to being Lisa's Daddy?" [added by cib] James looked at the emotion in Marlo's face. He knew that she was looking for a concrete answer. An answer that would tell her whether he was going to want to be not only a part of Lisa's life, but also Marlo's. She wanted to know that he wasn't going to leave again. That he really was ready to love her the way he knew she loved him. James thought about the answer to all these questions that she didn't even know she was asking. After a minute of silence, He took Marlo's chin in his hand, and whispered, "Yes, Marlo. I am." Marlo pulled away. The feelings that were in his eyes were too much for her to bear. She saw the naked emotion. She knew that he meant what he said. She knew then, that he was worth it, that he was going to be there for the long haul. She turned back to face him, and smiled. Then, she walked to the phone, picked it up, and dialed. "Hello? Hi, it's Marlo. I'm feeling a bit under the whether. I'm going to see a doctor, so I'll be late to work today. I'll be there around 12....what? alright Marty, I'll take the graveyard shift on Friday....today?!? but--...alright. I'll do it. Today....goodbye, now." She hung up gently. "So, James-daddy, you feel like baby-sitting your daughter tonight while mommy works until 4am?" [added by Jules] James looked at Marlo. "I can't believe you just lied like that." "I didn't lie." Marlo said as she went to her cupboard, and pulled out a bottle of tablets. "You wouldn't believe the size of this headache. I have to sit down." "So why did you say you'd be in at lunch?" "I already told you that I took a lot of days off. I can't afford to take any more. I need as many ours as I can get to make up for the time I lost. I figure, I'll talk to you, get rid of this headache, and still get enough work time in. Now, with the graveyard shift, I should still be able to pull in the same amount of money I make each week. Break even, so to speak." "You'll be breaking your immune system if you don't cool down." Marlo took the medicine, and said nothing. [added by Jules] "Well, what do you want to do first?" asked James. "First? What are my choices?" "Oh, I think you know one of those choices. But I was really thinking about this morning. Do you want an omelet? You didn't get one in all the ruckus." "Sure. I like those choices. But let's just start with an omelet." replied Marlo. [added by Susan] James set to work on her omlet. Marlo sat down, and sipped her water gingerly. She was observing James' movements as he cooked. She liked his masculine grace. She liked how his shirt didn't quite succeed in hiding his muscles and the width of his frame. She liked the gentleness and precision of his hands as they cracked each of the two eggs he needed. She could've watched him all day, and she would have, if she suddenly didn't realize that he was looking right at her, waiting for an answer to a question he must have asked somewhere along the line. Marlo hurredly replayed the last few moments in her mind, and answered, "Uhm, no. I don't like onions." James looked at her, cocked his head, and said "That's not what I asked." Marlo looked up from her cup, eyes wide as saucers. Embarrassment filled her cheeks with a rosy hue. James chuckled. "Just kidding, space cadet." Marlo looked down into her cup, and smiled. "Caught me red-handed." "Penny for your thoughts." "Sorry." Marlo smiled teasingly. "No sale." [added by Maddy] James smiled brighten as he placed the omlet on her plate and sat in the chair beside her. [added by athena] He leaned over to her and whispered in his husky voice I will find out what you were thinking. It is only a matter of time before you start trusting me. [added by emmy] Marlo's breath caught deep in her throat as she silently cursed her reaction to the man sitting so close to her. She prayed that her reddening face would be written of as angry. Afer a second she forced herself to response to his statement. "Well James, don't hold your breath! On second thought please do." she meat his gaze with a patience she didn't feel. Her words didn't carry the amount of sting she made wanted them to. [added by Athena] James just smiled at her. He slowly let his gaze fall to her soft full lips. Her reddened cheeks made her look all the more alluring. Like the innocent-souled girl that she once was. Before fate turned her back on her. Marlo's breathe caught at the look in his eye. The smile that was there became warmer, and warmer. Then, his eyes downright burned with intensity. She wanted so badly to lean over to that glow. To him. Marlo picked up her fork instead, and stabbed her omlet so hard and so fast, the plate shook on the table in protest. Her hands shook as she brought the fork to her mouth. She quickly hid them after she took the bite, averting her eyes from James'. "Good?", James asked. "Hmm?", Marlo choked out. "Does it taste good? The omlet?" "Oh, yes. Yes. Good. Yummy. No onions. Yes.", stuttered Marlo, quickly shoving another forkful into her mouth, trying to smile. [added by Maddy] After chewing for a bit, Marlo looked up, "How'd you know that I like cheese on my omlets?" "Simple." James said. "Lisa wanted cheese on hers, and I don't like cheese, so I figured she must get it from you." "Lucky guess." Marlo chewed in silence. James watched her chew in silence, lost in thought. Lisa's laughter echoed in his ears. He really loved that little sweetheart. "Marlo, I want to take Lisa and you out of here." "Where?", Marlo asked matter-of-factly. "Where would we go? I don't remember you owning a shiney castle and a faithful steed to carry your lady fair away. I have this place paid for for the next 2 months. I have the bill payments ready, and I have just enough on reserve, in case Uncle Sam decides to screw me over one more time. You think I can't handle myself? That I need help?" "No, I just don't see why you should live here if you can move into a better place." "You mean, you don't want Lisa living in the middle of the Red-Neck boonies." "No! I mean that you deserve better!" "I have what I need!" "Oh, yeah! Up to your eyeballs in overtime, two jobs, and a live-in babysitter! When do you exactly get to spend time with Lisa?" "Is that what this is about? You're jealous of Sean?" "No, that's not what this is about!" shouted James. "Don't be so stubborn! Wake up! Take a look around you! For the past four years, you've been both father and mother for Lisa. Nurturer, and provider in one. I frankly don't know how you did it. How did you find time, to be with your daughter?" Marlo said nothing, remembering those nights when she would put Lisa to bed early, so she could go out for the entire night, and work at the factory. It was much easier when Lisa started actually sleeping through the whole night. When Lisa was a baby, Marlo was on Maternity leave from both jobs, but she was expected to return after a year. That's when she met Sean. He was a co-worker at the office. He would baby-sit sometimes. Other times, she would call up Nick or Charles. It all worked out somehow. Marlo would work the office job during the day, while Lisa was at home, or at day-care, and at the factory while Lisa slept at night. She would come home at 5 in the morning, nap for 2 or 3 hours, and be prepared to start the following day. "It was just a matter of scheduling.", said Marlo quietly. "Well, I want to help now. I want to be part of both your lives." Marlo looked into James' saddened eyes. [added by Jules] "I know." she managed after a time. The look in James' eyes was like a slap in the face. [added by Athena] With a speed that surprised her, Marlo finnished what remained of her omlet and headed toward the sink. [added by nikki] Wahing the plate seemed like the best thing to do with her hands. In her mind she was quickly going over the past few days. Mostly though she was thinking of James' words *I want to help now. I want to be part of both your lives.* And Marlo knew that he had meant every word of it. [added by jessie] James got out of his chair, and walked over to where Marlo was standing, with her back turned to him. She stiffened. He noticed this sudden tension in her, and said nothing. The feel of his breathe on her neck sent an electric shock through her body. Her sudden responce shocked her as much as it did him. James turned her face to his. She looked up at him, and saw the warmth and kindness in them. The pure caring that he had for her. "Marlo, I want to be part of your life. If there was no Lisa, I would still want to be part of your life." Marlo took a breathe as if to respond, but his fingers darted to her mouth before she could speak. "No." He said. "I don't need you to answer, or say anything. I just want you to know that I'm here. For you. And for Lisa. I don't want to push you. I'll wait for you. I'll wait until you're ready." Marlo made no attempt to reply. She would've smiled, but when she tried, a tear slid down her cheek. James snuggled her closer to him, and kissed her tear away. She rested her head on his massive shoulder, and cried silently. It felt so good to have the warmth of his arms around her. She cried tears of happiness; tears of relief; tears that weren't shed over the stressed-filled years that had passed; tears that weren't shed since he left her four years ago. James just stood, absorbing her crying, and understanding the meaning of each teardrop that was soaked up by his shirt. He held her close, giving everything, demanding nothing. His heart was open, waiting for her to enter. It was then that he realized that she never left. She was always a part of him. It was at that moment that James shed a tear. A tear for Marlo. A tear for love. [added by Maddy] James whispered, "Marlo, I love you. I never stopped loving you. Each day, each hour away from you has been unbearable. You do understand why I left?" [added by emmy] Marlo paused and replayed what was just said. She looked up at him with teared filled eyes and opened her mouth as if to speak. Try as she might no words left her lips. She wanted to tell him just how much she had missed him and how much she loved him. But her mind spun around his question. She couldn't understand why he had left without warning, just like that. If he loved her that much why did he leave her alone for so long? Throat clenced around words she couldn't speak, she just stood and stared at the man in front of her, holding her. The father of her child, the man she loved, and the man who left her to go at the world alone. [added by Jessie] She was afraid to take another chance, she thought. Okay she admitted it to herself, now all she had to do was admit it to him. Admit her vulnerability where he was concerned. Take a chance she thought. She had her child to think of also. More tears came, she opened her arms to James and said"I have never stopped loving you either. You have been and always will be my heart. I don't think I could survive you leaving again, so if there is a chance you will,just go now." James held her tight and whispered all he had always wanted to tell Marla but could never put into words. It was heaven, it was magic. Their love had survived this testiment of time. [added by emmy] James was so wrapped up in Marla's words he almost forgot to breathe. Then he remembered San Francisco and the ring in his pocket. He knew he only had a few days before he had to go back, and less then that to convince Marla to come back with him. There just wasn't enough time! [added by Lizzy] He would make it enough time. He couldn't leave without her and his daughter."Marry me Marla" he said. "I have to be back in San Francisco by the end of the month and I want to bring you to my home-our home as my wife. I love you darling. Forever be mine" Tears choked Marla she whispered her answer"Yes, forever darling." [added by emmy]
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