Chapter 122

By Thursday afternoon Melody was home again. As she got back in bed she got her phone and searched for Jon's number, his voice alone would be a comfort.
"Melody?" He answered the phone confused. She had to work until 5pm and it was only 1.30.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Should be asking you. Aren't you working?"
"No, my boss sent me home during lunch. He said I can't interact with people like that."
"That's good. Are you back in bed?" He was glad she was forced to rest now.
"Yeah, I just wanted to hear your voice before I went to sleep. Tell me about the last few days?" She'd gladly listen to him talk about his weekend and work. She'd even gladly listen if he was reading the phonebook to her.

Jon started telling her about the day he had spent with Jake. How they went to a morning movie, Jake's favorite restaurant for lunch and then went to the beach before they went to the arcade and another of Jake's favorite restaurants. Back at home Dorothea dropped off the other kids and Jake had a second birthday party.

He continued to tell her about the rest of his week, at home with the children and how leaving on Wednesday went much better than last time.

By the time he wanted to tell her about the concert last night Melody didn't react anymore. She must have fallen asleep. He wished her a good night and hung up the phone.

It made him think of the week before how he had watched her sleep on his laptop. That had been a rough day. He hadn't put much more thought in to it afterwards. He would love another baby, all his children were his little miracles, how couldn't he want another miracle? But Melody  was right, now wasn't the right time. They're relationship was still young, they needed more time with each other before anything could happen. He settled his mind on moving in together, for now at least.

Melody slept the remainder of the afternoon and didn't wake up until it was almost dinner time. Even the children getting home hadn't woken her up.

It took a great effort to get up but finally she got to the kitchen. She really didn't feel like cooking and checkes the freezer for ready made meals that she kept just in case.

Luckily she found a few dishes that would satifsy everyone. She wasn't sure yet if she was eating. Maybe just some soup or something but definitely not a lasagna or spaghetti that she had put in the oven.
Half an hour later she sat with the kids in front of the tv, eating ready made meals always felt better in front of the tv.
She remembered Jon saying school would be over in two weeks which made her think of her oldest son. After his years of being a bad boy, unbeknownst to Melody it was because of the divorce. A few months ago they finally talked it out and Melody was so proud of his improvements. He finally stopped being rude when she talked to him, his whole attitude changed. His friends had ditched him because of it but he claimed to be fine with it. His grades had gone back up and the sports scholarship he risked of losing was safe again. Melody was very proud of him for making those changes and so quickly. She couldn't believe he was going to college in a few months. He might be the oldest but he was still her baby.

Next year it would be the same for Tyler. At least it would take a few more years before Ryan followed both of them. She couldn't believe how fast time had gone. She could still picture them as little babies, tiny in her arms.

"Jon wants us all to stay at his place for two weeks, like a vacation." She finally said.
"A vacation at his house?" Ryan asked confused.
"Yeah," J answered before Melody could, "Steph told me they got a big mansion where they used to live."
"Oh." Was Ryan's answer.
"It's in two weeks. When school is over but I have to ask your dad first." Melody hoped he wouldn't object, afterall they were all staying with him for two months while she was gone.
"Cool." Tyler answered for all of them.

Melody still had time to phone Jon and decided to do it now rather than waiting up for him to call after the concert, by then she hoped to be sleeping. Thanks to time difference it was earlier for him than it was for her.
She said good night to her children and went to her room, not intending to get out until tomorrow morning. Her phone was still on the night stand where she had placed it after her last call. She picked it up and called the last number.

"Hey babe." Jon answered on the first ring like he usually did.
"Hi honey, how are you?"
"I'm good. How are you feeling? Any better yet?" He asked right back. He was concerned and rather be with her but he couldn't.
"Not really but I got a chance to ask the kids about your idea." Melody said.
"What did they say? Can I sent a cleaning team over there?" He hadn't been there in a month, it must have gotten dust and he didn't like making beds.
"You can but I have to ask Rob too but since they're staying with him while I'm gone he really shouldn't complain." Her voice started to sound hoarse again near the end of her explanation.
"It'll be fine. You haven't seen all of the house yet either." Jon pointed out. "It'll be great. The kids can all stay in the guest rooms unless Faith wants to bunk with Romeo and Jake again and you get to bunk with me." Jon said happily.
"Top or bottem?" Melody asked, referring to bunk beds.
"Any way you like it babe."
"That sounds so good." It had been a while after all.
"Don't start anything, you're sick, you need sleep." Jon ordered.
"I know, I know."
"Oh my God, she finally admitted she's sick. How high is your fever?" He joked.
"So funny." Melody said.
"I love you babe."
"I know you do."
"You don't love me back?" He joked again. "I can't go without you saying it."
"Maybe I shouldn't say it then and we'll have to keep talking."
"I'd love that idea but I'd like your sweet voice to come back so you really should rest." Jon said sweetly.
"Hmmm."
"I'll call you back in the morning okay?" He asked.
"Yeah and Jon?"
"Yeah?"
"I need to thank you."
"For what?" He asked confused.
"For helping me with J, if you hadn't told me, he'd probably still be mad at me."
"You don't need to thank me for that. That was all you." Jon said.
"Maybe, but you pointed out the problem that I didn't know. Did you notice Stephanie called him Jon a few weeks ago?" She asked.
Even though her voice was hoarse, he could hear she was proud. "Yeah I noticed."
"Maybe he'll stop being so stobburn and finally let people call him Jon again." She hated that he hated his name so much. For stupid reasons too, she thought. After all, it was only a name.
"Maybe."
"I love you honey." Melody said, she couldn't say goodbye without telling him either.
"I know you do. Good night."
"Have a good show."

They said their goodbyes and when Melody turned to put her phone back on her night stand her door slowly opened with Faith walking in.
"Can I sleep with you?"

Melody really didn't want her to get sick too but patted the bed on Jon's side. "Come on then."
Faith climbed in on the other side. Just before Melody turned off the lights, she said, "I like your picture with Jon. It's sweet."
"Thank you. Come here." She pulled Faith closer to hug her.

At least her little girl still had a lot of growing up to do before she was off to college. She didn't want to wonder how teenage years with her would be. It would be something entirely new, luckily it was still a few years away from now.

Who knows what'll happen in a few years from now. She had learned things didn't always work out like you planned. She had imagined her whole life when she was young but she hadn't thought of divorce or meeting the man that once covered her walls much more than they did now. Let alone have a relationship with him, an emotional and a physical one. She certainly hadn't thought that man would ask her to move in with him a few times while she kept turning him down.

But it was good things didn't turn out like they had been planned or she wouldn't have met him at all. If she had had a perfect relationship with her ex-husband, she probably wouldn't have Faith, their last attempt to save their marriage. If her life had been like she had planned when she was 16, she'd have two sisters now.
Two daughters named after their aunts, like she planned instead of three wonderful boys.

All in all her life was exactly like she wanted. Children that loved her. A man that wanted and needed her and most of all loved her very much. A man that she wanted and needed too. One she loved with all her heart, probably more than she had loved anyone before.

She gave Faith another hug and with happy thoughts she went to sleep.