The Storm

Not that I slept great. After calling Tru, followed by a quick call to Stuart, I spent the night tossing and turning.

A lot was riding on this for me. I didn’t want to let Jonny down by failing Storm in any way.

And I like to be in control of everything. I haven’t felt a lack of control like this since Tru’s accident, and it’s not a feeling I like to be reminded of.

My cell starts to ring just as I’m making coffee.

It’s early. Bob and Dave aren’t up yet. I think Bob needs the sleep. This last week must have been exhausting for him.

Picking up my cell from the counter, I see Tiffany is calling.

“Hi,” I answer.

“Morning,” she says. “I hope I’m not calling too early?”

“I’ve been up. So…how did it go?”

“Not as bad as I had expected.”

Relief seeps from me.

“I mean, he kicked up a little fuss to start with, but then he got excited about the idea of living in LA. And I might have sold him on it with…well, I said that he could probably meet your band, Lennox—the one he loves—more than once, if he were living in LA.”

I let out a small laugh. “Bribery—it always works with my kids. I’m beyond glad that he’s on board. I spoke to Tru last night, and we’re going to sort out a place for you guys to live and schooling for Storm. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

“Thank you.”

“What about Marie?” I ask. “Have you talked to her yet?”

“Yeah. She…she wants to come with us. She wants to be there for me when…you know.”

“Yeah, I know. I can arrange for someone to run her bakery while she’s away, if that would work for her.”

“She mentioned bringing someone in. Maybe talk to her about it?”

“I’ll have Stuart call her. He’ll sort it out.”

“Stuart, your old PA? He’s still with you?”

“I’m not easy to leave.” I laugh. “He couldn’t live without me.”

“Somehow, I think that’s the other way around.”

“Totally,” I concede, chuckling. “And Stuart will be in touch to arrange getting your stuff packed up and moved there.”

There’s a pause.

Then, she says, “Thank you…for all of this. I can’t begin to tell you how much of a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, knowing that Storm’s going to be…well, that he’ll have you taking care of him when I’m gone.”

“Whatever he needs. And you, too…anything you need.”

“Thank you. Again. And I guess I’ll see you in LA soon.”

“You will.”

-Uploaded by Em’s EORD-

I watch as the car pulls up the drive.

I feel Tru’s hand tightening around mine. “Nervous?” I ask, glancing down at her.

“What if Storm doesn’t like me?”

“Impossible.” I brush my fingers over the soft skin on her cheek.

Her lips lift a little at the corners.

Dave picked Tiffany, Storm, and Marie up from the airport and brought them straight here.

This was Tiffany’s idea. She thought it’d be best for Storm to come straight to the place that would eventually, hopefully, be his home and meet us before going to their new place.

I wasn’t sure she would be up to it after the flight, but she assured me she would be fine.

They get out of the car, Marie helping Tiffany, and my eyes are on Storm, watching his reaction.

Tru is the first to approach them.

“Hey, Storm. I’m Tru.” She smiles that big beautiful smile of hers. Then, she clasps ahold of his upper arms and kisses him on the cheek.

Right then, in that moment, I see that she has him. His eyes light up with surprise and then soften on her.

“Hi.” He smiles back at her wide and warm.

He’s never smiled at me like that.

For a split-second, I actually feel jealous of my wife.

That’s all she has to do, just smile, and she has the kid like putty in her hands. Then again, that’s all she did to me to get me all those years ago.

Tiffany comes to stand by her son, and I stay back a little as I watch Tru move from Storm to Tiffany.

“Tiffany, I’m Tru. It’s really nice to finally meet you.” She greets Tiffany in the same way, kissing her cheek.

“It’s great to meet you,” Tiffany says. I hear a touch of nerves in her voice. “This is my best friend, Marie.” Tiffany gestures to Marie, who is standing beside her.

“Nice to meet you.” Marie sticks her hand out to Tru.

Tru glances down at her hand and then shakes it.

Guess Marie isn’t down with my wife’s greeting style.

“Dada!” Belle’s squealing voice comes from behind me, and then her arms are wrapping around my leg. “Is Stwowm here? Is this them?”

“I tried to keep her inside, but she broke free.” Stuart laughs.

I glance over my shoulder and see Stuart walking toward us, with Bob, and then, JJ and Billy are coming out, too.

Bob moved into Stuart’s old place on the grounds. He wouldn’t move into the house. He said we didn’t need an old man cramping our style. But he’s still in our house more than his own, and the kids love having him here.

So do I.

I realize now that I should have talked him into moving here after Lyn had passed. I failed then. I won’t make that mistake again.

And I intend on not making any mistakes with Storm, now that I have him here.

I pick up Belle and gesture for JJ and Billy to come over.