Chapter 26

Fuck, fuck, fuck a big fucking rubber duck.  Why did he ever think, he could run his own life at fifty five?  As long as he was a lead singer in a rock and roll band, his mom would try to run his life.  It was a joke when the band was young and his mom ran the fan club, but she was retired from there.  He was old enough to be in a relationship with a woman and she has nothing to say about it. 

“We’re having Thanksgiving with the O’Sullivan’s this year, Mom.”  He got it out without taking a breath. “Colleen invited us, and I think the kids would enjoy being with a large family.”

“Jon, you have a large family, the kids need to be with family.”  His mother was trying push all his buttons.  “This is the first year after their mother died, we can ask Dorothea’s family.”

“Mom, they have plans.”  Jon knew his in-laws kept in touch with the kids, but not as much with him.  Even though they never said it out loud, he felt they blamed him for their Dorothea's death.

“Well, your father and I were invited by Culan, to join the festivities. Matt and his family will need a place to eat, so we won’t be going.”  Jon knew what his mother was getting at, he just wasn’t going to let her get to him.   

“It’s your decision mom”, I have to get a shower and hit the road mom, have a great Thanksgiving.”  He hung up, he would hear about it later.

“Oooh, she’s going to call back and you lied to your mother.”  Stephanie said from leaning on the door frame.

“Yeah I did, so let’s get out of here and get on the road.” Jon laughed.  “Boys, let’s go, the car will be here in twenty minutes.”  Jon yelled up the stairs.  He took the stairs two at a time, his go bag was in the closet.  He had plans for this afternoon, he had a song lyric in his head and he needed to get it written down, before it got lost.

Taking the chopper to the Hamptons, they missed all the holiday traffic, his driver knew the backway to the house.  He pulled out his iPad and tapped away, as the scenery went by.

Colleen hit all the holiday traffic heading to the island.  Driving out to the Hamptons was enough on the weekend, but on a holiday, it was worse.  Bumper to bumper, move an inch, stop for thirty.  Her cell started to ring, she tapped her ear piece. One day she would get a car with Bluetooth.

“Hi” She moved another inch.

“Hey, where are you?”  Jon asked her.  He had ridden by the bar and her car wasn’t there.

“Sitting in the car, in bumper to bumper traffic.”  Colleen huffed out.  “I have about two miles to the turn off to the bar.”

“I should’ve sent the chopper back for you.”  Jon told her.

“I should’ve blown the meeting, half the staff wasn’t there, but being the new teacher, I had to be there.”  Colleen made the light, barely, she was lucky the police weren’t trying to make their quota today.

“Do you have plans tonight?”  Jon was going to be alone for dinner, all the kids had plans, which had its upside.

“Something standing for about an hour.”  Colleen laughed.  “Once I get to my apartment and unload Bugsy, I’ll need a drink or two.” She maneuvered her Bug closer to the bar.  “Two blocks to go, did you hear if your parents were coming down?”

“Oh God I hope not.”  Jon grumbled.

That made Colleen laugh louder.

They made plans to meet at the bar and go out for drinks and dinner.

Colleen opened the door to her apartment over the bar.  It was near the end of November, but the heat along the coast was hanging on for dear life.  The apartment was stuffy, so, Colleen went around opening windows and putting on the ceiling fans. 

Music trickled up from the bar, Colleen unpacked her bags, and she knew her mother would stack out the fridge and cabinets.  The smell also started slipping in through the windows, on went the air conditioner and down went the windows.

Jon pulled into the parking lot and found the Bug parked next to the outer steps.  He wouldn’t have to go through the bar, as he started up the stairs his phone started to ring.  Checking to see if it was one of his kids, he all but moaned seeing his mother’s name on the screen.  Letting it go to message, he continued to climb to the landing, he’d check it later.  He knocked on the door, and waited, his phone signaled he had a voice message.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck a big rubber duck.”  He mumbled as the door opened.

“It’s only fifteen steps.”  Colleen said with a laugh.

Jon held up his phone to show her the message sender.

“Oh Dayum.”  Colleen rolled her eyes.  “You didn’t tell her, did you?”