An Imperfect Love Story - Book 8

Paying A Visit

STEF POV

I was pissed beyond words, and I had wanted to come up  here yesterday   but the day was too busy between taking Stefanie to her  session, and   having my own meeting and spending time with the kids. That  was always   my priority even if I had messed up last night at dinner and gone off  on  all of them. Jude had comforted me though, and I had apologized to  all  the kids even if Frankie still refuses to look at me, much less  speak to  me unless she has to. But I know why she won't, and for that I  do feel  badly. She was who she was, and eventually she'd come around but I'd still talk to her tonight when I take the kids bowling with my mother.

But today, this was my priority, as I pull up to Tess' condo  and find a spot to park. Of course it was nice in typical Tess fashion,    but I could give a rat's ass about any of that at this time. I had   gotten the address from Julius who had called me late last night to   spill that he had tried to talk some sense into her and how annoyed he   really was with her and Jillian. I didn't tell him any of what had   really happened, as the entire phone call was him ranting up a storm   until I asked for the address.  Of course, I didn't tell him or anyone   for that matter, that I was coming here, but that maybe Stefanie would   want it at some point.

I   really could care less about how nice this place is as I head  up the   elevator to the 4th floor and knock on the door as I look around  at  the  newly built building and soon hear the door open.

"Oh   Stef,  hey! Um, nice to see you." Jillian says as I nod my head at her   as she  is in a rock tee shirt and shorts. "Come in. Please." She says   as I walk  into the apartment not saying a word to her as I look  around  seeing how very elaborate this place really is, a far cry from  Tess'  first apartment in LA.

"Who's   at the  door, honey? Not another solicitor, I hope." I hear Tess'  voice  as she  steps in the room in her black silk, kimono robe, and  seeing me  ,she looks rather surprised  but not at the same time. "Stef,  hi."

"Hey.  Listen I  can't stay long. I just wanted to talk to both of you." I  start off  rather seriously as I stand by the doorway and she sighs,  looking down  at the ground which is rather annoying, for I don't plan on  having a  conversation with the top of her head.

"Listen,    if this is about the other night, Stef, we feel bad that Stefanie ran    off like that. We were just trying to talk to her gently, and let her    know we care." Jillian says as she does nothing but to continue to  piss   me off as I look at her.

"Look,   can I come in and talk to you or what? What? I'm gonna stand here or   are you going to invite me in?" I snap as Tess looks at me now and   motions for me to follow them into their elaborate sitting room which   has ivory carpet from wall to wall and matching ivory furniture with   dark wooden end and coffee tables.

I   kick my shoes off as I sit on the small couch and the both of them sit   on the larger one as I grow more and more annoyed as they hold hands   now, looking right at me.

"Can we talk now? Calmly?" Tess asks as I glare rather hard.

"Fine."

"Like I was saying, we were trying to be so gentle with Stefanie," Jillian repeats. "I know how sensitive she is, and..."

"Yeah?   Is that what you would call it?" I cut her off almost immediately.  "You  would describe what you said to her as gentle? In what  universe???" I  ask as I narrow my eyes at her.

"I'm    not following, Stef." She says as I fold my hands and  look over at   Tess who scoots closer to Jillian as I look right back  at her.

"You   know what you said to her, Jillian. Come on! Let's not pretend to have   amnesia all of the sudden. You said that it's all on her. That  she's   blowing it! That it's her responsibility to make amends with her    parents. HOW FUCKIN' DARE YOU! How dare you push that shit all on her!    She's a kid! And what the hell do you even know about it? HUH!" I yell   as  Jillian looks rather shocked at me because there weren't many  people  that  saw this side of me, for the most part, I worked hard at  keeping  my temper in check until it came to my family. Then it was fair  game.